Lochland: Capitol City of Velusia

[Memnoch Arcgrave]

Memnoch turned and looked to the monks whom seemed calm enough, " he's trying to cause disorder amongst us, the fires to burn us out, if we don't kill each other from turning on one another, he's trying to trick you." The monk quirked a brow and looked back to some of his fellow monks and the head monk. " Perhaps we should flee through the tunnels to the waterfall?" Memnoch's eyes went wide, his ears pirked up, tunnels aye....now why didn't these monks say anything about these tunnels before?

Memnoch stood up and said, " perhaps we should flee through these tunnels..." Memnoch went and grabbed the woman dragging her to her feet and slapping her across the face to wake her up some. " Listen doll, your coming with me, you even so much as tug away and I'll gut you without a second thought, ya got me?" Memnoch glared at her, his eyes like daggers, he meant every word he said.

Memnoch, took out the vial of Darkthorne blood..." do you got any more of those berserkers?" The monk looked to him, " yes, but one should be enough to handle ten men, releasing the others would put all our lives at risk..." Memnoch told the monk to lead him to them and the tunnels. As luck would have it the prison they kept these berserkers in was right next to the tunnels.

Memnoch went back to the temple window and yelled out, " Rain fire down on them boys!" his men had their signal to begin firing fire arrows down at  the woods in front of the temple. Behind the temple was a slight hill which the temple sort of melded into. Memnoch's men were there ready and waiting. They tossed off their cloaks of invisibility, the mark of Darkthorne assassins. They were no use in this thick brush, since they made too much noise, but to hide them for just a bit they worked fine.

Memnoch turned and went to the prison, the monks following him. " What to they eat?" one of the monks ran off and came back with a bound man. " Perrrrfect.." Memnoch said as he poured some of the blood down the man's throat, almost instantly the man's eyes went black and he started to go into death throws. The monk pushed the man into a seperate room and then pulled on a lever, revealing the room to the five other berserkers within, they were on the man like hungry wolves.

Each devouring the infected flesh, these berserkers would be worse then any these monks had seen before. Taking the key from the head monk, along with the records of the Blood Hand's dealing, he went to the door. " What do you think your doing?" the head monk said to Memnoch, " we're leaving arn't we?" the monk sort of relaxed having thought Memnoch was about to betray them. He turned the key in the prison door, and told the monks to hold it for a while. They placed a flimsy piece of wood between the door and the wall. Memnoch turned and opened the door to the tunnels, " I better lead, how does one navigate these tunnels?"

The head monk looked at him, " you lead, we know the tunnels and only we know them, you'll have to take us if your going." Memnoch shrugged and grabbed one of the monks, throwing the monk and woman past the opened door. He then quickly stepped in and locked the door, looking out at the monks, " fine have it your way.." the monks looked to one another and began to beat on the door. " You damned traitor, may your soul burn in eternal damnation!!" the wood behind them broke and the mutating berserkers came out tearing the monks to bits. Their screams echoed through the tunnels causing debri to fall from the ceiling, Memnoch turned and looked out seeing the grey skinned, berserkers heading out of the temple.

Memnoch turned and looked at the monk he dragged along, " now show me the way out of here damn it!" the monk glared at Memnoch, " your brothers shouldn't have trusted me, don't they know never to trust a Darkthorne servent?" The monk began leading Memnoch and his prisoner down the tunnels, each one marked with a red hand print was the right way, an easy set of clues to follow, after a while of it Memnoch plunged his sword into the monk's back. Sliding the monk off his sword and wiping it on the monk's dead body. " Fools, you lack ambition, thats why your a secret cult and nothing more."

Memnoch and the woman emerged from the tunnel near a large waterfall, " huh...I don't recall this being here...oh shit...the last war...this way is totally blocked off by the river now...damn it!!! The Darkthorne's attacked Velusia here and left a huge hole in the river, causing it to erode away alot more then it had before. Crossing this river would take a good thirty minutes just by swimming..." Memnoch tossed the woman down on the thick grass, he could hear the fighting in the distance, they were not that far from the temple, shit he thought, thats not good either.

" I'm trapped now, theres nowhere left for me to go and I'm out of options here...it's jump to my death on the rocks, or turn and face Garic and the other soldiers...either way it's death darling, and my daddy always said every man had to face death, theres no escaping it. He knew that the moment I killed him, and dear old mom, I can still hear her screams. I raped my sister you know before I killed her, yeah I am a bad guy, so cut me some slack!" he yelled clenching his fist, he took off his helmet letting his long black hair fall down to his back. Hmmm perhaps I can still make them think I'm just a farmer, means I'll have to get rid of the woman though...she knows too much.

He pushed her over the cliff, waiting for a nice splash, instead there was nothing, he looked down to see her ropes had caught on a rock, she hung there, slowly climbing back up. " Of all the damned luck in the whole world, why is mine so terribly rotten?" There was no time to cut her ropes, he'd have to climb down just to do it. Running off into the woods at this point might earn him a bolt in the back. He put his sword behind a tree next to him, he'd have to play this out just right. He knew nothing he'd thrown at Garic would really work. The berserkers were already fighting amongst themselves when he fled, they'd kill each other without even going after Garic.

No wonder the monks didn't let them all lose, they were worse together then as a single one. " This just isn't my damn day..." Memnoch said looking down at the jagged rocks below.

He could hear something yelling just up the way from him, damn it, that freaking berserker found him, not Garic.

Lynfaer npced with permission

[Lynfaer]

The sharp pain in her cheek had her groggily coming to. Confusion wracked her mind as she was hauled up against the chest of a man who growled orders at her she could barely understand through the haze of pain. Already she bore a nasty knot, crusting over with her own blood along the side of her skull and now she would have a bruise to accompany it. Not knowing what else to do she merely nodded mutely and did her damndest not to cry out as he dragged her along with him. Lynfaer could barely keep up, often stumbling only to be hauled without remorse through the dank tunnels.

The smell of water in the air was almost stifling and when they came out the other side she was relieved but only for a moment. During the trip  through the maze of tunnels her mind had slowly awoken giving her a bit more leave over her own mobile and mental responses. When he came up short and held a conversation with himself she pondered the idea of yanking away and making a run for it. It was evident the man had lost his marbles. No sooner had he mentioned getting rid of her than she slowly began to back away hoping to dodge him.

Too late. With a vicious shove he had sent her over the edge of the cliff leaving her to take a perilous flight to the rocks and water below. A scream pierced the air, likely signaling to others of their presence...if they could hear her over the sounds of battle on the other side. The sudden jolt in her arms had her crying out raggedly. Looking up she saw her bound hands holding her precariously to the cliff side. Left shoulder felt wrong, likely blown out of socket from the sudden stop by her ropes. Biting her lip she did the only thing anyone could do in her position. She gritted her teeth, ignored the excruciating pain and began a traumatizing and extremly slow climb back up. It was that or risk dying by finishing the fall below...and if she missed the rocks she would surely drown. Lynfaer did not know how to swim.

[Garic_Goldmantle]

The instant chaos broke out, chaos breaks out. Darkthornes revealed themselves and fired off into the western bushes. Garic gave the signal and the crossbows on the eastern side were deployed, many Darkthornes fell in the concentrated volley. Garic no sooner steps from cover and orders the advance when the berserker leaps out of tree with a rage filled scream of delight.

It was Garic could do to bring his sword up in a flash and protect his head from being lopped off by the wicked battle axe. He backpeddals as the thing lands with a crash and vaults at him without losing a seconds momentum. Gord flashes from the bush and barrels into the thing from the side, Garic recovers his footing and charges as the creature lands on its back and vaults Gord a good four feet clear.

Garic swings, but the beastman is far quicker than the Captain and not only parries but severs a line across Garic's right arm and forces the Captain to one again backpedal. Gord assaults it from behind, several soldiers had joined in harrying the creature, every where they assaulted swung a deadly battle axe to keep them at bay. Those Darkthornes that remained reloaded their crossbows and fired, two soldiers fell injured and the berserker took two bolts to the side without flinching.

A soldier steps too close and loses his left arm at the elbow, his buckler hitting the ground with a clang, himself with a scream. The beast had had enough and turned crazy bloodshot eyes on Garic.

"Take out the archers!" He shouted before diving out of the way of a wild attack.

Gord pressed from behind and when the beast turns Garic pressed, soldiers ran past the beast to assault those Darkthornes trying in vain to reload their weapons in time. With a battle cry to their malevolent deity several monks burst from the now fiery temple weilding flails and wicked barbed maces. A trap is sprung as Garic checks over his shoulder, tiny darts zip through the air hitting monk, Darkthorne, and Blackthorne with impunity.

Garic bolts and slides to a stop beside the wounded soldier clutching his bleeding stump.

"You'll be alright." Garic covers his left in the mans blood before turning and charging the beast as it nearly ends Gords life.

Garic lowers his shoulder, the sword in his right hand nearly dragging on the ground and he sprints forward, he springs deftly and lands on the creatures back and continues clear over it's head. It shrieks with rage as Garic lands in a crouch and turns to look at it with a smile.

"Come get papa." He swings his blood covered hand, spraying the beast in the face with the crimson ichor. It howls again, infuriated by the irritating creature, it becomes a quick blender of battle axes but Garic bolts. Taunted by the smell of fresh blood it pursues without hesitation, Garic's quick feet seeming so ineffective behind the creatures great powerful bounds.

Gord recovers his buckler and without even looking at Garic cries for the charge, they had to block the temple door else their enemies would once again flee. Garic vanishes around the left of the temple, the creature close behind, and oddly Major Foranthig chasing it with his bejeweled rapier swinging about in the air. Gord's small party crashes into those trying to flee the temple with voracity, but the sight therein makes Gord sound the retreat immedietly. Three more of the crazed beasts slammed into those monks and Darkthornes from behind, not caring of whom they maimed.

Garic vaults off an upraised tree root and rounds the temple at full speed, looking over his shoulder he suddenly slips into a baseball slide. The creature chasing him had vaulted off the same root with five times the distance, landing just in front of Garic the moment the Captain slides between it's legs. A battle axe digs into the ground, it turns and Garic is running, his head a half inche low enough to avoid the blade that bits into a tree he passes.

His heart skips a beat as he crests a small slope and down beneath him is another of the creatures and beyond that an unarmed man.
"Run!" Garic says to him and charges the second beast, stopping tight he parries a pair of axe assaults and dives in past the creatures guard, his hand splats against it's chest and neck, smearing the blood as Garic is suddenly locked in a wrestling match. He breaks free and stumbles, an axe is raised to strike him down when the creature pursuing Garic slams into the second, the flat of the axe catches Garic's shoulder and slams him to the ground as the two creatures wrestle themselves right over the edge.

[Lynfaer]

The few minutes it was taking to drag her bedraggled form back up the sliff face seemed more like hours for her. Bitter tears of pain stained her dirt and blood smeared face as she finally managed to reach the top and threw her hands just over the top only to stare wide eyed at the grey skinned beasts heading straight for her. Releasing a wretched scream she instinctively released her grip and, once more, began to plummet to what could be her death.  The two beasts fell over her barely missing her form with thier tumbling momentum. Lynfaer desperately made a grab for the cliff again not caring if she ripped her arms clean out as long as she lived.

The force with which she slammed into the jagged side knocked the breath from her lungs. A heavy whoosh expelled from her lips and lungs as she clung to the face of the rocky wall. A terrified and pain mingled scream erupted from her lips as her mind registered the ripping of muscle and cartiledge. Her other shoulder had been ripped out of its socket leaving her helpless to climb back up.  Again she screamed only this time words managed to fly past those paniced lips.

" OH GOD SOMEBODY HELP ME!"

She choked on her plea, barely able to draw in air as she tried once again to scream for help.

" SOMEONE...PLEASE!! I CAN'T HOLD ON MUCH LONGER!"

[Memnoch Arcgrave]

Memnoch was picking himself up off the ground after the two berserkers went fighting over the edge. It was almost a blur to him, then he remembered seeing Garic come running down the slope. His enemy had saved him, Memnoch smiled almost laughing. He looked to the satchel with all the evidence and the guild books. Then looked to the tree which hid his helmet and sword. Looking to Garic who'd fallen to the ground, he thought about his options. With all the chaos around him, now would be the perfect time to escape. Hearing the woman's screams, he almost lost it and laughed, she provided the perfect distraction for Garic. Standing up he ran over to the satchel and book, picking them up. He carried a dagger at his boot, so the sword can be left behind. After all it wasn't going to be much of a loss compared to all he'd gained in this flight across Velusia.

However, where was he going to run to? The woods were crawling with dangers to him now. Besides he had Garic right where he wanted him, he could finish him off now and perhaps hide out in the woods until the soldiers had left. No, it was too risky, he'd best run while the running was good. Turning he fled off into the forest on foot, not far into the woods he felt a tug on his foot. He heard the bolt only seconds late, as the poisoned dart hit him in the right arm. It burned with the poison which would surely kill him. No he thought after all this he was to meet his end by a simple trap. He moved a little deeper into the woods, there had to be some way, he knew the Blood Hand, knew their ways. The poison would paralyze him before it killed him. Taking out the vial of Darkthorne blood, he looked upon his only hope carefully.

There would be no turning back should he drink the last few drops, and he could lose his reasoning in the process. Still the immunity the Darkthorne blood would offer him, would be a boon considering his other option. He drank of the blood, it's foul taste making him gag. Black veins appeared from his mouth, quickly moving down his neck as the blood already began it's work. He fell to the ground coughing, his body caught in the throws of an intense pain. Memnoch died a man and was reborn a Darkthorne in those dark woods. His eyes looked on the world with a different sense now, he felt stronger, as if on some intense drug. His blood was like liquid fire and he could see the auras of the plants themselves. The world was alive with colors, he felt tied to everything and yet, nothing.

He turned and the only thought in his mind now was finishing what he'd begun. Memnoch started making his way back towards Garic's location, he was stronger then Garic now. He knew he could match any skill with his new found strength. The blood of his lord Prasutagus's house flowed through his veins. " Now I finish this.." Memnoch said to himself as he trod through the forest.

[Garic_Goldmantle]

"Now I finish this." Memnoch said to himself.

Garic voice suddenly appears through the trees.

"Memnoch, you stand accused of brigandry within the Queens land."

It stops as even out here, the glow from the burning temple the sounds of a dying battle can be heard.

"You stand accused of treachery and kidnapping within the Queens land."

A small officers insignia dangles from a branch a short distance in front of Memnoch, the golden gidled edges surrounding the Blackthorne emblem. The magic within the device crackles along it's surface like a shine as every word Garic mutters is transferred and amplified.

"You stand accused of murder within the Queens land."

The insignia falls lifeless.

Garic steps out from behind a tree almost five feet behind the Darkthorne, his sword clutched tightly in his right hand and a crackling torch in his left. He raises that torch to aim at Memnoch's turned back.

"How do you plea?"

[Garic_Goldmantle]

Gord and Foranthig[/i]

The rope lowers down to Lynfear quickly. "Grab it quick!" Gord shouts at her, peering down over the cliff face. Glancing over his shoulder Gord notices that smoke had now choked out even this escape tunnel, the temple would be little more than ashes within the hour. Their battle party was all but gone, but they had fared better this day than the monks or Darkthornes, for while only a small handful of the Blackthorne guard scoured the forest for any more survivors, they had yet to find any.

The berserkers had followed their rage out into the woods, chasing those stupid enough to run and unwittingly sparing the lives of Gord and his men. Gord's powerfully knotted arms start to pull the slight Lynfear up the cliff face, one hand over the other. "Hold your grip, we're almost there!" He says and drops to his knee once her hands are within reach.

As he pulls her over the cliff face he notices the pain etched on her features first, and the odd angle of her shoulders second.

"Your arms are dislocated." He says disspassionately and rolls her on to her stomache. "I have to fit them back in, and it will hurt more than anything you've ever felt before." No lies could pass those lips.

"Gord!" Before the field medic slash sergeant slash man at arms can fulfill his promise to Lynfear, Major Foranthig emerges from the tunnel coughing and wiping sweat from his brow. "Have you seen Garic?"

Gord shakes his head.

"I thought you were with him."

"He was gone when I got here. I must find him."

Gord pauses for only a second.

"Why?"

"Oh Gord." Foranthig mumbles as he approaches the heavy warrior. "It simple really, because he has a debt to pay."

"A debt?" Gord queries as Foranthig places a hand on his shoulder guard.

"Aye, with his life." Foranthigs free hand slams into Gord's chest and releases a magical blast that hurls the man several feet to collapse in an unmoving heap, tendrils of smoke curling up from his body.

Foranthig laughs as he pulls his chest peice up and over his head, moving in on the Gord's form. Undoing the top buttons of his tunic he pulls the left flap aside to reveal a red hand print on his grey haired chest. Foranthig laughs again.

"If it makes any difference, I never liked the three of you." He taunts. "Garic and his boys, always so high and mighty, so haughty. You haven't even a power, you're as worthless and mundane as the people you protect." Foranthig spits. "Now, at least look up at me, look upon the spectre of your death." His right hand begines to smolder and glow with the heat of a fire as the beefy Major stands over the fallen guard. "And the best part is, after I kill you and Garic. I'll return to the castle and take credit for your victory this day. So die Gord, die in the knowledge that you have aided the blood hand far more than hurt them this day!"

[Lynfaer]

It was like no pain she had ever felt before. Tears continued to roll down soft cheeks as she clung to that rope with dear life. Each tugging motion sent more shock through her body so that by the time she reached the top and was pulled over the only true pain she felt was in the rest of her body. Th scraps, bumps and bruises from her harrowing experience. Those eyes stared up at Gord with a quiet resignation. Though a soft creature with a softer heart, it was evident this was a woman full of quiet courage. She merely nodded mentally preparing herself for what was to come within seconds.

She closed her eyes and swallowed heavily not wanting to see his action, the surprise better in this situation..but it never came. Those eyes popped open she stared in confusion at Foranthig and Gord. When the first attack came she gasped and rolled over to her side ignoring her body's protest. Turning back she watched on in horror as the man spoke about killing the man who had just pulled her to safety and then suddenly something deep inside of that fragile creature snapped.

" No..."

It was but a lowly whispered admission, not heard by either. She couldn't just lie there and allow the man who had saved her die like this. As Foranthig stalked past her she did the unthinkable, not caring if she further damaged her body. She got up. She acutally pressed her palms to the ground and pushed herself up using those injured shoulders. The pain shattered throughout her form and yet she made not a sound merely sucking in her breath and biting down hard enough on her lower lip that it began to bleed.

He was summoning up another burst of magic aiming it toward Gord. Quickly she gauged where they both stood seeing them both standing along side of the edge of the cliff by about 10 feet. Without further thought as to her own safety Lynfaer did the most terrible thing she had ever done in her life.  She decided to kill a man to save another's life. She rounded Foranthig's flank and suddenly burst forward with a scream slamming her smaller frame against his unsuspecting one and literally bulldogged him over the edge. Though smaller the adrenalin runing in her form had given her a renewed strength beyond that of her usual proportions.

In the momentum she nearly went over again herself but, by Gaia's grace only fell with her arms hanging over the edge. It was in that moment the pain came in revived fevor wretching a baleful cry from her lips. Gagging from the extent of the trauma she continued to raggedly cry. It was more than the pain though, it was the knowledge that she had just taken the life of another man. Her first kill. Like anyone the first was the most traumatic. What else could she have done? It was kill him or allow a good man to die. She just couldn't bare the thought of that.

[Memnoch Arcgrave]

Memnoch turned around to see Garic, he smiled, " guilty " he said blatantly. Memnoch jumped up into the trees above, moving from branch to branch. He kicked one of the tree branches causing it to break and fall towards Garic's form, he then moved to another tree. Looking down Memnoch began to laugh out loud, " don't think I'm so easily dispatched Garic, come on, do you think after all this trouble I've led you through that I would just lie down and die? Ha you have no idea the extent of my plans and how you've ruined everything, for that I can't just let you die either Garic. For that you must suffer, I think I'll make you a Darkthorne, or maybe break all your limbs then toss you into the river and watch you drown, hahaha..."

Memnoch looked down to see the woman, his sword was nearby, moving to the tree above his sword, he dropped down. Landing with on his feet with a heavy thud, the new found strength was incredible. He reached out and grabbed his sword, the blade and the dagger now in his hands. " Perhaps I'll kill your men and the woman how would you like that Garic? I'll make them all suffer for the trouble you've caused me and then return to Belgada and be rewarded for your deaths." Memnoch smiled as he spoke towards Garic.

[Garic_Goldmantle]

Garic smiled as he dodged the branch, nimble despite his half plate armor. He moved after the man with a practiced ease, and stopped in a half crouch watching the man collect his sword. He noticed Gord's incapacitated form and became even furthur confused by the sight of the helpless woman, practically dangling over the edge of the cliff. He had to reassure himself he was not a search and rescue team, this was a dispatch mission, and Memnoch must be dispatched.

"You have admitted to being guilty of the crimes you stand accused, and it is my duty to see that the only fitting penalty be levied against you. That penalty..."

Garic reveales himself.

"Is death."

There were no more words to be spoken, the distance closed with a single leap and Garic, the torch held low and ready, levies the sword steady with Memnoch's face. His eyes danced with glory, this was his specialty. He was trained to lead but he lived to fight. The blade flashes as Garic takes the final step, his arm still up and level with the ground it was a simple flick of his wrist to bring that shimmering steel to bear in a cross swipe for Memnoch's neck. Easy to roll back and easy to follow through, there are no mistakes his form.

[Analisa_Blackthorne]

Time had no meaning where she was and as she battled the foe before her all she could remember was being at Shamus's bedside one moment and pulled through the darkness to a swarm of foe the next. It was then she realized who she faced.. Darkthorne assassins.. and they had been after the King only to meet up with her first. Her swords had been drawn and she had held up quite well with the first four as the adrenaline rush fed her energy, but they were simply baiting her and keeping her occupied so that she could not aide her kin. A low growl left her lips as yet another appeared in the shadowed realm to swing at her head with its broad sword and clumsy fighting skills. While its aim was off its wasn't completely off target as she felt the bite of steel into her upper left arm at the same time that hers found its mark of soft stomach muscle. Twisting sideways she heard the sluggish noise as her sword sliced around her foes side before pulling free near the spine. Drawing in a deep breath the shade bender stood in the center of the five dead assailants and took battle stance preparing for more.

Her chest heaved with each powerful breath and her body ached from the many cuts and scrapes, yet she refused to crumble in defeat as the gore smeared blade in her right hand was raised in an arc above her head with its twin held similarly across the mid-section in her left. All was quiet in the pitch black vortex surrounding her yet everything in her screamed it wasn't over yet. The entity fed off the anger and violence of the fray and gorged itself on the pain she felt. Ana licked the split in her lip and her silver eyes misted with the bloodlust of the moment. Wiping her blades on the back of the nearest dead enemy she slid them home and tried to focus her energy so that she could return to the palace.

Just as her breathing settled Ana's eyes widened as pain speared through her right side from the back. Glancing down she could see the shining steel tip at it protruded from just above her hip and she heard the nasty ravaged laugh from behind as the blade was pressed in farther her attacker muttered,"Not so tough now are you bitch? Here I was expecting more fight and blood from one such as yourself. Here they told me you bent shadows to your will and could take a mans heart from his chest while he slept with no one the wiser." She grit her teeth as he twisted the blade just a bit,"You aren't more then a useless female playing warrior with the big boys. Well now its time to pay your due woman." His hand buried in the bloodied mass of platinum hair as he jerked her head back and waited to hear the scream..

The Darkthorne minion behind her was only angered more as she refused to give what he most desired, even as the blood seeped down her side and he shoved it deeper in until the hilt of the short blade was digging in to her pale skin. "Scream bitch! I know you want to so scream!" He started to withdraw the blade only to have it halted as she gripped the tipped end with her gloved hand and ground out,"Why don't you scream instead." The black mist rushed up to engulf her and as shock took over and his grip loosened she spun free. Breathing deep and even she faced the black clad foe with flashing silver eyes that kept him entranced as the mist slithered up his body to encase him like a cocoon. The only thing left peeking out was his wide open brown eyes that watched as Ana reached behind her to draw the blade out of her body and drop it to the body strewn ground,"Welcome to my realm asshole. If you don't know the rules you shouldn't play the game here." As he watched, the inky mist spread out to cover the dead and minutes later it slid back to Ana to leave the ground bare.

Refocusing again Ana found her center and with captive in tow stepped back into Velusia just as the town hall was destroyed. At the cry of the king being dead Ana wasted no time in sending her prize back to the shade realm and making her way through the screaming people. Her bloodied appearance had many swinging weapons at her and she simply batted them away like tiny insects as she searched for the king.

Her silver gaze darted over all the chaos as she drew her dagger and waded into the crowd. "SHAMUS! ... SHAMUS!" ,her gaze focused on one of the imposters that seemed to be doing the same as she. One minute she was there the next she was gone as she used her skill to reappear behind the enemy and raising her dagger she reached forward to tug his head back and slit his throat on a growled,"You'll not get him that easily. I'm not dead yet!" As the body slipped to the ground she continued her search as she felt him.. he was here somewhere.. "SHAMUS!",she mentally called out through the Blackthorne link.

[Shamus Blackthorne]

There was the sound of the explosion and then nothing, but darkness. It was cold here, the voices of those gathered at the meeting echoed. Shamus cast a light spell revealing the awe struck faces of everyone.

" Are we dead King Shamus?" one of the men said, Shamus chuckled, " No no..your not dead, I cast a spell, while in hyper time, I touched each and everyone of you with my mind and teleported us here. Earlier today I found a network of caves which expanded down beneath the city. This cavern is a few miles below the meeting hall."

The people began to talk, some said, " Shamus has saved us all.."

Shamus was nearly too late in saving them, but now the Darkthornes had finally crossed the line. They endangered the lives of his people, they attacked his home, they attacked his family, and they had no sign of stopping. Shamus fell there in the cave, the people began to look at him, some rushed up to help him. Shamus's shoulder began to hurt, suddenly a  boney protusion came out of his shoulder. His eyes went black, the darkness about everyone began to swirl. The crow grew fearful, " Shamus is turning dark!" someone called out, they looked at Shamus with fearful eyes. Their fear snapped him back to control, he shook his head and slowly began to rise.

He heard a call drift down through the miles of rock and dirt, Analisa called his name. Shamus realized they'd been down here while the scene above was still playing out. He closed his eyes and concentrated once more, this time not having to step out into hyper time, his mind began to stretch out a web, touching each and every person down there with him. None of them noticed this, as he connected them to him for transportation, he intoned the words for the spell and when he opened his eyes they stood in the town square. People in the town began to gasp and shout as the people thought dead arrived in the town square. Shamus turned to one of the guards that approached, " get the men ready, we march for war in three hours. If Darkthorne wants a war, then it's got it, for Velusia shall sleep no more, we shall bring them the pain they have caused us."

The guard looked to Shamus and ran off to sound the call to arms, the troops would begin to prepare for the march to Belgada. Shamus walked over to where Analisa was and smiled, " I'm sorry I worried you cousin, but they'll not find me an easy kill as long as I have life within my body." Shamus's form was weak from the teleportation, but he let his anger fuel him now. " Velusia is going to war, and Belgada will fall to dust!" Shamus practically spit the words out. His face showed his emotion, how he had given in to the darkness within for the strength to carry him to Belgada for vengance.

[Memnoch Arcgrave]

Memnoch was now a full fledged Darkthorne, his humanity gone, given up for the strength to carry on. The dark blood ran through his veins strengthening his darker emotions. It turned his dislike to hate, his fear to anger, he could see the world as a Darkthorne now. The quick movement of Garic's form was something he did not need the blood to see however. Using his new found strength he quickly brought his blade up to defend against Garic's attack. Side swiping to block the sword, while his body turned to the side as well to fully avoid it. He still held his dagger ready in case Garic should send out another attack of some kind. " Ha...Garic, you have underestimated me, for I have drank of the Darkthrone blood now and become one with their darkness. I am stronger now, I can feel the dark pulse within my heart, the world will tremble before me. Nothing can stop me now, nothing I am invincible, I defy not only Velusia and all those within it, but death itself."

Memnoch jumped back and took up a stance with his sword, aiming it directly at Garic, he would lunge with the sword in a manner where it could easily be turned into a slash to the left or right should Garic move from it's path. This was the form of a blood hand assassin, all his attacks would be so that if his enemy dodged them, they could be turned to allow for a second attack on the fleeing enemy. He was not going to give up so easily, everything that had led to this moment, would not be for nothing. " Stand and deliver Garic, let us see who the gods favor!" Memnoch began his lunge with his sword aimed with precision towards Garic's neck. The fire from the temple was slowly making it's way down the hill, to their battleground. Like two souls lost in hell, they would fight until the flame of one was extinguished.

[Vincent]

Vincent felt his form slowly disappearing from the lich's castle, like stepping from one room to another, he was in Velusia. There the castle was before him, standing tall in the afternoon sun. Vincent hated the sun, but he was given a task to complete, one which he found no need for deviation. Vincent looked to the stone structure of the castle's outter walls. The scupltures going up were perfect, he slung his chains wrapping them around the sculptures and began to make his way up. He would start from the top to the bottom, exterminating the Blackthornes. His beasital mind began to work as his voice said, " Black...Thorne..." the sword flew up beside him. He looked at it as the eye in the sword looked back at him. Claws sprang from the hilt of the sword as the mouth on it's blade opened and growled at Vincent. Vincent growled back at the blade and continued with his climb up the castle of Lochland.

There was a form up there, one whose smell was familiar to him, this caused him to climb faster. As he lept over a onto solid ground, he looked to the form which stood in front of him. The sword brought itself to his hand and the eye looked to the figure of Reese which stood before him. Vincent's form was washed over in a silence aura, just as an explosion rocked the city of Velusia. Vincent's attention went to the flames for a moment, the flames made memories rise up. Memories of his first trip to Belgada, he could remember the flames of the foundries, while he looked for someone. Someone that had become lost, someone whom he called brother, he remembered fighting through forces upon forces to get to his brother. He remembered his journey across the lands to reach this person he called brother, to bring him home.

Vincent's mind was snapped back to the present as he began to make his way towards Reese. He lifted his blade and pointed it at Reese's back as he came running towards him.

[Reese Blackthorne]

Reese was standing there over looking the beauty of Lochland, the castle had once stood upon an island miles away from here. That island was now to the flank of the Darkthorne lands. Once a great sea covered all of Belgada, the Darkthorne's home was nothing, but an island as well. But then something happened, something dried that sea up, the lands of Belgada were born from that event, the Darkthornes now could march to Noire Heim, where the castle of the kingdom once called Blackthorne sat. In order to protect themselves better, the castle was moved here to the former island of Lochnell, which became Lochland. Reese couldn't imagine the castle not being here, for it seemed to belong here, more then it did at it's former home. The sea of Gada had dried up right after the meteor shower, which marked Reese's leave of Velusia. Those meteors had become a prized ore in Velusia, they had also changed things drastically. For Reese could see that there were many things not understood about the meteors.

They had fallen not from the sky, but from the nimbus outside the dream realm, when he made his ascent. Some of those meteors held danger, while others would enchance power, the only ones found so far, where those that strengthened metal. Reese was hit by another wave of pain and he began to cough once more, spitting out blood yet again. He steadied himself on the railing, " my body is growing weaker by the minute.." Reese only wanted to see Velusia through, he knew that Soleus and Gem were working to claim the item that would heal the land and the Thorne clan once and for all. And he also knew Velusia's destiny would carry it far beyond it's borders to lands unknown. Suddenly there was an explosion in the center of Lochland, Reese's eyes turned on it.

He heard the call of " They've killed King Shamus!" Reese leaned on the rails, his heart sinking. " No...no.." his attention was not on his sword which glowed to warn him of the night lord's presence. Reese began to cough again as he struggled to see down into the chaos of the city streets. He must go and search for his son, he could still feel Shamus's lifeforce so he could not be dead. His back was turned to Vincent, his attention on the explosion and the chaos. Suddenly a sharp pain hit Reese, as a familiar blade punctured his chest, his life's blood pouring out of him. " Arrrhhhhh!.." Reese reached to his chest and began to try to move away from the blade, his own sword merely inches out of his reach.