Demise: Demise estate

[Meredith Nicevan]

Meredith held her head high as the knight appraoched her. He asked her what was her business.
"My sister and I have been in search of our mother, to bring her news of our aunt. I was hoping to speak with the leader of your people."
Her eyes looked behind him to the people that were behind him. Meredith noticed that the lady that was surrounded by people was heading toward them.
"If need be I may be of help getting the worse off people to where you go faster then walking. I bring nor wish to bring harm to any here."

[Prasutagus Darkthorne]

Prautagus could almost taste victory, it was finally within his grasps, the rain slowly began to stop it's assult. As the sun came out, his armor glistened, the battlefield behind them was still raging on. As she turned, and his axes came down closer and closer to that delicate neck. She turned and he could see his reflection in her eyes, she ducked. He looked down to see her rolling towards his feet, he pushed with his right foot. He soared over her rolling form coming down almost, falling off the battlement. He balanced there for a moment, his arms flapping as he leaned dangerously forward, he quickly went back. He twirled around and pushed with his right foot again as she was standing up. His axes went to his side as he madly charged at her, the stained glass windows behind her reflected them both.

" Raaaaarrrghh!" he was tiring of her struggle, of her defiant fight against him. Against his glory and the chance for the crown to fall into the hands of it's rightful wearer. Why wouldn't she just give up, what could she possibly be fight for? Was it her son, maybe her brother, or some unknown lover, whatever it was, he had his reasons as well. Reasons that drove him like a machine, driving him to the ever closing glory that would be his. He put all his strength into the charge, he would plunge them both into the windows in an attempt to both gain stable ground, and give her, her final rights. It was time for this battle to come to an end, for Darkthorne to finally win, to finally conquer the one land that refused to submit to their rule. The one challenge that would bring an endless peace to his clan, with their enemies destroyed, their lands taken.

There would be only one fate, one driving force and that would be the Darkthornes.

[Shamus Blackthorne]

Shamus felt the ripping of armor and flesh, as she avoided both the flames and his swords. His mind was closing in on that thin line, the line between madness and sanity. His form rolled across the ground and the rage built, his veins pulsed as the mindset of a berserker took over. His hand went to his wounded gut, he looked upon his own blood and smeared it on his face. Foaming at the mouth, his eyes went white as he stood again and came at her relentlessly. The only thing that drove him now was to kill her, his mind no longer determined who was friend or foe, they all were viewed the same. His swords came up towards her neck, he'd make her kneel, just before he lopped off her head. His form ran as though his weight were dead, his swords dragged along the ground as his white eyes stared straight ahead.

The wind whistled about them as the pools of water rippled, the rain slowly began to stop. The sun now looked down upon the battlefield, it's warm gaze could not be felt by Shamus. The witch must die, Demise smoked in the background as the Zalentran knights closed in to their king. Shamus's muscled tensed up become like corded steel rope, the fur about his shoulders was wet, as his hair was. His armor was covered in water, that slowly dried as he made his charge straight ahead to the queen of the Darkthornes, the crimson witch.

[Eduardo DeLioncourt]

Eduardo had his demons to deal with, he knew that some day karma would kick him in the butt. He'd done so much evil in his life, not because he was evil, but because it was all he knew. All he knew to begin with, but as he learned of other ways, he slowly took them in. He had the capacity to be either good or evil, he chose his path though. He chose what would be his future, no one else. Eduardo wouldn't allow anyone else to decide for him, never again. Eduardo watched a lone horseman trample the Darkthorne Dramund. Eduardo could sense it, this was the fiend who had been behind the enchantment that had cut off everyone's ties to other realms. Eduardo watched the one known as Cebreese, who had obviously changed sides. He was fighting Dramund, whatever cruel twist of fate had turned Cebreese, it was welcomed.

Eduardo saw Dramund's armor flatering in it's enchantment, saw the demon slowly changing to a man. He was blinded and his armor had become his prison, Eduardo raised his hand. It was time to show a little of his evil, to show what kind of weapon he was. His arm began to glow with blew orbs drifting about it. His hand seemed to disappear as roots twisted about where his finger tips once were. A spiral of blue light appeared along his arm as he focused on Dramund and without hesitation launched a blast of ionic energy at Dramund's form. He hoped Dramund burned in hell for all the lives he'd taken. Dramund was there that day, he served Cebreese then and it was his men that took Jill captive.

Eduardo bit his rage back though, he knew to give in would result as before. Eduardo had once laid his sword down for peace, once given up fighting to help build a future. After this war was over, he would try that again. Perhaps he could build him a house, plant him a farm, but he would have to make sure peace was kept. If there were any openings in Demise's military, Eduardo might just apply. Peace could never be kept by laying down one's arms. It could only be maintained by vigilance and dedication to perserving it. Even if it meant fighting for it, he could protect Demise, the city which would come under many enemy attacks. For any enemy wishing to march on Velusia would have to come through here, that is after they crossed the barren outlands of Belgada.

One of the Eduardos near Anna turned to her and smiled, speaking to her in her mind, " It's your life, you have freedom, and you have the chance to make it whatever you will. I know my healing powers caused you to shy away, but I can apply a healing salve to the wound, it will fight off infection and aide in the natural healing process, if you wish." The clone reached into a pouch at his belt, he carried various items with him. Sometimes the power of knowledge was greater then magic. It was easier for many to accept and understand, magic shouldn't be used all the time anyway. Eduardo hated using his power, it made him stick out even more when he did, but times like this it came in handy. But it always drew in those eyes he wanted to keep off him. Those eyes of the hungry men and women that saw a use in his powers. Saw him not as Eduardo, but as a weapon, a tool to be used for their own selfish needs.

It's why Eduardo wandered rather then settled down, but here he felt he could have a chance. They used a type of mechanics that was even interesting in his eyes. Magic would probably seem barbaric to these people rather then awe inspiring and simplistic.

[Longinus]

Longinus looked to Raven, it was clear she had hoped her sister could be saved. Perhaps she could, but it would have to wait for after the battle, there were ways to bring the dead back.

" I wanted to disarm her, I asked her to put the sword down, but disarming someone who is on top of you, trying to kill you, it's not as easy a task as it sounds. Had I thought there was a way I would have attempted it, I didn't want to kill her. I knew it wouldn't make you happy, I knew that she might have a chance of being saved, but she didn't seem like she wanted to be saved. My head is a blur, when one is in battle they have little time to think, it's more of reaction and instinct, it's what defines someone's skill. I had her sword pinned under my arm, but had I tried any other attack on her, she could have disarmed me and slain me. If you want her back, I think there might be a way, but it's dangerous."

Longinus knew he would regret it, but he knew one way for sure to bring Tempest back.

[Lady Raven Dragonheart]

Raven looked to his face as he spoke to her of how he had no coice but kill her or be killed. That her knew a way that Tempest could be brought back to life but it was dangerous. She brought her hands up and placing one on each arm. Raven took a deep breath as while staring to his blue eyes.
"There is no way that you are going to do anything dangerous to bring her back. I did not risk my life to rescue you to loose you to have her black heart beat again."
She lowered eyes for Raven did not want him to see how she really felt for him. Raven thought that she would never find another that she felt close to. Taking a deep breath she finished speaking her thought.
"Let her rest wether it with the beasts of hell or being among those that she had killed. I cold not live with myself if she went back to killing."
Slowly she brought her eyes back to his face hoping that he would understand. And he would let the fate that came to Tempest be and not change it by bringing her back.

[Analisa_Blackthorne]

The taint of Darkthorne that clung to her blood sang with glory at the draw of first blow. Silver eyes glittered deep in the black helm as she continued to circle him even while he attacked each image cutting thru the inky darkness only to see the illusion fade and his blade dip into the shadowed vortex. The entity was full and well powered from its previous feasting upon the battlefiled and now as Syndicale's own shadow touch the blade of its mistress it used some of that energy and power to spill over the ground at their feet, quickly  spreading out to cover it.

She matched him blow for blow and swing for swing shifting from one image to the next meeting him face to face as each gaze glittered and challanged for more. The shadow walker grunted as Syndicale's blade bit thru her armor to bury into her left side, as the blade slipped free she stepped back into the wall. Reaching down to graze over the wound with her knuckles Analisa lifted them bloodied to her face and seconds later the helm faded away like mist to reveal her lovely pale features with the golden tattoo upon it and  pulled back mass of sweat dampened blonde hair. The tip of her tongue darted out to taste the crimson smears and she shivered at the flash of pain before the shadows swamped in to steal the sensation and seal the wound. Dropping back into fighting stance she felt the helm as it was formed back into place.

"We are far from similar.. Syndicale Darkthorne fore you see I was tainted by the Darkthorne and yet strong enough to walk away." Down to but a few images left and each one condemned him with little more then the grate of every word spoken. "Tell your maker an old friend says hello.", she grunted as another strike found a hit on her upper right arm.

As he continued to strike out she took the opportunity to strike back aiming for the center of his spine as she stepped out of the shadow wall behind him starting the blade low with a strike meant to sever the spine. The runic markings upon the blade glowed brightly as it's weilders blood slid down along its whisper thin length like a sacrifice to its held power. "Glory...",she smirked,"I'll deny you all that I can for as long as it is possible." The darkness at his feet crept up to ankle height as it caressed the ground in a fog like manner.

[Nikko Stephan]

His long black hair flew behind as the hazel eyes looked at the treees before them. Nikko had tired of hanging in the walls of his family's castle. They all knew that his spirit was to wild to be caged within the walls of the home. It never surprised them when he disappeared not being found for hours. They only asked that he be armed incase of any surprise that he may come across. Nikko sat up letting the winds blow over cooling him down.
Nikko brought the horse to a quick stop seeing red in the distance. With the quiet about him he could make out yells of people fighting. He wondered how something like this could happen without him knowing. Deep down her knew that family would be angery with him. But he loved nothing better then a good fight other then making love to a woman.
He nudged the horse in the ribs sending it off in the direction of the fighting. Nikko lowered his body making them more areodynamic.
Just as they closed in on the battle he quickly with drew his blade and brought it out. As her charged in he took a couple heads off and wounds another. One close enough could see the joy on his face at killing those around him. Seeing that the Darkthornes were here explained just what brought this all on. He left the others alone so to help take down the enemy.

[Honor Demise]

The noble woman walked closer, cautious of the dragon and its rider. The lady shook her dark head. Neither young nor old, she held an ageless quality in her bearing. ?We appreciate your offer of aid.  I fear that we have too many injured and not enough dragons.?

"I have two dragons as does my sister we could move them few at a time. Which may prolog their life to where they shall live another day." Her eyes went and looked over those that stood some distance form them. "But I have the mission that brought us here as well to deal with. I do not mean to be rude but I look for your king."

The crowd laughed. Honor smiled. ?Milady, I am the Queen Regent of the House of Demise. I am their leader.?

Her mouth falls open "I am sorry m'lady please for give me." Bows down. " But we have been traveling for may days. Seems that faces have started to become one."

The rider amused her. It was not everyday that she was told that she blended in with the crowd. ?You may rise.? The Demise queen chuckled kindly. ?What is it you need to address, young dragonrider??

Meredith stands back up looking to the queen. "We have been traveling in search of our mother finding to no luck. She was not at either place that she usually resides." She gave a quick glance to the knight returning her eyes to the queen. "Then we started to take look upon the lands that have connections with the Blackrose."

Honor cocked an eyebrow with interest. ?Pray tell your mother is who??

"Our mother is Raven Dragonheart, she too is a dragonrider."

?If I remember correctly, she is in the service of Reinne and Shamus Blackthorne. The Blackthornes are assisting us in repelling the siege. If you wish to come with us to the manor house, we can search out your mother after we get the wound settled.? To know who was who was very important to Honor, using the Queen?s Mirror she keep tabs most of the important coming and goings in Velusia. Raven had just appeared in Lochland not too long ago.

"Helping is the least that I can do for your help. Just let me know where my help can be of the greatest use." Meredith's eyes looked over the lot of the moving away from the battle. She would get word to her sister when she was sure about mother.

Honor motioned for the worst of the wounded to be brought forward and she nodded with gratitude. ?Demise manor is past the cathedral beside Le Academia. Take the worst that can travel by way of dragon. The rest will have to travel by foot.?  

Meredith looked the wounded over trying to pick the lucky few that would be moved faster. She motioned for couple of people to come forward. Carefully she helped them upon Joie, pointing to another and helped him up. Meredith brought forward couple of the younger males placing them upon the back of Razven.

As the sun began to set on the horizon, the luxurious manorhouse in the heart of Demise had been converted to a triage and hospital. Pampered courtiers rolled up their sleeves and began tending to the wounded. Pride filled her heart. Nearly three days had passed with no sleep for the Demise queen, she yawned with weariness expending much of her energy in the last two: the rescue of her brother and the siege of her country. Vincent and his half brother were settled in bedrooms with an adjoining sitting area. Outside the battle was pitched; inside there was a stillness that sat in juxtaposition to the noise and rage of battle. No time to sleep. Honor had quickly changed into a simple gown and ran a brush through her dark tresses. Tiredly she joined dragonrider in the war room to scrye for her mother.

((joint post of Meredith and Honor))

[Meredith Nicevan]

Meredith followed Honor to the warroom looking the place over as they moved along the hallway. She slipped off gloves and slide them between her and a belt. Long red locks cascaded along her back as brown eyes enjoyed the beauty of the place. Meredith thinking that she may try and find employment here. Here she may be close enough to her mother to make her happy. While having a place to live and work away from her.

"Do you live in this place by yourself or is more family?"

She noticed that Honor was getting tired form what must from fight in the battle. It must be hard running a plce that depended on her to keep them safe. Thou at the same time she had no worry wether she was going to eat of drink that day.

"On behalf of my sister and I, thank you. Thanks to you we are able to end our search for our mother. Thou she is more thankful then i being that she begged me to come."

[Isabelle Dragonheart]

She hoped that Meredith would be ok being she out of sight. Being that she had not yelled out was a good sign unless, she decided try do it herself.

Belle had Darius fly low over the battle so to get a better look at those below. She saw many people down there either fighting or they were dead. There might be a chance that few were closing on their last breath. While they flew over the battle she had Desari help the other dragons blast the enemy with fire.

Wonder went through her mind seeing the other two dragons in the sky blasting the area with fire. The looked lot like that of her mother's but she was no where to be found. The younger one looked quite a bit like that her aunt rode upon. She to was no where to be found which put worry in her.

[Anna Dimitrich Levin]

Freedom, it was merely a word right now with sentiments of a faint hope attached to them from the barely remember days of her training. Now she was offered her chance at knowing what it was. Anna watched the clone Eduardo next to her begin to fish around in a pouch. Quickly her own hands reached for his wrists. A gentle pull bringing them out as she responded, correcting him on her shy actions,

~I wasn?t shy about being touched by magic. I was fearful that you would know what I am?What I was. I understand healing in both ways though I have little training in healing others or even myself with magic but I know I can if I have to. I have little on many things with my powers beyond keeping them in check from chaos. I know more about natural healing, but it doesn?t make me have an aversion to one way or the other.~

Her grip was soft and barely a caress most would say. Anna always had a light touch with those she trusted, or was loyal to. It was a habit of her training more than her nature. Really she could be the most deadliest creature many have ever known, or the sweetest angel anyone had ever kissed. The duality of her personality often made those who were commanding her suspicious of her mental state. Yet, the only thing she was lacking was the training to manipulate her mental powers.

When she had eventual brought his hands back out of the pouch she stopped moving to take his hand again allowing the steadiness of his sturdy frame.

~You are taxing your energy now, stretching it between too many of you. My wound can wait for awhile. It was a clean cut just a sharp blade wielded by a corrupt fiend, it is bound to sting for a bit. I can wait.~

With that, Anna?s stare moved along the battlements watching observing and filling in a space of a fresh look for the many Eduardo?s that stood around her and still fought as if with an undying energy. Her lungs still hurt from lack of oxygen, bruises had formed around the length of her neck. Some were still showing faint signs of the fiends gripped indentations. It was only contrasted by the paleness of her skin and the stark white hair that was not smudged or drying in the sluge that was the corrupted blood of the enemy.

[Syn Darkthorne]

Syn gritted his teeth, even if she killed him here, he would find a way back. Find some way out of hell to come back for his revenge, some way. He hadn't sold his soul just to be destroyed by her. She resembled her mother, every once in a while, he couldn't tell the two apart. If he didn't know better, he'd say she carried the strength her mother once had. Him and his sister had forged their kingdom with their bare hands. Fought for everything they had, and after the fight was over, she quit. He hungered for battle, it never left his system, but she resigned herself to the duties of a monarch. Syn had seen their kingdom of warriors grow weak, everyone took in the peace.

Maybe it was never meant for him, but he would not give up, never, he would die fighting.

" I'm surprised your father never told you...hehe he's probably too ashamed. Your brother never survived did he, it's a shame really, I didn't know she was with child when I unleashed the plague. If I'd known, I might have stolen the child away to raise as my own. That way you would have faced your brother today instead of me. Did your father ever tell you  about your family's past, I'm sure he painted a beautiful picture. Strahd served me, I had him take your father out, but he couldn't kill him. So I told him to keep him prisoner, while I took out his family. I failed in that, and your father was set free...."

Syn slashed at another image and as the blade met resistance, he smiled, he had hurt her. Bringing the blade up to his lips, his tongue snaked out and licked her blood off his blade.

" Tell my maker...hah why don't you tell him, you'll be joining him soon.."

Syndicale began to look for his next target to strike, he was feeling a rush, he could win this battle. His ears caught the sound all too late as the blade stabbed into his spine. His hand relaxed dropping his blade as he fell to his knees. Only a few things flashed through his head as his mind slowly decended into darkness. For a moment he had freedom, before the darkness consumed the soul it owned. His body fell forward, into the darkness that had been knee deep.

[Sigonus Erewyn]

Sigonus and Lucan entered the cathedral, Sigonus held a hand out keeping Lucan near the door. He turned left and right looking around to make sure it was safe.

" I think will be safe here.."

Sigonus raised his newly made staff up and tapped it against the floor, the head of the staff began to glow. It sought out anything evil, it would tell them for sure if they were safe.

Nothing, he sighed in relief, turning back to Lucan, he knelt down and touched Lucan's shoulders.

" Look if anything should happen, I want you to run, find a safe place to hide, okay? No matter what happens, you can't let yourself get hurt, or captured, your dear mother would be sad if anything else happens to you."

Lucan nodded and they began to walk deeper into the cathedral, thanks to his elven blood, Sigonus could see through the darkness here. However Darkthornes had a way of getting around being seen, if they came here, he'd have to defend it himself, in order to keep Lucan safe.

Sigonus looked around at the lavishness of the cathedral, he had seen some beautiful sights like this back in Lochland. But to think of something like this way out here on the border city of Demise. He'd never been to Demise, never, not even once. He spent most his time in Lochland, but now he was realizing the sights he missed by staying in just one place.

[Honor Demise]

"Do you live in this place by yourself or is more family?"

"My brother and I are all that is left of the ruling family line. I live here, but my brother comes and goes by his discretion." Honor could only image that Vahn had found something to amuse him. The very thought of Vahn made her smile. How she had missed him! Now he and Vincent were back and soon the universe would be set right.  

She noticed that Honor was getting tired form what must from fight in the battle. It must be hard running a plce that depended on her to keep them safe. Thou at the same time she had no worry wether she was going to eat of drink that day.

"On behalf of my sister and I, thank you. Thanks to you we are able to end our search for our mother. Thou she is more thankful then i being that she begged me to come."
 
"The sacrifices that we make for family." The lady nodded in understand and waved her hand over the table. Her weary eyes capture Meredith's. "Tell the mirror of what you seek."