The storm within[Editted with an addition]

[Kalamos]

The wind swept through him, the land he knew was getting away from him. He felt the earth of the lands he walked upon begin to shake under an impending storm. Water dripped down around him in his tent as he slept. Under the shadow of clouds and the light of the lightning that danced across the sky in abrupt movements. He was dreaming of something, something that was less than he would ever have wanted from a dream; A nightmare of things he loved and things he could not find. The cries of those whom used to be his friends. He saw the flames spread, felt the heat upon his face consuming the sweat on his brow. Kalamos rolled back and forth in the bedding of his tent, muttering grunts and splintered words of worry and cries to help others. A shaft of light blew through the sky, straight down into the forested area he set his shelter in.

 Tears formed in his eyes, watching the blade of his worst enemy drive through friend after friend. Cutting down man and woman and beast as though they were nothing to him.  He saw his drow elf friend Thorlan cut down, his very close travelling companion, known as Star, run through, and the beast at her side, that protected her, burned in fires.  Out of his sorrow the spark of hostility was lit within his heart,  Vengeance within fanned his aggresion into a rage and his nightmare was blown away in an instant. With a wave of his hand he saw the white embers tear through his right hand, and torch everything surrounding him. The mad glee he had come to understand all madmen had was expressed through his rage, as he watched an individual garbbed almost exactly like himself burn away in the fire. He was left alone, with everything smoldering to ashes, and only the beat of his heart to keep him company.

 He fell to his knees, and screamed into the darkness throwing his arms up and swinging them downward; Everything went black and all that was within his ability to sense was his scream. His heart raced, slamming against his chest, crying for a new body to serve. His anger became depression and the race in his soul began to churn inward. He felt the cold touch of his tears soaking through the clothes he wore to sleep. Pulling his arm up he wiped them away, and muttered, "Another nightmare..." Why was it he always felt so terrible lately, every night he dreamt of these terrible things. Glancing down to his right hand he realized that the burns from his dream were still there. It was time to move. He looked around outside his tent, the moon was blotted out by thick clouds, but the storm had passed with his dreams. He gathered his things and began to pack up his camp. The air around his tent camp was heavy, as if there was more to it than just a man and a tent.

[Addition]

He began to don his armor, it was a strange suit to most. He wore a full knight's plate armor; to most, this was foolish because armor rarely protects successfully from any attack anymore. There were too many creatures able to bypass the defenses of others, his armor showed signs of this all over. It was worn and weathered, chipped in many places, and several specific pieces were cracked badly. Almost beyond the point of repair. Rust was embedded across many of the parts of his armor. It all went together to complete the look of this individual. A ragged traveler whom has lost faith in the world around him.

 One pair of his armor pieces was in a mint condition despite his obvious lack of concern for it. His forearm plates and gauntlets, both seemed in mint condition with the exception of scratch lines across them. As his gaze moved to them and he began to strap the plating to himself, his eyes darkened with the thoughts of how it happened. His lips formed a name, "Cyan." His body shook with his heartbeat. The thickness of the air began to concentrate.  The look in his face became concentrated, fierce; As if something were bearing down on his mind. His breathing intensified, he could feel the force of power gathering around him, like the dry tickled feeling of electricity before he got zapped. He pulled both of his arms infront of himself and curled them around, focusing the energy that was closing in on him. He thrust his arms out and the feeling dissipated. His breathing began to steady. He finished strapping his armor to his body when he tied a specific strap across his left shoulder plate.

Armor donned, he packed his tent picked a direction, and began to walk in that random direction. He needed time to clear his thoughts, then he would come up with a decision on where specifically to go next. The atmosphere where his tent was once set, was thick with a weak supernatural feeling, but one that was beginning to dissipate slowly. It would linger for a day or two before it completely dissipated.

[Darkness Incarnate]

OOC Note: The events of this scene take place after Cyan and Atra finish what they are doing.


It had been a long night, and the events of  it were still fresh on his mind even with the storms passing, both metaphorically and physically; the sky above began to clear some time ago, as the sun began it’s long journey across the sky. He let his gaze linger, for though the sun was rising, he could see the crescent moon setting in the opposite end of the sky, now that the storm clouds had dissipated and drifted south. And so he remained in his thoughts, lowering his gaze once more to his immediate surroundings, to one side is a wasteland, and to another, a forest and a dead village. But there was something else in the air, as well, a sort of humid weight that seemed, if anything, strange and unnatural, but familiar as was the case the previous night with Atra’Lamia. It is then that Cyan’s superior senses begin to detect a rise in the pressure, so to speak, as the source of his curiosity seems to increase in power, perhaps to use some attack or technique in battle. Cyan does not know why, but he now knows who; Kalamos, for he heard the child Daisuke say his name the last time they met in Eden.

A smile spreads across his lips, and Cyan closes his eyes, no longer thinking about his meting with Atra, now his mind is focused on finding out why Kalamos has come to this land, seemingly the place a person like him would not venture. Though the sun cast light on him, and darkness was no longer prevalent, it also cast a deeper shadow on his back, not to mention the darkness beneath his feet. Even so, Cyan is not affected by the lack of darkness, nor is he weakened or is his sight diminished, for though he is no longer the all encompassing god like form that he was, he is still able to see and travel through all darkness for a fairly large radius, some fifty miles or more. Thus, with the spike in Kalamos’ power, Cyan is more or less immediately aware of his presence, and with a thought he is able to see his form from the darkness of the forest around him, and even from Kalamos’ own shadow, even from the darkness of his tent, before he takes it down.

With a little more focus, and the will to be there, he is there; his body appears to sink down into the ground, and almost immediately, he emerges from the shadow of a big rock, and infact upon finally becoming physically whole, he is standing atop the rock, to Kal’s back as he begins to walk away. “Kalamos…Is that not your name?” he asks, waiting for his reply. He still has no shirt on, though with another thought, the shadow's on his body begin to widen and connect to one another, forming into a black shirt, with loose sleeves.

[Kalamos]

Without hesitation, the first unnatural sound to hit the air set Kal's instincts into motion. A sharp spin before the first word is completed and his blade was pointed directly at Cyan. It was the kind of speed a man in full armor shouldn't have. As cyan's words be completed, Kalamos spat out, in pure reactive instinct and a sharp tone, "What do you want?!" He began to assess the situation. The first thing he realized was that the man knew his name, and snuck up on him. His first suspiscion led him to believe it was an illusion, an elaborate deception played upon his mind by some incredibly gifted psychic.

 Cyan had looked different, and because Kalamos cut his speech off, he didn't hear the voice that might've been familiar. He was certain the land was hostile, its inhabitants were hostile, and that he felt hostile. He remained tensed and kept the blade pointed at the man, while he stepped away slowly, collecting some form of safe distance while he waited for his answer. His arms were fully tensed, ready to defend his body, his stance well anchored down wide footing; Ready to repel back attacks with sharp spins and his blade, a full bastard sword, littered with etchings that spelled out a lost language. His left arm held the blade, his right arm was free tensed as well. His heart was racing, and adrenaline was pulsing through his veins.

[Darkness Incarnate]

His words were cut off by the scraping sound of Kalamos’ sword against it’s sheathe as he spun and drew the blade with impressive speed, especially for the armor upon his body, though the armor certainly appears to be in a state of disrepair, save for the gauntlets. Cyan can’t guess why they should be be in perfect working order while the rest of his armor is neglected, though he notes the fact nonetheless, remembering the strange fire that encompassed Kalamos’ form in defense when he used his shadow wraith to try and take possession of the man. It was a short encounter, the last time they met, but one Cyan wouldn’t easily let escape his memory. Upon hearing Kal speak, he smiles, and looks down at him from the rock he is standing on. “That’s just what I was about to ask you. It seems to me that I’m the one being followed, for I entered this land before you, unless I’m mistaken.” he replies, as Kal slowly backs away.

His lips break into a short grin, and Cyan jumps down from the rock and lands softly on the ground, only a few feet below. “You don’t seem to have changed much. I can’t say the same for myself, however. Do you still not know who I am? Does my name elude you?” he asks, speaking more than usual to give the man a short distance from him a longer chance to recognize him, regardless of his different appearance. If Kalamos was observant, he would perhaps see that Cyan’s eyes had not changed, and recognize him by that, or perhaps not. It was something that was yet to be seen, and so Cyan waited, watching the tensed form of Kalamos with sword extended, at the ready should Cyan only act, it would seem.

[Darkness Incarnate]

NOTE: I added this little part to my last post since it has been about a month since I posted in this thread, and starting with a fresh post can't hurt.



“Certainly you have not forgotten what I tried to do to you when last we met, far away in the lands of Eden. I would have you know that my goals today are no different then they were then. You will be my servant, my slave, and if I have my way, today is the day that you will convert to my will. What say you, Kalamos? Doesn’t what I offer you seem enticing, even just a little..aside from the servitude? I offer you a chance to start over, with a fresh mind and a blank past, for I see the torment in your eyes, and I have empathy for the pain of others…..” Cyan says after a long silence, his words filled with a mysterious sense of feigned sympathy as the wind picks up, causing the autumn leaves to lift off the ground and swirl about in the air all around them.  The swishing and crackling sounds of all the leaves flying around them drown out what he says only just a little, though if Kal is truly listening to him then it is likely he will still hear everything Cyan has said. As the wind dies down, and the leaves fall back to the ground and return to their state of decay, and he closes his fist for but a moment, only long enough to think of what he desires before it begins to take shape.

As with before, when he caused the shadows on his body to form into a shirt, he is again using the darkness to form something else, something Kalamos will recognize as a sign that Cyan is here for business, and that Kalamos is on the agenda this day. An inky black substance begins to seep out from the creases in his thumb and index finger as the darkness seems to take a liquid form, though as it continues to flow out of his palm, it does not drip to the ground. Instead, as it keeps coming out more and more, it simply grows longer and longer, until finally the black form extends about thirty five inches out from his hand. It is then that the liquid ceases it’s growth, as it solidifies and the black that covers it’s entire surface fades, giving way to what appears to be metal. It is at that moment that Cyan is sure Kalamos will recognize what he has formed, and he smiles as he begins to move closer to Kal’s form. “Clearly, my goal is not to kill you. However, last time we met you and I never got around to fighting, and this time I won’t let that happen. Combat will show me if you are truly worthy, for though I have made it seem as though you are in control, you’ve never really had a choice. If you can fight well, then you will serve me well. If not…Then perhaps you may go free, or perhaps you may die here today.”, he says to Kalamos as he comes to a stop only ten feet away from the man. “Of course, death is freedom…” he adds, leaving it for Kal to read into his meaning, though it is certainly diabolical.

[Kalamos]

He was listening and Cyan's words may have fallen on his ears well, but Kalamos was not without some measure of wisdom and responded without words. He changed stance, strong anchored to the ground, he brought the blade arm to his left hip side; Crossing the blade up and cross his front torso. He pulled at a strap that held his travel pack on his body, a number of knots in the strapping came loose and the entire pack came off, held by that strap he tossed it aside. He moved one foot forward, and braced a hand behind the sword, grabbing it tightly and pulling his arm back slightly. He tighted his muscles, which unfortunately for Cyan, was beyond sight. His armor hid his bodily activity. "Test me then." He observed closely the length of Cyan's weapon, and glanced to his own. Comparing them he realized his was the larger weapon. It told him that be wary of the speed Cyan was likely to have and that Cyan's control was probably going to be a little less developed than his own. He narrowed his eyes, Cyan wore no armor; He had something he was hiding. Kalamos would force him to reveal it soon enough though of that he was fairly certain. He steeled himself and waited for Cyan's attack.

[Darkness Incarnate]

As he watched and waited for a reply from the man before him, he smiles when he see’s that Kalamos is a man of action, not words, as he simply ignores responding to what Cyan said and moves into a defensive stance. As Kal undoes the straps and then throws his traveling pack to the side, Cyan keeps his gaze locked on Kal’s form, on his sword more then anything else. It’s size is nearly double the size of Cyan’s own short sword, and such a size difference is an easy disadvantage to see. It is then that Cyan considers repeating the process he used only moments before to form his weapon, so that he can form another short sword and then attack Kalamos with two blades instead of one. He chooses not to, however, atleast not yet, since he did form his current weapon in a fashion that was slow, and intended to simply be a show of sorts. In truth, he can form weapons of any sort much, much faster then he formed the sword he is currently using, and infact he could even form a sword matching the size of Kal’s weapon, though Cyan prefers speed over power, and therefore chooses to use a short sword far more often then not. When Kal speaks, telling him to test him, Cyan’s smile only widens, and he looks up from Kalamos’ chest to his eyes, focusing on them for a moment. “Then test you I shall….” he says, and at that moment he steps forward towards Kals waiting form, first with his left foot, followed by the right, and then followed by his final step as he plants his left foot at an angle and pivots, spinning backwards to the left as he brings his blade hand up, level with his shoulder.

He also raises his left hand a little, and closes his palm just as he did when he formed the sword he now uses. While he is spinning, the same inky black substance that oozed from his right hands grasp before taking a solid form as his weapon begins to flow out of the palm of his left hand as he also brings it up. Because he is spinning, it’s almost as if his palm were like a jar without a lid, filled with water and being swung like a sword. Of course, the liquid within will quickly flow out of the jar, and it is the same with the darkness flowing from his fist, and as a result it flows outward much faster then the first time, and takes shape mid-swing, forming into an identical short sword as is in his right hand. As he completes his spin, and finally is within striking distance of Kalamos, his right triceps tighten, and his elbow snaps straight as he swings his blade at Kalamos’ own weapon, attempting to strike his hand that is holding the blade. Once he begins to tighten his triceps as he begins to attack with his right sword, the newly formed blade in his left follows the same arc as the right, except it is aimed a little higher and not at the weapon itself, but instead at Kalamos’ neck.

[Kalamos]

Into the coiled trap Cyan rolled his body. With one twist of his waist he was within direct facing of Cyan's attack. Kalamos snapped his right arm muscles forward and pulled back with his left. Driving the blade with body shattering speed straight downward and into Cyan's double attack. This attack was used against several enemies whom thought direct attacks would be effective. The combined strength of both arms in that one motion caused the blade to move much much faster than normally anticipated. If this hit struck, it would no doubt destroy Cyan's blade, arm, and a small part of his torso. If his body was infact of mortal consistancy. Regardless of what would happen the blade would be driven firmly to the ground. Kal's right hand, now free would catch Cyan's other short sword by the hilt. Closing grip very tightly he brought his head forward, and directly towards Cyan's. His right knee straightened as his left leg came forward and down, squarely aimed to bury one of Cyan's un-armored feet in the mud. A toe stomp that would both hurt and limit the man's movement if left un-noticed.

[Darkness Incarnate]

As he came around, he was already certain that Kalamos would have some sort of defense against his attack, especially since he was already in a defensive stance before Cyan even moved forward. When his eyes finally are able to see Kal more clearly, as Cyan’s first blade arcs on it’s path to Kal’s own, he see’s Kalamos move to counterattack, as he turns his hips and lines his body straight with Cyan’s line of attack. It is then that Cyan see’s what he knew would come eventually, and as Kal brings his own weapon down with unnatural speed and force to meet with Cyan’s blade, Cyan grits his teeth and widens his mouth in an almost maniacal smile. Just then, after seeing how Kalamos is going to react to his double attack, he simply releases his grip on the handle and watches Kal’s sword slam into his, sending it forcefully to the mud at their feet. Just then, though not truly surprising, Kal reaches out with his right hand, now free, and attempts to take hold of the hilt of the sword held in Cyan’s left hand. He succeeds, and therefore succeeds in halting the attack before the blade comes anywhere near Kalamos’ neck. It’s at that moment that Cyan notices Kal’s knee as he brings it up, and he lifts his right leg and almost steps back thinking that it is a knee, but when he see’s Kal change his legs direction as he brings it back down, Cyan realizes what his attack will be a foot stomp.

Since Cyan was already lifting his right foot so he could step back, it’s easy to change direction as he see’s an opening in Kal’s defense based on how they are positioned, and Kal’s foot slams into the footprint that Cyan’s foot just left. It is just then that Cyan is hit with an attack he didn’t even see, because his focus was on Kal’s left knee and foot, and the force of Kalamos’ head butt rattles his own head for but a moment, leaving a slight ringing noise and a slight headache. He recovers quickly from the unseen attack, but Kal’s forehead had slammed into his right cheek bone, easily busting Cyan’s skin open, black blood flowing from the wound. The shock of the attack forces him to lower his right foot for support in a spot that he didn’t intend to, though still on the inside of Kal’s left leg. Since he had already seen an opening in Kal’s position before he was blindsided by the head butt, Cyan assumes the opening is still there and moves his right leg over as he releases his grip on his last weapon, leaving it in Kal’s hand, as he places his right foot almost perpendicular to Kal’s own right foot, so that they are side by side and nearly touching. It’s then  that he uses his newly freed left hand to take hold of Kalamos’ right, placing his palm against the base of his thumb before lifting his left foot as he pivots on his right.

He places his left foot next to Kal’s left foot in a position identical to how he placed his right, and as he does this he bends at his knees, and Cyan finally takes hold of Kal’s arm at the elbow with his right hand as he pushes against Kal’s crotch with his butt, and also gets his back flat against Kal’s armor covered belly. The key to this move is for Cyan to get his hips lower to the ground then Kalamos’ before lifting up with his legs and pulling down on Kal’s arm in an attempt to do a hip throw, and though Kal is wearing full armor, and his total weight would be a little over three hundred pounds, Cyan is from a place that has gravity which is much stronger then the gravity of the material plane, nearly twelve times as strong, and for Cyan to lift three hundred pounds on this plane it isn‘t overly difficult as opposed to lifting that weight in his home plane. If his throw is successful, Cyan also hopes that it will disorient Kalamos and he will perhaps drop one or both of the weapons while in mid-air, though if Kal knows how to escape the throw or is even a little familiar with the technique, it won’t be too hard for him to avoid the throw. Should it connect, however, the throw will be able to inflict about 5,000 pounds of impact force on his back and ribs, though most of that may simply be absorbed by his armor.

[Kalamos]

He felt Cyan's pull, it forced him through the air and sent him smashing into the ground. He felt his body crack, and almost instantly he coughed up blood. His eyes darkened slightly as he looked up to his foe. This enemy had considerable power, but no sense of retraint, no sense of value. His blood covered face widened into a smile, some of his ribs we're almost definately broken and his shoulders felt like hell. He threw Cyan's blade away and rolled away, rising to one knee as more blood exited his mouth in uncontrolled coughs. He wiped the blood from his mouth, and closed his eyes momentarily. He reached inside for strength, not with supernatural power, but with mortal willpower. He desired life, he sought to continue living, and he wouldn't allow his body to quit; There was too much he had to do with his life for it to end here. Pulling this willpower out, he felt a pulse ripple through his body. Opening his eyes gently, warmth filled his body, pain began to subside, and within seconds of having said that, blood no longer dripped from his mouth. His injuries were injuries no more. He once again took to his feet. "Cowardice rules your spirit." [Inner light] He adopted the same stance as when he began his battle, and awaited Cyan's next attack.

[Darkness Incarnate]

Once Cyan had pulled Kalamos’ right forearm down beyond his bent knees, and he felt Kal’s body sliding up his arched back, he knew that the throw would be successful. It was only another instant more that he had to wait before he saw this realization come true, as Kal’s body  finally crossed the point of no return and snapped forward, propelled by their positions relative to one another as well as Cyan’s considerable strength being used to pull against Kal’s resistance. In the next instant, Kalamos slammed into the ground before Cyan with enough force to break most, if not all, of his ribs, knock the wind from his lungs, and perhaps cause some level of internal damage to the man’s organs. His suspicions are confirmed once Kalamos begins to cough up his own blood almost instantly, as the color of the blood is a much darker red then usual, and of a thicker viscosity as well.

Cyan can’t help but smile at the mans obvious pain, as he drops to his left knee and brings his right arm down to attempt to punch Kalamos in the throat from the dominant position Cyan is in above Kal, just as Kal rolls away and out of the path of Cyan’s possibly fatal attack. Kalamos moves rather smoothly for being in such an apparent state of pain, and because of this Cyan begins to wonder if his wounds aren’t as severe as he had first thought, and just then he sees the look in Kal’s eyes change from one of pain to one of focus, and a moment later Kal is no longer coughing up blood as he was only seconds before. It is then that Kalamos speaks to him, saying how cowardice rules Cyan’s spirit, which draws a chuckle from Cyan. “Does it now? And what rules your spirit? I stand before you without weapons, yet you continue to fight on with yours. Do you not dare face me in hand to hand combat, Kalamos?” he asks arrogantly.

This time, though Kalamos is already standing in a defensive position, Cyan decides not to make the next offensive move in this dance of death they are carrying out, and instead he opts to wait for any signs of Kal’s intentions, as he tries to entice Kalamos into attacking him instead. Thus he waits, and hopefully soon he will see.

[Kalamos]

His eyes narrowed at his opponent, and releasing his defense stance, he sheathed his sword. He turned his back on Cyan, "Something unlike yours. Keep your life, your offer, and your distance; None of them interest me." He began to walk away from his foe. He had no interest in battle with someone so afraid to die, that he would use such obsurd power as to magnify natural strength with artifical power. Kalamos still had too much to live for to let go easily either. Too many questions clouded his vision of the world around him, and he needed answers. His senses were still sharpened. His perception was very sharply focused on Cyan and the area around himself. He believed Cyan was full of deceptions and betrayal. Making a deal with someone of that character may as well be selling oneself to slavery.

[Darkness Incarnate]

Cyan watched Kalamos as his eyes narrowed, as he sheathed his blade and turned to make his way from the area, and he listened when Kal opened his mouth and spoke, denying Cyan and his offers. “Since when was you serving me optional? Perhaps another time will suit you better, when your mind and thoughts aren’t elsewhere. If you cannot focus on the fight at hand, then perhaps you should be on your way. But know this…I will show myself to you another time, and I will not be so easy to evade. I too have things that I must attend to, things that are at least for the time being more important than you are.” Cyan says to the man who is walking away from him and the fight, and Cyan can’t help but chuckle at Kalamos and his retreat from the fight.

“I wouldn’t advise you to be around those you care about, lest I become interested in them for whatever reason, and seek them as I seek you.” he says, pausing for a second as Kal continues to put distance between them, “One day, Kalamos, your blade will carry out my will…” Cyan adds, falling silent as he watches Kalamos’ walking away.