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Post by Duma on May 17, 2017 20:49:42 GMT -6
Duma kept his focus on the cutting of his pear. He delicately removed the skin from the fruit in one long spiraling strand. He noticed the man approaching him. A hooded figure who appeared to be dancing his way over towards the swordsman. Now while Duma appeared to be focused on his task of making a pear palatable few obvious things caught his eyes. Like the fact that dancing man was wearing a skull mask. Well.. that was faster than I expected. Didn't even get to the bottom part of the fruit. He then cut the pear in half lengthwise, then popped one-half of it into his mouth, and took a bite. The other half of the pear was left on the table.
"Yes. I am Duma." He spoke only after he chewed and swallowed the bit of pear he had. No sense in denying it. This guy knew who he was. Duma knew that he knew he was sort of close to Vincent. You know.. probably. Duma didn't know how much they actually knew. Especially since he was being careful with his actions ever since he saw Vincent tonight.
"I'm not looking to be a legend. I just do what I can to get by." He spoke calmly and honestly. Then he took another bite of his fruit. He was doing his best to keep a calm and casual conversation going with a cultist. He needed them to give them all their information. He didn't need to tell them much. He just needed to reaffirm the information they fed him. He just needed to keep this guy distracted so that Vincent had one less spell to worry about.
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Post by Vincent on May 21, 2017 22:12:39 GMT -6
"Aww, don't be like that, friend." The man moved awfully close now, stepping lightly into circles around Duma. "You know, greatness is like a little seedling. The seed may last and survive all on its own for time without measure, but without a little assistance from man or beasts it will never know that it could have become a mighty oak, and eventually its potential will be spent or it will be devoured by a beast." He tisked at Duma like he was a child. "It is just so sad."
"You may claim to not wish to be a legend but like it or not, powers far greater than yourself know your capacity for it. You can accept it, or fight it... why..." His pause was there to lead in to a much darker statement. "Even your sister is someone we have our sights on. Quite the family you have there." The man laughed.
As Vincent let the worm into his head he could feel the sickness trying to overwhelm him, and sicker he felt so too did he feel the heat. It was like an assault on him from two fronts, but the blade's power served also as an immune system burning out the dark magic's initial assault. In his mind he could cut it off and trap it. It was a crude method but it seemed to work, until a greater force of it slammed into his mind's defenses.
"Hurk!" It, not only made him feel ill but it hurt. The migraine felt like his head would crack open, and the subsequent heat made it all the more difficult to manage.
'Don't quit boy! You have endured worse! Endure this and I may consider giving you greater power still!' Vincent had no time or desire to dwell on the blade's words but, just what further strength could he draw from it?
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Post by Duma on May 22, 2017 5:55:30 GMT -6
The skull masked man moved uncomfortably close to Duma. The swordsman had to fight the instinct to grab his sword and use it as a divider. The masked man's analogy of power was lost on Duma. The swordsman knew better then to crave power. As he knew power corrupts, there have been hundreds of myths about power taking over the mind. Power that corrupted once noble intentions into something twisted which caused untold death and destruction.
"I do not want to become a mighty oak. They get chopped up for lumber the quickest." He spoke. Then continued to eat what remained of his pear. But, the next set of comments unnerved him a bit. The skull masked man spoke of his sister. And how she had a potential they would like to exploit. Duma kept his gaze to the floor. Now he knew they were lying. Mila as far as he knew had been dead for years now. Dead and buried in a forgotten ruin in Nabata. He could see the ruins in his minds eye, then the rumble, and crashing of the pillars, the collapse of the entrance hole. He remembered screaming for her then foolishly trying to move the heavy stones to get to her. He closed his eyes for a moment and opened them.
"I have no sister." He responded coldly. He knew his other family were alive and well. Aside from his grandfather, he had passed away sometime last year. He sighed.
"Anyway.. what I do have is a companion. Whom you and your associate.. is currently causing him some unneeded suffering. What will it take for you to stop that?"
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Post by Vincent on May 22, 2017 6:44:49 GMT -6
"You do not desire attention, and yet you travel the lands brandishing a blade freely. Perhaps it was presumptuous of me to call your path ideal for a hero. You would be better served as a villain. Living for yourself at the end of a blade." He stopped circling Duma in order to face him directly now.
"No sister? Oh, well there must be some bad blood between you two for certain then." He chuckled. "Shame." His enjoyment of the moment faded as the topic was brought back to the hero upstairs. "Causing him unneeded suffering? End it? Hmm, I wonder about that. Now, we would be happy to end it if he was dead. Nothing less. He is a thorn in our side after all and Lord Vadis wants him gone. Ah! I have an idea, why don't you do it? He knows about Mila, but has he said anything to you about her?"
The magic assault suddenly halted. It seemed that his idea was working to some degree, or at least the shaman needed a break to keep from expending all of their strength, and frankly this was perfectly fine by him. Breaking from his meditative state Vincent took a moment to look out the window. He still could not find the source of the worm magic but there was a tree close enough to reach.
Sliding the window open he allowed the cold night air to flood his room. With Phoenix Heart in hand he jumped out into the branches. If the shaman needed a moment to rest, then it was his job to ensure they did not have the time for it. He just needed to find them.
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Post by Duma on May 27, 2017 18:33:54 GMT -6
"If he learned about my history with my sister on his own terms then that is on him. I will not any ill will to him for inquiring." That was true. Duma couldn't care less if Vincent knew of Mila and of her demise. he knew Vincent to be a good man and the fact he hasn't brought her up in general conversation showed Duma that Vincent had a bit of tact. The green-clad swordsman wasn't exactly fond of speaking about Mila in general conversation, to begin with. She was gone and he was alive. He saw her go into the tombs and never came back out. His family back in Eturia hadn't mentioned her in his company either. Then again he hadn't exactly gone back home in a while. And with Eturia being in the power hungry state that it was in, he did not want to go back. He knew that a majority of them had either fled the country before the war started or forced to join the army. So communicating with them via letters had been nearly impossible.
"I'm sorry. I won't kill him." Duma slowly wiped his knife clean on his sleeve. Then put away his knife in its holster, and finished eating his fruit.
"You know what they say.. if you want to do something properly.. you must do it yourself." He glanced at the person in front of him. He noticed how the skull masked man in front of him cast no shadow. And it was being oddly cocky for a cultist.
"Now. My illusionary acquaintance. You've been talking to me for a while now. Revealed that you and your partner have intentions to kill my companion. Unfortunately, I cannot let that happen." He casually got up.
"See... I know a thing or two about vision altering magic. I know Illusions cannot do physical harm to their targets." Then walked right through the skull man.
"They are mere impressions of light.. trickery of the mind. I also know you have a caster somewhere nearby. A caster who has probably exhausted himself in creating this little conversation between us." He walked down the steps and back out towards the path. I know you aren't in the building Skull man. And you have to be very close in order to keep up that appearance with that much detail.. for that long. I know you can't be behind the building. As the distances don't add up. You also need to see me in order to cast. The swordsman had three directions for him to choose from. Left, right, or straight up the path. Do I guess? Or Do I wait for him to try to run?
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Post by Vincent on May 27, 2017 20:23:38 GMT -6
The illusory caster was growing to his wits end with Duma's words and evasion of his sister. Was he a fool or just strongly willed? No matter, he had little time to try and continue to pry and prod him into action. "Do it ourselves you say? Yes, I suppose we shall. This was your opportunity to do some good but it would seem you wish to squander it. Its a shame but so be it swordsman."
As Duma boasted about how he knew his little tricks and broke through his illusory self the caster let go of the trick and let it fade away like it was blown apart by the wind. From atop the roof of the inn the man had watched Duma and cast his spells. It was the only place close enough for him to hear what he said. Duma was right though, after using his skills to mess with Vincent AND to speak with Duma he was feeling rather strained. He and his sister even, judging by the the boy climbing into the tree.
Duma would not have to worry about guessing or waiting for his opponent to make the first move. While Vincent did not see the Worm caster he did notice the silhouette of the other reflected in the moonlight. "Gotcha!" Vincent announced himself and climbed onto the roof to pursue the monk. "I'm afraid your tricks are going to be at an end here!" Vincent would normally capture his sort for questioning, but he needed them silenced for his mission to succeed, and so there could be no prisoners this day.
The mage in question stepped back alarmed as Vincent rushed him with his blade drawn. Anytime to intervene would be good SISTER! Before Vincent could catch him he leapt from his perch to the road below, far too close to Duma for his own liking. The landing was messy and he hurt his leg but he quickly rose in an attempt to run and limp away.
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Post by Duma on May 28, 2017 19:27:25 GMT -6
Duma waited for a moment hoping to hear something that would give away the location of the Skull-masked caster. He was hoping to hear the movement of some kind. Maybe a rustle of grass or a bucket that would get knocked over. The green-clad swordsman knew he couldn't wait around forever. Vincent needed that man dead in order to recover from his ordeal.
And then he heard a thud coming from behind him. Duma turned around and saw the Skull-masked man limping away from the scene. Apparently, he was casting from the roof of the building. That was smart of him. Dumb of him to have fallen off in his fatigued state. Duma grabbed his throwing knife and threw it at the man. Once the knife confirmed that the skull masked man was indeed the real man and not an illusion. Only then did Duma rush in for the kill.
Duma drew his steel katana and held with both hands. He wanted to end this quickly with one stroke before the man had a chance to retaliate with a spell. Even though he doubted the man had enough energy to do so, he wouldn't take that chance. Once he was close enough he swung the blade horizontally. Duma felt his blade hit his target and run through him like a hot knife did butter. A simple, clean, swing. He didn't want the man to suffer. Sure there was the chance that he could get some useful information out of him if he let him live. Torture him a bit. But, that didn't exact sit well with the swordsman. This wasn't the time or place for such tactics.
The man's body fell to the ground.
"If you still live. Grant me your name so I can write it on your grave."
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Post by Vincent on Jun 1, 2017 18:08:06 GMT -6
Jumping was a very bad decision. The mage had alerted Duma to his real presence and his words had condemned him to a state that Duma would show no mercy. There was a cold biting in his knee that left him on the ground as he howled out in pain. As the swordsman in green towered before him it was over before he could begin to cast even a simple cantrip. The cut was quick and precise. The mage collapsed dead.
"NO!" It was the voice of the sister. She now revealed herself wielding orbs in flux at both of her hands. The magic was waning in and out as she had long spent her power on Vincent's mind, and his retaliation had sapped at her even further.
"You are a fool." Vincent muttered to himself far less than amused. Phoenix heart blazed to life in his hands as he nimbly leapt from the rooftop, sticking the landing. "It is over shaman. Accept the end and die." His voice was even and cold. He had fought far too many weak shamans now to fear her. What could she do in such a weakened state that he had not seen time and again.
"I will kill you both!" She wailed in sobs as she chucked an orb of nether at Duma. Regardless of it Duma was ready for it Vincent swatted it with a Thani covered blade.
"Focus on your real enemy! You're mine." Clasping the sword in both hands he brought it close to himself. "Watch closely Duma. You showed me your ace, it is time I revealed to you mine!" The woman began to assail Vincent with as many flux as she could, each was easy enough to evade or strike down with holy power, the blade shown in a radiant blue light, but the metal itself was gold.
"I! I will kill-!" The woman stopped as the blade was plunged into her chest. "You..." She looked into her killer's eyes and saw nothing but empty blue orbs staring back. They were cold, unfeeling and emotionless. The eyes of a perfect killer. She would soon be dead, but her opponent was not done, it seemed she had struck some sort of switch on him.
"Seal release!" With a firm voice the blade, plunged into his enemy grew in intensity and soon a bolt of power released into his enemy not only killing her but scattering her. There would be no open casket for them. Immediately after Vincent through his blade to the ground causing it to clatter and slide. He just stood there silently looking at her remains. It was over, and so easily too... but to think they got into his head like that. Two weak mages could have destroyed him if not for Duma... "Pathetic..."
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Post by Duma on Jun 8, 2017 21:29:33 GMT -6
And so he dies in silence. At least he didn't curse me. Duma took a moment to make sure that the body that lay before him was actually dead. He poked at the skull man's arm. There was no response from the man but, there was a response from the man's sister. Duma heard her cry out in despair. The swordsman turned around with his sword held at the ready to defend himself. The sister looked similar to the brother, except she sported lovely orbs of dark nether magic around her. That gave Duma some chills. He remembered Drei's demonstration of nether magic with the rabbit. And how the whole creature just seemed to evaporate into nothingness. He had seen what dark magic could do to limbs and to the mind. He knew to fear and respect it's powered. But, he also knew it's limitations. He knew shamans paid a very heavy price for tapping into the powers of the nether.
"Surrender and you might be spared." Duma tried to reason with the girl. He didn't particularly like killing women. But, he needed more information out of her. Like who were these guys working for? And why did they target Vincent? What did they want? He needed to gather as much information as possible in order to relay it to Vincent. Who was SUPPOSED to be staying put in his room recovering, not flying through the air with a fire sword.
"You stubborn fool." Duma commented under his breath. A body ravaged by sickness spells had no place on the battlefield. Especially a body that was using its own magical weapons which sometimes drained the body. Yep. He was going to have to sit down and have a nice chat with Vincent later. The woman screamed something about a seal after the killing blow was struck. Duma immediately jumped back putting some distance between him and the dead body of the brother in front of him. Turned to dust.. interesting. With the threat gone, Duma sighed, and sheathed his sword. He walked up and stood behind Vincent before smacking him in the back of the head with his open palm. He then took a step back and faced Vincent with his arms crossed.
"Care to explain why you aren't resting in your room right now?"
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Post by Vincent on Jun 10, 2017 22:04:49 GMT -6
After casting his blade aside the young hero felt more at ease. His enemies were both dead and so he could rest. Normally he would feel something akin to grief at having to resort to taking lives but at this moment he felt released of stress and troubles and it did not even bother him.
Thump! "Ack!" Vincent grabbed at the back of his now throbbing head and turned around midhunch to see an angry looking Duma.
'Care to explain why you aren't resting in your room right now?'
Vincent was an only child his whole life, and he never had a father around either, so in this moment he imagined that having an older sibling or father may have been something like this. "I left to find the one that was casting that sickness spell." He explained, lowering his hand from his head. "After you left the assault began anew and when it stopped I knew the mage was tired out. You saw how weak those fluxes were, and how much they petered out before the end."
Vincent proceeded to recover his blade now rubbing his head again and sighing. As he picked up the weapon once more he looked over the golden blade before sheathing it. "And what's more if I didn't show up that idiot never would have leapt off the roof for an easy kill and this one," He gestured to the woman, "May very well have gotten you with a spell of her own. Even if it was a weak one."
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Post by Duma on Jun 12, 2017 20:12:40 GMT -6
"I would have been alright. Not the first time I'd have to deal with my body getting blown by nether magic." That brought back a memory of his childhood. He remembered his uncle trying to teach him and Mila the art of dodging his flux spells. And that didn't end well for territory behind the inn. He sighed as he sheathed his blade.
"The brother druid probably would have fallen off that roof given the amount of energy he lost talking to me." Ok. Maybe he would have fallen off the roof. But I would have found him eventually. Duma mused that last bit to himself. He quietly relaxed his position and put his hand on Vincent's shoulder.
"I'm grateful for the help. But, you need to get back to bed. The adrenaline is going to wear off and you are going to fall like a log." Duma then stepped to his side a bit, turned around, and took a step back, so that he was behind Vincent.
"Get going. I'll take care of the bodies. And tell you all about the conversation I had with the male shaman." He then proceeded to shove Vincent in the direction of the inn. The shove was hard enough to probably push the young hero a few paces. Maybe a few more paces if he tripped a bit and had to hop forward to regain his balance.
"I mean it." Duma stood there with his hand on his sword hilt. Ready to smack Vincent with the blunt edge of his blades if need be.
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Post by Vincent on Jun 12, 2017 20:27:08 GMT -6
Vincent took Duma's scoldings in silence. He was right after all. He did not have to like it any but he was right. "I feel fine" he muttered stubbornly below his breath. He had a strong urge to resist Duma and take up some snark but then he got handsy, and frankly Vincent was in no shape to deal with handsy hands. The moment Duma pushed him forward he did indeed stumble under his own feet. It took a buckling knee and at least five steps to catch himself and when he did he looked back at Duma. Okay, forget what he thought about an older brother, this man was acting like his own mother.
Oh man... how was his mother doing? The last time she saw him he was being arrested. Blast! "Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm going, I'm going." Vincent offered a lazy wave to Duma before turning and heading back to the inn. He put a hand to his head feeling the effects of everything catching up to him. Duma was right about it all, but the young hero refused to admit it out loud.
The inn was easy enough to navigate in the dark, just stick to the right wall, still though, it was a very curious thing lately, all the attention he had been getting from people. As he shambled up the steps like a revenant he could only think of a soft pillow beneath his head. The idea of holding it close to him and feeling the cool plush of it. Oh boy did that sound excellent.
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Post by Duma on Jun 14, 2017 19:48:23 GMT -6
Duma watched Vincent go and sighed softly. I'm not going to pick you up if you fall down on the way there. The green-clad swordsman mused to himself. He glanced at the bodies that were before him. The male sage was in a pool of his own blood. Duma bent done and slowly searched the body for something useful. Some clue as to their origins or their leaders. But, the swordsman found nothing on the male. He then approached the female body. He took a moment to just stare at it. That's the power of Pheonix Heart. His best. Duma mused as he gently kicked the body with his foot. There was barely any blood on the ground. Seemingly evaporated into the air like water.
"Magic weapons." Might have to consider getting one of my own. He stared out into the distance for a bit. Memories of his childhood rushed into his mind's eye. The flash. The blood. His screams. He shook his head. This wasn't the time to think about such things. He crouched down and proceeded to search the woman's pockets. Nothing. Damn. He stepped over the body and picked up the tomes. The swordsman walked back to the tavern. Duma tossed the tomes into the fire and watched them burn. There. Now they won't hurt anyone else ever again. He approached the tavern master and asked a few questions. He handed him some coin and made arrangements for the bodies to be picked up and disposed of. The swordsman took a moment to make a visual sweep of the room no sign of Vincent. Good. He must be in his room. No sign of other mages either. Also good. After a bit, Duma returned upstairs. He put a chair by Vincent's door and sat down. He'd keep watch for the night to ensure his comrade got a good night's rest.
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Post by Vincent on Jun 15, 2017 22:21:22 GMT -6
Vincent continued his shambling into his room and closed the door behind himself with a heavy yawn. He rubbed his eyes and managed to make his was to his rack before completely collapsing upon it. 'The assassins are both dead and gone.'
'This is not the first time that assassins have come after you, a "Simple" farm boy.' Phoenix Heart was starting a conversation now? It sure had a way of asking questions at an annoying time. Especially for usually staying silent.
'Yeah, it is, but what are you trying to say to me now? Can you not feel that I am absolutely exhausted?'
'I know your mental state better than any, it is the only reason I lend you any of my power after all. But I am curious about something. Few who try to wield me have the willpower to withstand my might, and even fewer still survive the battles they try to use me in.'
'Sounds like they were typically glory seekers who got a big head just because a magical blade chose them. I won't lie to you, I know I did myself.'
'Oh, I am quite aware of just how haughty you became.'
Vincent instinctively put a hand to his forehead. His haughtiness gave him that scar, and then the assassins took advantage of his low point. He found himself sighing. 'But I learned valuable lessons through it all and somehow managed to survive.'
'You have a phoenix heart boy. you get knocked down only to rise again. That is why you are my partner.'
'Partner?' Vincent thought curiously, but the blade then turned silent. Of course it would. It was then he heard the scrapping sounds of a chair just beyond his door. He needed to thank Duma for being here, and to greet him properly. He really did. But sleep was overtaking him. In the morning, he would make things right... in the...
[End Thread]
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