Netherworld Nightmare

Dark Whisper · Post by **Dark Whisper** » Sun Mar 14, 2004 3:54 am

Syra ran by as Vale tried to touch her with the wand, but just missed. Telnas struggled to his feet as Vale was distracted. Vale fluttered about 6 feet off the ground with the wand in her hand. The bovine demon slowed down and moved forward patiently as if not trying to cause Vale to fly away. Its club was ready to swing at the bat of an eyelash.

Vale noticed that Aden had his back to her, not looking. Rae was also not looking. Andolin was nearby, but seemed to be watching. Zhavon inched her way to Syra's side, which made her close to Vale as well. Ryalda was a further distance away.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Mar 14, 2004 4:46 am

Aden looked at the creature, as if momentarily uncertain whether to listen to its instructions or not. I'm certainly not cut out for this sort of thing, he thought, rubbing his head thoughtfully. He tried to reach that place within his mind where he found the seat of what little confidence he possessed. Once he felt properly assured that he was capable of doing it, he gave a small swallow, shaking the nervousness from his limbs.

"Fine. I'll climb on your back." He started to walk toward the creature and then stopped. He looked at the horse, and then at the ground, and then back at the horse. This again? He sighed deeply, shaking his head. "Would you mind helping me mount you, demon?" He tried to sound imperious, but a chuckle found its way into the sentence, echoing long after the intonation of the actual words had ceased.

Vale Mira · Post by **Vale Mira** » Sun Mar 14, 2004 7:52 am

Vale was beginning to feel stressed and impatient. Why had she been unable to touch someone? They all feared her, but she was uncertain why. She had not attacked or done anythng fearsome that could cause them to flee.

Vale stared at her hands. They had become paler and thinner, her nails sharper. She had changed. She was half human and half--- something else.

Far the height her wings had taken her, she then noticed the perspective of where the people stood. She saw who might be easier to touch.

Some of the group was unaware and would serve easier targets. Vale took in a deep breath. The air didn't seem that harsh anymore.

Putting faith in her wings, she decided to attempt rushing them all in one fel swoop, hoping to get anyone she could. Rae and the whimpering girl seemed like the easiest targets.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Mar 14, 2004 12:06 pm

As Telnas scambled to his feet he saw Vale hesistate for a second and look around. Trying to find an easier target I guess he thought.

Then it dawned on him that someone else may fall victim to whatever the wand thing would do. Nothing nice he assumed.

Realising that despite not actually wanting to get touched by the wand himself, he could not let anyone else suffer whatever fate there may be with it.

He instantantly resolved a plan. Run under Vale, as fast as he could, Leap, grab her legs, and - hopefully - the shock would make her drop the wand or in the ensuing struggle he could knock it out of her hand.
Not daring to shout so as to warn Vale, he executed his plan with a sudden burst of speed, hoping that perhaps if it did become a struggle, then one or more of the others would come to his aid.

Ryalda · Post by **Ryalda** » Sun Mar 14, 2004 4:16 pm

There had to be some way to stop this flying menance and they needed to find it quickly. Ryalda knew their time was limited. These were clearly lesser demons. If someone like Ramirez took an interest in this rag tag bunch, the stakes would suddenly be much higher, but she wasn't sure that Vale would care. She seemed bent on staying here to protect Tazlure, as if her small sacrifice was going to stop anything. The woman was sorely naive in thinking that this offer to allow demons to the other side was rare. New as she was, she had already summoned several and knew that those more versed in dark magicks likely did so on a regular basis.

Actually, the sorceress didn't care a whit if Vale decided to stay here and be a sacrifice, but Ryalda had no intention of doing so. Besides, the way thing were going, Vale would have to stay here as she continued to metamorphisize into something demonic herself.

"This is growing old and time is running out," she turned to the demons. "If she continues to hold us up here, we'll not make it to this portal and if I don't make it back, I won't be able to summon you over. Would you break her wings or something so we can stop this nonsense and move on?" Ryalda would have done so herself, but was unsure what might be behind the girl's sudden transformation. It wasn't something she did on her own and was more than likely the work of a high level demon, though why they would play games like this was beyond her comprehension.

Dark Whisper · Post by **Dark Whisper** » Sun Mar 14, 2004 7:22 pm

Even though Rae was looking away from her, he was at a distance from Vale. Thus, she moved towards Zhavon, remembering her to be a whimpering thing, rather than a strong challenge. Her wings began to obey her better. As she fluttered towards Zhavon, she was surprised to see Telnas rush her. Bowling past Zhavon and Syra, Telnas succeeded in grabbing Vale's legs, hoping to jar the wand from her hand. The bovine demon snorted in glee as Telnas found a way to anchor Vale to the ground. It moved forward as Ryalda recommended, planning to make short work of Vale.

Everything went according to Telnas' plan ... except jarring the wand free. At long last, Vale was able to touch someone with it. Telnas felt the flick of some object on his shoulder. At first, nothing much happened, then a few flickers later, Telnas began to feel as though his body was being torn asunder and that something ... precious to him ... was being forcibly ripped from his inside. The pain was excrutiating and he found himself losing consciousness.

The others watched Telnas writhe in agony and his flesh ripped open as if a parasite was trying to free itself from the confines of his body. A spirit from within his body screamed in torment as it left his body and was sucked into the wand. His fleshy remains crumpled to dust covered ground like a discarded garment.

Vale felt exhilerated and stronger. A sardonic laughter rang inside her head. She noted that the bovine demon ceased his advance as it watched what happened to Telnas. Though slow witted, it did not wish to share a similar fate. Clearly Vale had acquired a useful weapon.

The two headed pony collapsed its legs so that Aden could mount. "Come let us flee before you find yourself food for a lord," the yellow-eyed head pleaded.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Mar 14, 2004 8:33 pm

OOC: Death post agreed with DW.

IC:
Telnas cheered gleefully to himself as he managed to grab Vale's feet and pull her down. Dismayed that she did not drop the wand he tried to knock it out of her hand, then realised she had touched his shoulder with it.

At first nothing happend and for a fraction of a second he wondered what all the fuss was about.

Suddenly agonising Pain wracked his body, so much so he collapsed to the ground. Before he could even take a breath he felt a tearing deep inside as if something was being pulled out, he could feel his very own essence, his soul, being sucked towards the wand.

In the seconds before he lost conciousness he manage to utter "I'm sorry Syraw...".

Then the pain went and the blackness swallowed him up.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Mar 14, 2004 8:55 pm

Something within the urgency of the yellow creature's voice compelled Aden to act. Swiftly mounting it, he nestled himself into what he hoped would be the best position to avoid falling off. He informed the beast that he was ready, praying that this ride would end up easier than his previous experience with a horse had.

Vale Mira · Post by **Vale Mira** » Sun Mar 14, 2004 9:09 pm

Vale gasped as the person under her feet grabbed at her. Under the stuggle, she managed to touch him with her wand. Finally.

Yet something she had not predicted occured. At first, Vale thought the evil within him was being exorcized, but she was wrong. As he screamed in agony, Vale's eyes opened wide in shock and she held her breath. The wicked sight of his death was too much to bear.

She felt everything inside her collapse. Everything went awry. That wasn't supposed to happen! Yet her wings did not give way. In fact, she felt refreshed and stronger. But whatever human was left in her felt betrayed, hateful and sad.

Vale stared at the wand in her hands as they shook violently. She dared not let it go in fear someone might use it against her.

"You...you....you....lied to me!" she yelled out in agony to the sky, knowing the voice would hear. Vale gasped a deep breath, tears already on her pale face. "He- he---he wasn't supposed to die!"

Putting her hands to her head, Vale felt herself go mad. She was a demon. She had killed him. She had trusted something she couldn't see. She was more evil than Ryalda could be.

She hated herself. She wanted this to end.

The madden laughter rang in her head.

"No stop it! I won't do it anymore. I don't care. I didn't mean to. You tricked me! You said they would be good!" She couldn't think. She couldn't be calm.

Vale wanted to leave. It was too much for her to have killed someone she had wanted as a friend. Forget Ryalda. Forget everyone. Let the demons kill them. They had already killed something of her.

Ryalda · Post by **Ryalda** » Sun Mar 14, 2004 9:40 pm

Things went from bad to worse. Rather than the demon's take care of Vale, she had rushed the crowd and Telnas had tackled her by the feet, dragging her to the ground. That would have been a good thing except it put him within the reach of the hateful wand. Ryalda watched as the wand sucked the spirit out of the man screaming in anguish. The pretty little toy was not at all pretty or a toy and the sorceress took a step backwards having less desire than before to come into contact with the thing.

What a powerful weapon, she thought to herself wondering who... or what had given it to her. Likely the same demon that gave her the wings. Limited in it's use, as the user had to be close to the victim, still it could be a valuable tool in the right circumstances. But how could she get it from the girl? It was then the girl fell down in torment over what she had done and the sorceress debated moving in to take the thing of power. Better her than one of the others and Vale certainly couldn't be trusted with it. It was as if the girl had gone mad, screaming at the sky that it lied to her. Then again, most humans went mad when dealing with demons and especially when dealing with this place. Even the author of the Liber had gone mad... eventually.

Deciding on speed and surprise as opposed to trying to reason with the girl, Ryalda focused on the high energy flowing around her and channeled it to her legs and arms to speed her movements up. She'd not tried this before, but it shouldn't be much different than the accelerated strength that let her throw an object with great force and speed. With a quick exhale of determination, the sorceress set herself in motion , moving as fast as she could to Vale to pull the wand from her hand all the while watching for signs that it might be raised against her. She could always pull back at the last minute.. she hoped.

Dark Whisper · Post by **Dark Whisper** » Sun Mar 14, 2004 11:51 pm

Once Aden had mounted, the pony was able to take its feet once again, not unlike a camel, but difficult for a pony. Aden was able to hold onto its mane for balance as the pony began to walk, then trot, then canter away from the group. It chose to take a wide berth away from the others. "Where does he want us to take him?" the red eye asked. "He wantsss to go home," came the reply. "Will he take us to the other side?" came the hopeful follow up.

I do not need to lie, came the laughing voice inside of Vale's head. The soul of Telnas will now be turned to good ... the good of us. Feel the power Vale. Exult in it. They are your enemies and I have given you the power to destroy them. Vale would feel power coursing through her veins and her wings were now feeling quite cooperative. Beware Ryalda the voice hissed. She would take the wand and drink your soul!

Ryalda felt clumsy in doing so, but eventually she felt her limbs imbued with additional strength and fleetness. She projected herself forward with feline grace and speed, yet if Vale acted quickly she might be able to have one flicker to react. The bat like demon soared near Ryalda and squeaked "the moth! Get the Moth!"

In fact a white luminous moth, hardly noticable by Ryalda, was fluttering above Vale's head, safely ten feet in the air, beyond the reach of most any mortal ... and likely too quick to be captured by those with ordinary handspeed.

Vale Mira · Post by **Vale Mira** » Mon Mar 15, 2004 12:25 am

Vale's mouth gaped open as the voice's reply scared and shocked Vale. She had never felt to terrible and miserable in all her life. She could feel the power rushing through her veins, manipulating her thoughts. Yet before she could reply, she saw Ryalda come to attack her. Within a second Vale reacted and tried to dodge Ryalda. What did she want now? Couldn't she see Vale was in pain?

Vale glared at Ryalda through the tears. Murderous thoughts entered her head. She tried to shake them aside, yet this woman seemed to be the cause of all her sorrow. How she depised her, the others hated her because of her efforts to stop Ryalda from allowing demons to the other side.

There was no other way to do it, Vale had no power of her own. She made a quick decision. She would yet try to stop Ryalda, but would not hurt any others. Vale had to stay focused, this would be her main goal. In the back of her mind, she worried over the rest and how they would come out of this alive. They would never trust her now, but she wouldn't hurt them anymore. She had already made one grave error. Once Ryalda was gone, she would stop the voice itself.

Her own return to the human's world did not seem to matter any longer. This demon would not let her return, and even if it would, Vale was a demon now and could not return.

"What do you want?" she asked Ryalda darkly.

Ryalda · Post by **Ryalda** » Mon Mar 15, 2004 4:19 am

The rush of energy built up in her limbs and just as she launched out to snatch the wand, the bat-like demon brought her attention on a small moth-like thing hovering above Vale. The demon urged her to capture the moth, not the wand but that would leave her vulnerable to Vale. Was the moth controlling the girl? If she captured the moth, would that set Vale free? Could she capture the moth? Questions raced through her mind in the time it took to blink, but there wasn't time to think this through, only time to act. Very uncharacteristic of her, she chose to trust the bat-demon and altered her plans.

Rather than charge Vale to yank the evil wand from her hand, she pushed off the ground using the energies there to leap into the air reaching for the moth, arms stretched out and fingers ready to trap the beast in her hand.

If she was wrong, this might be the last mistake she ever made. Under her, she heard Vale's inane question. What did she want? It made the ex-governess want to cackle. She wanted the same thing she'd always wanted... to escape from this gods foresaken place and return home.. as did everyone else, except Vale.

Dark Whisper · Post by **Dark Whisper** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 12:28 am

Vale successfully dodged Ryalda ... largely because Ryalda had altered her path of attack. Leaping with the grace and speed of a mountain cat, the dark sorceress, magically enhanced that she was, caught the moth by surprise in her right hand. It fluttered futilely as Ryalda's leap returned her to the ashen surface. As she came to rest, the augmented strength and dexterity began to fade from her limbs.

The wand! Touch Ryalda with the wand before she commands me to destroy you. Then you shall be the leader, came the familiar voice in Vale's head.

Meanwhile, inside Ryalda's head, she heard the squeaking voice of the bat demon Wrong moth. There is another one on Vale ... in her hair. Let this moth go and seize the other! If she looked, Ryalda would see the bat demon now comfortably perched on the shoulder of the bovine demon, whispering in its ear.

Vale Mira · Post by **Vale Mira** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 10:56 pm

"Wh-haat?" stuttered Vale after the voice. She looked around her to see what Ryalda had done. She hadn't quite seen what Ryalda had leaped after.

It was becoming too chaotic for Vale. She could feel her heart pounding, everything was moving to fast. She didn't know what to do anymore. Or what to believe for that matter.

Vale pounced after Ryalda, determined to stop her from doing any more damage.

Zhavon Mikhalrian · Post by **Zhavon Mikhalrian** » Wed Mar 17, 2004 8:04 am

What more could Zhavon do but stare and watch in horror as the events unfolded before her. The scene played out in slow motion, time crawling lethargically on its way, even as the girl made her way as unobtrusively to Syrawenn's side as she could. The others, well, the others were in some sort of fight. Telnas was dead. But how, was another matter. Zhavon looked to Syra, eyes wide, searching the woman's face for some sort of answer in all of this madness.

Ryalda · Post by **Ryalda** » Thu Mar 18, 2004 11:58 pm

All demons were the same, she determined. This one, just like her imp, excelled in the art of deception and vagueness telling her to capture the moth, but not specifying which one until too late. Now Ryalda had missed the element of surprise and accelerated energy and speed to grab the wand from the crazy woman and she had no intentions of going near her as long as she held it. Now that the girl knew it's use, she would not hesitate to turn Ryalda to ashes as she had done the man.

Seeing Vale rushing towards her, the sorceress did the only thing she could think of, a maneuvere she'd seen growing up when a young man had been pounced upon by another very angry young man. Diving to the ground just before the winged woman got there, she rolled in the hopes of unbalancing her as she scooped up dust in her hands which she tossed at the woman's face and tried to grab the wand. If this failed and the woman kept her footing, Ryalda would be in a world of trouble as it left her in an awkward position. Her hope was to topple the girl and distract her with dust, giving her time to wrest the wand from Vale's hand.

Dark Whisper · Post by **Dark Whisper** » Fri Mar 19, 2004 6:32 am

Now it was Vale's turn to spring for Ryalda. The voice in her head laughed, but for more than one reason. Not only had it goaded Vale against Ryalda, but it had distracted Ryalda and the moth could escape her grasp. Humans were so easy to manipulate. Ryalda could not know the reason the bat demon screeched in dismay, as it saw the moth fly from her grasp. It had been busy speaking with its friend and had not paid attention to what his mortal ally was doing at the moment.

Vale's attack plan was simple it seemed, launch herself at the sorceress and attempt to hurt her somehow. Ryalda successfully leaped to the ground as Vale darted in her direction, but the wings were an effective mechanism for braking to a stop above the fallen form of Ryalda. As Vale hovered momentarily before lauching a downward swoop, Ryalda used the ashes to her advantage and cast them successfully into Vale's eyes. The wings, however, dispersed some of the ash as it was cast, so the effect was not as complete as Ryalda might have hoped.

Touch her with the wand! Her soul is strong, came the voice inside of Vale's head.

Ryalda rose from the ground as Vale cleared her vision. Tears flowed from her eyes unbidden. Reaching for the wand, the sorceress managed to grasp Vale's wrist instead. The wand was still firmly in Vale's grasp ... at the moment.

Vale Mira · Post by **Vale Mira** » Fri Mar 19, 2004 7:17 am

Ryalda had grabbed Vale's wrist and for a moment, she didn't know what to do. Touch her and kill again? Go into the frenzy and become the demon she had tried to stop? Everything went from bad to horrific. Vale felt her human soul fall deeper into the skin of a demon's.

Vale stared at Ryalda wide-eyed, the color in her eyes gleaming more and more. Her eyes still stung from the ash. The voice's laugh still echoed in her mind, tormenting her.

"No...." Vale heard herself say. She didn't want to obey the voice anymore. Everything was a trick and out to get her. She put all her energy into freeing herself from the sorceress's grasp, even attempting to scratch her off with her nails. She didn't want to do this any longer. If Ryalda moved too much, the wand could in contact.

Ryalda · Post by **Ryalda** » Sat Mar 20, 2004 5:24 pm

Holding onto the hand that grasped the wand for dear life, the sorceress was vulnerable to the other hand now clawing at her like the demon the girl was becoming. Irritated with herself for not paying attention to the fact that this voice had sounded inside her head, the exgoverness was ready to kick herself. Such mistakes were not only costly but stupid.

Needing to protect herself, she focused on the anger and frustration over the stupidity of this situation and pushed it out to make a shield around her while she struggled with what to do with Vale. She had no desire to kill the girl, but she was leaving the ex-governess little choice. Allowing the energy to build within her, the sorceress' attention shifted when she heard the girl say no and her struggles changed.

Knowing it was a risky venture, she turned Vale loose and leapt back out of her way.

"I don't wish to hurt you Vale, only to get home," she tried to reason with the winged woman. "There are things involved here you don't understand. Please, let me get us home and then we can discuss it?"

Vale Mira · Post by **Vale Mira** » Sat Mar 20, 2004 8:01 pm

She let her go. Vale was a bit breathless, not understanding why. Why had she grabbed her in the first place? Vale stumbled back, wanting to distance herself. The tears that appeared from the ash, now renewed themselves.

Vale felt miserable. She had killed and she had betrayed those she sought to protect. She had brought nothing good to the situation, only worsened it and made it more complicated. She hated herself for ever listening to the voice. For trusting it and tricking her by pretending to the good.

"I..I..don--don't understand," she replied, shaking her head. She was didn't know whether to believe this woman or not, when she had already tried to harm her. Vale felt like she couldn't trust anything or anyone anymore.

She stared numbly at the ground, trust had brought harm.

Dark Whisper · Post by **Dark Whisper** » Sat Mar 20, 2004 8:38 pm

She lies, came the voice to Vale. I have given you everything you asked. You wanted power. I gave it to you. You wanted strength, I gave it to you. Now, swear to serve me and I shall make you the leader of this group and take you all home. Ryalda serves no one but herself and those two demons.

Inside Ryalda's head came a different voice, Vale is too weak to lead. Swear service to me and I shall give you the power you seek. The other two are as nothing here in the netherworld. You need only serve me to gain dominion over all those you seek.

Ryalda · Post by **Ryalda** » Sat Mar 20, 2004 10:15 pm

The sorceress could only laugh at the voice inside her head as she answered it.

"I don't know who you are whispering inside my head," she rattled off to no one in particular.

"But trust is earned, something hiding from sight doesn't get you, not that I think I'd be inclined to trust you even if I could see you. And you have it backwards, demon. You'll serve me, not the other way around. Plain and simple. I am quite aware of Vale's shortcomings and I don't intend to follow her either. Now, if you will stop playing us against each other, we have to return to our home," and with that she turned to follow the minotaur and bat.

"Can we please get back underway?" she asked them. "I am growing very bored with all this nonsense and have things to do back at home. I assume our deal still holds?"

Vale Mira · Post by **Vale Mira** » Sun Mar 21, 2004 4:45 am

"N-no, I didn't ask for this. I pledged nothing. I-I won't do it!" cried Vale to the voice. " I swear nothing. I don't care who she serves....I'll serve no one! Leave me b-be, demon!"

With that Vale tried to frantically swat away the moth.

Post by **Syrawenn** » Sun Mar 21, 2004 1:06 pm

Fighting, rumbling, yelling, shouting, lying, dying...The scene blurred in front of Syrawenn's eyes as she almost left this nightmare to return to her waking body. No way! I gotta know what's gonna happen here! She convinced herself and turned back to the dream, no matter how weird it was becoming.

Telnas was gone...she had seen something go into the wand. Into that stickything....in....and out....how to get something out? Right, time to break something. Quickly she scrambled on her feet once she saw Ryalda leave Vale alone. The demonic girl seemed so sad all of a sudden.

Syrawenn walked up to her and held out her hand. "Here," she said, "you wanna get rid of it? Gimme the stickything and I'll.. wohaa!" She ducked as Vale tried to swat something unseen to the girl's eyes. "I ain't no demon! Break..."

Hold on, she's distracted now. "I sure hope you won't hold it against me." She mumbled and bent over as if to help Vale up. Instead of grabbing her hand though, the loose-fingered girl quickly tried to pry the wand loose to break it over her knee. Telnas had to be released!