Chapter One: A Dance of Darkness and Light

[Vampunk]

For the first time Darrene felt something rise up in her heart. Something she had never experienced before.
In the heat of battle one was expected to be faced with the prospect of terrible losses, with the ultimate price being one's own life, but the warrior had always been expected to give her life for what she believed in.

But this time there was something more to the growing void festering inside her chest, threatening to extinguish the flame that was burning where once only blind faith rested.
Fear of loss, not of her own life, no.

Fear of losing the woman her heart belonged to now.
Gritting her teeth, Darrene's fiery eyes would come to rest on Nox as the human woman took a step forward.
Her arm would come to rest in front of Katrina in an attempt to shield her from what was to come, reason replaced by the calling of one's heart as mortal woman would try facing an immortal entity of primordial darkness.

"Do not talk to her that way." Darrene hissed, her brow furrowing into an angered expression as fire danced in every bothered breath escaping her lips.
"You who called us here to defend this world, what reason is there for our task if you do not let us live the way we want to? You are no better than the devils mortals created to make them fear the dark. You are worse. You created this plane and yet you do not treasure what blooms on this soil you should be tending to!" The Descendant of fire's voice would grow louder as she'd try stopping whatever Nox had in store for Katrina.

Taking another step forward as her entire form seemed to glow, her clothing slowly starting to smolder as cloth ignited and started to burn.
Smooth skin turning into crimson scales, harder than any mortal armor....

"You will not take her. She only owns allegiance to herself!" Darrene roared as her eyes narrowed into reptilian slits, ivory teeth growing into viciously curved fangs and human bones snapped and grew in size.
For Darrene would not let Nox take Katrina from her without a fight.

 

[StoneWolf18]

Katrina

28 || Female || Wyrmspawn || Nox​

Things were happening quickly. Nox seemed even more angred by the fact that Darrene was defending Katrina, snarling as her form fully became that of a dragon and using a large paw to pin her against the stone, nearly crushing her throat. Eyes wide the woman was about to cry out for him to stop when he suddenly did. The massive black dragon grew unnaturally still, ears flicking as if trying to locate a certain sound they couldn’t hear. “It can’t be…” The Wyrmking muttered, barreling through the doorway and leaving the women and dragon in his room alone.

Up in the common room, the group would’ve heard the loud screech of steel as the hinges on the door gave way before being tossed down the hall. Zephyr looked towards the door rather horrified as Eshne stood, about to shout when a rather nonchalant voice spoke before her.

“Is that any way to greet your father, Eshne darling?”

Her face would pale as the common room door opened fully, a dark skinned man shrouded in pure white waltzing in, his pale gaze drifting about the room.

Lucian

Unknown || Male || Wyrmking || Unknown​

Lucian wasn’t stupid. He had located Nox’s hideout quite some time ago but simply found it amusing how he gathered the mortals to try and best him.

A dark cloud would appear in the room, Nox taking a human form not far from him, a snarl on his lips, but once again Lucian would cut him off with a soft smile. “Oh my dear brother. It’s been too long, hasn’t it? Ever since I disapproved of that mortal toy of yours you seemed to shut everyone out.”

The Wyrmking of darkness grew even more angered. “She wasn’t a toy! She was my WIFE!”

Lucian rolled his eyes, dismissing this with a wave of his hand. “Yes yes, of course she was. And look where it got you.” As if on queue, Darrene and Katrina would appear in the doorway behind him. Gesturing towards them he would cast an eerie smile Kat’s way. “A corpse now bound to you through grief and obligation. How quaint.”

Katrina would appear rather confused as they slowly entered, Lucian’s grin growing larger. “Oh she doesn’t know, does she? Well, what kind of father are you, hm? I’m sure Adya is faring much better under my care then.”

“WHERE IS SHE?!” Delta would cry upon entering the room, pushing past Kat and Dar with Vis trying to keep up with her. “You are going to re-”

“Ah… Delta. This is something I didn’t miss.” He sighed. “You’re entitlement, like a small mortal child. Adya is alive and going to be kept with me. That will not change- unless…” Lucian turned so he could face the entire group evenly. “I could simply destroy all of you with nothing more than a word and leave your pitiful souls to torment my brother. However, I see you all are much more valuable than that. So I am offering you all a choice.” The man flashed an unnaturally perfect smile, his voice becoming even more hypnotic. “Please. Join me and the world will be yours. No longer be bound by mortal obligation and frailty. It’s about high time these Wyrmlords got a replacement.”

Lucian would look towards each of the Wyrmchildren individually, his eyes burrowing into yours, his words becoming the only thing you can possibly focus on.

AgWordSmith
“Hazel, are delighted by the draconic myths and legends. Why continue to listen to them when you can make them for yourself? Be apart of these grand tales you adore so much instead of endlessly wandering. Be apart of a family for once.”

One Mean Ghost
“Ki’Tavi were cast away. A stray kitten. Society didn’t want you, not until you found that small guild of yours. Why not take back what had been stolen from you, right this wrong that had been committed at your birth and prevent anyone else from succumbing to the same fate.”

Fenris
“Azzam, trinkets and gold are what you seek most, yes? Then why spend any more time delving into dangerous runes and getting much less for what you scavenge. You will have all you could ever ask and more. You will inherit the earth.”

Seraph Darkfire
“Alyr, you fear the loss of your freedom above all else. But haven’t you yet realized that your wings have been clipped? You are caught like a bird in a large cage, the illusion of freedom taunting your mind. Shed these fantasies and truly leave those suffocating bars behind.”

Fable
“Veth, the mask you wear is nothing but a scheme, a ploy of your people to keep you from truly experiencing the life you were made to live. Remove this falsification and indulge yourself, ignoring the society obligation of your elven kin. After all, they don’t want you back, do they?”

SentinelSevn
‘Alistair, you grew like a fish caught in a net. Believing that there was only one means to survive and nothing more. Don’t you feel this betrayal? Your own people keeping you from the wonders there are to experience? Escape these bindings and do more than you could’ve ever dreamed of.”

DergTheDergon
“Ishnai, your simple life was take from you by the greed and bloodshed of mortals. Instead of living comfortably as an apothecary and mating as planned, you were forced to protect your village and the onslaught of invaders day and night. Leave your weapons behind and reclaim what was once yours.”

Vampunk
“Darrene, you were forced to believe in a faith that blinded you for too long. Casting everyone that wasn’t conforming to their strict ideals to be executed or worse. Now you have seen past the blindfold you were wearing, seeing the truth of the universe, and of yourself, for the first time. Take the final step. Renounce this treacherous faith.”

He finally would look towards Katrina, Nox stunned into silence as he spoke. “Katrina, your father never cared for you. You only exist because this aging wretched man couldn’t get over the death of his dear mortal wife. She had given him strict instructions that she wasn’t to be resurrected, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t use part of her soul and her corpse, now did it? He hates having ever created you, feeling even more guilt each day. But you could, of course, take his place. You are your own person now. Usurp his mantle and take charge of your own life.”

As he speaks to each of you, his voice resonates in your mind. You are unable to stop yourself as you move before him, lowering yourself into a kneeling position. Despite how hard you resist, there is no use. One by one each of you line up before Lucian, the Wyrmking nodding in approval.

Nox looks defeated, the man slowly sinking to his knees with a rather defeated expression. “I… tried…” he whispered. “I truly did…”

 

[Fable]

Veth Denrilith

21 | Elf | Zephyr​

Veth hadn't intended for others to take an interest in sparring with Zephyr, she was simply curious if there was even a small chance they could do anything to Lucian. If none of them could take on a wyrmlord, there was no hope they could fight against Lucian even if he hadn't done to them what he had done to Eshne. However, she was glad that they understood where she was going with her thoughts on the matter of sparring.

Their conversation was interrupted by the groaning sound of metal followed by loud crashing sounds. Whoever had entered had clearly not been invited and had barged their way into the stronghold. Veth's attention went from Zephyr towards the noise, her body tensing instinctively to the unknown threat that was coming. Zephyr and Eshne both reacted to the dark-skinned man when he spoke, calling himself Eshne's father. There was no doubt that this was Lucian.

Nox appeared shortly after, Lucian mocking him and getting an emotional response from the Dragon of Darkness. Veth had only glanced at Nox when he arrived, turning her attention fully to Lucian, waiting for him to strike at them. He just spoke calmly, indicating Nox had been keeping a secret. Veth was confused at first about what Lucian was talking about, a bound corpse. Then she remembered what Katrina had said months ago about her purpose according to Nox.

Delta's shout pulled Veth from her thoughts, demanding to know where this Adya was. It wasn't hard to guess based on Lucian's claim of being a "father" that Adya was perhaps a sibling of the others. That wasn't gravely important to Veth right now. His words about striking them down here and now were. He claimed he would offer them a choice, his voice swallowing up Veth in a hazy mental fog until all that existed was him and her.

“Veth, the mask you wear is nothing but a scheme, a ploy of your people to keep you from truly experiencing the life you were made to live. Remove this falsification and indulge yourself, ignoring the society obligation of your elven kin. After all, they don’t want you back, do they?”

His words brought back the memories of her life back with her kin. Boring days of emptiness, the harsh corrections when she had failed to hide her emotions, training until her hands bled, feeling at odds within the society she was born into. He was right, living like that had kept her from truly experiencing the world. Her kin would also never want her back either. Her body began to sear with pain as she resisted his words. She had already left her homeland, her kin, that life all of her choice. She had wandered where she wished, seen things no others in her homeland would ever witness, and she had already accepted her fate of never returning home in exchange for that freedom.

She hadn't realized she had even moved from where she had been originally standing, but as the haze lifted and the burning in her veins grew ever more painful, she found herself kneeling before Lucian. As much as she tried to remove herself from position, she couldn't. The more she resisted, the worse the pain grew, but she still fought with every fiber of her being. "I-I serve no one, but myself!" she shouted out painfully before screaming out in pure agony, her body feeling as though it would be destroyed by her efforts.

StoneWolf18
-YAS DRAMA!-​

 

[AgWordSmith]

Hazel Rock​

Interacting: StoneWolf18 | Lucian
Mentioned: Fable
Located:Commons; Picking a side

Hazel awaited an answer from the Wyrmlords but instead the room was shrouded by a dark cloud. She looked up and got rather confused by this guy's words to Nox. So this was Lucian. Hazel expected, something different. As soon as he waltz in he began talking, and didn't stop. It just kept going. Then he addressed her. and she couldn't help but snap to attention as he spoke. To become legends that's what he was offering. She looked at the others while he continued to speak, wondering what they thought as he offered them each they all had wanted. Veth shouted, her face looked contorted in pain as she struggled against the Wyrmking. Hazel made her decision.

"You got one thing wrong there buddy," she said out loud, her body easily conforming to the kneeling pose. "I have a family dude. But you know, its been a long time since I traveled back there. Don't get me wrong, I'm up for becoming a legend as long as it doesn't mean dying in the one happening right now. So Sir? Lucian? Guy...? Dude. Yeah, Dude. So if it means not dying I'll take up the offer on becoming a legend." She wasn't sure if this was the choice that'll keep her alive, but hey, she was making it.

 

[Seraph Darkfire]

Alyr was enjoying where the conversation was headed, a spar against a Wyrmlord was enticing as his eyes lit up when Veth mentioned it. Even if he was to be beaten, he'd get a taste of what it was like to fight someone much higher on the battle scale. Besides, it wasn't like he completely disagreed with the monks he'd been raised by. Their belief in reaching the heights of the Dragons was one he shared. He'd also been practicing his magic a lot and he wanted to see how well it fared against someone who'd been doing it for far longer.

However a portion of his mind turned to Katrina. It wasn't like he didn't worry for her, but he didn't have much in the way of helping her and Darrene. Though if push came to shove, he was sure he could make it to Nox before the other Wyrmlord's could stop him, especially if he shifted while moving, tearing up the castle as he went.

Loud sounds of destruction filled the castle causing him to turn his head 'Sort of like that...' he thought frowning slightly. There were very few that would be brave and strong enough to simply bash in the front door.

And when the man arrived, his thoughts were only further proved when he began speaking 'Lucian' his eyes tightened slightly.

Then he turned his focus to them and Alyr knew instantly what he was doing, he could feel the familiar tingle of magic as Lucian addressed him.

“Alyr, you fear the loss of your freedom above all else. But haven’t you yet realized that your wings have been clipped? You are caught like a bird in a large cage, the illusion of freedom taunting your mind. Shed these fantasies and truly leave those suffocating bars behind."

He couldn't deny the allure. The idea of true freedom was something he'd always sought after, the ability to get in and out of any situation and having no one capable of stopping him. He even had aspirations of leaving the world and traveling among he stars, unfettered.

He probably would have sided with Lucian with these terms, but the man's words, while compelling, rung hollow in his ears after being forced to kneel against his will.

"Ugh...sorry, clipped or not..." he forced a grin through his pain as he struggled to resist the control. His body was his own, no one controlled it but him!

"...my wings are mine to use for me alone..." he tried to use his dragon form to break free, but his body didn't respond further than being able to move his eyes and mouth. His eyes sharpened. If only he had a second of freedom, he was sure he could transform fast enough to snap his jaws around Lucian's body.

"...you and Nox are so similar....definitely brothers, but at least Nox is far...more blunt about his desires. Neither of you can really...command me though" he chuckled as he spoke to Nox, forcing his words out through the pain "Kill me and torture...me for eternity, but you can never take away my freedom...not as long as I believe in it. Ancestor Nox, you don't try, you do." he suddenly shouted as he pushed even harder against the magic restraining him "Why should the great Wyrmking fall to his knees willingly when us Mortals do so under pressure! If you can't bring yourself to fight then at least die standing on your feet!"

His smile widened into a draconian smirk as he stared at Lucian "Whether my freedom is an illusion or not....I've made the choice to follow this path and I will continue to do so. Because that is....my idea of freedom. Whether that is wrong or right matters not...only that I accept my path"

As for the choices of the others, either they sided with Nox or Lucian. It didn't really matter to him. In the short time he'd come to know them, he'd come to see them as family. Besides, their choices were their own and the grudges of the elder generation weren't always those of the younger one. Maybe they'd fight, maybe they'd just get drunk together, that was for the future to decide.

StoneWolf18

 

[One Mean Ghost]

Ki'Tavi

As Lucian made his appearance, the entire mood of the room changed. Kit's first instinct was to run. An overwhelming, instinctive urge to escape this God that stood before him now with a presence more terrible than any Nox had managed. But of course, his pride wouldn't let him flee. But to attack? That would be pointless. Even Nox and the WyrmLords seemed to falter before Lucian. How much larger he seemed, in this moment, than his brother Nox.

“Ki’Tavi were cast away. A stray kitten. Society didn’t want you, not until you found that small guild of yours. Why not take back what had been stolen from you, right this wrong that had been committed at your birth and prevent anyone else from succumbing to the same fate.”

Kit immediately fought against the magic that moved his body at first as a response to the sudden movement, and then more fervently as he realized that Lucian was here to take them by force. It started out dim, but the harder he fought against it, the more the pain became a burn, and the burn became an inferno that only seemed to manifest in his eyes. In that cat's eyes burned the fiery defiance that seemed almost a trademark of Eshne's line.

"You know nothing, Lucian." Kit hissed, his body seeming to move in slow motion as he fought against a magic far greater than himself. "You think I give a damn about what society thinks? I had nothing stolen from me, there were no wrongs committed at my birth." He hissed, his body still moving slowly but surely against his will as he fought with every ounce of his strength against the magic that made his body a puppet.

"I am not some child to be coddled or some fool crying foul for the hand I have been dealt. I am my own man, and I make my own luck! I accept that my life is my own to do with as I see fit and the life I have lived I wouldn't trade for any riches in this world!" his voice was now a roar. You see, Lucian had called the Phantom Legion, his adopted family, the greatest gift of his life, a wrong that needed to be righted. Even though his body still moved against him, his eyes still held a fire that refused to be tamed.

After all, pain was nothing. Life was pain. Anyone that told you otherwise was trying to sell you something. Kit had always known that. And the pain he felt now paled in comparison to the pain of his first transformation out of the lava that had nearly killed him. Even as his knee bent, he fought against it.

"It matters not how strait the gate... How charged with punishments the scroll. I am the Master of my fate and I am the Captain of my soul. My Spirit will never be broken!" The last words came as a shout even as his knee at last touched the cold stone of the floor. Any fear that had momentarily gripped him when Lucian had first appeared was replaced instead by the defiant rage that now burned in his eyes.

If he was going to die, he sure as hell wasn't going to go out like a bitch.

 

[SentinelSevn]

Alistair Barbarossa
29 || Male || Wyrmchild || Delta

Skillset:
- Combat: Great
- Magic: Slight
- Dragon: Moderate
Location: Commons
Interactions: StoneWolf18 | Lucian | Nox

Alistair begun to let a playful smirk dance across his face, the idea of getting to spar one of the wyrmlordes continuing to root itself in the other wyrmchildren. As much as he would have liked to say the idea was his, the honor went to the elf, Veth. But he believed he did incite the thought, so that was something to be proud about. If not for the fact that he was contributing, to the idea that at least they were all on the same page about something.. finally.

He continued to tear chunks off the bird leg he was chewing on, until the screeches of metal began to erupted from the main doors behind him. Alistair was quick to snap his head towards the sound, turning just in time to see the door fall, and a figure begin to make his entry into the room. He was curious, yet not surprised, to see Nox making a hasty appearance, and making an even hastier approach towards the unwelcomed figure. He had his immediate suspicions, but it was not until Nox was addressed as brother were Alistair's suspicions confirmed.

Both of his hands aggressively smashed against the table, and the poor drumstick held in his fist shattered from the force. "A weapon.. I need a weapon" His instincts began to tell him; not in fear, but in aggression. His eyes zipped back and forth across the area of the table in front of him, and he cursed beneath his breath when the only feasible options were the silverware and large dinner platters. Settling with what his options provided, he quietly inched the platter of chicken he had grabbed the drumstick off of closer to himself. He then paused, and angrily pushed the plate away from himself; with self doubt clouding his thoughts. "Who the hell ever thought to strike a god with a plate of chicken..?"

The arrival of Darrene and Kat, as well as the other two wyrmlordes distracted Alistair from going onto the offensive. He didn't make much sense of what Lucian was saying, but he began to develop the idea that there was something about Kat that even she was not aware about. And it didn't sound like very pleasant news, with Lucian's referral to her as a corpse. Delta, on the other hand, seemed to be much more vicious in her approach than any of the other lordes. Alistair would have chuckled if the situation were less grim, something about her reminded him of his own lack of restraint.

But she was shut down by Lucian just as quick as Nox had been, and it was then that Lucian finally shifted his gaze towards them, the wyrmchildren. He gave them all an eerie smile, one that made Alistair feel uneasy and almost dizzy. His body immediately felt heavy, and he was unable to shake himself from the words he felt clawing their way into his head.

“Please. Join me and the world will be yours. No longer be bound by mortal obligation and frailty. It’s about high time these Wyrmlords got a replacement.”
"Alistair, you grew like a fish caught in a net. Believing that there was only one means to survive and nothing more. Don’t you feel this betrayal? Your own people keeping you from the wonders there are to experience? Escape these bindings and do more than you could’ve ever dreamed of.”​

And Alistair couldn't argue. Being raised a fisherman when he had the potential to become a wyrmchilde, a dragon. He was more mighty than he had ever been, and all of it would have never been his if he had never received that letter. A lost opportunity, he could have been..

But instead, the fisherman let out a haughty laugh, his mouth wide open yet his brow doing little to hide the excruciating pain. "Lord Luc-Lucian, with all due respect to your title, you could never be more right!" Alistair couldn't help himself as he was forced into a kneel, succumbing to the same fate that the others seemed to have come to. "But Lord Nox has already given me the opportunity to ri-" Biting his tongue was all he could manage to stop himself from screaming out in pain, and in his mouth he had the metallic taste of blood from all of the self-inflicted nips and bites of his teeth against his own flesh. "-to rise from my limits. So the only bindings I'll be breaking from anytime soon, Are Yours!" His ending words burst in a booming bark, and the words of his allies only continued to push his confidence even higher.

"Lord Nox! Anyone can hold the helm when the sea is calm!" The fisherman began to spit his words through gritted teeth, as speaking had begun to become more and more of a struggle the more the spoke. His teeth and lips were becoming to stain a light red, yet through it all he was holding a fearless glare towards Lucian; and Alistair knew full well that he could easily be struck down. "And I don't want to do the dirty work of a man who can't handle the cresting of some wave.."

 

[Fenris]

Azzam Vayash
27 || Wyrmchilde || Vis​

Having said his piece Azzam was content to sit back and allow things to play out, perhaps sample more of the delicacies spread out before him. Barely had the notion crossed his mind when the massive portal guarding the fortress gave way to an ancient power. Neither stature nor the brilliant white garb of the ebon skinned newcomer seemed overly impressive after having spent the recent months with beings from legend and yet he radiated power.

It was a lot to take in, the sudden appearance, the sheer presence and his apparent relationship to both Eshne and Nox. This was Lucian, the one they had gathered to slay and now that he had barged in it seemed the furthest thing from Azzam's mind. Only upon being threatened did the relic hunter snap from his daze, slowly rising, suppressing the primal urge to run from or lunge at the man. An effort that proved needless as Lucian's next words where honey coated promises.

Azzam could almost see the mounds of precious gems, shelves of forgotten scrolls and masterpieces of lost civilizations he would gather. To inherit the earth, it was a once in a lifetime offer and still his first impulse was to bargain if only the words would form. Instead the tall brunette rounded the table and took a kneeling position before Lucian. How very curious, was his body no longer his to command? Around the room the others appeared to be ensnared by the same compulsion, some fighting it with all their might, voices raised.

Their struggled where futile but Azzam could not help but feel impressed at their convictions, they were ready to fight for their belief's while he kneeled and pondered. His very perception different. Here stood someone who possessed something Azzam dearly coveted and if taking it by force was out of the question there was another method he'd practiced all his life. “And what is your price for inheriting the earth, oh compelling one?” He asked, keeping perfectly still but for the ghost of a smile. To negotiate for the treasures of the earth with a Wyrmking, what more could one wish for?

StoneWolf18​

 

[Vampunk]

As the woman's body changed and fire became flesh, Darrene's mind only recalled the six months she had valued more than the twenty-six that had come before. The thought of losing what she had grown to treasure more than anything in this life, or the next, filling her heart with fiery rage.
Rage against the very creator of the universe that would end what happiness his offspring had found with her.
Rage against herself if she were to fail to protect the very thing that had filled the aching void left in her heart when her faith was shattered.

And as rage grew into fury, so did the mortal's body, shaping to resemble the very creator she dared to oppose as crimson scales would cover her draconic form, shrouded by a mantle of excessive heat given form.

Struggling against Nox, as he effortlessly pinned her against the cold stone walls, her throat threatening to be crushed under the weight of his claw as her organ spewed torrents of flames, singing the grey stone a burnt black.
Almost as black as Nox's scales, or his heart if one were to ask the draconic woman who was fighting for what she treasured most.


And yet, as Darrene would find herself unable to match the wyrmking's might, he let go of her, rushing out of his chambers and leaving Darrene to cough dying embers.
The dragon slowly reverting back into her human form as, without thinking, she'd wrap her arms around Katrina's neck, burying her face in her shoulder.
She did not know what godly intervention had stopped Nox from destroying them, but the crushing defeat would soon settle in as Darrene looked up, meeting golden eyes with ember ones of her own.

But there was no time for sitting idle, as the two women would soon follow Nox, stopping by in their chambers as singed clothes were replaced by a set of fresh ones, joining the other wyrmchildren in the great hall.

Where an intruder would come to introduce himself.

Darrene's eyes widened, the wymrking they had sought to face having appeared unannounced, and caught them off guard.
And as Darrene would once again find herself trying to fight yet another creator deity, Lucien's words would come to ring in her skull.

Making her flinch as his deafening, blinding presence invaded her thoughts.
Words that carried weight, and truth, surging through her mind as Darrene would stumble and fall to her knees, forced to do so by the Wyrmking's overwhelming presence.

Words that made her grit her teeth and look up to Lucien.
"And replace my faith with what? Blind worship of you?" Darrene growled, trying to rise but instead flinching as bones seemed on the verge of snapping.
"It has been six months since I have seen the truth to this world and having seen these things with my own eyes I think it is time for you and Nox both, to abandon this world. You may have created mortal life but you neither treasure it, nor do you intend to leave them to their own devices." The woman would speak, feeling her chest tighten as the realization of having faced off both creators of the universe slowly settled in, knowing that what she was doing might result in an untimely demise but she would not let herself be commanded by deities, not again.

 

[DergTheDergon]

As the telltale, fur-rasing screech of metal under great duress caused a sharp pain in Ishnai’s sensitive cat ears, the feline apothecary’s daughter-turned-draconic warrior whirled the door, raising the spear previously sheathed upon her back against the intruder as a powerful presence seemed to flood into the room from them. Rendered stunned as the man was revealed, his visage marking him as surely none other than Lucian, her stance faltered. They were about to be sent on a mission to incite him the next morning, yet it wasn’t needed. He came knocking at their door before their efforts to find him themselves had ever begun. Thinking this, she nearly transformed and bid to attack him, yet the powerful aura around him stopped her. It seemed clear by just looking at him, and hearing him begin to speak, that he was no match. Even Nox, who’d burst into the room himself that very same moment, was very clearly afraid of his brother. One would have to be, Ishnai Figured, to expend all the effort and energy Nox had to send others to fight one’s enemy. The way he was cowering in fear of a being that, in thelegends of her people, was equal to Nox, suddenly made the imposing Wyrmking seem as though he’d been lying to himself, running.

Furthermore, If he feared Lucian himself, did that mean that what many of the others had been saying was true? He meant only to send them to their deaths? Perhaps to weaken Lucian? To Ishnai, such deceit and such cowardliness was a sign that Nox, whether more powerful than Vis Himself or no, was not her god. Vis still held her utmost trust and humble respect, but not Nox, nor any of Vis’s siblings for that matter. Though her viewpoint came from the biased perspective of her indigenous tribe, her observations had led her to believe that Vis was the only God here who truly meant good for mankind; including Lucian, who was supposed to be of light, if Nox’s recount of Lucian’s intentions was factual. She did feel Empathy for Eshne, yet felt that following a deity of war and fire simply was not for her. Delta had lost all respect Ishnai had for her moments ago, when she inferrably told Nox of Katrina and Darrene’s closeness. Zephyr seemed uncaring for the most part as well. Though, now she was faced with an entity that she could feel, in this very moment, was undoubtedly far more powerful than even Vis. One who seemed not keen to destroy them, as Nox may have been, albeit indirectly.

Considering how downtrodden the Wyrmking was acting at the moment, despite his usual stoic demeanor in the past, it seemed that said recount indeed had at least a modicum of truth to it. After all, nothing had seemed outwardly to faze Nox until now.

Ishnai’s initially tall, proud, albeit tense stance grew weaker and weaker every moment, her head lowering and her tail falling limp from it’s rigid posture just a moment ago, just before she was forced to kneel, of course resisting at first, but then realizing the action’s futility. Coupled with his brother’s outward look of utter defeat, he then began to, judging by the reactions of the others, say something to each that struck a nerve. Had he seen into the hearts of her comrades? Alyr’s speech in particular, whilst under pain from resisting Lucian’s control over his body, unnerved her. It showed a side of him that, for some reason, she’d not at all been expecting. She took a deep breath and wondered if she should be resisting as the others besides Hazel were doing. However, in this moment, she realized that the most powerful Wyrm by far was here. His very presence made it clear to her that they more than likely had no chance… it might have partly been due to her reverence for Dragonkind and partly due to her repressed urge to leave this place, to defy Nox, that she had been ignoring simply because Vis was with him. Regardless of what the right thing to do here was, or if that even existed, Lucia was clearly making this not a choice, but an ultimatum. It seemed so wrong to go with him, though. He could be lying to them, making false promises… and more than likely he intended to ultimately destroy this world. The conflict was clear on her face, her lips curled into a fang-showing grimace as her eyes closed, the feline’s visage pointing straight towards the ground as she knelt. She began to push against the ground, strain against her magic binds. Then, however, she heard Lucian utter her own name, and reluctantly raised her head toward the white-shrouded, dark-skinned man; Nox’s brother and the Wyrmking of creation.

It was all true, one hundred percent. She hadn’t thought of it before in this place, as she didn’t want to face it, but as much as she felt absolutely obligated to do what Nox asked of her, Vis being present making her feel as if it had to be her destiny, it seemed that Lucian knew her heart, almost that he understood. Her life had indeed been simple. However… she of course could not trust his intentions. Besides, she knew she would make enemies with some she felt rather close to now by doing this. However, the promise he gave her… if there was a possibility…

Only after the other Wyrmchildren had finished announcing their outrage and defiance towards Lucian (or their easy agreement with him, in Hazel’s unique case; Ishnai almost admired her ability not to despair over this right now), was Ishnai able to speak. Normally, she’d have some grand, impassioned speech for a moment like this but, now… she was drained, tired from this ordeal of sorts.

“Lucian….” She said, raising her head once more and meeting his eyes bravely with her own bloodshot, tearstained green ones, she raised her voice in as even a tone as she could, her body shaking, her tail moving back and forth in a frantic, agitated dance as she prepared to be judged by the majority of eyes on her.

“You provide… very compelling reasons to submit to you. I cannot help but feel that many of the others are correct, that you cannot be trusted and joining you is wrong, but… if it is true that you can give me back my own life, see my clan safe… you will have my unwavering loyalty, and no trouble from me. It is true that such is all I have wanted all of my life. If I am truly able to liberate my people through you, we’d all owe you a great debt.” She found herself internally apologizing to Kit, Alyr, Veth, and the others as she spoke. At least she would not be alone in the form of Hazel, who had been pleasant company during the time she’d been training. Whether or not she’d greatly regret her decision would remain to be seen, but, just as when she had arrived her under Nox’s supervision, what choice did she have? Did any of them? Live or die, it seemed, and nothing more, nor less.
StoneWolf18

 

[StoneWolf18]

Lucian

Unknown || Male || Wyrmking || Unknown​

An all too perfect smile graced Lucian’s lips. Some gave into his lucrative words, others tried their hardest to resist even if it meant they would be consumed with the worst pain they would’ve ever experienced. Although he couldn’t help but keep his eyes from drifting towards Katrina, the woman appearing conflicted and confused enough to bend to his will without much distress.

Oh… this was much too easy. Childishly so.

Nox was knelt on the ground, his defeat radiating off of him as his children began to try and approach. Vis kept his guard up, stoically glaring in his other father’s direction while not turning his back. Zephyr skirted over to the wyrmking of darkness, a hand brushing his shoulder with a saddened expression. Delta was enraged as she fought of the urge to leap at him, not moving from where she sethed. Eshne, however, reacted a bit differently. Lucian knew the previous goddess was now powerless, a trick he had perfected over the years. So when she slowly neared him with wide rusted eyes, his sickly sweet grin grew.

“Oh you were always my favorite.” He sighed, lifting a hand to her delicate chin and angling her face up towards his. He had expected a loss of strength, but the height and general body mass was a… pleasant side effect.

Eshne

Unknown || Female || Wyrmlord || Fire and War​

Eshne was struggling, nearly flinching as Lucian reached up and jerked her gaze up towards his. Through her fear she wanted to resent the man. Hate him with every fiber of her being because of what he had done to her, to the Wyrmchildren, and what terror he will bring Arkanna.

But… she couldn’t.

The woman didn’t know if it was the Wyrmking’s doing or if she was simply being tormented by her current human condition, but memories of a childhood long past assaulted her mind. Lucian had raised them all while Nox was trying to keep the universe in check. The pleasant blissful ignorance she had lived in while curled up along his side as they watched the world pass slowly below them. She recalled the first time she had taken a human form and how scared she had been, but the man’s gentle words of encouragement kept her from running and hiding.

How had it come to this?

The Wyrmlord was forced back to reality as she felt a brush along her cheek, the very same man from her memories staring down at her, apparently having pushed tears aside that had begun to fall. Delta was speaking, possibly screaming from behind him but she couldn’t hear her words. All that existed in this moment was her and the father she had adored now shown in a new light.

Without a word he moved closer, wrapping his arms around her and hugging her gently. She was tense, frozen, mind racing. Eshne wanted to feel like that child again. Wanting to disappear into this affectionate embrace and pretend none of this had ever happened. That she was still a child dreaming a horrible nightmare.

“It's alright, my child.” Lucian softly murmured, bringing up a hand to stroke the back of her head. “Ignore them.”

And so, she did.

AgWordSmith One Mean Ghost Fenris Seraph Darkfire Fable SentinelSevn DergTheDergon Vampunk

End of Chapter One