Invasion from within: Beziar

[Dal'Lumen]

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*Dal was startled from his meditation by the sounds of chaos and cannon fire outside and opened his eyes reluctantly.*

"Not even a full day, I should have known."

*He leaned back on his hands and flung his legs out from under him landing upright and walked quickly to the manse control room and tried to pulled up all available information on the situation watched the live feed from the gun turrets on his screens however something was interfering with the systems, he wasn't tech savvy enough to know that their power source was being corrupted.
A sense of dread swelled up in him and he ran from the control room on his way to the top of his manse to see for his own eyes. When he reached the top of the stairs he ran to the edge, catching himself with both hands on the edge and looked over.*

"... Wha -- Oh no... Sentinel what's happening?"

*He looked over his city of Beziar and knew he couldn't wait he gathered up his battle equipment and shouted for his companions.*

"Quie-Ra, Scales we have an Emergency!"

[Ress]

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* Down on the ground, Dal could see that Quie-Ra was already wading through the masses of dark creatures which spewed out from the entrances of the Bezair Manse. A few clicks could be heard hanging in the air, as if Sentinel were trying to manifest, but he could not get any farther than that.*

*Quie-Ra looked up from the sea of darkness, still swinging his glowing spear of pure sunlight, the fields around trying to choke the spread of the tide... but could only slow the growth*

" Admiral! They are coming from under ground!! I can't hold them off much longer and I cant contact anyone else!!"

* Scales slithered from behind Dal, hunkering down so that he might climb on her back should he choose*

" I am sorry to inform you that monsters of darkness are besieging the manse... should we go help Quie-Ra or find where these are coming from?"

* It was weird how calm she sounded, despite this dire situation... perhaps she was like this to prevent panic, but it was hard to say for sure.*

[Dal'Lumen]

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*Though it was difficult to understand Quie-Ra through the cacophony of war in the streets he knew what needed to be done. It was the only thing he could hope would signal the other warriors in his city. He threw his arms up in the air and shouted to the sky as essence poured from him and his brilliant banner went up into the sky and shone like a beacon atop his manse showering golden light down for all to see for miles around. He hoped the signal would be understood, for all he knew the others could be a part of the battle already.*

"Hopefully that will get us some backup, for now Quie-Ra can handle himself, we search for the source, stop it if we can, and clean up later or the whole city will be overwhelmed at this rate!"

*He mounted scales, wishing he had his axes... of all times to need them when he didn't have them.*

"Let's head down to the lower manse Scales!"

(-10M Anima Banner Signal)

[Ress]

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" Okay!"

* Scales reared back and slithered the way she came, moving far faster than a being with no legs should. The Manse was untouched by the monsters, except for a direct line from the door to the innards of the manse. Scales continued on, squishing a few of these creatures whenever they strayed too close.
It did not take long to find where they were coming from. The seemingly unending flow of jet black creatures were pouring out from the entrance to the waterway!*

" Down here?... but its a closed circuit!"

* Scales slithered up the side of the entrance, not wanting to see what these things might do if startled. Carefully she climbed the side of the walls, extending her coils in such a way that Dal would not need to hold on. Within the waterway, something became immediately apparent. They were getting in through a huge hole in the stone wall of the waterway, and still they poured out with no end*

[Dal'Lumen]

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"That's not good... How are we going to close that thing up? If i try to collapse the tunnel it may just make the problem worse. Perhaps there is something inside we could use to block the hole?"

*He was eager to jump down and fight but he knew that was only part of it, and without a plan to stop it all together it would be a battle of attrition with him fighting an endless hoard... He would close the gap with the bodies of his foes if need be. He realized it would have been nice to have the children of D'naad here with him, they might have been able to encase the wall in a thick layer of ice long enough for a more permanent solution to be discovered.*

[Ress]

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* Scales backed up until she was floating in the water of the canal along side a docked dragon boat. Carefully, she coiled herself up, propping Dal so that he was elevated from the water and far enough from the tide of darkness that poured from the lower mans's gaping wound*

" I am afraid I can not advise in the demolition of this hole... should it give, the upper manse may fall into it... or perhaps it will simply widen the entrance. I also can not say if the manse's dragon lines would get harmed in the act... I have witnessed recorded images of poorly placed manses that exploded from build up around their dragon lines... They do not seem to notice us.... or maybe they have orders to go straight up..... Or maybe this is just a distraction!!"


* The tide continued to belch forth from the hole in the side of the manse, but every so often, the creatures would come out covered in grey clay*


( {Scales: Int+Lore=4
Int+War=3
Int+Occult=3}

{roll Perception+Awareness difficulty 3})

[Dal'Lumen]

Calibration, 1

* flowing from the living sea of darkness, Dal could see an off white piece of parchment on golden rolls riding over the chattering sea of evil. The scroll bounced once then rolled off and away from the flowing mass. the scroll had old realm written upon it*




"What?""

*Dal scooped up the scoll and scanned it, realizing he couldn't read it he became a little annoyed with himself for not having learned Old Realm yet. He held it up for scales to see.*

"What's this say?"



(3 sxs perc+Awa)

[Ress]

Calibration 1,

" This?..." * Scales leaned forward, scanning the page with whatever ocular sensors she had, as she had nothing that looked like eyes*

" It says

Nation of Lutar,
For thousands of years we have experienced a civil relationship of trade and military aid. Our scouts have informed us that the darkbrood are converging upon us from all sides and we are sure you have noticed they have halted their assault upon your nation. We fear that our armies are not enough to hold off this attack. We know that you are only our cousins to the north, but without your aid, we will cease to exist. We eagerly away your swift reply.

Populat of Resck."

* Scales pulled back and nodded her head, turning back to the tide of darkness that poured from the hole in the wall*

[Dal'Lumen]

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"I don't think I've heard of these lands, perhaps because their fears came true and they were wiped out long ago? I'll bet these creatures are the darkbrood this letter mentions, that much seems clear... But why is this letter here, and why are they attacking us now?"

*Dal stared into the breach that vomited the howling beasts and considered what may lay beyond in the darkness. It would be better to wait for backup but there's no telling the damage that could be done by that time.*

" Is it just another hole in the ground? What do you suppose would happen if I went in there?"

*He thought that if he could find -- some kind of source... Anything, perhaps he could collapse the tunnel further in which may buy the others the time to figure out what to do about it more permanently. He looked as if he might run in and battle his way into the depths at the slightest hint that it might make a difference.*

[Ress]

Calibration 1,

* Scales leaned back, still sitting up like a coiled serpent. She turned her head to the hole in the wall, tilting it slightly as she wondered. Scales body began shimmering through its multitude of colors now that she was not worried about stealth*

" It looks like another hole in the ground... I think that if we went in there..."

" You would be jumped on by tens of thousands of exiled gods! "

* Standing on a dragon boat in the no longer glowing water was One Road. As usual, he wore the yellow veil and turban in a style many times seen in the far south. One Road was dressed like a Guild Caravan master, but all accented in yellow. Over his chest the symbol of The Maiden of Journeys.

Road stepped off the boat and onto the platform, still a good distance from Dal and Scales*

" Have you ever seen the ants in the southern jungle?... they travel in straight lines, not bothering to deviate from their course... but if something should break their trail, they will pour over the intruder and strip their flesh from bone!... I have seen it.. it is not pleasant."

* He placed his hands under the yellow sash around his waist and walked closer to the two, his gaze locked on the tide*

" I would not take these lightly... this is simply the form they are choosing to take right now... their true forms are as incalculable as they are unnatural.

Have you ever wondered what happened to all the gods and beings that sided with The Primordials after the war?...."

* He lifted his left hand, pointing at the tide with his index and middle finger as he noted*

" These are them... Normals they are not so organized.... forgive me if I make this sound trivial... it is to keep from becoming hysterical"

[Dal'Lumen]

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*Dals eyes snapped on the voice, he had not expected to hear any whatsoever but when he saw it was the mysterious One Road he relaxed but kept a suspicious eye on him.*

"You... you predicted this would happen that day we met in the sky manse!"

*He jumped down from Scales Coils and landed thunderously on the ground nearer to the Sidereal. He took a few steps and got right up in his face. His expression contorted with frustrated exasperation, before he knew it, he was shouting at One Road.*

"What a burden it must be for you... Knowing these things will happen but doing nothing but spewing cryptic warnings of future doom to those that might have prevented it!"

"The plight of his city and his people drove him beyond his usual stoic reserve and lead him to lash out at this easy target for his blame. Quickly he became aware of himself again, he flustered for a moment before regaining composure. He knew all he really wanted to do was take out his fury on the swarm that besieged his homeland. It wasn't One Road he was angry with, it was himself for not preparing the Empire better, and the adrenaline fueled eagerness to smite these dark ones coursed through his blood.*

"... I'm sorry you didn't deserve that."

*He leaned away giving One Road his space and without further adieu Dal reached out behind him without breaking eye contact with One Road as one of the dark brood ran by, snatching the creature up by it's throat or whatever passed for one and in one angry roar he twisted his arm back around and held it up in front of him facing the squirming creatures back to the Sidereal. His cast mark blared and he showered the creature under his furious light.*

"YOU however deserve worse! Scales Translate in every language you know; If you truly were a god in ages gone and forgotten then remember your voice dark one, and explain yourself! Or has the eternal bleak of your prison robbed you of all?!"

[Ress]

Calibration 1,

* One Road did not flinch when Dal got in his face, perhaps he had been expecting it, or maybe this was just part of keeping calm. He shook his head when Dal stepped back, following him over to the sea of darkness*

" I don't believe you understand how these work... When an event happens outside of fate we have to...."

* He sighed and shook his head, knowing it was impossible to explain the inner workings of Creation's cleanup crew to someone who has never been off Creation.*

" If we get through this alive, I'll show you what it feels like to detect an attack from beyond Creation."

* Scales translated Dal's words as he said them, using them best of her ability to mimmic his voice*

* From the core of the tide, a single diminutive fragment of shadow broke away from the bunch, taking a slightly humanoid appearance to meet the blustering Zenith. It soon spoke up in perfect River-speak*

" Death to the false Sun and stagnant Moon! I am a god who trusted the true order and the rightful creators, and because my nature was deemed too dangerous, I was imprisoned by usurpers who had no idea what they were doing. I HAVE found my voice, and I will raise it until The King of Primordials once again reigns from The Jade Core to Yu Shan and everywhere in between!"

* A wind began whipping around the feet of the small creature as it spoke. its voice not reflecting the deity's current stature... but sounding more like what an angry old tornado might sound.. should it have a voice*

[Dal'Lumen]

Calibration, 1





*Dal turned his head to answer the voice.*

"Creation is built upon the bones of those that came before. If we fight endlessly for the right to rule, then nobody wins the prize. It will all be gone. You solve nothing by attempting to repeat the sins of the past. Find your reason and see that what I say is true. You want things to be right again? Then abandon your revenge, redeem yourselves, and be part in healing creation... You could be gods again! I could find a way!"

*His grip tightened around the throat of the creature in his hand. And his voice was filled with power, and the promise of his wrath.*

"But if it's destruction you choose, then yours is assured! I AM CHOSEN, I AM THE FURY OF THE SUN AND I WILL NOT ABIDE YOU!"




[glow=red,2,300]
{SOCIAL COMBAT: 8 SXS Manip - convince the creatures to stop attacking and consider his statement.}[/glow]

[Ress]

Calibration 1,

* The small darkbrood, flinched as it shouted at, the weight of the sun felt behind the words.... then he began to chuckle which grew quickly into a full throaty laugh. The scent of old, stagnant water rapidly filled the room as the creature's form grew from a small humanoid bit of darkness, into a tall godlike figure.

This being looked like a 6' South-easterner with mid back length hair which seemed to run like the shifting southern sands. His skin seemed to be a transparent membrane, holding in sand that flowed from the top of his head and downward, like an hourglass.
Much like Dal, this god was bare chested and wore pants spun from billions of strands of Moonsilver. At his hips were two wickedly curved short daiklaives.

The Deity looked back at the solar before him, smirking like he already had the upper hand*

" Do you not know who I am? Do you not know why I was deemed too dangerous to walk the face of Creation?!"

* One Road looked on, his mind moving like crazy as he tried to pin down exactly which forbidden god this was, but as one could imagine, the list was very long*

* The Deity laughed again as he crossed his arms across his chest in a defiant manner*

" I am Baelstrom! They call me ' The Thief of Ages!'"

* All around the darkbrood stopped their ascent and began pooling looking on at the forbidden god and the Exalt, too afraid to continue, but at the same time to engrossed by the scene to move*

* The darkbrood being held by its neck quickly grew in size becoming more human like as it did. It stopped at 5' 8" and wore giant moleskins over his black and white spotted skin*

" Please don't hurt me!.... I am human like you!... my kind was forced into this!!"

* The being recoiled as he was held by his neck*

[Dal'Lumen]

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*Dal quirked his eyebrow at the creature that took on it's godly form. Dal himself was also in rare form, rather than respond or acknowledge the one calling itself Baelstrom, he turned his back on it, knowing pride when he saw it, and just how he could hurt it.

He set the one in his hand down on it's feet keeping his grip around it's throat tight enough that it couldn't escape him.

"And what makes you think I can trust you! If you were anything like me then no bindings would hold you a slave to another, You would fight for the freedom to live your life, you would fight for this until their whips split flesh from bone. You would rise against those that would call themselves master, you and your brothers and sisters. Your voices would rise to heaven, drown out the cracking of lashes, and the masters commands; Replaced by a great cry for freedom... If you were anything like me!"

*Dal wrapped his hand around the back of the 'mans' neck and turned to Baelstrom guiding the man around with him so that he would also be facing the forbidden god and the hoard. He released the man as if giving him the option to go back to the others.*

"I am salvation... But first you must unshackle yourselves from this path of revenge."

*His voice was as clear and powerful as a thunderclap. His essence spilling out around him like the corona of the sun, drawing every dark eye upon him. A flame, challenging the shadows to join in it's light.



(Social Combat: [Inspire/uplift enslaved specialty] 11 Sxs incite Darkbrood rebellion, follow Dal'Lumen. Heart Compelling method: Inspiration/shame -6m)