RP:Alexander versus Forsaken Knights

Alexander breathes in once as he prepares mentally for the oncoming battle. Drawing the Sword of Hope from its sheath, he looks upon the blade with an emotion as plain as if it had been spoken. Worry at the possibility of the loss of his trusted ally fills his mind when suddenly, the sword hums to its wielder. Almost instantly as it is heard, you see Alexander relax, his face becoming more calm and collected once more as his eyes flare wildly with holy fire. He nods to his blade as he raises it high. The humming increases in volume as you begin to hear faintly different notes from around you. Looking up, you see the stars twinkling, each seeming to have its own note that corresponds to those made by Runeblade. The heavenly vessels begin to move, repeating their circle once again as they had when you entered this hallowed place. Twelve in count as before, they dart and spiral around the top of this tower, not making any specific pattern. The very tip of Runeblade shines with a light similar to the stars as it lifts from the blade and joins its newfound companions. They each dance and sing to each other in a melody no bard could possibly duplicate, no songstress could ever copy as a smile forms on Alexanders face. His head lowers to view his opponents as his body erupts in an aura of flaming green. The instant this happens, the dancing stars stop in place. For a brief moment they merely float there when suddenly, the twelve originals group in threes and cast their very forms at each of the Forsaken knights. One to each temple and one to the center of their foreheads they place themselves as each member begins to glow with a white light. Tensing around their bodies, you see that it is more form than light as it begins to constrict each one, holding tightly. The last remaining light rises above the combatants and begins to shake violently as its note rises to a deafening degree. With no warning to any present, it explodes, bearing the full force of the skies, nay, the very heavens in its wake. The light that comes forth from it however does not seem to make any mark upon Alexander, nor any spectator present as it responds only to one thing, the evil it senses as it begins to burn away at each of them, body and spirit as if no force could match, nor suppress its fury…

Crisiant bites down softly on her bottom lip, chewing on it nervously as she watches every movement Alexander makes. Fingers wrap themselves tightly about the hilt of her sword, her body trembling slightly as she watches Runeblade begin to glow. Suddenly, to her surprise, everything grows bright. Her eyes grow wide with fear, she just sits there, stunned and frozen in the heat of battle. Before she can discern what is happening to her she feels something constricting her body, trapping her in bondage, leaving her only option to rely upon the grace and elegance of her magic. Her eyes close and Crisiant seems to slip off into another world within a matter of seconds, but she is not fast enough. Her body begins blistering from Alexander’s stranger magic, the smell of smoke wafts through the air about her, what seems to be steam rises from her body. Rather unexpectedly, her foes holy magic that keeps her held in place erupts in blinding white light which is quickly consumed by the darkness emitting from her body. With a wave of her hand, the vampire sends the dark spirit created by her straight for Alexander, it’s goal to pass through his body and corrupt taint, perhaps weaken the man’s spirit.

Immanuel tries to scream as the starts lock around his form, but no sound comes forth. He realises he is trapped, locked solid in this cocoon of light. As the light from the stars rains down, the mage once more tried to scream, though this time it is in pain. The holy fury burns all that is within him, everything pains, aside from one thing; his love for Alexiaisis. Using the one thing that is good in him, Immanuel fights the pain, both physically and mentally. His trapped form starts to convulse, and blood pours out of his mouth. The blood really does pour, and within moments his shell is full of the sanguine liquid. The sanguine liquid taints the light that emits from the cocoon, sending crimson all around the struggling mage. Drawing strength from his love, he tenses, and then snaps his form open. The shell that held him explodes and blood goes everywhere. Covering not just him, but a few of the spectators aswell. Finally free, the mage lets forth the scream that has been building inside. The sound is full of his old hatred, all thoughts of Alexia gone instantly. The sound seems to push away the glowing light, his hatred and lust for blood too much for the disgusting goodness. Raising his tainted eyes towards heaven Immanuel starts to levitate. The burns that cover his body grow, faster and faster until the mage is engulfed with horrible wounds. Suddenly he seems to explode, human flesh, and blood covers the already crimson ground. The blood bubbles and froths, black tendrils of energy start to emit from it. Suddenly the vitae on the ground erupts! And in his draconian from once more, Immanuel flies out, covered in blood. Only his eyes are truly visible and they burn with cold fury. Turning his gaze to the warrior of hope, the dragon spies Crisiant’s dark spirit. Knowing his attack will not hurt it, Immanuel takes a deep breath, and breathes fire. Instead of red, it burns black. Hatred, lust and pain coil around the heat as it makes it’s way through the spirit, not bothering it at all. As it reaches Alexander, the fires intensify, and lavish their attention on the human, burning away all that is good in their way…

Silk ducked the onrush of Immy's blood, she thinks.

Quortek looks down at himself briefly only to see bits of flesh and blood caking a good portion of his form.

Lyra quickly pushes out a bit of air from between slightly parted, bloodstained lips, her dark eyes never leaving the brightly glowing Runeblade. Delicate hands tremble ever so slightly as the melodies echo throughout the confines of her tormented mind, resounding within until her ears are ringing, and a brightness that she recognized once—that can only be holy, Her slender frame twitches violently, the staff nearly falling from her hands—only to be held in place. She lifts her head, only for it to be thrown back by the force of this bondage of light. Bondage…one single, solitary thought breaks into her mind, shattering the noise in an instant. Memories of the last time she had been bound, of Elazul and his possessed, wrack the once-child’s mind, raising forth with a boiling hatred that none present could ever hope to imagine. Slender fingers clench tightly around the forsaken staff of Valzain, leaving faint indentions as the hatred of this fallen Angel spills forth from her mind. From her opened mouth, tendrils of ebon light escape, writhing and twisting in intricate, ropelike spirals. Around Lyra they gently wrap, each devouring the light in its path with power fueled from its own fury until all is banished, the only remnants the singe marks on Lyra’s pale skin and the whirling darkness about her frame. The Mage raises her head, those damning, burning eyes fixing upon the form of the Paladin. A barely audible hiss can be heard, and without warning the protective magic of Lyra zooms through the air toward Alexander, seeing to wreak upon him all the havoc of her hateful and tormented mind. Dodging Crisiant’s spirit and the magics cast by Immanuel, they wrap around him much as the light did with Lyra, meaning to bind him, just as much physically as emotionally, and, to in their own way draw him into the misery that is her own.

Terces grimaces as the holy light envelopes him. It tears at his very being, eating away at his tainted self, wishing to devour him completely and leave nothing behind. All Terces can do is try to resist it and hold out as long as possible. As wounds start to open up across his body Terces begins to lose his precious life force. Blood splatters the ground around him and the cryomancer’s vision starts to become blurred. Through his hindered vision Terces sees the form of the paladin, and he grits his teeth. Concentrating as much as possible, Terces channels his energy into his hands. Slowly a faint blue aura appears about then, pushing the holy light away and granting his hands temporary refuge from the burning. Within seconds, the aura about his hands grows larger, sending tendrils up his arms to his shoulders. Both of his arms are now engulfed in this light, keeping them safe for now. Terces closes his eyes and imagines Alexander before him, a blurry dark figure rushing towards him, followed closely by another figure, though this one flying. And immediately after this, a bright snaking light careening forth, towards the paladin. The human chooses a spot on Alexander, his upper torso. Terces throws his arms to the sky, and from them erupts forth the blue light. It leaves his arms and shoots towards Alexander in a high arc, putting all in its path into a deep freeze.

Alexander opens his wings to take flight, but unfortunately is quickly entangled by the tendrils. Ripping at his appendages, Alexander struggles desperately to keep himself from being ripped to shreds. He lets out a shriek, similar to a large bird as the flaming aura around him streaks up each tendril, burning each one away swiftly. The moment he is able, he thrusts hard with his wings, sending him up to the skies, barely avoiding the flames and ice as the two collide, nullifying each other in turn. Struggling against his nearly torn and now severely painful muscles, the spirit comes upon him. As the two collide, time itself seems to stop. A single frozen moment throughout the land as the aura of flame seems the only thing unaffected. It wraps around this spirit, drawing it closer as it enters Alexanders body. Oddly enough though, it does not escape through the other side as one might think. Time resumes instantly as Alexanders wings give way. He falls to the tower floor once more with a force that drives the paladin to his knees as he places a hand to his breastplate. Breathing heavily, he rises to look upon his foes, seemingly pained by this attacker within, but hardly devastated by it. “ Elazul… Khasad… Arrecation… Among many whom have tried to grip this land have never held it for a mere moment… “ He speaks as Runeblade shakes in his hands once. “ Each have fallen in this land, and none shall claim it in the future… “ He continues as Runeblade shakes stronger. “ The mortals of this land hold a power inconceivable to the likes of each… For they hold both light and dark within them… Accepting this fact gives one hope… Gives one power… You wish to know why I am dubbed the Knight of Hope? Then I shall show you a force none can battle back, a force no evil can withstand, a force held by every man, woman and child in Hollow. Behold the power of mortality! “ Alexander finishes as he raises his hand to point over the edge of the tower. The land itself begins to glow. Fantasticly this resonating, pure light from the very earth, and all that inhabit it beckon forth at Alexanders words, and each responds. This light flows up the tower like a pristine river. Collecting itself around Alexander. As it passes by each present person, their minds are bombarded with images. Dreams and hopes of all who live in this land rip through swiftly, but leaving definititive impressions nevertheless. Alexanders wings open once more as he floats above the floor by one inch when suddenly, this power pulses through the area, seeming as if a pebble were cast into it. Ripples ebb from the Paladin as each rips through the four, baring not the power of Alexander, nor the powers of Runeblade or the heavens. But that of Hollow itself, the might of a land, its people to drive back the dark and the cold, and all who would dare seek to harm any living part of it...

Kaiyomatsu widdens his eyes in awe. "Such beauty."

Crisiant’s head cocks to one side with an eyebrow arched, curiously watching the exchange between Alexander and his sword. The blood covered and partially burnt woman takes a step away from the man and crouches down to the ground, the blade of her sword kept away from the floor. She head heard rumors and stories of the Knight’s powers, none that she took to be true though. Just as she crouches down to the ground she is hit with a wave of unseen force, knocked straight in the head; had she been mortal the force of the blow may have killed her. Crisiant is lifted off her feet and sent crashing down into the ground; her swords being released from her grip as she crashes. Before she has a chance to get up and shake it off, she is hit by another of the ripples. The disgusting sound of bones cracking echoes through the air followed by a shrill cry of pain. A pale hand makes its way to her ribs. With much effort, the vampire slowly rises. Anger clouds the woman’s mind, blocking out the pain, and all she can think of is making Alexander suffer. Her free hand reaches out for the nearby sword. Once gripped tightly, she rushes towards Alexander, the ripples seeming to no longer hit her, just pass straight through her as if she were a ghost. No cry is heard, no sound is made, Crisiant pushes herself up off the ground without warning, her elemental-sword held high above her head. With a forceful movement, the mage pulls her arm down, the target of her blade Alexander’s head.

Immanuel wraps his claws around his head as the power enters his draconian form. The dreams of Hollow burn away at his soul. All his insecurities, malice, contempt for life, and most of all, his deep hatred, each one explodes within the beast. . Unable to keep flight, the dragon drops out of the sky like a freshly thrown pebble. The ground offers little hope, as it catches him, breaking bones like measly twigs. The pain doesn’t reach the failing mage, his whole thoughts are confused by one burning desire; to hope. Hiding within himself, the he fights the urges, surrounding himself with his past. The bloodshed still won’t ebb the flow of hope, it still burns, still rips away at his soul. Unable to take it a moment longer, Immanuel stands on all fours, his face is a mask of pain, and hatred still as he looks at the warrior of hope. Suddenly a grin slashes across his face, as he realises what must be done. “I hope Alexander. I hope you will be dragged under the earth to burn in hell with the rest of these vile fools!” The last word is nothing more then a hiss, as the vampiric draconian lumbers forward through the power. Its lethal kiss rips off scales and delicately burns what is underneath, but still the dragon continues on. Fighting through the pain until he reaches the paladin. He wraps his bloodied and somewhat broken claws around the human, locking him in place, but leaving enough of him exposed to settle the hunger of Crisiant’s blade. The light that emits from Alexander ravishes the mage, but still he holds on. Turning his great head, he speaks quickly, to both Crisiant and Lyra. “Do it now!” As the last word rips itself free, Immanuel closes his eyes, and baths himself in hatred, praying he has enough strength to hold the warrior of hope long enough. Lyra shrieks, the sound harsh and loud enough to send nearby birds into flight and rock the makeshift arena even more. Dreams of hope, of security, of love, all things she never had, all things that forced her into resentment of all life, plague her. Over and over they play, forcing the vampiress to her knees as screams of anguish resound through the heavens. Dreams of the child that was lost, the once-Angel that, at one time, had wanted nothing more than someone to love her as she should have, and needed to be loved, play through, never ceasing and invoking a sorrow so great that it almost seems tangible. A forceful shake of her head is given, sending strands of ebon hair in all directions as the ground shakes violently once more. “No more…” Her voice is a hoarse, almost pleading whisper that quickly rises in pitch as she speaks again. “No…MORE!” The last word is more of a wail, and as it leaves her lips, and her stare averts from Alexander, settling for no more than a moment, on the draconian form of Immy—probably her best friend, other than Val or Crisiant. The sight of him brings her back to the situation at and, and slowly, painfully Lyra rises to her feet, those dark eyes narrowing to slits as a feral growl is sent in Alexander’s direction. Clutching tightly her Forsaken staff; she begins to chant. The words are hrash, dissonant, bringing with them feelings of pain and despair beyond all possible hope. The ground begins a continuous tremble, nearly costing Lyra her balance as a wide chasm opens beneath Alexander and Immanuel. Buzzing and hissing can be heard from inside, and millions upon millions of small, vicious insects make their way into the surface, swarming upon Alexander and Immy both, hungry for the taste of flesh and that feeling of hope that bound them within a void long ago.

Terces falls to the ground, chest heaving slightly. He looks down at his wounds and sighs. They no longer spill blood, but are now closed and very sore. He manages to stand and survey’s the area around him. Ripples ensue from him, and as they reach each of his friends, they in turn seem to drift away or be knocked to the ground. As a ripple reaches Terces his mind is suddenly flooded with good, hopeful thoughts. They attack his mind, causing deep regret and sorrow within him. Once again he falls to the ground, causing immense pain to shoot through his left side, where the damage from the holy light is much worse. This pain somewhat reawakens Terces, just enough to see Crisiant’s blade slashing down upon the pinned Alexander, and the tiny insects that cover both him and Immanuel. At this sight, Terces remembers what is going on around him and is able to shake the hideous thoughts of good and hope from his wracked mind. Anger tears through him. Anger bound up inside, brought out by the light, pushed forward by the horrible thoughts. It slowly simmers out of Terces as a black cloud. It makes its way towards Alexander, through the Forsaken, who are immune to the negative energy. It closes around him like the insects running out, bent on destroying the good.

Alexander gasps for breath under the pressing strength of Immanuel, yet he does not move. In fact, his eyes close as easily as a childs on the brink of slumber. The pulsing waves from him continue as they in turn respond with the aura around Alexander. These flames burst out from him, bearing the visage of a great bird made up completely of fire. Its beak comes down hard upon Immanuel, forcing into his scales as if they were a brittle metal. Pressing further into tendon and muscle, Immanuels grip is forced from Alexander as he floats as he was, still making no movement. The phoenix entity rears its head and casts Immanuel into the frenzied insects, smashing into many as they fall into the abyss once more. The giant bird looks down upon the cloud and opens its mouth, taking in a deep breath, bringing in the darkened cloud as it shakes its head and wings in discomfort. The flames begin to recede slightly, reacting to the opposite energy, but as it does, it clasps its wings together around the remaining swarm of insects as they bear upon it. The flames crackle against shell and flesh as the exoskeletons burn to nothing but ash, falling into the wind as it casts them away. The entity subsides as Alexanders eyes finally open. With no moment available for conscious thought, he brings his mighty weapon up, clashing finally with Crisiants blade. The combined force of the Sword of Hope and the resonating power of Hollow meet her blade with such power, that the blade itself explodes into an uncountable amount of metallic dust particles. The very same force sends her flailing backwards from the paladin as he lowers his blade to his forehead, resting it to his skin as he whispers a silent prayer in thanks to those forces that had come to his aid. With the sound of his voice, the glow of the land subsides, returning to its normal form and fashion. Runeblades voice sends out one last note to Alexander, then goes quiet as he lowers it once more, catching the air in his wings as he resumes normal flight once more.

Silk said, "We all agreed, very good duel, and very difficult decision, but Alexander has been declared the winner, this day."

Alexander drops to the ground suddenly, exausted and pained from this duel. His wings droop to the ground as he rests Runeblade beside him, thanking again the land for his victory.

Lyra said to Alexander, "We shall meet again."

Immanuel said to Alexander, "what was the agreement again?"

Kaiyomatsu said to Immanuel, "Give him all your clothes and belongings, except for custom items"

Alexander said to Immanuel, "All you own save custom items, and banishment to Valkrin for two weeks."

Terces gets ta strip.

Immanuel said to Alexander, "Including what I have in my inventory?"

Alexander raises a hand slowly to Kaiyomatsu. " I will handle this friend. "

Lyra said to Kaiyomatsu, "Lose that attitude before I knock it out of you."

Alexander said to Immanuel, "Yes. You all are to be naked and coinless in disgrace for your evil deeds. And so it shall be done." Kaiyomatsu said to Alexander, "I'm sure you will good sir. But what you just went through would overwhelm my mind. So it suprises me that you remember."

Terces said to Alexander, "Heh, disgrace."

Kaiyomatsu said to Lyra, "Hey hey, calm down."

Immanuel is naked and likes it!

Kaiyomatsu kneels down by Atropos. "Are you okay?"

Lyra said to Kaiyomatsu, "You shut up, or you die."

Atropos glances up at Kaiyomatsu, "I dun feel good."

Kaiyomatsu said to Lyra, "I'd rather not, but I am enjoying life quite alot, I don't want trouble however."

Terces said to Kaiyomatsu, "I can still muster enough strength to kill you. Quiet yourself."

Kaiyomatsu said to Atropos, "Do you need help?"

Kaiyomatsu said to Terces, "No doubt"

Atropos said to Kaiyomatsu, "No."

Alexander said, "Keep your food and drink. I will not starve you all at least."

Atropos said to Kaiyomatsu, "I can manage."

Terces feels much lighter and unrestricted.

Immanuel said to Alexander, "aside from my weapon, and my spork, everything I own, is now yours. The deal is done between us Alexander. I will now go to spend my time in the Hanging Corpse Tavern."

Alexander said to Lyra, "Let this serve to remind you for all time Lyra. Never shall this land be ruled by your like. Not while I, nor any who hold this land dear draw breath."

Lyra said to Alexander, "My like? You know little of my like. *shrugs, long strands of hair falling over her bare shoulders* Believe it or not...I was once very much like YOU. But worry not, we will return. *grins and waves*"

Alexander said to Lyra, "I remember... Pity you forgot the innocence you once had."

Lyra said to Alexander, "I didn't forget anything. *shrugs once more* People change. Thank yourself and the others of this wretched land for it."

Terces said to Alexander, "We will fight again. Next time will be different."

Lyra grins and wanders off to Valkrin for her vacation.

Hans sayto Alexander : ye know i'll have te buy ye ah drink now, don't ye?

Alexander said to Hans, "It would be most welcome friend."

Kaiyomatsu said to Alexander, "What can I say? Amazing."

Alexander said, "Skin of my arse win. I will never do that again."