RP:The Nightmarish Rescue of a Stranded Gladiator

Shrine of the Grand Magic

Svilfon moves carefully around this arcane room, stepping over thin chalk lines which he has drawn onto the floor, creating an intricate pattern which would grate upon the minds of those unused to such things; twisting and dancing over itself in impossible designs, attempts to follow a single line throughout its completion is a quick walk down the path to insanity. But there is sense within the convoluted archaic design, for the wizard did much research on this Akumukokudo and the means of entering and leaving the nightmare realm. Svilfon mutters almost constantly to himself, checking and rechecking that everything is in place and ready, before at the last he moves towards the entrance to the room and there he pauses, waiting for Misaki and her mount, so he can begin in earnest this attempt at rescuing Chakor. While he waits, he begins to prepare himself for this coming spell-casting. As thrilling as such missions can be, the wizard is not looking forward to this at all.

Misaki entered the shrine, her hands clasped behind her back. Following behind her was her human crossbow, Satoru. He had changed a lot since the wizard had last seen him... his hair was now short and spiky, and his eyes had been returned to him - although this time, they were gray. He had also abandoned the suit, he now wore a pair of black pants and no shirt, showing off his muscles and runes that were painted over his body - runes that were most commonly used for fire magic and shadowmancy. There was one other difference the wizard would notice, but not about Satoru - about Misaki. The runes on her wings were still there, but the one on her back had been removed. Cleanly, no less. Misaki seemed unaffected, gazing around at the room and how different it seemed to things she was used to. Satoru stepped forward and bowed at the waist to Svilfon. "Greetings to you, wizard," he said.

Mythayus followed closed behind. Though his mind didnt not seem focused. His armor cleaned and polished, his hair tied back in a que, his bastard swod rested on his right hip. He appeared ready for combat. Trotting behind him with a slight limp, Ari his displacer beast. It the grasp of its tentacles was a tattered shield with an almost worn off insignia. It was of a wolf howling. A crescent moon behind it. Ari also had a bag on its back. Mythayus's eyes took in all the various lines and patterns. He remained silent as he took a place next to Misaki. Ari sat down behind him.

Chakor lay exhausted on the floor of the tiny shack he had taken refuge in so long ago. Outside he could hear the various showdy denizens of the Nightmare Realm doing their best to claw their way inside. The gladiator's strength had waned over the past weeks and he was hardly in fighting shape, still his spirit willed him on. In his mind he knew that his friends would not leave him to die here. The elf though of his love for Mythayus, how he never got the chance to tell him how he truly felt deep down and of Misaki, who he had wrong and wanted to make ammends to so badly. These burning thoughts had kept the battered warrior going since he risked his life to save theirs. Normally a man who did not bother with relgion, Chakor had been praying to every deity he could think of that his friends would have gone to find help once they made it back.

Svilfon offers Satoru the merest ghost of a smile, and if he notices the differences in the weapon, or even that Misaki has changed - freed now from the rune upon her back - he doesn't show it at all. He is focused on the task at hand and has little time for other things. Still, though, he tips his hat, "Greetings, Satoru, and to you, Misaki and Mythayus." The other two are offered quick tips of his hat, before the wizard carries on, getting straight to the meaty heart of their business. "My preparations are complete. I can open the way to the Nightmare Realm and both hold open the door and defend it from... undesirables... entering into this world. But I have no illusions about the length of time I can maintain the spell... you will have to rescue Chakor quickly, clansmen, if you want any hope of returning." He smiles at that, though the look never quite touches his eyes. "When you are ready, I can begin... I would have preferred to come with you, but have no doubts you can do it perfectly fine without my aid. You've gotten out before, after all, and the risks of going through... I cannot be stuck there if things go awry, not while Frostmaw needs my help. I am sure you understand. When you are ready, I shall open the way." He nods at that as he falls into silence, readying himself for the coming spell.

Misaki nods, taking Satoru's hand. "Let's go," she said, "we're stronger than ever." Satoru smiled a little, already starting to meld into shadows as he turned to his weapon form. "...Svilfon," she said, "do you need me to boost your power?" She was already plucking a few feathers from her wings, soaked in magic power the runes on her wings had been giving them. She offered these to the wizard. "...they should help, should the portal threaten to collapse, at least," she said, "take them."

Mythayus's eye sharpened like razors. He gave Svil a nod indicating that he was ready. He took his shield from Ari. "Stay," It was stern and hard. The hardest anyone has ever heard his voice. The rooms energy seemed to be building up as a faint light blue glow filled Mythayus's eyes. A slight glow could bee seen peaking out from the armor on his back.

Chakor takes hold of his sword and pushes himself up off the floor. The elf looks out of window and notices a reduction in the nightmare's numbers. As he narrowed his gaze, he could see a large shadowy figure approaching his position. He did not need to think about what this beast might be, he knew, with every fiber of his being he knew. It was Ammit, the elf's ancient enemy. Gathering his armor from the floor, the gladiator prepared for what might very well be his final fight. If he was going to die in this hellish place, he was going to make sure that the 'Soul-Eater' went with him. After checking the house to make sure he had everything, the warrior stepped outside and into the torrent of nightmares.

Svilfon offers a faint smile to the avian. “Thank you, Misaki, and good luck.” He takes the feathers, though does nothing with them other than store them away in his robes. He would use their latent power if things go awry, to ensure his clansmen get out of this alive. “Be ready.” The moment the last word leaves his mouth, eyes drift shut and the Magister Templi begins to draw upon his magic, filling his deceased body with a swirling mixture of the archaic might which gives Hollow its life. More and more he summons, until the very air around his body begins to waver and dance, like it was caught in the middle of a horrific source of heat. Words soon come from the wizard; the language is ancient and not quite designed for a human, if vampiric, throat. They sound guttural and grotesque, like the harsh growls of beast hunting its prey, knowing soon a vicious death will be dealt. For a long drawn out moment this continues, until at last Svilfon raises his hands and drives forward the power within him. It lights up the chalk-laid pattern with a complex series of swirling hues that begin to bristle and burst as they move towards the center, before the glowing lines weave themselves into a complicated, convoluted cocoon-like shape which soon glows with an intensity far too great to look upon. But the wizard's eyes are shut and his focus is complete. He forces the final stages of his spell, causing, like an ethereal sword was being wielded by the Gods, a split too appear in the middle of his magic, cutting into the cocoon and showing an opening which leads to nothing but darkness and despair in its center. Holding it, the wizard speaks again, this time his voice echoes the tremendous strain his body is under. “Go through, Misaki, Mythayus and Satoru. Go fetch Chakor... I will keep this open for as long as I can...” It would lead them into the Nightmare Realm, close enough to where Chakor lays clinging onto his life. It was the best the wizard could do without knowing the realm in high detail.

Nightmare Realm

Misaki nods, gripping Satoru the crossbow as she raced through the portal. She dropped a few feet to the glittering diamond sands of Akumukokudo. She didn't even look back towards the portal to check for Myth. She just kept running, sending up puffs of glittering dust as she ran across the sparkly ground. Not too far was the ruins of the village where Satoru stayed. There was no life... apparently the other adults had left. "Satoru," she said, skidding to a halt just outside the burnt remains, "where is Chakor? Can you sense him? Or any Nightmares?" Satoru remained silent for a moment... then... "Northeast," he said, "not too far into the village... it' surrounded by the Nightmares, though, and a presence I do not recognize." Misaki nodded. "...then, we'd better get ready," she said, loading a bolt into the night-colored crossbow and running, faster than ever.

Mythayus was through the portal like lightning. Once through he "Which way?" Then nodding once Northeast was spoken. He shifted to face that way. "Shall I attack from the air?"

Chakor slices and dices his way through the lesser nightmares as he walks defiantly towards Ammit. Though he had been robbed of much of his strength these paltry little monsters were easy pickings for the seasoned fighter. As he draws closer to the grotesque soul-eater he pauses momentarily and turns his head upon hearing a deafening clap of thunder rings forth from the southwest. 'What in the hell was that' the elf thought to himself before turning back to the matter at hand. Marching towards what he felt was almost certain death, Chakor takes a deep breath and utters a millennia's old prayer he learned as a child. A gruesome snarl from infront of him snaps the fighter out of his private moment. Looking up to the massive beast's snapping crocodilian maw the man gives a twisted smile. What a place to die he thought as he charged in on the ancient evil.

Svilfon feels the sense of where his clansmen are suddenly severed as they race through the portal, into the realm of nightmares, seeking out the stranded glatiator. But the wizard doesn't long linger on it, instead keeping his focus intense upon the portal he created, ensuring his own magic fuels its life, while also disguising its presense from any creatures who may seek to break into Hollow. He can feel the pressure building inside as his body struggles to contain the magic he is casting, but he can ignore the sensation for now... few are the places in Hollow where the wizard is stronger than he is here; he can only hope his strength is enough to keep it open until his clansmen return.

Misaki saw the large group of nightmares after only a few moments of running through the tattered village. Yelling a loud battle cry, she fire the bolt from her crossbow. It split into twelve darts, embedding themselves into the bodies of several Nightmares. "Satoru!" she yelled, throwing the crossbow into the group. "Yes, Misaki!" in a whirl of shadows, Satoru was once again human, brandishing the magic tonfas that were his weapon, fire cascading down his arms like demonic wings. Fire roared from Satoru's body, shooting themselves down the tonfas and extending his reach to over six feet in either direction. Misaki also joined in the battle using her white bone dagger, which glowed as she engagedi n battle with several nightmares. She saw in the distance, Chakor was fighting against something that looked like a true Nightmare. "Myth!" she yelled, "Help him!" She then blocked a sword and punched the nightmare in the face, crushing its skull. As the nightmares died, they became piles of glittering sand on the ground.

Mythayus started running towards the northeast Transforming as he ran. He leaped in to the air as his transformation completed. He gave a mighty flap with his wings He stabilized himself in the air. He did several flaps while doing a serpentine motion in the air to pick up speed. Once over the nightmares, He let out a massive roar. He then took a deep breath and released a stead stream of electricity on to the waves of nightmares not far from Chakor. He was making his landing site.

Chakor was locked in battle with the mighty Ammit when he heard his companions arrive. It was only when the great beast had thrown the elf that he was able to steal a glance at his clansmen. He was relieved that they had found a way to get to him, and without that wretched kitsune in tow. Over the sounds of battle and torment the gladiator shouts to his friends "How nice of you to join the fun! Keep the little ones off of me." Dropping his gaze back to the hulking beast before him the elf lowered his voice "This big one is mine." Chakor charged in with his sword raised, aiming to behind the eons old behemoth.

Svilfon continues to maintain the portal. He ponders pulling out one of the feathers, but decides against it. He would do without the added magic if he could, for when they return he may need his power to seal off the doorway. So he maintains what he's doing, letting the tremendous amount of magic flow through his pallid body while he waits the fate of his clansmen, ignorant entirely of the life and death battle they have gotten themselves into.

Misaki nodded once in Chakor's direction, grabbing at her wing. "Satoru! Resonate with me!" she said, taking off into the sky. Satoru threw a nightmare off his back with a torrent of fire, blasting it to pieces. "What are you going to do?" Satoru asked. "Take out most of 'em," she replied, her hand extending, "c'mon. We've done it once, we can do it again!" Instantly, Satoru knew what she was talking about. He dissolved into shadows and shot for Misaki, latching onto her arm. Misaki screamed out loud, the shrillness of her voice piercing even the most deaf of ears. The shadows were melding with her body, enveloping the pale avian as the two created a power one would not tink possible. Indeed, Misaki wasn't sure if this would work or not... as she said, they -had- only done this once, and only by mistake. A loud screech of a hawk was heard, and out of the sky came a black feathered bird-man creature, red eyes glowing with bloodlust. Scraps of cloth covered its torso and part of its legs... All of the exposed 'skin' ruffled like feathers of onyx and oil, while wings of shadow folded against its back, taking a dive for the throng of nightmares now charging at the being. IT screeched again, shadows enveloping its hand as a spear appeared... spinning the weapon, it engaged the large crowd, making glittering sand and feathers fly everywhere.

Mythayus lands sending out another blast of electricity, sweeping the battlefield. He used his tail as a giant club, his wings used as shield to keep the fodder away from Chakor's battle. "Run foolish whelps, or i will devour you all!" His voice boomed across the battlefield. Ari tilted his head at the wizard watching intently but he did not move from were his master had told him to stay. He held his left paw up as if it were hurt.

Chakor brought his sword down upon the beast with great force, slicing off one of its arms. As the demon reared back in agony the gladiator stole a glance towards the battle his friends were fighting. He has never really seen Mythayus in fully on dragon form and it was impressive to say the least but when looked towards where he had last seen Misaki, he saw a strange creature slaying nightmares. 'This must be what happens when she bonds with Satoru' the elf thought before turning his attention back to the snarling wretch before him. Chakor's blow had angered Ammit and it swung a claw down with a mighty rage as retaliation, knocking the warrior on his ass as well as leaving a large gash across the elf's chest. As he fell the gladiator stuck his right arm out to brace his fall but the force with which he was hit was so great that his forearm snapped in two under the pressure. Crying out in agony the seasoned fighter was near helpless as the grotesque creature towered over him. Planting a solid kick into Ammit's chest, the elf created space between the two. He pushed himself up to his feet with the help of his blade. Pointing the weapon at the fearsome nightmare he utter a simple "This ends now" before moving with great speed towards the monster, sword poised for a killing blow.

Svilfon feels his body giving way beneath the onslought of magicks ravishing it from within, but he would not give up just yet. He will hold open the portal... he just hopes his clansmen do not take much longer... otherwise, they might be returning to an empty place without door to get home. The vampire is entirely oblivious to Ari's actions, his focus remaining on what he is doing, his trust in the plethora of defences surrounding the room is complete, so nothing else but this task can steal his attention.

The bird creature slashed through the nightmares as if they were butter. The moment the lat nightmare, other than the one Chakor was fighting, was dead, the timing of the transformation has ended. Shadows peeled off the thing's body, black feathers falling to the ground and dissolving into the air. Misaki stood in that spot for a few moments, holding Satoru the crossbow and staring into the moonless, starless sky. And then she fell into the soft, glittering sand. Where she and Satoru rested, oblivious to the world around them.

Chakor drove the blade deep into Ammit's throat. The gladiator twisted the blade as he withdrew it making sure that the beast suffered. Not wanting to leave anything to chance the elf proceeded to hack at the behemoths neck repeatedly even after its head had detached from its body. All the pent up anger and aggression the warrior had spewed forth as he continued to lay waste to the rest of Ammit's body. This outpouring of emotions sapped what little remaining strength Chakor had. After a moment he stopped swinging mindlessly and stared at the slain creature. After so many eons of torturing his people, the Soul-Eater was finally dead. The exhausted fighter walked towards his friends with weary legs. As he reached Mythayus he opened his mouth to speak but only muttered a short "My love…." before collapsing to the ground.

Mythayus quickly scooped up Chakor, and was air making his way to Misaki and Satoru. He place chakor on his back as he scooped up Misaki and Satoru. He violently turn and gave a powerful blast with his wings. Soaring towards the portal as quickly as he could. He didnt know how long they were in there and he remembered the tole it took on Al. He tossed the three through the portal before Pushing himself in to a quick morph into a smaller form. So as to not hurt anyone or destroy the room. He stepeed through the portal, panting heavily.

Svilfon shifts his pale eyes, which look now without any comprehension of the world, from the top of the portal to the people coming through it as Mythayus hurls Chakor, Satoru and Misaki back into Hollow itself, before himself walking the space between this world and Akumukokudo. Deep within the wizard's mind the thought that they are free is born, and without pause he screams a series of words in another arcane tongue, this one resounding with vicious intent as it echoes through the room, seeming to gain strength rather than lose it with each bounce it makes. The wizard can feel his tenuous grip on consciousness being strained to its outer limits by the huge exertion all the spell-casting is taking on his body, so without halting his chanting words he delves into his robes and draws forth the feathers Misaki gave him earlier. Holding them tight in one hand, he continues to cast the spell, drawing from both himself and the incarcerated power within the feathers to ensure he has enough magic to close the portal. For a long moment the struggle continues, both the wizard and the gateway soon becoming lost in a swirling, blinding light, until at the very end there is a sound like a colossal bubble popping, and both the light and the Magister Templi's words fade, leaving nothing more than a smouldering pile of wizard-robes with a much pained vampire pulling himself to his feet within them, silhouetted by smoking lines in the ground. When standing again, Svilfon sways once, looks at his clansmen, attempts to tip his hat, before he turns on his heel and staggers north, through a magically sealed hidden door which takes him into the heart of the Mage's Guild where at last he can rest his body after it was so long made a whore to the spell he cast this day. At the moment, he doesn't care about how the others have fared, but he is glad they are alive... even if right now he's struggling to care about anything other than sleep.

Misaki was barely breathing on the ground. Satoru dissolved into shadows and reappeared at her side. "...you should've known this would happen," Satoru aid, picking his daughter up in his arms. He turned to Chakor and Myth and bowed his head. "...forgive me, but I must take her elsewhere," he said, "I will see you both another time." And with that, the two of them left.

Mythayus rubbed his face and gave a light groan of pain. He had never forced himself to transform so quickly. It was a very painful action. He shook his head, seemingly shaking the pain away. He looked to Ari, "Follow" He looked down to Chakor and let out a sigh. He picked up the wounded gladiator, and began his way to frostmaw.

Chakor opened his eyes briefly to see the tip of the wizard's hat vanish from view. A small smile stretched across his face and he mumbled something incoherent. Peering up at Mythayus the elf commits this moment to memory. His knight in shining armor, always there to save him. As his love walks carries him out of the building he passed out again. Finally, he was home.