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Post by Book of the Twilight on Nov 21, 2011 10:00:38 GMT -5
::A great warrior in his time, the King was still a very old man at this point, and the stench was indeed overwhelming as he covered his mouth to gag::
King Figaro: You've been a busy man August Krasnow. So kind of the Empire to send their toy to dispatch me.
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August Krasnow
Determined Individual
"Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici."
Posts: 291
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Post by August Krasnow on Nov 21, 2011 15:36:04 GMT -5
“Tsk-tsk, your Excellency. You should have said, ‘to dispatch us’ or ‘we’. Or has even the highest offices now abandoned their traditions?”
August twirled his dagger between his fingers, dancing the hilt of the blade. The demonic creatures at his flanks closing in around the King and himself till they are completely encircled with the king’s back against the wall. Nowhere to run.
“And I’m not here on Empire business. But enough discussion, it was requested that I allow you some semblance of dignity in your last moments yet that isn’t my style. Though perhaps you would like the make a deal? I could kill you and leave you in a pool of your own blood and excrement or… there is another option available to you if you are interested.”
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Post by Book of the Twilight on Nov 22, 2011 0:41:24 GMT -5
King Figaro: Don't misunderstand my lack of decorum as disrespect for tradition. Since it is your intention to separate our Beloved Figaro from her King in any case, I expressed the hope that you would allow this carnage to end with me. But, how did you phrase it? That isn't your style. Strange, I never took Lord Noel as the kind of man to give that order. It's always been his belief to make an example of the enemy. But then again, you never did say it was his orders you were executing now did you.
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Sigismund
Experienced Novice
My kingdom of Doma is very quiet now.
Posts: 92
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Post by Sigismund on Nov 22, 2011 1:19:14 GMT -5
::The bird demons closed in on the dragon like flies to rotted meat, swooping from below to rake their claws up Iole's stomach, finding the tender parts in her hide beneath her scales. She roared and unleashed a stream of fire, which scorched them to cinders, but they were quickly being overwhelmed, until a second jet of flames rocketed to their rescue. A party of them fell to the earth amid screeching and fire. In a blur of red something blinked from foe to foe, and where it went, they were thrown for the sky, cleaved in half. Stefan swooped to Iole's side just to Oliver's flank, relieved of his shirt and coat, his arms were covered in dark red scales and tipped with razor sharp claws. With his night black hair trailing behind his head like a tail, and his red wings spread wide, he winked at Oliver with one of his golden eyes and shouted to be heard over the wind and the battle::
Stefan: I hope you weren't planning on being carried off as a bird's dinner! But if you are giving up, I suppose I could get Iole through it!
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Post by Book of the Twilight on Nov 22, 2011 1:28:27 GMT -5
::Meanwhile, within the castle::
King Figaro: In response to your earlier proposition, let this be your answer.
::The old man reached to his side and drew his sword. Then his feeble old frame took the stance of a true knight, waiting for the end with fire in his age yoked eyes.
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August Krasnow
Determined Individual
"Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici."
Posts: 291
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Post by August Krasnow on Nov 22, 2011 1:34:29 GMT -5
August shook his head disparagingly, the King had not answered his questions. This would not do, not in the least.
"Now, now your excellency, don't skirt the question."
The King's response was met with August coyly sidestepping and grabs a hold of the man's wrist. In the moment the two touched, a bright red flash erupted from under the grasp, suddenly the King was paralyzed from a temporary seal that branded his flesh.
"I- I guess I'll just have to make the choice for you."
With a sliding step back, August plants the blade of the knife squarely in the King’s stomach and rips belly open from side to side.
“The king is dead-”
The moment the blood was spilt, the way open, two of the horrible dog-sized Synx’s leapt up and into the belly of the man, distending his flesh and body in a most horrifying manner. The parasites squirmed and slithered throughout the fleshy cavity, till finding a resting place and working their horrible fingers and tails into the body. The king appeared fat and bulbous, horribly distended and ill with the two creatures now taking residence inside.
“Long live the king.”
August stepped back, wrapped his arms around his chest and let the large Synx behind him devour him once more in one quick gulp. With their master once again reunited with the swarm, the sea disperses, flowing away from the castle’s upper levels to lurk back in the dark sewers from whence they had came. The king staggered, slowly stepping – one foot, then the next – as the creatures learned to manipulate their new puppet till they came to a rest on the throne. And there they sat, waiting.
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Post by Guinevere on Nov 22, 2011 1:45:13 GMT -5
::Outside, Guinevere continued draining the fires around them and blasting them back at the creatures while Kerion provided cover. Not one demon ever came within ten feet of them. Their rapidly disintegrating corpses formed a near perfect circle around them, leaving a void of scorched grass between them::
Seems like they're retreating.
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Post by Kerion on Nov 22, 2011 2:19:22 GMT -5
"There's something strange about this." Kerion replied as he fired a bullet at one of the retreating demons, blasting what looked liked its brains through the front of its head. "Why are they pulling back when they know we're here? They would of either continued until they either killed or captured us. Unless we're not their intended target..."
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Post by Oliver on Nov 22, 2011 3:32:07 GMT -5
Oliver wasn't going to be out done by this pretty boy dragon trying to play the big hero in front of Iole. Even on Iole's back, Oliver was holding his own as best he can against the flying demons and certainly wasn't afraid of being dragged off - but he could admit he couldn't hold them all off on his own, for Iole's sake.
"W'at!? I'm doin' fine! Just keep em off Iole's belly." His tendrils of hair, whipping out from the combs in his hands were at the ready, flicking at any of the creatures they come in close proximity too. It certainly wasn't as effective as Stefan's flames, but it was far from helpless and far from admitting defeat.
Then, the flying creatures begun to disperse, slowly retreating. Though what they left behind was a horrible sight of destruction and chaos, the smoke rising from the burnt out homes and shops was choking. "Iole! T'ey pull'in back... t'e King!? T'ey got w'at t'ey wanted an it ain't ye! Bring us around back, to t'e cast'e!"
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Post by Iole on Nov 22, 2011 22:08:17 GMT -5
::Iole beat her wings and harked to the left, veering back downward. The could already see it; a trail of dead leading back into the castle. In the confusion a gaggle of demons had pushed its way into the keep, mowing down any and all palace guard in their way:: Hang on.::Oliver could feel his footing shift as the dragon began to shrink beneath him. Just as he retracted his claws from her so as not to dig into her transforming flesh, she drew in her wings. They landed swiftly together with Stefan just behind them. They wasted no time, and were not met by a soul until they reached the throne room. Dead; guards, servants, men, women, children. All dead. At first, Iole felt relief at seeing him there; the King Figaro alive on his throne watching them spring to his rescue with that grandfatherly grin of approval:: King Figaro: Nice to see you made it. Are the three of you alright? ::Then the reality of the situation set in for her. Why was he, the King, the supposed target alive and well while everyone that had stood between their attackers and him were lying dead, and no sign of the enemy lingering?:: We're fine. What about you, your Majesty? King Figaro: I may be old, but I'm no pushover my dear. ::Iole closed her eyes and clenched her fist:: Ever since the first time we spoke, King Figaro always insisted that I call him Edgar. ::On his throne, the King remained motionless. Not even a muscle in his face twitched. But his voice now had the sound of anoter within it; a shrill hiss alongside what had been a kind voice:: www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8liPdLa0yc&feature=relatedKing Figaro: Perceptive Dragon. ::The King groaned suddenly and convulsed, gripping the arms of his throne until his gnarled fingers turned white:: Iole, forgive us. ::Then with a howl, he fell from his throne to twitch and convulse on the floor before it. The crack of his bones echoed through the stone chamber. Then in a most unnatural way, he rose back to his feet, like a marionette on strings. His face twisted into a mask of fangs and rage; looking more like it was carved from gnarled wood than from flesh. He thrust one arm forward. The sleeve of his garment tore as his hand bloated and split into three tentacles that stretched and shot for the three who leaped out of the way just as they made their mark, crashing their ends into the floor::
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Post by Jas on Nov 23, 2011 2:08:52 GMT -5
::Outside::
Kyran: Seems they're falling back. What could of sent them?
"I don't know Kyran, but these were man made."
Kyran: August. Does he have no respect for nat... There's still one here, a powerful one. But this can't be.
"Where is it?"
Kyran: In the throne room... That's what they were after from the start!
::Kyran takes off in ahurry, leaving Jas to play catch up::
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Post by Iole on Nov 23, 2011 2:22:53 GMT -5
::In the throne room, Iole leaped to avoid the incoming attacks, but she had no plan. What could she do? He had spoken to her, pleaded her forgiveness. Somewhere beneath this creature Edgar was still there, no matter what this foul magic had turned him into::
Any ideas Ollie?
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Post by Book of the Twilight on Nov 24, 2011 19:19:25 GMT -5
::Stefan's wings shot out from his back again as he leaped into the air and swerved to the side to avoid the King's newly grown tentacles. His arms transformed again::
Stefan: Uh I have one. Take off it's head!
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Post by Iole on Nov 25, 2011 3:16:25 GMT -5
Not really an option Stefan! He's still in there!
::Though looking back at the King whose eyes had turned as black as night as he lashed at them in his new form, it was impossible to see any connection to the man they had known. He lashed his tentacles fiercely at the three, and Iole wasn't making any kind of attempt to fight back. The only way she was defending herself was to continually leap out of the way of his attacks, spinning and cartwheeling into the air. But she couldn't keep it up forever::
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Post by Oliver on Nov 25, 2011 3:31:44 GMT -5
Oliver was taken back by the radical transformation, he may loath kings and royals, but this was downright horrible - it just wasn't right. He'd seen many things in his life, but this would have to be a first, he hoped it would be the last time. He darted away from the tentacle lash, springing back in a flip before landing onto his feet gracefully, his combs at the ready.
"T'ink he's a lil'beyond 'elp, Love." As the lashing tendril struck out once more, Oliver met it with his own coil, locking the two together. He gripped hard, fingers clenched tight around the comb to keep it in his grasp as he wrangled against the King. "I'm wit' prissy pants, off wit' his 'ead! T'is t'ing ain't human no more!"
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Post by Iole on Nov 25, 2011 3:45:28 GMT -5
NO! I--We can't just give up on him!
::The opening was definitely there, Iole had the chance. With Oliver's coil locking the King's right side in a stalemate, and his left side still swinging at Stefan as he circled the room in flight, she had a clear shot to take off his head. But it was a shot she wouldn't take::
I... I CAN'T!
Stefan: Iole think of him the way that you knew him! Do you think he'd want to be used this way?! To attack his allies and demoralize his people?!
::Iole placed her hands over her ears and shook her head::
No, no, no...
::The hesitation was too long. With a terrible roar and a mighty pull, the King lifted Oliver off his feet and flung him into the air, using him to knock Stefan from flight. They both fell to the ground in a heap::
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Post by Oliver on Nov 25, 2011 4:26:12 GMT -5
Oliver struggled to squirm his way out from under Stefan, pushing him off himself and crawling away. His head was throbbing, even felt a trickle of warm blood slipping down his forehead - it had been a long time since he got struck that hard. He staggered forward, slipping and struggling back to his feet, losing traction in his own spilt blood against the smooth stone floor.
Once on his feet, he quickly advanced on the King, ignoring his own safety. He whipped out the tendrils of hair from both his hands, almost mimicking the kings own lashes. The King struck, Oliver intercepted and parried it to the side and threw the other tendril into the King's gut when he stumbled. An ear piercing shriek erupted from the King's gut as one of the parasite-demons was pierced through.
"Iole! Snap out of it, strike 'im now or we're a'l end up 'ike him!" The King returned the attack, bashing the ground just beside Oliver, but Oliver held as the King lashed out to knock him away. Oliver was doing his best to keep the other tentacles off him while the King was pinned - but was quickly losing his footing against the strain. "I can't 'old em, end t'is t'ing!"
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Post by Iole on Nov 25, 2011 4:43:23 GMT -5
::A new set of tentacles shot for Oliver, this one jutting from the King's back. However by this time, Stefan had also regained his footing. Soaring over Oliver with wings spread and claws extended, Stefan sliced them clean off, landing behind the King. Iole shook her head again, but the words of Stefan and Oliver along with their actions, their bravery, their determination, and their immediate danger, enough to make even the two of them work together, something else awoke inside her, and soon it was screaming:: ??: Get up.::She was nowhere to be seen, and yet those violet eyes were everywhere to her, as was that voice:: Natalia: Get up. Get up and fight Iole.www.youtube.com/watch?v=78_vy4poEBo::There was no reasoning, no longer any complications on what had to be done. For one moment it was all simple. People she loved were in danger, she had the power to end this, and she had to take it. Chest heaving, fangs bared, she charged forward, transforming her claws. The King was held in place, turning his head to see the incoming attack. Yet another new set of tentacles shot from his mouth for her. She ducked under it, charging forward, then with her claws crossed in front of her, she planted her feet in front of the King, leaped into the air, somersaulting over him as she released her arms in a wide sweep. She landed behind him and the once great King of Figaro stood motionless for a moment. Then the possessed corpse that he had become fell to one knee, and at the same time his head fell from his shoulders. Iole breathed heavily, not moving, letting the impact of what she had done take its toll:: Stefan: Iole! Your hand! ::Having enough presence of mind to glance down, she saw what had alerted Stefan. A black ooze covered her right hand. And not just that, it writhed over it like a wound festering with black maggots. She began to claw at it, but to no avail. The ooze just seemed to expand. On the ground, the remains of the creatures that had take the king spilled out of the wounds Iole and Oliver had created in the neck and stomach. They writhed on the ground before becoming the same as the blackness that wriggled over Iole's hand. Like two snakes they shot for her and merged with it. Now it had engulfed her forearm::
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Post by Guinevere on Nov 25, 2011 4:54:35 GMT -5
::At once, Stefan and Oliver sprang to her rescue::
Don't touch it!
::It was Gwen making her way at last to the throne room, her face set with anger and determination, Kerion trailing behind her::
You touch it and it will infekt you too. Step away from her. Everyone get out. NOW! Iole,
::The sorceress held a pale hand up so Iole could see. Dancing over her hand was an open flame; leftover energy absorbed from all the explosions outside. Shuddering with pain and straining to keep the thing from spreading any further, Iole looked to Oliver and Stefan and just nodded, sweat running down her face::
Iole: Do what she says, it'll be okay.
::Reluctantly, Stefan took Oliver by the arm and pulled him away, leaving the room::
Take kover, all three of you. Iole,
::The sorceress wasn't wasting any time, Iole closed her eyes. The throne room was engulfed entirely, first by the flash, then by the bang of the explosion, and at last by an inferno of flames as Gwen released all that she had absorbed from the battle outside. The force alone blew the double doors off their hinges, sending them flying down the hall and smashing into the floor. Outside, Stefan, Oliver, and Kerion were knocked to the ground. When the smoke cleared, the throne room was a ruin of its former self, and at its center, Iole remained kneeling on the floor, unharmed. The creatures were gone. Gwen sighed with relief and exhaustion, holding a hand over her stomach as though to hold herself together::
That was too klose Princess.
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Post by Iole on Nov 26, 2011 1:56:19 GMT -5
::Iole got to her feet slowly, her knees quaking. With unbalanced steps she made her way to all that remained of Edgar of Figaro. She fell back to her knees and placed a hand over the smudges of scattered ash that he had left behind. Her shoulders began to shake and as anyone could expect she started to cry in earnest::
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