Adventurers of the Inquisition: A Dragon Age RP (started)

[StormShaun]

The spectacle of the battlefield, it included many things, both awe-inspiring and bloody ugly. Sparks were struck, metal battled against metal, and the fires struggled to match the ones that burned internally in each and every human. It was familiar to the Templar, his memories requested emotions, but his body demanded strength. Von's body moved with speed like a hawk, and his armour groaned as he performed difficult maneuvers to reach his objective.

By the Maker, why did no one wake me?! Von thought. His speed was only matched by the amount of worry that plagued him. Where is he? He inquired about Ash, suddenly dashing by three objects, one that looked like a living fireball, and two smaller people that battled it. Knowing the strength of both Nola and Berund, and the fact that together they could best many things. Shying his head away, hiding the loathing for himself, Von slowed down to a halt. This was no demand he could ignore.

Coming to a stop meters away from the alive inferno, Von smelled the familiar scent of burning, and only turned around to see a large flaming creature. "Holy mother ..." His voice trailed off as he witnessed the sight. Spotting the large figure of Kari and noticing that most of his allies were in a fight, Von nodded to himself. "Sorry, did I oversleep?!" Von yelled to everyone around him, and ended with a chuckle that begged for a fight.

Holding his blade downward with one hand, Von held his unique dagger in the other hand and held it upwards. Closing his eyes, Von could feel the power that he called for. "

[i]Maker, heed my name. I call upon your power, to bless our blades and to best our foes![/i]

"[footnote]Blessed Blades ability activated.[/footnote] At that moment, the two blades within his hands glowed with a white aura. After this, surrounding weapons of his allies started to glow too. "There. Now has anyone seen the mage?!" Von said as he turned to the flaming bear, unsure how to approach it.

 

[Protocol95]

Emerging from the shadows Jarrett pushed his daggers deep into the rage demon. Ensuring he did the most damage to it, he barely dodged it's counterattack. Retrieving his daggers Jarrett jumped back and tried to signal Nola. His attempts to evade the demon were interrupted by a yell.

"Sorry, did I oversleep?!"

"YES!" Jarrett yelled exasperatedly, nearly being clawed by the demon now focused on him and not Nola.

"Now has anyone seen the mage?!"

"Ash's opposite here doing the ritual! Help h- ur!" The demon grew closer with it's surprising speed, causing it and Jarrett to grow a precious small distance away from Nola. It was now within range that Jarrett would have to parry to avoid being struck. "Enough!" Jarrett wouldn't wait a second more. His posture transformed and he began rushing the demon with countless strikes in an unforgiving chain, chuckling in a deranged manner doing so.

 

[IFS]

"If your duty was to keep it from harming mortals, you still could. Help me, and you'll be able to protect Thedas from the demon, same as always. If not... well, make that your duty. Protect those who cannot fight against the demon the way you can, the weak and the powerless, I can't think of a better duty to have than that. I'd say it's a duty that anyone, spirit or mortal, can feel pride in."

"Pride, ooh, much better than despair," the sloth demon whispered, its voice fading away "if you're going to let him just have you might as well aim high."

Then the shadow and its voice was gone, still unnoticed by Duty, who had fallen silent considering what Ash had said. The air around him grew still, the emotions in the air gone for the moment. Then he looked at Ash and spoke with a steady even tone.

"Perhaps, perhaps you are right," it said "aiding in its destruction could make amends for my failure, but... once it is slain I will need to find a new duty."

The spirit seemed agitated, torn between hope and worry. Its being depended on having a task to pursue after all. Its gaze focused on Ash suddenly, judging, trying to assess his worth.

"First amends will be made," it said, voice harsh "you are lacking but will suffice, at any rate you are stronger than the mage who accepted the demon's bargain."

For a moment an image washed over Ash, the demon and Duty locked in combat when a cry for help pierced the veil. A mage trapped under a blanket of heavy snow, buried alongside the corpses of men in templar armor, cold and hungry and dying. Duty had tried to hold it, but the veil was thinner now, the hole in the sky stretching it all over, and it had slipped through.

"My aid may resemble possession, but it is not, it is only a temporary affair and I have no interest in being bound to your mortal world," Duty said "Take my hand and for a time we will be one, I will empower you and negate the demon's strength as best I can, I am familiar with his tricks."

Forcefully the spirit thrust out a hand, waiting for Ash to take it and seal the bargain.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

The demon roared in pain, but it grew weaker under the rain of blows. Already damaged by the dwarves assault Jarrett alongside Von's power left it collapsing to the ground. The snow hissed into steam around it as its cries faded to murmuring and then were silent. Meanwhile the bear crashed into buildings, blinded by the fire that clung to its fur. While it was much more durable than the rage demon it too had its limits, and under the assault of spells, arrows, and blades it finally collapsed crushing the wall of the house it fell against.

Cheers went out from the defenders, but the fight was far from over. The victorious cries were silenced as the howling of wolves renewed, the beasts charging through the destroyed barriers as wisps drifted in behind them pelting the defenders with fire magic setting rooftops ablaze. At the back of the pack of enemies the abomination could be seen, armored in ice and surrounded by whirling snow. It set its gaze on one of the defending mages, pointing with an accusing finger and sending a blast of ice at the unfortunate soul blasting him off of the rooftop to the ground below where the demonic wolves began to leap at him.

 

[DarkRawen]

"Pride, ooh, much better than despair. If you're going to let him just have you might as well aim high."

You're wrong.

Ash thought, biting his lip, happy to see the sloth demon disappear, but annoyed with its words.

I'm not going to let him possess me.

Even if Duty had decided to do so, Ash would at least be able to feel comfort in one thing; the sloth demon would have been denied what it had spent years preparing. Of course, it would be better if it never happened at all. He wanted to live, desperately so. As if the sloth demon had never been there, Duty spoke, causing Ash to wonder if the demon had ever been there.

"Perhaps, perhaps you are rights. aiding in its destruction could make amends for my failure, but... once it is slain I will need to find a new duty."

Ash's heart sank as he saw the mage who had become the abomination. Pitiful, cold, hungry, tired, dying, calling out for help. Trapped. It almost hurt to watch it, while he seldom approached mages, he still knew that any mage had more in common with him than he dared admit. It reminded him of what felt like an eternity ago, towards the end of the fifth blight.

He had been 16, hiding in a cave with no way out. Darkspawn were nearby, though he couldn't tell how many, all he knew was that there was a lot, and they kept coming. He was too tired to run, it had been many days since he had managed to sleep, whenever he closed his eyes nightmares plagued him. The demon's grip on him was relentless. He had run out of food as well, and apart from a small water source, he had nothing where he sat. Ashtalan was curled up, staring into the mountain wall. The young Vashoth couldn't even talk to himself to try to give himself hope, because someone, or rather, something, could find him. Would find him.

He had wanted to cry, but he didn't even have the energy to do that. Besides, whatever tears he had, ran out after the first three days, waiting. So tired, so alone, he wanted to be home, he wanted someone to find him and help him, tell him that it would be fine and take out the darkspawn. Rescue him, comfort him, protect him from both the darkspawn and the fade.

"Please."

He wasn't strong enough to fight on his own, he barely knew a lightning spell, and he needed to sleep. Sorely. Sometimes, he thought he had managed to do so, only to realize that his mind had gotten confused again, that whatever he would expect to find in a dream had escaped into the real world, almost as if it was mocking him.

"Please leave me alone. Please let me rest."

He wanted to sleep. He wanted the power to protect himself. He wanted the nightmares and the demon to go away, that was all he had wanted back then, even as he took the offered power. They never did.

"My aid may resemble possession, but it is not, it is only a temporary affair and I have no interest in being bound to your mortal world. Take my hand and for a time we will be one, I will empower you and negate the demon's strength as best I can, I am familiar with his tricks."

Ash felt a lot more weary after thinking about his past, and he nodded. He was vary and unsure of if the spirit was speaking the truth, but right now he didn't care. He wanted to make sure that this was all over, take out the hunger demon and finish the job. Rest, if he was allowed to.

"I'll allow you to help, then," he said, and took the spirit's hand. "And then I'll help you find a new duty."

 

[Athol]

Wreathed in a stinking cloud of burnt hair and charred flesh, Kari jumped on top of the dead bear, and added her victory cry to those of the villagers. ?POSITIONS!? She hollered as the wolves came in, sending the villagers back to the walls; a cry of dismay caught her attention and she saw a mage tumble from a roof.

Arriving moments behind the wolves, she gutted one that was about to crush the poor mage?s neck, and skewered another that was close behind. Grabbing the collar of the mage?s robes with a free hand, she yanked him to his feet and threw him back against the wall of the house he?d fallen off of. ?Stay behind me!? She ordered as more wolves rushed her in a snarling furry mass. Her giant blade flicked, twisted and thrust with incredible speed and accuracy, cutting through the wolves with ease; but no matter how good she was, Kari was badly outnumbered.

One got through her defences, and she let out a surprised yelp as its powerful jaws clamped onto her leg; fortunately the boiled leather greaves she wore were treated with vitaar like the rest of her armour, and stymied the wolf?s attempt to crush her leg. With as much force as she could muster, she slammed the pommel onto the top of the beast?s head, until there was an audible crack and it collapsed with a crushed skull. As with before the surviving ?pack? held off for the moment, possibly waiting for greater numbers before trying again. ?Are you okay?? She asked the mage, never taking her eyes off the animals. ?Andraste?s puckered asshole my knee hurts?? That wolf had still managed to wrench the hell out of her leg before it?d died.

 

[Protocol95]

The bear and the rage demon had fallen and Jarrett felt a brief moment of relief that it seemed that momentum was beginning to turn in their favour. But not a moment could go by before he had to jump into the thick of the battle once more. He saw a mage fall from a roof and wolves beginning to swarm the area. As Kari was ahead of him and moving to the mage he rushed to the broken defences shoving whatever got in his way to the side. Stopping right in middle of the wolves he saw the abomination at the back.

"Damn cur." He would target it next. Reaching into his jacket he pulled out a smoke bomb and held it loosely in his right hand, planning to drop it to chase the abomination once the situation was safe. This single-mindedness nearly cost him as a wolf lunged at his right arm, biting it firmly. His eyes darted to his the beast and he plunged his left dagger into it's skull. "AWAY WITH YOU CUR!" The pain of the bite meant far less to him than the fact it had distracted him. Throwing off the wolf the others were fast approaching him. Kneeling down with tranquil fury, he gently placed the bomb, planning to crush it with his dash to the abomination once he was nearly overwhelmed. His mind doubted his chances of making it to the abomination unless he received aid but it mattered more to him that he defend rather than use the bomb to escape.

 

[StormShaun]

Von, still inspired by the burning bear, stood motionless as hair was shredded and flesh turned black. He was unaware of the events that unfolded around him. Time seemed to slow down, as ice dashed across the sky, marking its target like an arrow. Then it went and struck a mage, sending him spiraling to the ground where the snarling wolf pack awaits. It brought time back to Von's world, and once again, action would consume his life.

Stunned by the action, Von shot a gaze over his shoulder, and Kari seemed to already plough through the wolves with her sharpened chunk of metal. The raging movements swatted the blood from these hungry beings, and marked the surroundings with the crimson liquid. Turning his head to the front, the abomination was further back, surrounded by minions and the cold body that it deserves. Desire raised within the Templar, it called to him like a song from memory, and it was sung with the voice of demand.

Feeling his flesh fold, Von did not notice the scowl that spread to the corners of his mouth. "Bastard!" The Templar spat, and before he knew, his own rage and legs ignored the cold atmosphere as he moved toward the demon. Barely noticing, his eyes meet the swift figure of Jarrett in the distance. His figure almost lost among the forest of wolves that surrounded him.

Beginning to stride, Von allowed adrenaline to fuel the body. Pounding the ground with one foot, it launched him into the air. His cloak trailing behind him with the colour of a shaded forest, yet his two blades twinkled with the hope of this fight. The silver-like metal firmly plunged into one wolf's head and neck, allowing the white ground erupt into the air with a hint of crimson, surrounding the two humans. With this opening, Von launched a wide sweep that pushed the aware wolves back.

Looking over his shoulder, he noticed Jarrett and his device. "Do what you need to do. We both need to get to that bootlicking churl!" He yelled, hair now covered in white forst, and his eyes conveying urgency and passion. If Jarrett noticed, Von had placed his dagger back into it's sheath, and now his empty hand held a syringe of Lyrium.

 

[Tortilla the Hun]

With the demon dead before Berund's eyes, and the sounds of the bear in its death throes, he turned his attention towards the hordes of wolves that were unleashed. He didn't know how many there were, but he knew he was prepared to kill each and every last one if necessary. As they were running in, he set his eyes on one that was charging right at him. He kept his maul low as he readied his strike, and when the time came he swung upwards, sending the studded face crashing through the wolf's lower jaw.

Bone shattered with a meaty crunch as the steel carried through and practically turned the beast's skull into power within its skin. The dwarf spun as the lifeless form fell beside him and, following through with the swing, sent the flat into the chest of another animal. Its innards ruptured with a squelch as they were pierced by shards of its ribs. Carrying on, Berund delivered yet another swing. This time sending the narrow end of his maul into the back of a wolf, almost folding it neatly in half beneath the force.

A fourth wolf was already in mid leap before Berund saw it, and it was after his throat. He managed to raise his arm, saving his neck with his reflex. Though he was tackled to the ground and the wolf thrashed with his plated forearm in its teeth. Berund withdrew an ax from its sheath and fervently hacked away at the wolf's neck. It gnashed and snarled until its neck was almost cut completely through. The dwarf wrenched his arm from the dead animals maw and unsheathed his other ax with his freshly freed hand. The wolves weren't finished with him yet, nor was he. He charge with his axes raised, bellowing a mighty battlecry. "Come on! Ye'll be chargin' the other way 'fore I'm through with the lot of ye!"

Berund buried the edges of his axes deeply into one of the wolves haunches before swinging it around, battering other nearby beasts with it as if it were a club. He pried his axes apart, tearing through the creature's shoulders before flinging the bloodied mess of fur and flesh aside. He cleaved at legs and throats, his axes biting at whatever meat and bone they could. Blood splashed and spattered in great swaths around him and he kept up his onslaught. He grinned widely inside his helm. It had been some time since he had fought so fiercely. He wanted to savor every moment.

 

[IFS]

"Are you okay?

The mage Kari rescued nodded meekly and on seeing her wounded leg winced visibly. It was easy to tell from his wild frightened eyes that the mage had seen little combat before. As the wolves formed a circle around Kari the mage backed away towards the village, before turning to run towards the inn which at least was largely untouched by the fighting thus far.

The abomination laughed, its voice deep and cold, as it surveyed the scene before it.

"Look at you, scrambling, clawing, fighting to live!" it declared "so hungry for life... I was like you once, but now, now I hunger for your deaths."

It raised its hands towards the sky and a wave of exhaustion spread over the town, all at once the defenders on the rooftops began to waver, bows and arrows fell from hands which in turn fell limply to the sides of the overwhelmed defenders. A few staggered and fell seemingly fainted to the snow below. Even the group themselves were not immune, thoughts turned to sleep instead of battle, the wolves and demons right before them seeming to fade away, a problem that could be dealt with once they were better rested. The wolves that had been driven back from Kari and Berund began to circle closer, seeming to laugh in canine voices. Nola, Von, and Berund each seemed more resistant than the others, but even they struggled to keep their weapons from slipping from their grasp. Jarrett and Berund had met this spell before, and knew it could be resisted, but it seemed far more powerful than before and would be difficult to fight even for the group.

Ash felt a wave of strength wash over him as he took the spirit's hand. All at once he was standing, striding towards the barricades with purpose in every step. His arms raised up of their own accord and a voice that was not his spoke through his mouth.

"Enough," it said simply, without raising its voice though it seemed to echo through the village "Weariness may bite at your mind, but Duty will not be forgotten."

The abomination stumbled back as though it had been struck, its spell broken and strength returning to the defenders. Bows and arrows were snatched up and the demonic wolves were caught off guard by the renewed assault and driven back. The abomination howled in anger, calling up ice around it as armor and weapon, but that did not change the sudden opening through its ranks.

The rest I leave up to you Duty whispered into Ash's mind, sounding drained from the effort of breaking the spell, though proud all the same.

 

[Athol]

As the mage scampered towards the inn, Kari hollered at the wolves, keeping their attention on her. Bastard?

"Look at you, scrambling, clawing, fighting to live! So hungry for life... I was like you once, but now, now I hunger for your deaths."

Her arms felt heavy, and her vision began to blur as a wave of fatigue washed over her. No? The urge to just drop her sword was growing in her mind and the desire to just sleep pulled heavily at her. ?No?? She whispered, the tip of her blade starting to droop down. The wolves began closing in their barks and growls sounding more like laughter. Gathering her fading strength, she tightened her grip and raised her blade high. ?NO!? She screamed, slamming the pommel of her sword into her wrenched knee.

Her leg exploded in pain, and she screamed in rage, the shooting sensation clearing her mind. Her damaged leg throbbing, she attacked; the fury of her charge catching the wolves off guard. Two were dead, and a third was mortally wounded, before they could claw themselves out of range of her blade; but it wasn?t going to last long, the demon?s magic was seeping back in and fatigue was starting to build again.

"Enough, weariness may bite at your mind, but Duty will not be forgotten."

An unfamiliar voice sounded behind her, and the demon?s spell seemed to vanish; instead she found herself imbued with new energy. Adrenalin overriding the pain, she turned her attention away from the recoiling wolves and towards their master. Splattered with the blood of the first three wolves, she cut down several more as she rushed towards the demon, bellowing at the top of her lungs.

Crashing into the abomination, she shattered chunks of its armour with her heavy blow, staggering it. ?I?M GOING TO SEND YOU BACK TO THE FADE WITH YOUR HEAD SHOVED UP YOUR OWN ASS!?

 

[StormShaun]

The Elf and Templar were surrounded by wolves. Growling, begging for their flesh, wanting to drink their very life essence. Von's thoughts turned to fear, these were not ordinary wolves of course, they were twisted by the dark minds from the fade. Yet, it was worse, as the abomination were only a few meters away. Remembering the almost flesh-ripped mage, Von's eyes darted around the place, but he finally looked down and found himself holding a syringe.

It was not a health concoction, but it held the glowing blue liquid that meant power for mages and Templar alike. Yes, it would serve its purpose, but for Von, it would require sacrifice and gain him consequences. Lyrium was important in Kirkwall, it was practically a drug to the Templar profession, and even his own family almost worshiped it. What made this worse, was that Lyrium intake was mandatory in his training. Of course though, they would take more and more as the Mage rebellion came close.

So, an addiction was formed within Selthen Von Souchet.
The source of only the smallest of his problems.
Trying to fight off the urge for power, the Abomination bellowed above them.

"Look at you, scrambling, clawing, fighting to live!" it declared "so hungry for life... I was like you once, but now, now I hunger for your deaths."

A air of exhaustion was spread. Planting seeds of defeat within this battle. Being one resistant to magic, Von kept his sword out to ward off the wolves. Yet, their laugh tried to mimic a sadist as they came ever closer to the duo. "Heed me, beasts ... I ... I will ..." His voice trailed off in defeat, as his hand started to lower the sword of his profession. The fatigue was increased, and each breath every figure took became ragged. This was not a battlefield, it was the beginning of a massacre.

Yet, one would not allow this.

"Weariness may bite at your mind, but Duty will not be forgotten."

A mythical voice boomed through the air, renewing the life of each combatant. Von looked up from his personal defeat, and could see the horizon beyond this battle. His eyes closed down on the Abomination, a figure that dared to look down upon not just humanity, but all life on Thedas. "My duty ... my duty is to eradicate the foul-spawn of the fade!" The Templar roared, which echoed throughout the battlefield. Immediately, the hand that carried the blue, glowing poison was thrust to Von's sword arm. The syringe found its home and leaked the power into him.

With energy and power flowing through him, the Templar raised into a sprint. Spotting the raging Kari stagger the demon, Von internally thanked her as he followed up with stab through the unprotected flesh. Within seconds, Von raised his left, empty hand and cried to the sky. "Meet your Maker, and witness the wrath of his Heaven!"[footnote]Wrath of Heaven ability activated[/footnote] Von cried. The clouds above were pierced by a blinding pillar of light and it slammed directly onto the abomination. It was now left open.

Pulling his sword, Von jumped back but landed on his knees. Gasping for air, the power in his body was taken by his Lord, yet he would not allow him to push his confidence away. "Attack!" His voice screamed in command.

 

[DarkRawen]

All of a sudden, Ash was out of the fade, in the battle-field, feeling the cold again, as well as an odd, unusual strength. However, the far more peculiar feeling was that of his own body moving with conviction and purpose in every step. Ash was unable to move, and for the briefest moment he tried to resist, but it did nothing.

It'll be fine.

This wasn't a demon, it was a spirit, it had no interest in staying in his body. It was simply... borrowing it, though that was odd itself. He felt his own hands move, and then Ash spoke, or rather, Duty spoke. It didn't sound like him, and Ash supposed that was a bit comforting, the thought of Duty taking over everything he was, even for a brief moment, was unsettling.

"Enough. Weariness may bite at your mind, but Duty will not be forgotten."

Ash felt that something was happening, but he wasn't sure what. He hadn't felt anything, or perhaps he simply had an issue telling it apart from the rest. Whatever this weariness was -it had apparently caused several people to fall over, asleep or dead- it was disappearing from the faces of those there, and weapons were gripped.

I think I... we, yeah, we did something very good.

As if Duty had left, he felt the control over his body, but if the spirit had left, some effects still lingered, Ash felt stronger.

The rest I leave up to you.

I understand.

He wondered if Duty could hear his thoughts, or if he had just been talking to himself, although... had the spirit heard the other thoughts too? Would it leave, or was it going to stay until the abomination had dropped dead, to know that its duty had been fulfilled? It didn't matter, Ash still felt some of it, that duty, mixed in with the power, and a strange bit of pride. Duty was a strange feeling, heavy, unlike most of what Ash dealt with, because he tried not to linger on the heavier emotions, the ones that would have tied him down to something. They tended to be limiting and crippling. This was... different, however, though he couldn't have told anyone how.

Feeling this power well up in him, Ash knew that he would have to act, else he would regret it. With one hand raised, he started summoning lightning. It sparked, if it hadn't been his own he was sure it would have been painful for it to be so close. However, instead of casting the spell, he let it charge up, more lightning appearing around him, hair starting to stand up.

"I would recommend," he started, loudly, letting the others know that he was preparing to cast a spell. They probably didn't need to know that, though. "That you move out of the way!" He would give them a few seconds. And then, regardless of who stood in the way, he would unleash a powerful lightning spell, making sure to end it.

 

[Tortilla the Hun]

The dwarf's arms grew burdensome, his legs were like stone. He pushed through the fatigue as best he could, though with all the energy he'd expelled it was just a matter of time. He breaths became short and ragged. He was forced to drop his axes and remove his helm, else he would've suffocated. He drew in the crisp air more easily, and already his head became clearer. As did his vision. Suddenly they focused on a white blur that charged him. Berund was felled once again. It seized his arm between its jaws and thrashed. Another beast began pulling and gnashing at his leg. He swatted at them repeatedly with no avail. He was far too weary...

"Weariness may bite at your mind, but Duty will not be forgotten."

Berund heard this voice, as clear as day. His eyes, once heavy, were now wide with focus. His leaden arms were now restored to their former strength. It was with this strength, he struck the wolf that was on his arm. His closed fist pummeled the beast's nose and it released its hold. Not allowing it a second chance, the dwarf tightly grasped each of the animal's jaws and began to pull them further apart. "We'll see what ye can bite after this!" Muscles tore and bone crunched as the wolf's lower jaw was wrenched from its place and left to hang freely from the beast's skull. The creature whimpered and writhed in agony on the cold ground.

With a heavy boot, the dwarf kicked the other wolf from his leg. A second harsh kick and the wolf was dazed as its snout was nearly crushed. Berund grasped an ax and swiftly sent the edge into the wolf's skull and it went limp, lifeless. His immediate troubles were taken care of, but there was still some fighting to be had.

 

[sage42]

Nola let out a yelp of pain as a blur of white and red locked around her shoulder. The wolfs fang sunk into her, piercing through armor to join the wounds the drake had inflicted. She brought the other end of her ax up, sinking the three-pronged spike into the wolfs skull. She breathed heavily her shoulders slumped. This battle was even beginning to take a toll on her. She could feel her strength beginning to wain, like a dying fire in a forge.

Well, looks like I'll be returning to the Stone tonight. Shame, hopefully my ancestors need more smiths. She thought be ginning to resign herself to her fate.

"Weariness may bite at your mind, but Duty will not be forgotten."

Nola didn't so much hear the voice as feel it. Fresh coal for the forge, the bellows pumping again. Her wounds no more than small burns again she raised her shield and ax, matching the glares of the few wolves circling her. "C'mon flea bags....let me show you what's kept the darkspawn at bay for so long." She would leave the Abomination to Kari and Ash, she would keep the insects from biting.

 

[Protocol95]

Backed up by Von, Jarrett had his opening. However this ray of hope began to be covered as the abomination raised it's hand.

"Look at you, scrambling, clawing, fighting to live! So hungry for life... I was like you once, but now, now I hunger for your deaths."

With this act Jarrett began to collapse. The wave of exhaustion was all too familiar, a spell cast by the abomination. "Hmmph, mere bravado!" Concentrating on the wound of his right arm, Jarrett tightened his right hand, hoping to use the pain to focus him. He fought the spell as best as could but he was stuck on the defensive.

"Weariness may bite at your mind, but Duty will not be forgotten."

An new feeling swept over Jarrett but he knew what it was. Silently nodding his head in thanks, Jarrett slammed his right foot down, crushing the smoke bomb and leaping off of it. The area was instantly covered it smoke, allowing Jarrett and Von the advantage. Rushing towards the abomination and meeting it within seconds, Jarrett positioned himself underneath it's right arm. With as much strength as Von and the aid Ash summoned, he aimed to impale the abomination's right hand with his left dagger before moving behind it.

 

[DarkRawen]

Ash counted quietly inside his mind, as he waited, not even looking at the battle-field now. He had closed his eyes, focusing on letting the mana build up, keeping it all under-control.

One.

They had heard him, had they not? Hopefully they would have moved away enough, though he couldn't help but not care too much of it. Perhaps it was Duty's interference, willing him to kill the abomination and the demon, wanting him to end it for it, so that it could fix its failure. Perhaps, even with control over his own body, it still saw Ash as simply a tool.

Two.

Ash listened to the fighting, had it quieted down? He wanted to open his eyes, but he feared that the moment he did, everything would be wrong. What if this was all an elaborate... ploy. What if it was no spirit he had accepted, but the Sloth Demon in disguise? Hadn't he been really foolish about it. He shook his head, no time to think, no time to doubt. He couldn't doubt.

Three.

At the three, he opened his eyes, taking the briefest moment to make sure he was aiming correctly, the demon was completely open. "DIE!" he shouted, and lightning struck, from him, from the sky, bright white and blue, terrifyingly loud. It wasn't as much a bolt as it was a spear, concentrated lightning no thicker than a couple of inches, though the air around it shook, violently. As it hit the demon and the ground, one could feel movement. Then, it was over, suddenly the bright electricity disappeared, leaving only the light from the fires and the stars again.


There you go.

He thought, smugly. It had to have been enough, he felt himself shaking from both excitement and exhaustion. He had never felt so much power in his hands, and never seen such a bright night. The air still felt like it bore the sparks of the lightning-bolt. Electrifying.

There's your closure, Duty.

 

[IFS]

The wolves fell in droves before the renewed assault, the ranks of the demonic beasts breaking and scattering leaving a clear path to the abomination. For the first time its eyes were lit by fear, and it stumbled backwards throwing up frail walls of ice at its attackers. Snarling angrily at the wolves who fled around it it was barely able to throw up a shield in time to absorb Von's attack, though it stumbled back as the pillar of light shattered its barrier.

A blast of energy threw back Von, but he was far from the only one attacking the demon, and it was driven steadily back, its ice armor crumbling before the onslaught. Still it defended itself with tooth and claw, fighting now like a wild beast until it felt the gathering power of Ash's spell.

Lunging out with one clawed hand it attempted to fend off the blast, but Jarrett's dagger caught its hand and broke its concentration. Eyes widened in panic as the lightning struck it. For a brief moment the night was broken by an intense flash of blue-white light and then it was over. The abomination's smoking form collapsed to the ground and as humanity returned to its eyes a whisper of "thank you" could be heard before it finally expired.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

Cheers went out from the defenders, and without their leader the remaining wolves were slaughtered or driven off into the mountains. For many the immediate response was to head to the inn to drink to their victory, but others set about making repairs or checking on the livestock. The battle was over but the rebuilding had only started.

As the chaos settled Jacques and a few of the other mages made their way out to the body of the abomination. On seeing the tattered robes it wore Jacques fell silent. After a long moment he spoke.

"David," he muttered, trembling slightly "He is, was, one of mine. The... the templars followed us across the mountains and we set off an avalanche to stop them. We... underestimated how much would come down, he and a few others were lost, I... I had thought he was dead. Now I suppose he is."

He turned to the others "If... if you will allow it I would give him a proper funeral," he said "then I think we will stay here a while, help these people recover from this. I see no other recourse for us, the way the world is I cannot imagine anyone else would take us in."

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Ash felt a strange elation coming from Duty it is done. Now I must seek a new task worthy of me. Unless... For a moment Ash felt a grasping, choking, feeling from Duty as though the spirit was struggling with itself, its pride in having accomplished the task set before it. Then just as suddenly it faded.

No, I will not become what I have fought against. Such would be the greatest failing I could reach. I thank you for your offer to help me find another duty for myself, but I feel that such a task should be left to myself alone. Goodbye shaman, I wish you luck in your struggles. With that the spirit was gone, and with it the boost of energy it had provided leaving Ash quite worn out. The world even looked rather faded, as though color had left it, though this like the tiredness would be erased by rest.

 

[DarkRawen]

It was done, Ashtalan couldn't help but smile to himself when he noticed it. It was so amazing, who else could speak of doing what he had just done? However, then everything went wrong.

It is done. Now I must seek a new task worthy of me. Unless...

Ash's felt strangled, there was a grasping, choking sensation coming from Duty. Something was wrong, something was almost happening. The spirit felt at its pride, and Ash couldn't even bring himself to think, it was terrifying, was Duty going to turn into a Pride Demon? Abandon all it was? And then Ash realized that it wasn't only that, it wasn't only considering becoming a demon, but also taking over his body. Ash would be unable to stop it, he had let it in willingly. Ash had no chance to stay who he was if Duty decided to embrace Pride.

N-no...

All he had gone through with the Sloth demon, and... and he would lose himself just like this.

Please, no.

Then, The feeling faded.

No, I will not become what I have fought against. Such would be the greatest failing I could reach. I thank you for your offer to help me find another duty for myself, but I feel that such a task should be left to myself alone. Goodbye shaman, I wish you luck in your struggles.

G-goodbye.

When Ash felt the spirit leave him, he almost cried out in relief, even though he was exhausted, visibly shaking at the sudden strength leaving him. It took him some time to get propped up on the nearest wall, trying to slow his breath as his heart drummed in his chest.

Thank the maker.

Sweat ran down his forehead, and he wiped it away, pushing some of his fringe back as he relished the full control of his own body, and the lack of a presence inside his body and mind other than his own. Even the Sloth demon had taken a step back, likely unwilling to get caught up in what had happened. For the first time in a while, everything felt... real. So real that he wanted it to stop, he had almost given up everything he was on a whim. He kept shaking, giving himself some time to gather himself.

I'm going to need a drink.

Could he drink without the hallucinations now? How long would it be until the Sloth demon noticed that he was alone again? Would Duty truly leave him alone now? Ash rubbed his eyes, people were walking past him into the inn, while the mages spoke of the one that had gotten possessed. Ash didn't want to think about it, just thinking that he could have become that made him feel sick to his stomach. Yet, that foolish curiosity drove him forth, to look at the remains of the abomination. He looked at the robes, and the other mages, he had questions and things he felt a need to say, but he would wait. Now wasn't the time.

I'll do it later. Right now... I can't. I can't bring myself to talk.

Passing the other members of the group, he smiled, weakly. However, he didn't speak, only looked to his feet and continued towards the inn and into it, muttering to Marsha that he wanted a drink, and settling in the darkest corner there, burying his face in his hands.

 

[Athol]

She knew she?d connected with the demon, but the wolves had surrounded her, preventing her from carrying though her attacks. Fortunately Von and Jarrett didn?t have that problem as she saw Jarrett connect out of the corner of her eye; moments later, their attacks were followed by a brilliant bolt of lightning that burned the demon to a crisp. With their Master dead, the wolves fled from the village leaving the ground marked with many of their dead; as Kari took stock she realized she was surrounded by the bodies of at least another dozen or so animals.

Kari?s jubilant cry joined that of the villagers, but as she turned back to make her was to the inn her much abused knee collapsed after only a few paces, dropping her into the blood stained snow. She lay there staring up at the sky, her leg throbbing, feeling totally spent, and wondering if anybody even realized she was still out there. ?Far be it from me to judge.? Came a deep male voice from just of eyesight. ?But you might find the inn a tad more comfortable.? ?That sounds grand.? She replied, shifting her head a bit to see the man who?d identified himself as the blacksmith earlier, approaching. ?My leg on the other hand, had a different idea.? The smith laughed, and crouched down on her bad side, helping her up and bracing her as she limped toward warmth.

Once in the inn her leg was tended to by a mage, while the smith disappeared towards his forge with her blade. Now fed, warm and with a slight buzz, she laughed and celebrated with the mages and the villagers as they reveled in their victory. ?Just think!? She exclaimed to a group of defenders. ?The next group of sodding bandits who think a little place like this?ll be an easy mark, will be in for a nasty shock.? They defenders cheered, and they all raised their cups. Kari finished her drink and excused herself, limping slightly towards Ash, the mage who?d healed her had said the knee would probably be a bit stiff for a few days. She?d spotted Ash when she?d first come back, and she realized he wasn?t the most sociable type, but it seemed like he was deliberately trying to avoid the celebration. Dropping herself into a chair across from him, she rapped on the table with her knuckles. ?So, what?s eating you??

 

[DarkRawen]

Ash hadn't looked up before someone knocked on the table, and was surprised to see both that a cup of ale and Kari sat in front of him, the former likely having arrived while he was trying not to think of... well, anything.

"So, what's eating you?"

"It's nothing," he said as he took a sip of the ale, though his expression betrayed him. It was somewhere between extremely fatigued, worried and shocked. The taste of ale, although familiar, seemed different, more pleasant, though there was also something sickening to it. Even so, he finished the cup in another mouthful.

"Really, I'm... I'm fine. It's just... I'm... tired." His voice broke at the last part, and Ash smiled a pained smile. "You guys did a good job, though, sadly I didn't get to see most of the fight. I was playing around in the fade," he chuckled. "Just... playing around. Only..." he closed his eyes, and breathed in, slowly, hand gripping at the cup. Kari would understand that it wasn't his fault, right? Or...? He looked at her, biting his lip.

She didn't care about the blood magic thing.

None of the others had. Openly, at least. Still, he sighed, and looked at the table as he spoke, eyes fixed on the uneven wood.

"... the duty spirit almost turned into a pride demon. While inside of me. I was... I was the whim of a spirit away from getting possessed. It was... I could feel it considering it, tasting at the opportunity to take over my body, and I was powerless to do anything. I wouldn't have been able to warn you, or any of the others..." He was already speaking in a quiet voice, but by the end it was merely a whisper.

"I think the worst thing is that I've spent 10 years fighting off another demon, a sloth demon. It forced me into a desperate situation when I was younger, and I had no way out apart from taking its offer and learn blood magic. I thought the price it asked for was... very very small, but it tricked me. Night after night, nightmares, so many that they blend with the day and there are days I don't know if were true or if they were simply nightmares. All of this... and I'm still me. But all it takes is a spirit feeling pride in following its purpose, letting it feel at controlling my body, and I'm nearly an abomination... I..." He had to keep tears from welling up in his eyes, a dark pit in his stomach and chest.

"It's just so bitter... perhaps it doesn't matter, whatever I do. I'm tired, you know. So... very very tired. I don't know how to give up, but sometimes I wish I did." He took another breath, and looked at her.

"I'm sorry, but you asked," he smiled, still feeling miserable. While he was looking towards her, his eyes flickered, as if he was still trying to compose himself. "I... I don't know what else to say."