Fantasy A War of Monsters

A man that smelled of fire came into the room, wearing a heavy leather oversuit. His entire right arm seemed to be a combination of tech and mechanics. He was clearly an old hunter, his very gaze seeming to analyze and take apart the young hunters in the room. It was clear what his weapon was from looking at him. He was covered in burns from head to toe and his arm ended in a nozzle that was scorched. The heavy set man was a giant, and for his age clearly had worked out. He looked every bit as old as Gulthan and his face light up when he was him. Walking over he held out his human arm for a handshake and spoke in a rumbling deep voice. " Surprised you did not take part today, Old Man. Those damn creatures that overran my home where with this swarm, and i fear what that means. I saw that damn leader creature on the hill next to...... him. "


Any who had been well versed in social order would recognize the man as Zerahypt, the Incinerator. He was a leader in Soulbastion, at least before it fell. He had the distinctive massive size and long red hair, thought it seemed a bad idea with his choice of weapon. He was barrel chested and covered in old scars and burns, as well as what seemed to be a relatively new slice on his leg. His skin was a weird copper white and his eyes a purple that occurred only in those of the Soulbastion populace.


He turned to confront the hunters. " Well, it seems we have our replacements. Welcome to the game, where we hunt what hunts us. You there, girl with the Longbow. Let me see your arrows. I may be able to get ya a few burners to deal with those damn lizard bug things that ate my home. " He said as he looked at them. He had selected the girl due to the fact that she seemed observant, rather then charging in. With arrows that had small fireballs built in that would be important.

"Im William, you must be a hunter. Sorry you had to miss all the action."


A ghost of a smile crossed Aryaxxa's face, for only a moment. "No worries. I didn't miss much. I was just


Aryaxxa listened as the old commander explained all of the different magical items, and when offered, took the bundle from the man, listening intently to Lanna describing each of the items, and their uses, in the background. So intent on the girl's words, was she, that she was somewhat startled when a new man entered the room. Zerahypt? Something like that, anyway. Oh, well. In this day and age, names weren't terribly important, anyway.


"You there, girl with the Longbow. Let me see your arrows. I may be able to get ya a few burners to deal with those damn lizard bug things that ate my home."





Somewhat taken aback at the man addressing her directly, Aryaxxa slowly moved forward, toward him. Though she didn't typically trust anyone, especially not with the handling of her weapons, this was a man of somewhat great renown, and it was an offer of help. After surveying the battle earlier, she knew the group of hunters would need every last bit of help they could get.


Aryaxxa stepped forward, and slowly removed her quiver from her back, presenting it to the man in front of her.

Reaching out with his human arm he selected three stout arrows. He held them up in his massive hand for a second before holding the tips at the edge of his arm. Three sockets opened up and he inserted the arrows. A grinding noise was heard as the internal mechanisms worked away and forged the arrows. When the ends popped out the arrow heads where heavier, and had a faint aura of orange. He carefully placed them in the quiver. " Mark those ones carefully, on a impact they explode, the magic that holds the fire elemental in my arm bound shards to those arrows. And don't put them near a large fire. It will wake the shards and they will go off. "

Gulthan turned to Zerahypt, and with a nod to him, he shrugged, "I'm saving my last one for Lunaris, Zera, you know that. I've got to save it... I've not the strength for much more then to take his head..." His shoulders slumped slightly, but he quickly puffed out his chest, and then beat on it with his fist, "Besides! None of you whelps ever had the strength to match him! None of these whelps will either! You know his strength, It'll kill me just to wound him..." He trailed off, his boldfaced honesty being his downfall again. Gulthan turned towards Lanna again, and asked, "Well Lass? Have you made progress?"

Lanna put her right hand's index finger on her lips. "Hmmm..." She tapped her finger against her mouth as well as tapping her toes against the floor as if she were keeping a beat. Suddenly, she clasped her hands together and let out a shrill *YEEEEK* sound, separated her hands and formed a dark sphere that molded into an oddly human shape. To those at the war earlier, it would appear, for a very slight moment, that Kazanna had appeared before them. But as the black energy faded, the shadows in the room twisted and dispersed and a purple set of chitin armor stood in the once before form of that 'hazy' appearance of a man carved into everyone's memories. The suit of armor seemed to have large carvings imbedded into the tightly stacked and interlocking plates. Swirls and corners of all kinds lined with glyphs and magical script rounded about the whole set sat in a dormant state as if it required a user to spring the real magic to life. It looked almost 'Aztec' by design. Despite the swirls and articulate zig-zagged lines cut into it, the actual suit looked to be from some futuristic super-hero. (Space-Age) The helmet of course having several holes drilled on the one left side of the face, while the right side had a single open eye-hole cut out. This eye looked almost serpent-like in the way it 'S'ed up and down from the ear to the nose. The bottom of the helmet (the chin) was adorned with triangular points as if it were to symbolize some sort of creature's teeth.


As soon as the spell pulsed off of the armor, Lanna began to speak again. "You-know-that-if-you-rush-things-you-will-never-get-the-intended-outcome, you-non-patient-pala-....din..." Her eyes swiveled in her head at the end of this speech and her knees buckled and fell over. The old Commander caught her by her arms. "Lanna! Oi!" He'd shake his head. "You said that, yet you used such a dangerous spell to hasten its' delivery to him..." He checked her neck, then her eyes to make sure she was alright and gave the others an apologetic look. "Sorry... My great grand-daughter is always so careless about herself. She will be fine, I think."

Gulthan snorted as she Lanna spoke, then his face was covered by his armored hand, "By Helios, Rush things? It's been ten years since I commissioned this armor. It took most of that just to shape it I know... but..." He extended a hand towards it, gazing at it almost fondly, "It's perfect. Well done little one." He muttered as she fainted. Gulthan's gaze went to the commander, "The girl's talent far exceeds her years my friend. She's a fine smith. Almost as good as he was. This will suit my needs perfectly."


Gulthan looked to the hunters assembled in the room, "Most metal armors wont last long against the armies of creatures out there. They wear armor of chitin and bone, of flesh combined with molten steel. Our weapons, and armor will not last well against them for long." He looked to Lanna, "This girl knows her craft as well as the few that can... I just hope she's finished the companion blade as well... or is at least nearing completion of it..." He let his fingertips trace the intricate designs across the armors surface, taking it all in. It was a masterpiece, and it had been commissioned just in time as far as he was concerned. All he needed was the blade. The massive great sword that was meant to react to the suit itself, to act as not only a weapon, but a shield as well.

The exchanges between the many old timers was intriguing to the Arbiter, but the moment the tools were passed to him his attention was distance. The paper confetti was placed into his his cloak, letting it rest in the middle of his chest, for that seemed a likely place to be struck. The shard, cube, and orb was lost in his satchel, waiting for any moment that he would need them. These would all serve some purpose, which he could feel that would be near, but it be some ingenuity to use them.


With these in his mind Allon turned back to the people around him, though Gulthan was still of his main attention. "You speak as if there armor cannot be broken, I hope such doubts do not reside in someone so in touch with Helios." He jested, but was ultimately wondering if this observation was true. Was their armor and weapons really that true, were there attempts barely chipping at their invincibility? Not as if this would stop him, but it would be good to know if he were to live up to the beacon of hope he was made out to be.

" Kid, i am gonna be truthful with you. This weapon that replaced my arm? Called a Melta. Fires a concentrated blast of fire elemental, designed to pierce armor. It works on the mid sized ones and down. The bigger a beastie you find the harder it will be to injure them, for the hide on them will be thicker and tougher then anything you can imagine. Take the huge Scion that lead that attack. Its hide turned arrows, swords and even a catapult shot that hit it head on. The hard truth is that these creatures are ridiculously tough. And on some of the leader types you need to make a hole to be able to hurt them. I don't mean ta scare y'all but the learning curve is viscous. " Zerahypt said. He turned and prepared to leave.


" Well old boy i go to do repairs on my arm. If trouble comes again i will be there to pick up the pieces, as always. " He said as he walked out, waving with the nozzle on his arm.

Gulthan watched Zerahypt leave and nodded at him, a grim frown on his face. He turned his attention back to Allon after a moment, remarking, "Back during our days, we used to salvage what we could from the field, use their own metal against them. Kariat's very walls are forged of a pair of stones that Lunaris and I brought back through... Well... Lunaris did... The man is horrifyingly strong. He built Kariat see. It's all his design. He used to be one of us. But..." He shook his head, "After the portal closed... After the gateways fell... when we closed them... Him and some of the others were stuck on the other side..." Gulthan had the look on his face bordering on guilt, "We tried for years to bring them back. Got one message across and one back... We told them we'd never stop trying... Lunaris... He..." Gulthan looked away for a moment, "He sent back the demon kings head with a note stuffed in it's mouth. written on what we can only guess was something's skin. It read simply, "We were wrong, Stop trying, We are all lost." After that... we never heard a peep, not until the portals reappeared, and that damned citadel with them." There were tears in the old man's eyes, "And then he stepped through, just appeared. I was one of the first at the gate, When he showed up... That they had corrupted him, made him their leader, and they were using his knowledge to fight us..." Gulthan shook his head, "This war will be hard, One of the greatest paragons of my time fights against us. I just hope I'll be able to stand against him with this armor."

even when she'd showed up in the first place. Instincts told her that, yes, it was best to follow along despite the fact that she'd most likely not listen to any of the conversation. While she continued to ponder how to formally introduce herself to the small group, she started on a sluggish pace that, while making her loose distance towards the group, really didn't due all that much in the fact of her catching. Their pace was noticeably faster than hers, but she failed to pay much mind to that. She was over thinking just about everything that related to the current situation. The monsters, the other hunters, how they would fix this mess... all those things buzzed around in her head while she continued to press forward. Before she knew it, however, she had completely lost site of the other people that she had been tracking. She saw a door close after a figure, and unsure what to do, she started to run after it. They had to have gone into there, despite the building's unimpressive stature. She couldn't run very fast; her crossbow was heavy and it always had weighed her down when it shifted around on her back. It made her pace uneven because it wasn't exactly the most secure in its position. Oh lord, if this is the wrong building... She nearly halted in her tracks, the thought coming to mind that she could she could always make a non hostile stakeout outside of the building to see who all popped out. But that would simply waste time. Breath slightly raspy, she grasped the door handle and pulled it open. She blurted out the first words that came to mind without even thinking of any of the consequences. "Am I late?!"

"Your armor will only strengthen you, but it will not win this war." Allon began, but cut himself short for fear of delving into doubtful territory. "The armor and the weapon that you do not have will only help you destroy his power, but you will be the person to end him completely. It seems hard to believe, but just as I did for this archer, you give me hope. Someone that seems to have seen all he wanted to see, lived as long as he wanted to, and worshiped with unrivaled routine, but you still want to stop your friend... It is a blessing. Helios has shown me many signs of why I should continue to fight, and you have become the biggest.". Allon bowed his head in respect, for this man was an embodiment of why he should keep fighting.

The old man tapped on an orb on his desk. The aquamarine color of the orb shimmered and flickered as rays of light shot out of it, displaying a large hologram that encompassed the entire room just as the door was opened and the question of 'Am I late' was asked. The old timer threw the newcomer a satchel with all of the objects within them to her as the whole room seemed to transform and change as though a mirage was slowly solidifying itself with reality itself. The hunters and Gulthan would find themselves in a large library-like chamber. Spell scrolls were littered about, and a large parchment was splayed out covering much of the floor. Floating spell fonts were hovering just above the old paper and a large sword spun slowly within countless rings of magic-circles. A few symbols and charms also orbited the weapon in different locations. All of these spinning, circling, and gyrating objects were streaming multi-colored energy into the engravings on the sword. To Gulthan, it would seem as though the weapon was already finished. But before he could come to that conclusion, the Old man began to chuckle.


"My daughter thought it was... Missing something." These words came as a large rack for holding armor folded up behind one of the book shelves. If everyone had bothered to look at the ceiling of the room, they would see a full set of a Drake's bones littered with some form of hieroglyphics carved into them suspended above the sword itself. Slowly but surely, these bones were all chipping and cracking into small slivers. And these shards of bone would then become grains of dust so small that light was twinkling off of them from the rays of the sun that pierced through the above window. The glass panels of which were all designed as if to mimic the constellations themselves.


A single small fire spirit danced along the edge of the blade, twirling and jumping as if it were a ballerina. But what was different about this spirit, was that it was WHITE. The hottest of fire. And with each touch its feet made upon the weapon, the surface of the blade flashed. The last of the glow to diminish was the engravings that ran along the entirety of the seven foot long blade. (Or just over 213 centimeters) The width of said weapon was just over 3 inches. And the depth of the blade from each perfectly sharpened edge was just short of 18 inches. A behemoth of a weapon, indeed.


As the 'Dragon-Dust' from the rune-engraved bones poured into the still 'cooking' weapon, the unsharpened surface of the blade seemed to take on a ghostly 'scaled' shine. It was almost as if the scales themselves were hidden or holographic and would only appear if turned a certain way in the sun. The old Commander chuckled to himself again. "She said it lacked... Beauty and Finesse." He looked to Gulthan with a smirk. "I hope you know what that means." He walked forwards, tapping his fingers on the paper that was laid out on the ground as more 'Dragon-Dust' poured into the weapon. The little fire spirit having not missed a single beat, quickened its little tempo, twirling and spinning with the most adorable giggles imaginable. "By this pace, it should ready by noon tomorrow. At which point, you owe our little friend here-" He smiled at the fire spirit. "-the utmost thanks. It is, after all, by his help that Lanna was able to complete your armor on time."


===((This is basicly the shape of the weapon. Not the color, or the etchings))===

Gulthan's face turned towards the great weapon and he held a grim look on his face. The ancient warrior stared at the behemoth of a weapon and muttered, "You've refined it quite a bit from the talon I cut off those years ago... Well done... very well done..." He turned to Allon, and remarked with a barking tone, "The blades we forge in this fashion are those tools that we must wield to win the war. I was a fool in those days and relied only upon my holy armor. It nearly cost me my life. I shall not make the same mistake again."


He turned to the armor and released a shining spell into it's form, his holy energies began to pump into it, integrating it with his own spell force. Paladin as he was, he integrated his holy power into his armor and weapons and turned them into extensions of himself. The armor rose, much like a golem, and opened itself. Then in a shocking motion, it seemed to consume the paladin, wrapping itself around him. It took a moment for the armor to flow around him until it was the way it was meant to be. Holy energies radiated out from it and he turned towards Allon as he reached up and removed the large helm. "Indeed, we must find new ways to combat the evil which has blighted our home, even if that evil is backed by our greatest paragon. My friends here have crafted the armor that will be necessary to murder my best friend, from so long ago. Above us, lies the weapon that I pray will penetrate his armor, that I might take his life with my own two hands..." Gulthan's tone was somber as he spoke, he was relaxed in his resolve. He was prepared to do what had to be done to save humanity itself. Even if it meant murdering someone he cared for deeply.

William held the bag of objects in his hand and stared. He looked as all the huge warriors talked and the energetic lady giving guthan his armor. When everyone seemed to be finished with all the serious conversatins "So, where will be staying. Even though we might not be sleeping much, it would still be nice to have somewhere to relax." He looked at the warriors. What am i saying "relax" why would we relax at a time like this, No time to take it back now. "Um well everything just seems so calm at the moment, and i knw we all have alot to think over." William just really wanted to get away from all these people. He wasnt much use at the moment, just a lingering soul waiting for instructions. He scratched his head and yawned "Were not going t be able to fight while being tired like this anyways. Best to rest now and if there is a warning of attack, Im pretty sure were all light sleepers. Especially now of all times." He yawned again

The Tyrant had been working. It had created a few strains of weapons and a new creature. They where intended for the hunters that had appeared at the end of the attack. Thought they where not yet born soon these monsters would be complete and ready for field deployment. As it was some new strains where out with a horde to harvest biomass. The Tyrant suspected they would be getting monsters with this run, most of the humans around this forward hive had been eaten long ago. His creatures, even the small ones, where a threat to large creatures. The toxins on their talons and the parasites their guns fired could kill almost anything, given time and alot of attacks.

Allon watched the armor on the paladin and noted the weapon as something he could never wield, no matter how much faith he had. It was a well made, beautifully crafted, and ultimately a weapon that could shape a battlefield considering how much devastation it could create for any side. Though the paladin meant to use it for something noble, for ending a friend's pain, even if they aren't aware of the corruption, this wasn't a weapon for devastation, but for redemption. It symbolized more then just strength, its overbearing weight could be esteemed by any, but it showed a real determination to end this blight. The weapon was a beauty for anyone who has suffered this time and therefore it only bolstered Allon's appeal to the paladin, the one who was slowly showing him new ways to be humble, modest, and a real beacon of hope.


The examination of the weapon and armor ended when the man who had nothing but rest on his mind spoke. "I doubt we will have much time to rest, the enemy usually doesn't give us that leisure." Allon looked to the man, giving him a small frown for wanting to spend his time resting instead of helping in one way or another. Those without something to do will end up doing something bad, laziness is the spawn of sin, for boredom leads to many evils. "I say we talk about the enemies we faced, instead of allowing our own strategies to say secluded." Allon looked around, wondering who had the best information to offer.

Gulthan


With a nod, and a flourish of his hand, Gulthan used a spell to display the battlefield in a small scale before them. He was using an old commanders relic to display his memories to them, what he had witnessed from the high perch he had taken that day to watch the battle.


He motioned to Gor'Logk's image, and said calmly, "This is a wallbreaker, You need not think of it as anything more. It cannot be allowed near the walls again, or Karait will fall. Secondly, These." He motioned to the massive Scion's that had torn open a section of the wall itself, "These need to be watched for, I have combatted them before, we lost several cities to them. You'd do well to butcher their kind and route them quickly, if you can track their commander back to his hive, an operation should be launched with haste to route it. They can reinforce quickly. They are of a hive nature and very, very dangerous."


With a careful turn, he rotated the battlefield and motioned to the Solitary figure, "This is former Mana Centurion Kazanna Lunaris, the first and only Son of the Lunaris Clan. He is the last of their line and he is a master Spell Sword. You will not take him easily if you come in combat with him. He was a master of the use of wind manipulation and when I knew him, he was a paragon of the light, but he was... by far, my total opposite. He was fast, agile, and able to slaughter a thousand foes in seconds. I have never met another as able as he with the blade, though his age should have reduced his physical abilities considerably." He took a breath, and let out a sigh, "However, His tactical edge seems to have raised, he seems to be able to command the horde with willpower alone... A frightening thought to say the least. He was our greatest tactician, and an amazing architect of fortresses that are to this day, rumored impenetrable."


Gulthan's eyes raised to the city around them, "This was all his idea, after all. Kariat is a relatively young city, considering it was my generation that built it." He smiled as he gazed up at the city fondly, "Yet the old stones know their old creator is corrupted, or they would have allowed him inside, and we all would have perished." His voice sounded strained as he gazed at the image of his old friend, releasing another sigh.

The archer hesitantly looked up to the others. "I... Do not know if it was even a dream or not. But I had an image of a great beast unlike any other. The shadow brought madness. The eyes brought fear. And at its feet were a thousand-thousand horrors. Then I was being shaken by my mother as at the time I was but a child. Saying that this vision was a trick played on me by a fairy of some sorts. And if that was true, it was a nasty little fairy." He paused, rubbing the back of his head. "I know that it is not helpful. But, sir-Arbiter it is the only other disturbance I've had in my life behind these walls. Well- Other than what we had witnessed today..."

Alcina


It's been long, too long. A small grumble, almost creature like, escaping her stomach, and being presented to the world as "I'm.......hungry". A black hooded robe cloaked her own body, hidding her features from wondering eyes down the dusty trade route. Her steps, a smooth rythematic thud against the red stone brinks that man used for a road. Each time a individual passed, even though not many were on this forgotten road, felt a invisible pull towards her which caused them to take a few uneasy steps to follow. Yet others felt fear, only a couple, only women, for deep down they felt the act of being hunted upon themselves.


See the human man works in many ways, though in her presence, pure lust is seen in there eyes and because of that lust everything is blocked out, even the fact that her true form is a creature that's main goal is to feast upon human flesh. Walking felt like ages yet if the directions were correct from the previous traveler she feasted on, then a small village south east of Karait would be one of the few villages near to hunt from that would set ease to her starving self. Though it seems like more time passed as the day grew and fell to sunrise once she finally arrived.


The village appeared surrounded by pine trees and oak that made it almost invisible by the skies. She expected nothing less, it was a easy way of not being detected and she chuckled at how the human mind worked "found you". It was almost like a game to her, like a cat catching mice. Entering the village it was obvious that the settlement was about to crumble, clothing was spareingly used, and from the smell in the air there seem to be a food shortage. Yet nothing surprised, for at least what she heard was that this village's trading partner suffered a attack, and no longer existed.


Making her way to the middle of the village square, individuals eyes fell on her. Some in curiosity while others looked down or away feeling, no, sensing something was wrong. Lifting her pale hands up, she removed her hood, and ran a hand through the waves of brown hair. Her pale face getting its first glimpse of sun light in what seemed like days. Her multicolored eyes glancing at each villager as she brought her own hand over her mouth, making a slight yawn. She was beautiful, though that was apart of her trick. They were going to die.


Exhaling she smiled, the men in the village beginning to walk closer to her when there wives tried to pull them away, as the wives children hid behind. She hated it, it was disgusting how the males reacted to her yet the females didn't want anything to do with her. A chuckle escaping her, it happened every time, and every time the killing was more fun. Stretching slightly, she looked at a man and made a motion for him typo come to her. Instantly he began to walk over, slapping his wife in the face for trying to pull him back.


As he made his way, he reached about 6.4 in height, and was easily a warrior from the muclemass that he had. Tan, battle scars, brown eyes, though had nothing pleasant in looks. Reaching out a hand to her, she grinned in disgust, while she spoke in a almost melodyish voice "kneel down". Instantly he kneeled, looking for acceptance in her eyes that were more colorful then the starry night. Taking a step forwards him, she gave a soft smile as she leaned down near his face, and whispered "thanks". Instantly she shoved her hand through his body, blood escaping the hole that she created when she pulled out.


The villagers screamed, everyone lost in the trance that was lust. Fear beginning to take hold of each individual as she began to eat the corps in a matter of seconds. Standing up, blood dripped down her mouth as black fangs grew. Her shoulder blades seemingly being pushed out, tore her skin revealing huge red and black petal like wings which where outspread behind her. A red and black tail growing instantly, as red thorns grew down her back and to the tails tip. The bones in her body beginning to crack and grow, as claws extended and her eyes changed to a crimson red. They knew what she was, a dragon, one which many didn't think existed yet did.


Fully changed, she rose her dragon like head and roared in trump. Thoughts taking over "die.....everyone....Die!" Snapping at a women, she gasped in pain as her body was thrown in the air and swallowed whole, the dragons black teeth slamming shut. As the villagers began to run for the exit, her thorned tail slammed down, blocking what ever exscape they had. Her scales to hard for a common weapon to wound her yet they tried anyway.


Taking a deep breath, a yellow dust began to leak from her mouth. Raising her head she aimed at the people as they screamed and asked for pity. And she blew, not fire, or ice but pollen. Yes, instantly covering everyone with a yellow pollen. Changing back into her human form, she took note of everyone on the ground, there bodies shaking. Some trying to crawl away, some crying, some screaming in fear. For that pollen wasn't normal yet made people hulucinate there greatest fear and in a matter of minutes, would cause every villager to kill each other in what seemed a crazed state. Smiling she began to walk out of the now destroyed village. Noticing from the corner of her eyes, the man that she attempted to kill was still living, barely. Kneeling down she looked at him, yet the on,y thing in his eyes now was fear. Leaning down her black dragon tounge and teeth grew and she licked the blood that was on the side of his face. Her dragon features going back to human instantly. "Thanks for the food". And with that she left, as crazed villagers killed each other from behind her.

Kazanna


A dark fire lit itself in the core of the village Alcina had assault, it burned through flesh, and bone, and blood, it devoured all she had left behind, starting in the center and spiraling outwards, like a plague. It ravaged man, woman, and child alike, cattle and other livestock, the cats, the dogs. No man or beast was privy from this inferno. As it spread, it rose, to a great blaze that would cause even a dragon to turn and watch. As the town was burning to cinders, the one responsible for the blaze appeared, his features masked in the dark blaze that surrounded him, his heavy armor clinking ominously as he strode down the road behind Alcina, his helm shimmering in the ever growing light of the dark fire.


A moment later, a gale unlike that which was natural, around him, as he stood between Alcina and the town, directly in the gales path, it split around him, the fire blowing past him, a scream of anguished souls issued forth as the flames roared around the figure. His gaze however, was fixed on the woman, who had only a moment ago been a dragon. The blaze vanished a moment later, the gale force winds carrying it vanishing as well. He had blocked it from even caressing Alcina, from even allowing her to feel it's heat. He gazed upon her without emotion from beneath his heavily plated helm.


He paused, and reached up, unfastening the helm, folding it back, the armor seemed to take a life of it's own, sliding back in a series of disjointing plates that slid back into each other until his head was exposed, a long mane of unruly dark hair billowed out, down his back, he had a calm, unemotional look upon his face.


"It's been some time, Lady Alcina Naadhira... I see your power has not diminished... Nor your cruelty... I've need of both..." He said quietly, his eyes burning with the dark fire that had burned the town to nothing but ash in mere seconds.


While it was true that Alcina had murdered most of the villagers with ease, he had burned the town to nothing in a few heartbeats, and erased any trace of it having ever existed beyond the streets now littered in ash. Not even the bones of the dead remained, there was no trophy to be had, no marker of glory, simply ash, the town was gone, and that was all there was to it.


Now as he gazed upon the woman that was a dragon, he held in his eyes the darkness of torment unknown to any living creature, a hatred that bordered on madness, and an iron will that had kept him alive for hundreds of years. Despite his age, and the expectancy that he should look as ancient as the myths stated he was, Kazanna Lunaris, the Lord of Monsters, still looked no more then a man in his twenties, his form boasted power, youth, and to most who gazed upon it, displayed terror to all around.


Most monsters fled his presence, most higher level creatures avoided him, or obeyed him without question. However, there were a fair few, that he requested aid from, rather then demanding it, Alcina Naadhira, The Maiden of the Rose, was one such that he showed respect to, one that his armies revered for her power. So now, as he stood before her, having displayed his continued might, his hand extended towards her, in an offering way that she might take it, he spoke once more.


"Shall we go once more to war..?" He said ominously, a slightly feral grin taking to his features.

"I'm so lost, and late. Definitely late. What if the fellow hunters don't let me join anymore? What if they see my lateness as disrespectful and kill me.. Or worse... what if they call me short?", the hoodied figured mumbled to herself in panic, grabbing onto the ends of her fluffy white hair. Calm down, calm down. You're just a little late..., she tried to convince herself before inhaling and exhaling deeply. Ok, good... Now pull out the map your dad gave you.


She reached into her satchel, feeling through the mess of things until finally pulling out a large map of the land. She unfolded it and held it out in both hands in front of her. A good few seconds passed. "Why would he give me this I'm blind!!", she yelled out in frustration, throwing the map on the ground before stomping on it with all her might.


The sudden sound of screaming in the distance broke her out of her fit of rage. The little one looked up and turned to the noise. I need to help those people, she thought, eyes widening. She ran out back towards the village, only to stop in sheer awe as it quickly was consumed by an inferno. The power she felt froze her in her tracks. "W-what...", she questioned. She was so confused. The heat from the distance went away as quickly as it came. Now there as this.. ominous feeling of death polluting the air. Death and.. Something else. Something strong and horrible.


"Something bad is happening... Really bad. I need to get out'ta here.", she said in a panic. Darkness soon seeped out of the skin of her back. The consistency of black ink, the darkness grew out upwards before solidifying into what looked like ragged wings. She started sprinting towards the general direction of the other hunters, the wings flapping down hard until finally lifting her into the air and hopefully bringing her to her destination.

Alcina


As she went back into her rhythmic walk again. The night sky now was above her, the moon, and even the stars. Looking at the ground, Alcina began to think of the war that was upon them. "Humans versus monsters.....what idiots...the humans will never survive." she murmured to her self in annoyance. Yet a shadow appeared and a light began to grow from behind. Moving into defense mode, she turned quickly around. Her black fangs and claws extending, and her vision enhanced. Though before she could attack, the light was gone, the wind, the explosion, just darkness and a familiar figure. Calming immediately, instinctively she turned, as well as into her human form as the Lord of Monsters, Kazanna Lunaris stood before her. Standing still, Alcina honestly was in shock, this happened in a matter of seconds and though she didn't know when exactly he got here. The fire that he started, the inferno seemed as though it destroyed the village. As she took everything he had to offer, rather he was quite intimidating though she would never show it. It had been years since she saw him last, years since she heard him speak. Listening to what he said she stood frozen, something a monster as her self rarely ever did yet this was something she had not expected today. Taking a couple seconds, she hesitantly took his hand once more, as she once did when he asked for her help long ago. "....uh....okay."

Kazanna


Turning away from her slightly, his hand gripping hers gently, he gazed at where his dark Citadel was, far to the north, and with a flinch of reality, they were there. His seemingly limitless power caused a crack in reality, a tear in the very fabric of existence as the darkness had folded around them, and then suddenly moved them to the citadel's heart. He released his grip on her hand and turned his gaze back to her.


"I mean to take Kariat, there is an artifact there. I require it to continue the Ritual of Kings. Without it, He will be released. It is the first artifact I need to recover. You recall when I did this before?" He asked her.


Long ago, Kazanna had gathered the King's Relic's the tools used to keep the monsters dimension at bay as the legends told. In reality, it was known to the monsters that they were used to keep the strongest of monsters under the control of the Lord of Monsters. Alcina would have been one of the few alive during the last great war, she would have witnessed the gathering of the relics and would have witnessed as Kazanna took up the mantle of Lord of Monsters.


He turned away from her, and raised the claw like gauntlet up, motioning towards the wall opposite of him. The citadels heart was the portal room, the walls were tall, and far apart, meant to accommodate even the largest of beasts and monsters. So as pure darkness shimmered out of his hand towards the wall, a seam split in reality, he had created a rift between his citadel and the heart of the Scion citadel, where The Tyrant itself rested.


"I call The Tyrant to my Audience, With the Power of the Lord of Monsters, by the Right of Might I compel you to present yourself and your strongest warriors." He bellowed, though it would seem to cause him little upheaval or effort to do so.


He'd turn from that portal, as though bored, like it didn't matter to him if The Tyrant came through or not. He mimicked the movements, further darkness, another portal opened, he spoke more calmly, more evenly, as though he was addressing a warrior of great reknown, "Gor'Logk, Seeker of Meals, I request your presence, as Lord of Monsters, I urge you to come forth and present yourself with the greatest of your wall-breakers. I urge you to enter in Spite of the Mythic Cull." He said with a firm, level tone.


He would wait for each of the beasts he sought to address to appear before continuing with his schemes.

her tongue, biting the muscle until she tasted the familiar tang of salt and iron. Briefly, she released, mouth gaping open in order to ask a questioned; instead, she clamped it shut again. Silly girl, she scolded herself. It would proper to wait until she was allowed to speak, as she wouldn't want to leave the impression that she was rude and impulsive. Instead, she found something else to focus on; her shoes. They were armored, layered in a thin layer of steel that ended itself in a fine point that accented the splayed cuffs that flayed out along her ankles. The base material was a scuffed, browning leather that showed the marks of a well loved pair of boots. Indeed, she had traversed many miles and done much work while donning the pair. Nonetheless, they were still very functional due to the face that she had always made sure to take care of them, doubting she'd ever acquire another pair similar to the ones that she would admit she had grown a strong attachment to. As a child, she'd never imagined herself going face to face with the 'monsters' as they were so called, life on the line as she attempted to steal away theirs. She also, in the not so distant past, would've expected herself to find a position of latency in joining the group. A shameful thing it was, but something that couldn't be helped at this point. As the other male continued to explain monster types, she attentively listened while continuing to study her feet. The continuing climb of the other male's tone was making her nervous, but at the same time filling her with resolve to slay the very beings that made her home unsafe.

Gulthan


He had been about to return to speaking again but paused, he raised his eyes to the silent group that looked upon his display. He wrinkled his brow in cold scrutiny, and suddenly barked, "Speak up! It does not behoove the champions of humanity to be whipped dogs with no fangs or bark about them!" Gulthan's voice was like a roll of thunder, peeling out from his aged form with a surprising vigor and tenacity that was generally only common in more youthful commanders and generals of great renown and prestige.


He raised his hand, changing the display to repeat what he had witnessed earlier that day, the battle itself, with but a few of the present hunters engaging the enemy in combat, and fewer of them having any results. "We will perish, and our cities will Burn if you are all too cowed by just my presence to speak." He was tired, and old, he knew he had but one square battle left in him, one he'd reserved for the lord of monsters himself.