Fantasy The dark sibling and a knight

[Aleki]

It had been close to ten years. Aleki spent as a page under the training of the masters of the blades. A elite group of highly skilled warriors that only took men who were willing to give their life to the knighthood or royals. Aleki trained sine six years old and had to master the bastard sword, knife, spear, and even bow and a great Faltion blade. After spending his early life as a military unit and became a weapon of war. He also was raised under the tenants of the knights. He followed the laws of honor and virtue. He had spent ten years in training and the last year he joined his father’s army. He proved to work along the infantry while wearing light armor and proving to be more then powerful and the main reason why the army took the kingdom won. His hair was a soft black. he had been told that he is to take charge of a small army to retrieve a new weapon the entire kingdom refused to explain. All he knew was that they were going to take over ratabore. A city of thieves and beggars. He knew how his life as a knight told him to follow the words of his father. Yet some orders had to be ignored. Yet he marched for close to a week to the tower of the mages. He brought the scroll and offered the parchment and waited to see who he was to keep under his wing as the weapon was a mage. He stood a full six foot tall and carried himself in a way that spoke of a life in constant training. He had soft hazel eyes and looked towards the men as they bring out a necklace and he took the necklace and slipped on the necklace. It was a controlling necklace as the weapon was to be wearing a collar to keep it under the control of the kingdom at all times.

 

[Bunesh]

She remembered the burning most clearly.

The mages they had... found something, something dark and terrifying though she didn't know where or how they got it; they hadn't deemed it necessary to inform the subject of their experiment about the details. When she had begged, pleaded and threatened they had responded by beating her, and beat her enough that she finally understood that her job was to shut up and suffer and so she did, since it was the only pain offered that she had even a tiny bit of control over.

And when you have lost control of everything in your life, what little you can control becomes important beyond words.

And so they cut.

She had been strapped down - naked - to a stone slab and fed some sort of potion that robbed her of voluntary movement, after which they took knives and began to cut into her skin. Nearby there was a brazier with a pot above it, something inside was boiling, but she didn't know what and couldn't focus on anything other than the feeling of the knives slicing into her flesh, and the blood pouring down her face as they cut.

She learned later what was in that pot, when they extracted some of it and dripped it onto her; molten silver. They had been using the knives to cut channels into her flesh that they then filled with molten silver, using water to rapidly harden the metal. To describe it was to ask the impossible, for all she knew was pain and the horrible smell of flesh burning, then everything went blissfully white.

Her memories of that time were broken - perhaps repressed - as they did her segment by segment, letting her body heal with the aid of cloth strips soaked in some foul-smelling liquid that burned almost as bad as the silver had, but soothed her injuries, then they would move on, until her entire body was covered in intricate vine-like silver designs, all branching out from the middle of her chest, where a metal diamond mount sat, covered in strange runes and symbols.

And in the middle of that was a bright blue gem, one that exuded an ominous sense, radiating wickedness that permeated through Kyra's bones like clawing fingers of ice.

Her appearance had changed and not just due to the silver, but her hair as well had turned white - from stress and pain, it was suggested - and her eyes which were once green were now a haunting, electric blue that disturbed some of the mages so much that they had taken to blindfolding her.

She wasn't a person anymore, she was a thing; an object.

Ten years later, ten long years of toil and violence, stripping her of everything she was and knew, she found herself once more in front of her brother, the contrast between the two siblings was stark and dramatic. Aleki had blossomed under the tutelage, becoming stronger, taller, broader, his once shy demeanor replaced by a loud charisma that filled up every inch of the room, an unyielding and commanding presence that demanded to be listened to and obeyed. He had become big, bigger than their father, bigger than anyone she had ever seen, confidence and strength radiating from him as his gaze raked the room.

By comparison, Kyra had become smaller, even frail-looking, her hair limp on her head, clad in what was little more than a hemp sack with a few holes cut in it, blindfolded with just a small crack between the cloth for her to see out of with one eye, her body covered in silver symbols, skin pale and dirty. She looked every inch the slave she had become. Her brother seemed a little confused, glancing dubiously at her, the restraining choker and the mages as if to say 'this is it?' Which was understandable; she really didn't resemble the sister he would have once known by any measure.

 

[Aleki]

He raised a hand as he walked forward and pulled the cloth off her head and his eyes widen as he took a step back. He felt horror as he recognized the face of his little sister and gritted his teeth as he held back the anger. He took off his cloak as he draped around her shoulders and glared at the mages. His eyes told of anger and hatred as he guided his new weapon sister with him. “ what did they do to you kyra..” he asked softly as he opened a hand and pointed a finger to the mage that tried to grab his shoulder. He stood up as he pulled out a knife and he softly spoke “ by the code of virtue.. I am to hold back my blade but if I ever see you again you all will know why the order of the blades are feared.” He said as he walked with his sister.

as they leave the tower he walked with her to his encampment. He made a order for her to have a robe and a medical personnel working on her. He pulled out a bastard sword as he starts to clean the blade. His eyes were cold as he waited for the dispatch to direct them to the next place and where and when they strike.

 

[Bunesh]

His personal healer got to work, and much to the shock of the other soldiers, she stripped right there, her sense of modesty and shame had been obliterated by a decade of different tests. A glower from Theron sent the soldiers scurrying away while the mildly flustered healer got to work, examining her skin and clicking his tongue. He was an older man, his name was Trovin and one of the few Theron could trust with his sister in such a manner, as he had a grandfatherly disposition, and a gentle touch that she was probably not used to.

Trovin frowned deeper as he looked at the silver embedded in her skin, checked her weight, her eyes and then the jewel mounted on her chest, his displeasure growing by the moment. When a page arrived, he claimed the robe and helped the girl dress in a cotton tunic, trousers, and boots, the war camp had nothing feminine for her, but these simple clothes were probably more luxury than she was used to.

Once Kyra was settled by the Fire, Torvin approached his lord to speak softly, noting Theron's sour disposition and knowing that what he had to report would do nothing to improve it.

"My Lord, I have finished my exam, she is very under-weight and malnourished, the magical components I am not versed on so I cannot speak for them, but the markings," he glanced over his shoulder at the ex-princess sitting by the fire and then back to the prince, "It's liquid silver, my lord. They would have poured it onto her skin while molten, and I believe they would have had to cut the channels first to prevent the metal from running." Torvin noted that Theron's knuckles had turned white from how tightly the prince was clutching the sword.

"She doesn't appear to be in pain," The healer continued nervously, "But she also seems to have lost a degree of her sense of touch, I expect that it's damage from the metal in her body. She is showing no sign of infection or rejection, no gangrene, mold or parasites, but I imagine that is cold comfort." It wasn't quite as bad as Theron may have feared, the girl would survive, but she'd need a hearty meal.

Word had come that the camp was to move to The Verdant Gloom, a forest so incredibly dense that the trees blocked out all sunlight. It would be impossible to use those trees as well, they were old and massive, making it unreasonable to even consider trying to chop one down, not to mention the vicious animals that would attack them.

Vicious, unnatural things.

However, according to the message they were to wait until a 'suitable transport' for the weapon arrived, which meant a caged wagon to prevent the weapon from reacting 'unexpectedly'. It was a grim reminder of how their father viewed his daughter. She had always been obstinant, always been passionate and vivacious, and not at all the meek, deferential child that he had wanted.

 

[Aleki]

He kept cleaning the bastard sword as it had elven runes and looked to have been made by none other then the galtioc. He had made the order from the great skilled makers. He knew the race of nine foot tall giants valued their art and skill. They called it their thune. It was what they picked after their fifth birthday. And thus they often worked with mastery that no elf or dwarf could even attempt.

the blade looked to be made of bone but shone like metal and could cut through about anything. the runes were added by a elder elf chief who had aided in weight, speed and sharpness.

he waited and requested that the doctor to care and make sure she is take care of. He also made a request for a set of light armor for his sister. He wanted her protected and stopped as he he went to the mess only to listen about some of the men gossiping about the new girl and how she was willing to strip. It had a few men wanting to help themselves to her. He set a hand on one of the men’s shoulder and softly took a breath as he calmed himself. The men looked horrified as he did nothing. He smiled as he rubbed his shoulder.
“ I will be clear. If any of you.. try anything with my new.. charge then you will be Castrated in front of the whole camp as well as those who watched and didn’t stop the action. Do I make myself clear?”

he said loud enough for the whole camp to hear his decree. He pulled the man back and slammed his head forward into his plate hard. He then looked into the man with his soft smile as many could tell what hewas doing. Simple Discipline to keep the troops in line. He grabbed the guard out of his plate and patted his back “ let that be a reminder for you my friend.”

 

[Bunesh]

Woebringer they called his sword, or Bladebane for its ability to shatter other weapons like glass. Aleki had been the envy of all the recruits at the academy for that weapon, and half the instructors as well, more than once he had to defend his weapon from thieves and his life from them as well, thus he was no longer a virgin to killing.

That reputation had followed him like a shadow to his new posting, the soldiers had all heard terrible things about the prince and once they saw him spar, they realized that the stories were likely true. None had seen Woebringer in action before, but by that same measure were not eager to be the first to demonstrate the reported power of the magical sword.

As Aleki was making his threats to now cowed footsoldiers, Kyra was... distracted, standing and looking at the forest some hundred or so feet away, her ice-blue eyes tracing the patterns of wood, as if searching for something. That was the only warning Aleki and his men got before they felt the air grow strange and unnaturally dry as the air around Kyra began to pick up, a dull glow emanating from her chest.

She had seen something.

Aleki needn't ask what was troubling his sibling as that answer made itself clear enough: strange green-skinned creatures with the banner of their neighbour, Ugristan, burst through the foliage atop large mounts that looked like a nightmarish mix between a starved wolf and a donkey. These creatures were clutching pikes or bows with axes at their hips and were charging with intent at the soldiers, shrieking their bloodlust to the sky.

As she curled her fingers, Aleki saw purple bolts of lightning crackle down her arm, following the metal implanted in her skin to her palm, where it formed an orb of lashing, snapping, furious energy. She pulled her arm back then thrust it forward, palm lifted and fingertips facing outwards, releasing tendrils of violently snapping energy that crashed into the charge leader, stray fingers of lightning lashing those closest to either side of him. His warg mount howled in pain as the greenskin was blasted from its perch. While shaken, the warg riders did not stop their gleeful charge, while Kyra hunched over, violet bolts of energy crawling over her form, making her eyes light up with the power being released.

At that moment it was unlikely that Aleki fully understood the display he had just witnessed, not realizing that it was not mere lightning that she had cast - a feat impressive enough on its own, given the rarity of magic and the difficulty of using offensive magic - but rather was something decidedly darker in nature. This fight would educate him on his new weapon's abilities and strain his acceptance of the term 'necessary evil'.

 

[Aleki]

He had seen the creatures and yelled “ formations!!! We are being attacked!!” He said as he drew his two handed greatsword from his back. The writing on the blade looked to be smooth as he held the blade as it was the blade of the order. The symbol of the knights. He spun as a warg attacked them and his blade tore through both the rider.

The men grabbed blades and shields as they got together as they took and used spears in the back as shields guarded the entire force. It looked like the entire army had kept their weapons and shields close. They also wore their armor on themselves. As the wargs attacked the army moved the spears back and forth as swords stab as they kept together in a formation that few had.

Aleki rushed towards where his sister and stood over her as he took in a deep breath as the blade let’s out a soft humming as his own eyes become cold as the blade. Each time any warg and rider got in range the blade let out a whistle as the blade renders the riders and animal into pieces. Almost as if his movements belonged to a agent of death as he made the blade sing as he cleaves all of his foes in half. Limbs and blood flew around as he fought. The army moved forward as they soon had a chance to push and continued to push against the army back into the forest as Aleki ensured that no creature had any chance to return to the camp

“ men!! We are going in!! Spilt into teams of twenty and remember your training?? Remain on the ground and have three crossbows in each team!”
he reached down and helped his sister up and nods as he took her to his tent. He then ensured that she had on some simple armor and a set of boots and steel greaves. He smiled once he ensured that the armor was tight enough as the leather would keep her safe from normal arrows.

 

[Bunesh]

It was chaos, though every battle always dissolved into frantic, panicked swinging, yelling, screaming and blood, that wasn't anything new and to a degree, Aleki was trained to expect that. But still, that these creatures rode under the banner of their enemy was troubling in and of itself, was this what this battle had become? Was the desire to win so strong that both sides had turned to employ monsters in their ranks?

And was his sister one of those monsters?

The greenskins fell upon the assembled men with viciousness and more than a touch of insanity, shrieking and cackling as they hacked away at the defenders, who slew in kind but the battle was quickly turning into a confusing charnel den. Then from behind them, streams of violet electricity shot out, pushing the attackers back slightly as Kyra retook the field, her body singing with that unnatural, dark power.

She held her hands in front of her, fingers splayed and curled as if clutching a large ball, violet, ebony and azure tendrils of lightning flailing about as she formed an orb of raw, brilliant power, her arms shaking and hands struggling to force the ball smaller and smaller until it was no larger than an apple, hidden within both her hands. With a cry, Kyra lurched forward and threw her palms outwards, the air growing dry, and a loud crack filling the ears of the combatants as the bolts of lightning surged forward... and into the dead bodies?

The corpses of both fallen friend and foe flailed uncontrollably as Kyra channeled her power into them, making no attempt to alter the shower of lightning, the reason why would become apparent soon enough. With the cessation of the storm of magic, the corpses continued to twitch and spasm... then they rose, jerking as violet bolts of energy leaped from them at arbitrary points.

Their eyes were still fogged with death, their movements stiff and unnatural, but still they rose until the dead stood once more in a row before the surprised and uncertain greenskin monsters.

And then the dead surged forward.

Aleki's own soldiers were disgusted and horrified, seeing their follow comrades' corpses defiled in such a way, rising from their well-deserved rest to attack once more in some sort of disturbing parody of life. This was what the mages had been crafting his sister into, this is what their father had sanctioned; transforming his firebrand of a little sister into a conduit of dark magic, a tool that could manipulate the dead like puppets.

 

[Aleki]

Aleki’s eyes darkened as he turned towards the dead as he yelled “ push forward!!! Make them suffer!!!” He said as he charged forward as he grabbed kyra. He moved as he saw his few squires following them as they took apart the camp in haste.
The hoard rushed at the undead as he fought using his blade with pure strength and anger as he wanted to kill his father right then. But his sister was already broken. He rushed the first beast that broke through and cleaving the beast in half. His blade letting out the bloody song of death as if he had a ancient magic that only certain training could be given as his blade drank in the blood of the beasts and even tore into the nearest beast with ease.

a hour later he walked up to his sister and slapped her hard “ let the dead rest.. don’t keep them past their deserving rest.” He said as he felt the necklace him as his words would connect with her choker.

 

[Bunesh]

With the weight and stiffness of his gauntlet, she went down, hard, a massive red bruise forming on her face where he had struck her. She didn't cry out, she didn't sob or... really react at all, beyond spitting blood and a tooth he had knocked loose on the ground. Her gaze went placid and her magic stopped flowing, the dead collapsing into heaps on the ground, as her magic suddenly and rudely cut short.

The necklace glowed an angry red then settled once more, and after a second she stood again, and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, her expression neutral, carefully constructed to hide from him whatever thoughts were whizzing through her head.

The cart had been brought forth, though they needed to deal with the bodies. Those of Aleki's comrades were taken to be buried, while - after an order - Kyra called up a ball of flame, it was an ominous fire, primarily violet with tongues of azure, ebony and scarlet licking through it, and formed into the vague shape of a skull. The weapon cast her flames outwards and they breathed streams of fire onto the corpses, incinerating the greenskins before dissipating.

This done, she was loaded up onto the transport in her cage and rested, eyes closed.

They were being sent to liberate the village of Blackmoor, it had been taken by Valkia and was on the edge of the battlefield, his father was worried that the valkians were trying to establish a foothold, it would be his job to change that.

 

[Aleki]

He sighed as he had the men buried and a orb glowing softly as he held out a hand and made a small sigh. He held up a hand as the men got camp broken and spoke over the buried men “ from ashes we are made and to ash you shall return.” He said as he tossed a burning stick into the large graveyard. “ May you find peace and happiness that this life denied you all brothers.” He said and the men joined in a moment of silence.

a hour later the entire camp was broken down and moving as the men moved onto carts while many marched and several scouts went deep into the forest. As he walked with the men he offered a water skin to a page who looked exhausted. He had his page get on the cart and looked at his sister “ can you speak witch?” He said in a cold indifferent tone.

 

[Bunesh]

Her eyes opened, she looked... very, very tired, utterly exhausted though managed to quickly hide it with a mask of indifference and nodded to her sibling, she didn't like speaking however; she always got beaten when she spoke and her new master had shown a predilection for beating already. She felt her dark powers surging inside but wrestled them back down to soothe and relax, so she couldn't use her necromancy, that was alright; she still had other spells she could call upon, it was annoying but it wasn't a major issue, fortunately.

She had hoped he would be different, she was wrong.

Magic wasn't well understood at the best of times, she had learned that even the mages in their high towers and arrogant smug smirks were just as clueless about their powers as the common folk, relying on experimentation and theory for almost all their work.

And now they had stuck this... THING in her, a thing that she was beginning to believe was alive.

 

[Aleki]

He lowered his head and spoke low. “ Forgive me my lady but I had to strike you to show the men I still held power over you. Many fear magic and when you rose the dead men felt the desire to slay you. So I had to strike you in order to keep the men in order.” He said as he pulled out a small water skin and offered it to her “ i think your thirst no?”

he pulled out a small bit of bread as he offered last of his hard rye bread. He Sighed as he pulled out also abit of salted pork and offered the meat and the bread with the water. He wanted to keep her safe but had a army to attend to.

a good three hours in the March had the men reviewing and stopping for a bit of a meal. They didn’t need a hungry and worn out army so the men held something unique. A stronger loyal bond to their commanding officer and knight. A young knight but also one who would ride with the men on the front. Setting a example for the men.

 

[Bunesh]

"You know you can't trust him." None of the soldiers nor Aleki himself responded to the voice, as if they could neither see nor hear the man who had appeared in Kyra's cart, he was handsome and appeared to be around Aleki's age if not a little older, with black hair a goatee and mustache, and deep, rich purple eyes. He was dressed in a leather vest with a white blouse underneath, brown trousers and leather boots, as well as a hat bearing a long feather.

The very image of a charming rogue.

"You do what he says and he slaps you like that? You know better, little one," The man strode forward and knelt down, gently caressing Kyra's bruised cheek, "Tsk... what a brute, every inch his father's son." The Man - Kyra called him The Stranger - criticized. The Stranger had appeared sometime after the mage's ritual and they hadn't acknowledged his presence either, leading Kyra to presume only she could see, hear and feel him, so that meant he was connected with the gem somehow; perhaps some kind of spirit or demon?

Regardless, she knew she shouldn't listen to him, but his words were so kind and after so much abuse and torment, the ebon-haired girl longed for kindness, and it seemed that only The Stranger gave it to her without qualification. He counseled her, taught her and was above all things patient, though she did not know his name.

"Well if Lord Stick-Up-His-Ass won't give you proper instruction then I shall endeavor to, Little One," The Stranger sat ignoring the soldiers who were resting and making a fire, they were readying to camp for the night, "He does not wish you to use your Necromancy," The only reason she even knew that name was because of The Stranger, none of the mages knew what to call her dead puppeteering as they had never seen it before, "You still have other venues open to yourself. Such as daemonology, as you showed with the Fire Head," Instructed the stranger, "Also avoid any of your more... unusual magic; stick to Dark Elemental magic for now, no sense in giving him another excuse to beat such a pretty face." He smiled charmingly and Kyra flushed a little, they may just be empty words but they were like honey to her ears.

Aleki seemed busy, shouting orders and setting up the battle camp, arranging for guard shifts and hunting parties, so Kyra was left to her own devices, the stranger comforting her by wrapping her in his arms. If one were to look, they may notice a strange shadow on her skin but considering the runaway ignorance around magic, it would probably be discounted as a 'magic thing' and otherwise ignored.

Meanwhile, more battle camps were on the move, soldiers riding beneath the banner of Valkia were heading to Blackmoor to reinforce the defenses. The Goblin war party hadn't returned which meant they had encountered a force in the region strong enough to disable them, commanders in the area had heard rumors that the Prince of Almera was leading a host towards the city to reclaim it from the Valkian forces, and so were preparing accordingly. They hoped to bag themselves a prince in the battle - preferably alive but dead would suffice, knowing that such a blow would be a devastating wound to the Almeran troop moral.

 

[Aleki]

Aleki stood in his tent as woebringer hummed with a inhuman tone. The men didn’t know the blade was enchanted and made to fight and kill. It was a weapon of death and destruction. He sat down on his bed roll and looked as the air shimmered as a young woman hummed as she sat on the handle of the blade. She smiled and hugged him
‘ my oh my!! I smelled blood and I couldn’t help but let my sister blades sing.. how the taste of battle and the sound and feel of flesh!! It was exquisite!!’ She said as she giggled. He sighed “ another night of dealing with you?”
The men didn’t know about the curse the blades were made under as they were to drive those who would them mad. He had a strong willpower and said he could handle the madness. After all.. they were just blades.. he was a fool. She cresses his left cheek as she sat in his lap and kissed him. He sighed and looked up “ one of theses days I will lose my mind.. but not now.” He said as he pulled out a flask and drank from it. It would help him sleep but made waking easy as he could handle many problems like demons. She frowned and shook her head “ why not give in? I can grant you the power of true woe? True power of a Lich knight? We both know the kingdom could use such power.” He turned to her and scowled at her “ don’t remind me.. I know what I can do with you.. raise the dead and.. command them.. in return for me becoming a lich king..”

she smiled and laid down with him and hugged him close“ you know what they say about madness. One day we catch up with you.” She said as they slept together. It was the demon and temptress of power.. the power of woebringer.

 

[Bunesh]

The Stranger tilted his head to stare at Aleki intently, the man who would be king had a strange aura about him, an unkind one that battled against his willpower. There was... something there, a demon perhaps? The Stranger couldn't be sure, but that sword was no normal blade, that much was readily apparent, but bound as he was to Kyra, there was little he could do.

When morning came, The Stranger noted that the Prince seemed to be in a foul mood, maybe it was the stress or maybe it was that sleeping with a daemonic-possessed sword was not conducive to a good night's sleep. Within two hours the camp was packed up and moving again, driven onwards by worries of Valkian aggression, and a need to liberate the village from its new occupiers.

One of the soldiers remembered to water and feed Kyra and let her out of the cage long enough to take care of some hygienic needs, The Stranger politely allowing his host a little privacy as she took care of herself. Once they were on the road, he spoke again, getting Kyra's attention.

"Your brother," The princess lifted her head to look at the handsome man as he spoke, leaning against the side of the wooden bars, "He carries with him a cursed blade," Kyra's expression became one of surprise and she stole a quick glance back over her shoulder at her elder brother riding at the head of the column, "A spirit of some kind haunts him, I know not what it is nor what it desires but exercise caution around him; his thoughts may be tainted." The Stranger smirked to himself; smart girl, she had minimized her reactions well enough and hadn't spoken out loud to him, so it may not have alerted whatever creature was bound to the prince.

The Stranger had been impressed with his vessel's grasp of the power he had granted her, and had quickly understood that the three elements were not simply lightning, fire, and ice but rather conduits of dark magic. More specifically, Vorpal Lightning, Hellfire, and Corpse Ice. Vorpal lightning was her preferred magic, the warping power of chaos given form. Her interesting little trick with the dead she had showcased earlier was a rather unique application of it, though it wasn't real nor true necromancy as much as it was grisly puppeteering. Hellfire was the art of utilizing and summoning lesser demons on the physical plane, usually with temporary and explosive results. Corpse Ice was the distilled power of death, granting her the ability to manipulate damned souls and create constructs.

These three elements gave her a powerful edge but it was exhausting on her body and mind to perform, as one may expect of dark magics though she bore that burden well. Given time she may elevate herself to a higher threat, but the real question was, would the burgeoning Lich King and his sword grant her the space and time necessary?

 

[Aleki]

While the men made camp that night he set his blades down to seek counsel with the army priest. As he spoke under the vow of silence. The priest listened and helped him. He knew about the temptress and how her power could aid in winning the war. He drank of the communion wine and prayed as the priest blessed him. The only blade he carried was on his back. The two handed falsion blade. He drew it as the symbols could be seen. They were symbols of war but also symbols to remind him of the oath of the order. To bare no hatred, to have a strong heart and mind. To steel his mind and fight the armies of hell with just his will power. After all. He could do so.

as he went back to his tent he blinked as the woman wore clothing more fitting for a whore. Another night to deal with temptation. But he always refused. He sat down as hestarted on his simple soup and bread. He refused the fancy meals the officers ate. He took tasks to master his mind body and soul to better his standing and place among the men. And when they saw him with the priest it reminded the men that he was only human. And sometimes he needed to unburden himself.

as night fell the woman woke and stood and looked outside. She smirked and walked to the cage. She took a deep breath “ show your self brother.. while you give power to a child.. I plan on tempting and creating a kingdom that no mortal can undo. I know he feels for me.. while I have been watching.. she looks like she is just a toy. I have a soon to be king.” She said as she reached down and plucked a dandelion and Slipped it behind kyra’s ear. “ she looks lovely.. I wonder.. would she be willing to be his wife once I break his willpower? I am sure the two of them could command millons and he could come to command the dead and the bones. Even command a Lich dragon.. in time..”

 

[Bunesh]

The Stranger - or rather Ixion, Demon Prince of Storms - materialized in his handsome human guise before his sister, looking at her as she smirked her disdain at his choice of vessel. His sister had many names; Woe Corrupter of The Fallen, The Dark Lady of The Dead, Shira the Souldrinker, and The Harbinger just to name a few, though he was uncertain which name and title she was using now. Ixion himself had collected a few titles; The Fallen Angel, The False Light, Lurker in the Shadows and The Dark Triumvirate to name a few and while he did prefer Ixion, he had to admit, 'The Stranger' was growing on him.

"Sister," the goateed man greeted, "You have bold beliefs for your pawn, but he has great willpower. If you are to make him fall, to create your Lich King, you will need to work harder," the Storm Prince criticized, "As for my vessel, while I admit she is in a sorry state, she has amazing potential. She can actually withstand my power without her body breaking down, and has shown creativity in its employment to boot." He chuckled with a hint of pride.

"As for her potential with her brother... mmm...," He knelt and gently stroked his sleeping vessel's cheek, a look of compassion briefly crossing his features, "I doubt it would rise to the level you're picturing. For starters the social and psychological power between them is immense, and in spite of his claims he does look down upon her. No, at best she'd be one of his mistresses or courtiers," He stood and turned to face his sister, "I'm also pretty sure she is as gay as the day is long, though I have no proof of that beyond a hunch."

The two spirits passed through the bars of the cart and towards the resting prince where the handsome Demon Prince knelt to study him.

"He is handsome isn't he?" Ixion remarked, "I imagine he's quite the heartbreaker, though I do wonder if he can unlock the full might of your blade." Ixion stood and turned to regard his sister once again, "He does know the power of your weapon right? That he is barely scratching the surface?"

 

[Aleki]

She giggled as she looked at her brother “ he calls me a unique name.. I have to admit.. it makes me want him more. Kinda like one who wants what one can’t have. And every time he kills with me he slowly goes deeper into madness. He is bound to fall in time. I know he will give in when his men face the valkyrie. They will nearly suffer greatly and he loves his men and values them more then his own soul. His body can handle me because he knows the blade was made from barden. We both know I am the mistress of darkness. He named me... Lilith..” she said blushing deeply and her hair flared in the night sky as dark tendrils flow from her gown she wore. She couldn’t help but look upon him like a lover would “ he knows woebringer is a weapon of death but when he gives in. He will start as a Lich knight. And as he uses the power as a Lich.. he will build and become the Lich king.”
She waved a hand towards the sword and smirked “ the blade is nothing more then a vessel of power. Once he embraces the power. The sword just becomes a simple weapon once more.. I wonder.. say brother.. want to let him know about you and we can both break him? I could give your little girl the.. staff..” she said as darkness formed to show a staff of death as the crystal looked to have been made to embrace the power of the dark magics.

“ after all she could either have this or the robes of a death mage... it could have her fit the role as these two may be apart but he doesn’t break hearts.. too much honor and pride to even attempt even wooing a single woman. I once tried to talk him into it. I made him a deal if he tried that I would leave him alone. He was so stiff I laughed for the whole night. He couldn’t sleep. Double the torture and double the madness!!”

she summoned forth a set of thin robes but the thin robe wouldn’t tear and it would mold to the body of the wearer. It would grant warmth and aid in healing. It would alsoaid in gathering dark power and keep music magic from touching her body.Even soothing the silver inlays in her skin. And as she heals slowly it would also empower her.
“ if we both work together we both know how they would be.. he is bound to break and become a weapon. To tell you the truth.. he slapped her because the blade was getting to him. The more blood it drinks the more he breaks. That is why he slapped her. It saw another possible Lich.. nothing personal brother.. “ she said as a set of chairs formed as she took a seat and had a pot of tea made “ want a drink brother?”

 

[Bunesh]

Ixion laughed and joined his sister, drinking the tea happily.
"Oh I am indifferent to his reasoning, I just know that it helped force his sister away...isolating her," His expression wavered slightly, "I suppose it's because I am physically bonded to my vessel that I am more... empathic towards her," He explained, "Regardless though, no matter how much we push, they make their own choices." He chuckled once more and sipped his tea, savoring the flavour.

"If he fully takes the Woebringer's power into him, won't you become able to materialize?" That would be quite the boon, not just a semi-solid spirit but a fully manifested demon, "If so why would you want my vessel to be competition?" In truth, Ixion strongly suspected that Lilith could sense the raw power of Kyra, her ability to manipulate demonic energy was quite impressive but that wasn't the most exciting part.

No the most exciting part was that she was bonded to the demonic gem itself, embedded in her flesh, mind, and soul and yet had not gone insane nor had the raw power coursing through her body torn her apart. With Woebringer, Lilith was able to ease more and more power into Aleki as the prince accepted its use, growing more and more accustomed to it. It was like digging a channel to allow water to flow, over time Lilith could widen that channel and create more to fully allow her powers to course through her would-be master without fear of it overwhelming him.

But Kyra as pathetic, malnourished and frail as she looked, had all that power dumped in at once, like someone had broken a dam and let the water flow free and to hell with the consequences. Yet the girl bore the weight of the magic well, that was a rare gift.

Or curse.

Depending on how you wanted to look at it.

"Tomorrow will be chaos," Ixion's tone turned somewhat somber, "We must be careful for as powerful as our vessels are, they are still mortal and can still be killed. I know you have great pride in your Death Knight, dear sister but I still advise caution; you want him to fall not become a stark raving lunatic." the younger brother advised his elder sister, "I also suggest you make plans for after the battle because if he truly does fall in the fight, then he will have forfeited his crown, his kingdom, and his name, and thus will need somewhere new to stake his claim and begin building a new power base."

He considered what Lilith had suggested about using Deathwail, the battle staff was powerful, solid construction with a curved blade on the bottom and a reinforced haft, enabling the user to engage in melee combat as well as spellcasting, perhaps there was something to his sister's suggestion...

"Dearest Sister," Ixion continued, "There is an old battlefield in the Corvian Mountains, a place where two forgotten armies clashed in what was to be the battle to end all battles. But a third and unexpected force engaged them; the mountain itself, with waves of deep freezing cold, slippery slopes, avalanches, and endless blizzards, it smote both armies and has held them captive as trophies ever since," he finished his tea, "Perhaps you could direct your Lich Knight to the peaks to create a power base."

 

[Aleki]

Lilith tapped her index finger on her glass of tea. She looked at her little brother “ and if I remember correctly. There is a ring in the halls of Corvian Mountains. One that can command the dead and grant him the kingdom of the mountain. If I remember.. it was a castle thousands of years ago.” She said as she sipped on her tea “ I know. And I have been waiting for this day once more. You could say it was planed. My knight and soon to be king will still have his mind. I have been working on him since he joined the order of the blades. And I have been careful. I didn’t use the hammer they used on your poor vessel. I have been using a chisel and hammer slowly and know that once he accepts the power. It will become something to witness. While your vessel has silver. Mine will have bone appear acros his arms and chest. Not his face. Don’t want to ruin his lovely face. But his power would be equal to no other. He would be equal to a minor god when he take the ring in the mountain. And.. I know there are five Valkyries leading the army. I know they out number the humans by twenty to one. Once he falls he will kill four and keep one to break her and make her kiss the ring and she would become a general. I know this because he is dreaming this.” She said and pets his head “ who knows.. maybe he will take the elves as slaves and keep that princess as a wife. The means to ensure the elves don’t build the one blade again. The Lich slayer.”

she looked up and sighed as she offered her brother a hand “ do we have a deal? I offer Kyra both the staff and a place of freedom with Aleki and in return she swears fealty to her new Lich king? You can offer him what you feel is worth for him to make the offer?”

 

[Bunesh]

Ixion toyed with the idea, Lilith was definitely the more powerful of the two of them and had shown time and time again to be dangerously patient, but she was also the more arrogant of the two. When Aleki fell - and he would fall - Lilith would fully manifest in the physical world and because of that it was hard for the younger demon to imagine his elder sister giving up a position of affection and power with her new King. No, it was far easier to imagine him taking Lilith as a queen and any other woman as a concubine.

As for the elves... well in the distant past the elves had been key in forging the holy blade Lichslayer, also known as Deathsbane, the simple fact of the matter was that years of abuse and fear from humans and other races had broken the spirit and pride of the elven folk. Their great cities razed, and their people scattered to the wind, it was possible that Aleki could actually recruit them under his banner, should he approach them correctly.

The Humans and Dwarves had a solid alliance, one built on mutual distrust of the forest people and greed, so why couldn't the undead king have an alliance with the fair folk? Provide them a home, shelter, resources, safety and in return he would receive some of the finest warriors the world had known, the elvish smiths and their most prized possession; the ranger.

Dark Rangers would be wonderfully useful... and there would be no way any Elf Tribe would even consider siding with the humans, and so he turned to his sister, curious.

"Why not make the elves your allies? If you approach them with an open hand, I do not doubt they would turn away generosity, and so the possibility of a Lichbreaker being forged is nullified." He was also curious how Lilith intended to have the army turn on their prince, as there was no way he would ever consider dark magic otherwise.

His reaction to his sister's use of necromancy had been... visceral and absolutely not forced, so it would take an enormous betrayal for him to turn to such foul magics. Then again, being a royal meant living in a never-ending game of chess, where the stakes were your life weighed against glory and proverbial immortality. Many a king had fallen to treachery and many would in the future, as jealousy and greed conspired together in the darkness. The Valkyrie accompanying the army were indeed considered pure, but they were also considered zealots and cruel, even to their own ranks. There were plenty enough stories and rumors about valkyrie who had made some small misstep being brutally mistreated, even having their wings turn from their bodies in extreme cases, so it wasn't inconceivable that one of them housed a bitterness towards the others.

As for the rest, they were men, the strongest, most unpredictable and most easily swayed of all creatures upon the planet. It was rarely honor that the common soldier fought for, as honor did not fill a man's bowl nor put clothes upon his back, rather it was money that motivated them to sally forth into danger. If Money enough was passed around, then the common soldier would reconsider his alliance, as their true loyalty was to their families and if not that, then themselves.

Then there was Kyra herself, his vessel that he was nurturing, it irked Ixion that his beautifully cruel sister would demand fealty thus sewing the seeds of well-founded suspicion. Lilith was a schemer, a schemer with infinite patience, and so Ixion couldn't help but wonder if she was seeking to sink her claws into his vessel to use as a pawn for her beloved Lich King.

He'd have to answer carefully.

"Kyra will stand with her brother," he said after much thought, "But I will not force a pledge of fealty nor loyalty, considering the situation. However, she will not turn her magics upon him, that will have to suffice for now; asking for more is too much at this juncture."

 

[Aleki]

Lilith sipped as she contemplated the idea. She nods “ yes.. he is kind and generous to those who would be seen as weak. He would aid and even offer some skeleton troops to aid in rebuilding a small city. And in time A new kingdom. And brother, Don’t you know about polygamy? I intend on being the first wife. And want him to Mary the elven princess. Even make a alliance with the orcs, ogre. Giants would be perfect to have as allies. They are hunted by humans and would join the elves as giants love the elves. Elves tend to be kind to giants. Then we should prepare to fight the dragons. They see Lich beings as abomination and thus he is to die. But goblins would follow him if he wore the ring of the mountain. That ring will give him Providence and power. Two things all powerful races flock to. Maybe even the lizard folk will come to be a ally. After all he is a knight and gentle soul. Once he falls I can return to this world in full power and become a wife at last.” She said with a deep blush “ I have been thinking of names when he decides to give me a child.. half demon and a qarter humans and quarter undead. The child would be worth barring.” She said as she pulled out a contract and sets the paperwork down “ on top of world domination.. he is one who has a single desire. To unite all the races under a single flag.” She said as she offered her brother a bit of chocolate. It had the taste of a poor soul who pushed Lilith past her patience. Her eyes had a soft blue hue as the sun rose and she sighed “ damn.. well think on it brother. And do tell Kyra about the idea.”

 

[Bunesh]

"I will and perhaps consider this gentle critique; the orcs and ogres hate goblins who hate them just as much and are likely to ally themselves with the dwarves who will in turn ally themselves with the humans. Ring or not, ancient tribal hatreds tend to trump dynastic rituals." He finished the chocolate, feeling pity for the soul but knew that it would be reborn... eventually, though likely as one of Lilith's thralls.

With their conversation done the two demons retreated back to their vessels, where Kyra was eating some food given to her by a soldier who pitied her. Lilith's plan had merits, especially with the Lizardfolk as - in spite of what many believed - they had a deep racial hatred of the dragons. They saw dragons as pompous snakes who stole the power of the lizardfolk god. Dragons, however, were more... difficult to predict as they had arrogance in spades and tended to look down upon all other races.

That said, Dragons were also obscenely powerful and saw Lich's at an afront to nature, or at least that's what they claimed though Ixion suspected it was more that they feared the Lich, as one ancient Deathlord had raised a skeletal dragon to serve as his ally, thus igniting a deep loathing of those who practice necromancy.

One thing at a time though.

Kyra had magical control over 3 elements: fire, ice, and lightning but these weren't the natural variations of the elements, rather the underworld variants. As potent a magic as that was, and as creative as her applications were, she was still very inexperienced and could lose control of the power if not careful, he'd have to direct her with care.

There was another worry in the back of Ixion's mind as the soldiers began to break camp to move to the village, that was Aleki's jealousy. Despite his... complicated relationship with his sister, he was also very possessive, how would react when he discovered that his little sister was bound to a male demon? Not well he imagined, it was easy to picture Aleki as feeling threatened by the nature of the bond between Ixion and Kyra.

Another thing to consider.

They were underway and from his spot, Ixion noticed how Lilith clung to Aleki's side, whispering in his ear or sitting on the back of his horse, stroking his hair. The old saying of catching more flies with honey than vinegar was proving itself here, as any man could be trained to ignore torture and violence. But pleasure? That was nigh impossible to train against.

 

[Aleki]

Aleki wore his full plate armor as it had a hit of demonic power. It would look to Kyra as if he was already tainted and fallen but to Ixion it would show how Lilith treasured him. The armor looked like it was much like the blade. Unawakened. It could grant him endless endurance and power thus giving him the power of a army. Power no living creature could even attempt. He noticed as Lilith stopped running her fingers in his hair as he heard the soft singing of the Valkyries. They were beautiful but also known for using their power to slaughter entire kingdoms. He already took precautions as the men fitted soft molded wax in their ears and the men took formations. Spear men behind shield barriers. The men walked as one and the army of his soon saw in horror as the mere five thousand faced five hundred thousand. They were too many to ever attempt as he made a wave to have Kyra released as he drew woebringer. The blade hummed as he softly prayed “ our father. Guide my blade and make it ring true. Grant me the strength to defeat our foe or die with honor.” He turned to his men “ men!!! Today we fight!! And we die with honor!!!!” He said as he had archers fire arrows as the hoard rushed at them.