Topic: The Hall of The World Serpent... {Closed Post}

The Guide Returned

Date: 2015-06-02 14:14 EST
Darkness...

Such was king in the later hours of an evening, and a certain suited individual looked to be taking full advantage of that as he stalked along the path preordained him by fate. In time, he'd eventually reach the place he'd since come to register as a his safe haven, thumbs habitually tucked into his trouser pockets. It had taken him a considerably prolonged period of effort to abscond with his latest acquisition, as the passersby weren't exactly keen on a man in a suit just gathering up corpses. So, sure....He had to kill a few people along the way and spirit them away to the pseudo-aether which housed his Chains of Fate, as well. 'Twas no huge detriment to him aside from the fact that the man had now lost a bit of time he'd not counted on. Nay, what concerned him more was why he felt the urge to engage in what was little more than his masked compatriot's glorified bloody busywork. It wasn't like he necessarily needed the bodies, right' A snake he might have been, but he didn't really have the need to go around possessing new frames and overtaking their souls just to get a power boost from it. Frankly, he liked his own body.

Regardless, the personage that was Hidou would play his part in this little drama, more than content with his meager role for the time being, as Scionius had seen fit to offer him a much larger script in the foreseeable future. Pressing his hat to the scruff that was his hair he would read aloud the inscription etched into the serpentine 'guards' in a language only he could interpret.

"Harbingers of the Calamity, let Your hallowed Maws accept this vain Servant of Yours that He might enact Your will with Fealty unwavering. So saith One of the many fated Scions of the Dark."

Verily did the snakelike sentries gleam against the moonlight, acquiescing to his humble plea of them with the allotted luster in their eyes. Stepping back, he permitted the massive gateway to creak open prior to stepping through. Odd that he would refuse to speak it in another language. It was as though he were begging....daring someone to attempt to penetrate the hall dedicated to his former life.The doorway would soon close behind him, leaving him to meander down the lengthy expanse of keenly structured gemstone placement. Oft, he'd find himself marveling at the stonework and how eerily perfect it was. Nothing short of an eldritch sort of spell-weaving could have effected such detail into an otherwise unassuming chamber. As he made his way to the inner sanctum, by far the largest room in the whole of the place, he would position his feet in such a way that he was standing over a large sigll marking carved into the stone face.

"Now....Seeing as I'm probably going to be accosted due to that prior performance, I think I'd better play it safe tonight. Who knows...?" Beneath the shadow that his brim unnaturally cast over the upper half of his visage and accompanying his smug grin, a golden iris would glimmer dimly in the otherwise vacuous temple.

"Perhaps, I'll even get to have some fun this time around" Hn-hn..."

Brian Ravenlock

Date: 2015-06-09 10:19 EST
Standing before what looked to be a rather large gateway, Brian Ravenlock carefully measured the snakelike statues that seemed"or rather looked the part of guardian. A brow raised somewhat, as Brian knew this part of the city very well"and what he was looking at, was something that he had never seen before.

His eyes panned the area carefully, taking a quick note of any landmarks that may serve to assist him, should the scape of the area change any further. So a few things were jotted down in his "whip it", which was quickly tucked away upon completion of the notations.

Careful steps were taken towards that gateway, as his eyes panned between the statues. This went on for a few moments, until Brian was standing just before the gate itself. Breathing a soft sigh of relief. "Guess this isn't the same as that gate from the 'story that never ended", so I'm not off to a bad start so far?"

Pulling a small mag-lite from his belt, Brian shifted into a crouch and began to get a closer look at the gateway, commenting softly to himself. "No visible wards" Statues aren't openly active, yet—- there's a residual feeling" Something's not on the level here."

"I hear that brochacho! So what?s the digs" Izzit our boy Psyco-onicus or what?"

Wincing from the loud outburst that seemingly tore his hear a new one, Brian lifted a hand to quickly adjust his ear piece. "Kerri?"

"What?"

"Inside voice."

"Ack! Sorry, Brah. Okay this better?"

"Yeah, so talk to me. Anything else?"

"Nah, man. But from what you said, that "CI" was right on the cheddar, yo. All the way down to them snake things, man."

"It doesn't fit, Ker" This doesn't add up with him. I think there's another player here."

"Whatchoo talkin" "bout, Willis?"

"The bodies"that's menial" Why would he go through all the trouble, especially when he came out in the open over Serah. He's specific in what he does, he always has been. I can't believe he'd get that sloppy over something so random. Not Serah, I mean. I'm talking about the others. I mean why, after all of that just waltz up to a place with what looks to be?"

"Yeah, I gotcha. Maybe he's just el-stupido' I mean this is the same guy, who once gave you something to use against him, right?"

"In theory, Ker. We still don't know that that artifact actually does."

"So what now" We come back in the AM and knock on the door, maybe sell some cookies" Mary Hey-Kay?"

"No' I've been out here for a while, no one else has come and gone. I'm gonna head inside and see what there is to see."

"Okay, Ima head on over with some boys and hang tight outside, for the "Les get sum!", cool?"

"Alright, works for me."

"You gonna be okay, man?"

"I hope so, heh' I got Pulgasari with me, an some of my old gear on."

"Old school ^&%$es, yeah! Okay, see ya soon man. Have fun storming the castle!"

"As if."

The line went quiet, leaving Brian to finish his initial assessment of the gateway. "You are so warded, this isn't funny' So why—-"

Rising to his feet once more, his thoughts went back to the conversation one of his men had with the "CI" who had given them the information in regards to this location and the being that had entered.

"Are y'sure, lad" Thas" what was said" "Harbingers of the Calamity, let Your hallowed Maws accept this vain Servant of Yours that He might enact Your will with Fealty unwavering. So sayeth One of the many fated Scions of the Dark?" Thas" what they said?"

The young man nodded to the Watch Officer that asked the question, "That's what he said, but he said it more dramatic like."

There were other things as well, such as descriptors and what not. Brian had those noted already, so it was the words spoken that had his attention more than anything, due to the fact that the "CI" specifically stated the 'snakes" came to life and the way opened.

"Only one way to find out?"

Sliding off his jacket, Brian tossed it aside letting it land on a nearby decorative bush. "Kerri'll find it soon enough."

That being done and said, he quickly went over his own gear'some of which he hadn't worn in quite the amount of time. His tactical harness"each clasp checked and rechecked. Daggers, tugged at, assuring their secured state. Cord and rigging followed, along with the small assortment of pellets"flash, smoke, bang. Kept in a tri pocketed pouch on the side of his belt, just below his shoulder harnessed side arm, a modified Glock-45, carrying runic enhance parabellum rounds"courtesy of an encounter with Renna so long ago. They were effective then, he'd hope in a pinch if needed they do some work here too. Pulgasari was secured on his back, his gloved hand reaching back as fingers ran along the hilt for a moment, bring to mind some old memories. "Damn it's been a while?"

Too long in fact, which caused Brian to chide himself a good bit. "Little snug" Should've expected this."

Yes, it's true"the gear was a bit snug. And no folks, it wasn't because of an increased intake of nothing but Mt. Don't and Taste-E Cakez. It was because Brian had gotten larger, which Wren jested about when she used to crack him about protein shakes. It wasn't like he was a lunk head by any stretch, maybe an extra twenty or so"upper body and arms, mostly. Still, when one has gear specifically created, changes will be required here and there. An over sight he'd be quick to rectify as soon as this is taken care of. Till then, he'd do what he did best.

Adapt.

So he continued the check his gear, securing the thigh harness, knee brace and pads, boots, etc. Also, the artifact that Scion had given him, last year which was secured on his person. It didn't take that much longer, truth be told. Old habits and what not. Same as him leaving work with Jenai in regards to what he was working on.

With any luck he'd be back home to Jen before it was too late in the morning.

"Well let's see if this works, then?" Clearing his throat a few times he then spoke the words, "Harbingers of the Calamity, let Your hallowed Maws accept this vain Servant of Yours that He might enact Your will with Fealty unwavering. So sayeth One of the many fated Scions of the Dark."

Nothing"

Sighing softly, Brian muttered to himself. "You gotta be shi—-"

Slowly the way was given as the gateway opened, leaving Brian standing there with a look of disbelief on that face of his. "Really' That easily?"

Well, far be it from Brian Ravenlock to not walk into the gates of something that felt like an obvious trap. "Really' Common no less??

And enter that gateway he did, wondering just what the hell he actually was walking into.

The Guide Returned

Date: 2015-06-10 04:21 EST
With the advent of the mountainous entryway all but welcoming him with open arms....erm....fangs, he would find himself staring into an uncomfortably poorly-lit corridor. Though just gazing at it would suggest it went on for miles on end, the area's geography would likely cause the Ravenlock to think better of it, as there didn't seem to be any mystical enchantments at work aside from what had amounted to a spellforce locking mechanism. What kind of nonsense was this, anyway' Be that as it might have been, upon his stepping into the proverbial maw of the serpent via the requisite threshold, the gates would seal him inside with a blistering degree of haste one would think uncharacteristic of massive, gem entrusted, stone architecture. Now, he'd done it. He'd gone and let his curiosity get the better of him, and now he was all but ensnared. Still, one had to wonder why he would venture into an obvious ruse in the first place. It would not take much for one to surmise that he not only expected such an occurrence, but rather he was counting on it.

Nevertheless, the formerly untouched and seemingly derelict abyss that served as this expansive passageway would spark to life, its almost runic etchings illuminating the extended path with a soft, emerald gleam that would continue a ways past Brian's immediate field of vision. Was the proposed turncoat lurking inside, waiting to meet him' Whatever the case might have been, his decision had been made, and now like it or not, he was left without many options aside from the typical 'follow the path laid out' routine he was no doubt accustomed to, what with his encounters with the myriad villainous sort.

Meanwhile...

The suited man would observe the Perceived passage of time with an increasing lack of enthusiasm for being made to wait. It had been quite a while since he returned, and they still hadn't come for him. Honestly, being rejected was kind of a sore spot with him. After all that planning to lure those suckers in, he hadn't managed a nibble. The coarse texture of the leather that lined his finger-less gloves creaked in tandem with his anticipation to an extent that it invaded his thoughts, stymied their progression, and further aggravated him all at once. It was at the height of his frustrations that he received a mental-link from his partner-in-crime. Joyous. Unwilling to upset the patriarch of their designs by making him suffer the agony that was having patience, he would let loose a sigh, meander up to the throne in the epicenter of the sigil-laden chamber, and settle in for their little chit-chat.

"Is there a reason you're using up my 'minutes' with your constant blabbering?" he offered in jest as he enacted the consummation of the link proper. Whether a characteristic of his relatively humorless personality or the fact that he was not to keen on having his creation mouth off to him, the voice at the other end would fail to acknowledge the inquiry, save for getting straight to the point.

"The ritual....Have you begun your preparations for it' You know we haven't much time to fashion your proper role. Be quick about it, if you plan to play your part."

"Yeah, yeah. I get you! I read you loud and clear....Clear as freaking crystal. The only thing stopping me from becoming a permanent part of this world is a group of nuisances that saw me take those bodies....They're on their way."

"Hm....Is that a fact' Should I be concerned" I should think you ought to know what you need to do pertaining to vermin..."

Ooh, now that right there was a considerable tease on part of the big man upstairs. No sooner had that otherwise toxic phrasing met his audial receptors did his decidedly malicious grin spread from ear to ear. All he needed to hear were the words. All that Mad Magus needed to do was to give the order, and he willingly see the pests, well....controlled.

"...Then, I can let loose?" Please....Gods, please, just say the words. It took all of what passing little self control he'd available to manage his throbbing, pulsing....eagerness. The anxiety over it all was killing him.

"Don't take too long..." With that, their session ended, and with it went the dark suit's inhibitions. Finally, he could release that mounting tension that had been festering within his false-body for so very long. Ever since he'd last met Terezi, he'd been overwhelmed with the urge to 'play', and so he would....with whatever came his way. Darting upright from his vaunted chair and fighting the desire to howl with laughter, he failed....An uproarious cackling would echo through the quintet of spaces, bouncing off the walls with a profound resilience despite his actual vocalizing resonating out of pitch and dull to the ears.

"Heh heh....Hnhnhnh....Giiiihahahaha~! That counts! That tooooootally counts! My poor, unfortunate friends lurking about around my home, my compatriot has just signed your death warrants! So, come on in, if you want. I'll make this a party you won't soon forget!"

After a considerable amount of time had passed, Brian, had he begun his trek toward the inner sanctum, would find himself still walking for all his trouble. Clearly, the magicks that weren't present before were now nestling deep into the structure, creating either the illusion of distance or altering the semi-physical space itself. Of course, it wouldn't take him long to come across the silhouette of a somewhat tall, lanky frame of a man looking to be dressed to impress, odd modifications notwithstanding. Pressing his palm down against the thick of his silky and sickly jade hair, he would peer up to the man with a pair of eyes that ostensibly existed to squint to just an extent that his lustrous hues could not be properly glimpsed. His tone betrayed no inherent ill will as he parted his lips to acknowledge and presumably welcome the newcomer to the temple he'd essentially trespassed upon. The words themselves, however, were accompanied by such an uncanny smile that it would most certainly send chills down the spine of a lesser man on principal.

"Well, well....What have we here?"