Topic: The Circle of Darkness (The Return SL)

This Dark One

Date: 2011-09-28 10:19 EST
Her return to this realm could not had been more successful, even if there were some hitches along the way...

Renna had never predicted that the ritual would be interrupted but thankfully ? much to her ally and his aid, she had been freed from the nightmarish hell that had entrapped her soul for far too long. Now she walked upon her own two feet, and not through some mortal shell that burned out after a few hours of forcing her influence and power through them.

She was free to roam, to consume, to control whoever and whatever she damn well wanted - and not even her creator, her own Mother, could had fashioned such a perfect vessel such as the one she currently operates within.

...Despite the unfortunate destruction of her old base of operations; including the Gateway that was the portal of her return, Renna had been secretly building a new locale through none other than her Bio-mechanical puppets, known to many as the Black Flame. It was their secret underground base far, far south that was to become her new den of evil. Where her end game will eventually come to its final, and destructive fruition.

And all of this? This was all planned from the very beginning.

From the very moment the shell of Francine Renton was taken over by Renna's power; all thanks to the aid of Mr Howe, Renna had plotted to return ? and it was through Francine and her Bio-mechanical alter ego, The Vindicator, that she set about in motion a certain series of events to perpetuate her plans. And she could had never had done it without help.

The Black Flame Project, was to be Renna's greatest scientific endeavour into bio-mechanical development. The Sister, The Vindicator, and The Shadow Viruses ? all of these nanomachine based 'pathogens' could not had existed; could not even had been developed without her subtle manipulation over the man in the metal suit. The man she called, her secret ally. The man she had come to... Respect.

Without Edward Batten, her biological and technological weapons would never had come to their advancement without his subtle inputs. From their first encounter as Francine Renton, Renna worked her way into his brain, with surprising results. The man held an interesting state of mind, and Renna could not quite figure him out entirely. Especially after he saved her life.

Twice.

He was the enigma ? Edward Batten was the one singular point in her plans that she could not completely control. She could only influence him, and even then her influences went so far. His brain was a powerful weapon and Renna wanted nothing more than to use it against her enemies. However, even through his aid, Edward had longed to keep and maintain his reputation as being one of the heroes...

To the point that she was forced to almost kill him... It made her feel sick that he influenced her with his damned logic, to almost destroy that beautiful brain of his...

It was nearly four whole days since that day, and Renna had finally taken up full residence in her new base of operations. The multiple platform maze that was Black Flame's base, had been eerily silent. Most of the Sisters had been destroyed during several attacks of the city, and the Vindicator was out of commission until the body of Francine Renton could be rebuilt.

Renna was alone upon the command platform, dressed from head to toe in her signature black cloak and hood. Swirling pools of magma coloured eyes gazed down emptily at the abyss as it gazed back just as silently at her.

Everything over the past few months, was just a prelude to this moment. And somehow, Renna did not feel as victorious as she proclaimed to be. It was the great depression in knowing that, now, things were only going to get tougher.

The only way she could think of perpetuating her plans is by allowing others to join with her, in a dark alliance that would band the villains to battle against the heroes of the land... And in her eyes, Renna knew that such an alliance between such powers and egos, would become unsteady and unstable at best. Every villain had their own goal in mind, and sometimes, not all villains saw eye-to-eye.

Already, Renna had individual alliances between a few, such as Kain Starsong ? the Immortal Madman, Roderick Kingsley ? the Hobgoblin, and Brian Ravenlock; now known as Raven, but never had she brought them all together... And if this alliance were to work, someone must take command of the situation.

Renna turned then from the abyss, lifting her dark, and wickedly crafted gauntlet up to swipe four three fingers through the air, slicing three long cuts into the very fabric of the Nexus itself ? creating a wormhole that yawned open next to her three allies, wherever they may be.

As she spoke from her side, so did her voice echo out to them. ?... My friends, we must speak.?

Kain Starsong

Date: 2011-09-28 11:46 EST
((WARNING! THE FOLLOWING POST IS FOR MATURE READERS ONLY, AND CONTAINS GRAPHIC VIOLENCE. IF YOU HAVE A WEAK STOMACH, DO NOT READ.))

The room echoed with screams, and stank of death and decay.

Kain had long ago purchased a series of warehouses throughout the city, using various real estate proxies over years. These became his laboratories, his safe houses... And his playgrounds.

Here, a man lay strapped to a table, his body bared to the chill air, while a container of hydrocloric acid slowly drip, drip, dripped onto his abdomen. Already the belly was burned and dissolved, and the acid now ate at his entrails, slowly dissolving as he screamed in agony and terror.
Next to his table, a tank held a woman who was thrashing in the water which was drowning her over and over, dying repeatedly.
Beyond this was a man being dipped feet first into a vat of liquid nitrogen, slowly lowered by winch an inch at a time.
Another victim was inside another transparent chamber, jets of flame slowly crossing his body from the feet to head, again an inch at a time.

Over there was a female elf, also strapped to a table; only this one was inclined at fourty-five degrees from the floor. Her chest and belly had been flayed open, the skin pulled back and held in place by medical clamps. Her ribcage had been removed by bone-saws, and her pulsing innards lay bare to the bright operating theater light overhead. The woman had run out of breath to scream, and now simply sobbed in horror, not comprehending how she was still alive, still conscious. Kain stood next to her, deciding which of her internal organs to cut out first.

A scalpel descended into her chest cavity and began excising portions of her major arteries, each inch long pieces carelessly tossed over the madman's shoulder. Finally he reached in with his bare hands and pulled out her heart, bringing it up to her eyes to let her watch it give a few meager beats before stilling forever. "Do you see my dear? Look how the ventricles expand and contract. That's what your beating heart looks like... Whoops, *looked* like. Now, which organ would you like to see next? Your liver? Kidneys? Oh I know, your left lung!"

The madman began cutting again when Renna's portal tore open reality behind him. Kain blinked and sat up, looking around before he spotted the portal, and Renna on the other side. "Dammit, always when I'm working!" Kain muttered and turned back to the elf, "I'm sorry dear, I have to take this call. Just sit there and suffer for a bit."

Kain stood and moved over to a sink nearby and washed away the blood and gore from his hands and forearms. Pulling off the butcher's outfit, the madman returned to the portal, "What can I do for you today Renna?"

Brian Ravenlock

Date: 2011-09-29 11:44 EST
The wormhole appeared, as a brow somewhat raised..

A hand lifted to adjust the antique spectacles that still, he wore despite the changes as of late. Old habits, and what not..

Those that were gathered with him, recoiled in surprise. Some drew blades, others literally scramble. Yet, he would do neither.. In fact, a rather cross expression took form, as he felt her call..

At the same time, his right hand came into view.. Bursting into the room, with her runeblade drawn, no less.

?My Lo?Raven, what is this!??

Unholy energies gathered, as heavily armoured female readied herself, for any possible attack. Her expression, stern indeed, as runes of blood, crackled about her smallish frame. Ethereal eyes, narrowed, as she growled somewhat, and rightly stalked towards the portal itself, with no fear of any kind!

T?was then, a gloved hand was lifted, as he finally spoke.

?Henrietta..?

And that was all there was to it.. She stopped.. Dead in her tracks, and nodded softly. The sword was lowered, and her placed taken at the table, where he stood. The summoned runes, vanishing slowly, as she remained aside him, her eyes fixated upon the portal.

A nod was offered in thanks to the Dark Knight, as he looked to the portal once more..

?Forgive me, Renna? But I shall decline, your?kind offer.?

That said, a wave of the gloved hand followed, as the portal collapsed upon itself, and was no more.

A shake of head, as he sighed softly..

?Should have installed, a f*cking door bell..?

?And what if she, decides to contact you again Mi?Raven??

?It matters not, Henrietta.. Our foothold here is assured. While our goals are not the same, per se.. Ours paths are, at least for the time being.?

?Raven, I?ve seen her.. You?ve seen her, you know what she would do , if given half the chance! She---?

?Henrietta? Do not presume, to explain to me.. That which I am well aware of.. This is not Millport.. This is not Darkenwood. This is not dealing with Lynneth, or Desire.. I know full well, what Renna is capable of..?

?Then, why?? asked, the Knight.

?Because it can be no other way.. We need each other, for what is to come.. And as I said before, Henrietta.. There is NO walking away from this, for any of us..?

?Then why, refuse the summons??

?Because Henrietta.. I am Brian f*cking Ravenlock, that?s why..? he replied with a shake of head, as eyes of azure looked upon the map of Rhy?din spread out along the table before them.

?So Henrietta, this is what we are going to do..?

Roderick Kingsley

Date: 2011-09-30 00:54 EST
The foreign portal had abnormally opened before him without any semblance of a warning.

The dark tentacles tore their way through time and space and had found him in the midst of a "session of silence". For you see, Mr. Kingsley had been quietly meditating on the sequence of events of the past evening in that miserable, central Marketplace. Overall, the experience had been magnificent! He had once again allowed the Goblin within to don its orange cowl and explosively reign unholy hell from the shady skies above.

It was all was going better than even he had foreseen in imagery! The remarkable encounter with that blood lusting goddess was the missing facet of his life that Roderick had been craving for well over a decade. Shortly after that astonishing "blessing", he had instrumented the unthinkable: The Scathachian leader, Isuelt DeRomiano, had been crippled and brought to her knees by his impressive surge of technological weaponry. There the do-gooder bitch was, ripe for the kill...and a fine, fine murder quarry she would have made for the reborn Hobgoblin!

*Would Have Made*

Yes, would have made, were it not for that damnable, armored monstrosity called ?Ranger? who targeted his glider and deftly smashed its internal navigation systems. That magnificent glider, the Goblin's literal staircase to the heavens, had unfortunately failed him yet again. This ?Ranger?, an arrogant would be paladin, had stolen, pilfered, and pawned his well-tanned, Amazonian prize adorned in black leather. Another ?hero? that needed to be gutted and crushed.

No matter. A new and more advanced overhaul was already in progress to not simply repair the damaged machinery, but to vastly improve on its overall design and internal defense systems. The violent encounter of the other night had certainly provided him with an idea of the wild types of armaments he was now facing here, and thus what he needed to do to rival them.

Again the wondrously grim thought of that Isuelt woman lying on the dusty street with the putrid stench of her own charred flesh filling the night air, caused a thrill to run through his powerful body nearly resulting in a tantalizing erection. Violence and murder were both vital forms of fuel to The Hobgoblin's drive. Combined with the raw lust for vengence, they always had been been his motivations. Nothing had changed.

The mood about him quickly changed, however, when that aforementioned doorway sprang to life out of sheer nothingness. High in Roderick Kingsley's luxurious private penthouse, floors of polished marble and onyx reflected the swirling energy of the demonic gate which hovered ominously within. A summons was clearly underway.

Kingsley could feel the malevolence seething from its pulsating heart. He could feel the poise of death in the air. And, most importantly, he could feel *her*. Moments before her commanding and insanely seductive voice echoed in his room, he could have sworn that he had heard it in his very thoughts.

Resisting her willful malice was futile. For she know knew his scent, and he too now knew hers. He, moreover, had felt her icy grip; had experienced but a mere taste of her volatile anger. This wicked goddess was indeed "the real thing". Much like what he himself had directly faced when standing before the arch demon Mephisto all those years ago in the city of New York, when an epic assault upon the heroic multitudes and the bothersome being known as The Beyonder was hatched. Even back then, Roderick Kingsley had experienced nothing like *her*.

Even then.

Without a single word or still the slightest hesitation, this new member of Rhydin's social elite stood up from his lavish desk chair and walked on highly-shined, leather wingtips towards the sinister maw of light before him. In his left hand was a set of fine marble-carved dice that he fiddled with, gripping them with subtle anticipation. He then slowly passed through its entryway, fully prepared to be a piece on her chess board. He longed deeply to be one of her knights, for the knight had always caught his uncanny fancy. It was both a clever and powerful piece; an exceptionally ruthless servant of its queen.

As Roderick Kingsley evenly strode through the gate at the command of Renna "The Betrayer", the deep want to wreck havoc and usher forth absolute destruction augmented his core right down to the very flow of his saliva. Here in Rhydin, the "spider" was no longer vexing him, but this new clan of paltry bastards might as well have had the ebon spider emblazed on their damnable chests for the level of annoyance that they had already caused him. They all must be swiftly dealt with.

Once his trip into the wormhole had concluded, the malicious persona of The Hobgoblin was once again fervently awakened within Kingsley?s dark heart. On a single knee the criminally insane ?gentleman? lowered himself before the presence of his evil goddess, and with a bowed head he spoke, "Your Majesty...?

This Dark One

Date: 2011-09-30 14:19 EST
There was nothing to be said about Brian Ravenlock's immediate closure of her portal. There was no doubt in her mind the man had other things to deal with. The Betrayer did grin however, and it was without it's glare to the empty space, where she hoped Brian would at the very least, listen in on, even if he was remotely disinterested...

Renna resisted the urge to lift her gauntlet for a second time, and to force a portal right next to Raven's sorry-ass and drag him into her hovel...

But she resisted that urge.

They were associates with common goals. And it was clear to her now just how much that truly was... Her unfelt scowl at the empty space melted into a smirk as she regarded the symphony of screams echoing out from Kain's portal, her lips curling as her eyes rolled back into her head to the luscious sounds of the ocean of the damned... She had to admit, the thought had crossed her mind to take a visit to Kain's humble abode some time, for it seemed quite... Inviting. Maybe they could torture some unfortunate soul with his lovely Hell Crown invention some time... Oh, the possibilities of torture ? she could probably think of a hundred different ways to make someone scream.

Renna did not comment that Kain was more than happy to stay on his side of the portal; but of course, she understood. The man was busy, and he had more important things to do than talk with her.

It was a surprise that Kain took the time out of his busy schedule to address her so formerly. ?I wanted to thank you for your demonstration at the Marketplace, however, I hope you are not too offended by my cutting your fun too short. I could not run the risk of you being blasted almost out of existence, yet, once again... But that is not why I called you.?

She grinned at that, as her attention then drew to the well-dressed man slipping out of the portal ? fearlessly entering the blackened cavern of her secret base. Her brows raised momentarily as she considered the guts he had, but then levelled them out and in-turn increased her grin as Kingsley lowered himself with his head bowed, regarding her as everyone ought to be.

A Queen.

A Goddess.

A power that needs respect and admiration! A power that needs servants like him, to flock to her knees. For his simple act, Renna lifted her wickedly crafted gauntlet, and then lowered it to rest against the top of his head. Her smile was sincere and gentle, much like a Goddess incarnate would look upon her pious disciple. ?... And you, my dear. You did well. More than well. You ruined their ranks with your bombs... It was a shame your Technology had failed you at a critical moment.?

Blood red eyes glared down at him, ?Be sure it does not happen again. For I will be most disappointed that I ever stopped choking you...?

The gauntlet slowly lifted from Kingsley's head, her back turning to the two portals as she came to wander close to the edge of the Command Platform.

Once again she stared into the abyss. ?... I have made preparations elsewhere to deal with the Scathachians. The deal however, won't last much longer. In the mean time, I want no confrontation between us and the heroes. Taunt them, if you must, but listen in ? keep quiet, observe their movements. Note anything suspicious. We are not going to run amok like chaotic fools. We're going to choose our targets wisely, then strike when it is best.?

Her head turned to the side, the hood shifting.?Kain, I know you do not take my commands to heart as much as I hoped you would, but, this may interest you. Your, special ability in torturing people can be used as a tool to control them. You have the best position to manipulate members of the public. You can have spies everywhere for us, if, you do it right. Brainwashing is not too hard in your line of work especially when the mind is so vulnerable. For the pain to stop, I am sure, anyone, will do anything...?

Renna fell into silence.

?Hobgoblin. Your knowledge of explosive weapons will aid Kain in this endeavour with one minor alteration... You are going to house a Virus I once made, many, many years ago inside one of your explosives, and you're going to give these improved bombs to Kain.? She turned, blood red eyes narrowing to them both, ?Kain, you will implant these bombs in your victims and you will send them out to do your bidding through their false hope of release from your eternal torture. They will be our unknowing eyes and ears. And our unknowing assassins.?

Her dark grin widened, ?Any questions??

Roderick Kingsley

Date: 2011-10-07 19:19 EST
Renna?s harsh words echoed deeply within his very soul. The effortless way she conducted herself was in fact a duplicitous vision of sheer brilliance and absolute horror.

This cruel mistress was, without a doubt, the most cruel and chaotic being he had met to date, and it was well known that Mr. Kingsley had kept some rather dark company is his days back "home". Renna though, was wholly different. Even if he successfully fulfilled his destiny here to her complete perfection and still remained a steadfast servant to her, The Betrayer still may torture and murder him anyway for the sheer pleasure of ripping into his flesh. Most definitely not a normal business arrangement that Mr. Roderick Kingsley or The Hobgoblin himself would have entered into lightly or without particular plans on dishing out that malicious favor FIRST.

Nonetheless, he was willing to take the risk. She was far too tempting. She was much too desirable. She was all too powerful. Renna, in fact, made him yearn and hunger for his alter goblin ego to reign down sheer hell on the honorable heroes and usher forth homicidal mayhem to the vast innocents. Yes, she was a catalyst for murder this Renna was, and Roderick prized it. He prized her authority. He prized her.

Already he could feel his concealed strengths returning, his vain intellect brewing, and his taste for killing steadily mounting as he acquiescently knelt before her. Somehow his flourishing business ventures, the lavish clothes, the lording over of United Technologies, and even the flagrant money 'reaping' was empty compared to walking this slim line of life and death with this dark goddess. Renna indeed, that enigmatic female who so loathed the world and everything in it.

Her orders to him were quite clear. If it was "bombs with a twist" that she desired, then Mr. Knigsley would be more than happy to oblige in their unique and lethal creation. The Hobgoblin, however, would be the fortunate one who would firsthand enjoy the grim implementation of these little treasures in the untamed streets of Rhydin.

Within his closed, well manicured hand, the marble dice set he was fiddling with was slowly compressed into a heavy powder as he crushed it with mounting, raw strength. The Hobgoblin was now quite eager to test out his improved new glider...to amuse himself with his new toys of technological terror...and to whet his feral tongue with the blood of their foes.

"I have no questions your majesty. Your commands shall be honored with all due haste."

It was time to play.

Kain Starsong

Date: 2011-10-14 12:27 EST
?I wanted to thank you for your demonstration at the Marketplace, however, I hope you are not too offended by my cutting your fun too short. I could not run the risk of you being blasted almost out of existence, yet, once again... But that is not why I called you.?

Kain grinned maliciously at Renna's praise, and knew that neither the praise nor his grin were truly genuine. Theirs was an alliance of mutual interest and convenience. Neither of them truly liked or cared about the other in the end.

The madman watched as Kingsley prostrated himself before Renna like some adoring disciple, which Kin supposed the man was. Kain found out he came from that backwater Earth, and to someone from that world Renna must seem quite impressive indeed. Kain knew better. The madman had lived almost four thousand years, and in that time he had seen deities rise and fall. Renna may be a goddess, but even goddesses could be killed, as evidenced by this third resurrection. Still, the woman's plans could be turned to his own ends, namely spreading the lessons of pain and suffering as far and wide as possible. These fools who believed in ethics, valor, and law would learn that the only constant in the universe... In any universe was entropy.

?Kain, I know you do not take my commands to heart as much as I hoped you would, but, this may interest you. Your, special ability in torturing people can be used as a tool to control them. You have the best position to manipulate members of the public. You can have spies everywhere for us, if, you do it right. Brainwashing is not too hard in your line of work especially when the mind is so vulnerable. For the pain to stop, I am sure, anyone, will do anything...?

Now that had Kain's attention alright. A genuine smile spreading across his lips as he considered the possibilities. "Hmmm, an interesting proposal. I will need to modify my little toys, normally they cause paralysis, but it shouldn't take long to allow the victim some measure of independence." A slow chuckle rose from his throat. Yes, this could very well be quite fun. "Do you have any suggestions on who I should start with?"

This Dark One

Date: 2011-10-23 07:19 EST
The dark Goddess's smile was twisted when she heard the ever submissive Hobgoblin's reply. The man was growing on her bit by bit, and she was beginning to question if she should bestow the gift of Immortality upon him. Such power often twisted many around her little finger for all eternity, much like her other Undead minions...

The idea passes though without a second thought. The man had still yet to completely prove his worth for such an honour.

Renna's gaze shifted to Kain, who stood beyond the portal, grinning like the maniac she knew him to be. She knew her idea would interest him, and her offer would perhaps allow him to finally exercise what he does best.

Torture.

?As I mentioned earlier, I've got plans under way to deal with a minor Scathachian threat that has come to my attention. And while I have made with absolute certainty of their destruction, I have also inquired in the capture of least one of them, alive... For our own purposes. I had intended to torture and eat the Scathachian, and send the animated bones of their dead Sister back to their temple, to serve as an example of our influence and power... However...?

She turned to Kain, her hands spreading out towards him, grinning as wildly as he. ?The woman will be my gift to you, my dear. You can do what you please with her. Do what you do best, but don't forget the woman's ultimate purpose. She will be an experiment for your new version of the Hell Crown... And she will be a perfect vessel to store the Hobgoblin's upgraded viral bombs.?

The burning magma eyes narrowed upon Kain, then, threateningly almost. ?But don't forget to share our captive's torture. I do want to watch as you work, as there will be nothing better than watching a self righteous whore submit to the agony of knowing that we have won and they have lost...?