"A voice from the north, whispers to me..
'All that I am is what you can be.'
I forsake the light, I forsake the code..
With unholy steel, I'll serve her throne.."
History...
They say it is written by the victors... Is it really? I mean, let us look for a moment and ponder that statement. After all , there are two sides, if not more to each story, are there not? There is also something else, they say about history.
That those who do not learn from it, are in fact doomed to repeat it.
He knew that--- so very much he did. That is why he ventured once more, to a place that held so much history for not only himself, but for his family and so many other beings across this land. History, that was both good, and quite terrible altogether. A place that showed him exactly the darkness that lay within the hearts of man--and woman.
But this was not exactly his story you know.. No, it was her story.
That is why Raven found himself standing before a most familiar series of ruins..
The Den of Shadows.
The name not familiar to you? Hmm, there is that slight chance you are one of these 'normies' that have descended upon the realm recently.. Or perhaps, one of these recent visitors who come and go. Maybe, a new resident that obviously had not been in the realm long enough to realize what the Den of Shadows once was..
But those other residents.. Older residents. The ones that paved the way for the new with blood, sweat, tears and so much more.. They know exactly, what the Den of Shadows was. Even if it takes a reminder such as the name to jar those memories, they know.
But as fate would have it, the Den of Shadows was likened to many other articles of history..
It was forgotten by many indeed.
But he did not forget..
He had never forgotten.
Truth be told, he could not forget. Even if he wanted to, he never could. After all, he was one of the first to venture into it's depths to face the lady of the den, herself. And on many other occasions, he returned.. Some good, many bad.
And when the lady herself was defeated, briefly mind you.. He took this place, and tried to turn it into something else-- a school.
Ah the things one will do for their wife, no?
So long ago.. So many things in such ruin and decay. Forgotten.
But not by, Raven.
So further he ventured into the lair of the being once known as Renna of the Dark.
His purpose two fold..
Firstly, there was something still left here in these ruins. Something that, he himself had never forgotten about. Something that everyone else had forgotten of. Actually, it was someone history had forgotten of, completely. Raven knew better.. Always. And he was here for her.
"Emma.."
"Brian.. If I ever, ever start to remotely.... evil. Brian please promise me, like my mom you will."
"I want you to---kill me, if that ever happens."
"I... promise."
The words came so easily.. The words heard, and the words said. As he walked, the memories flooded back in such a wave, as he made his way deeper within the Den.
"I hear you're a killer.. I won't hold back you know."
"You know the time will come, when you will have to kill me."
"I know, Ren."
His eyes closed, as he moved further, and further. Sight was hardly needed, as he knew this place like the back of his hand to coin a phrase.
"I won't lie, Ren. I don't look forward to tomorrow. I wish there was another way."
"There is no other way, this is what I wanted. This is what I planned."
"If you remember one thing in this life, know that you were loved. No matter what you said, or did. No matter how good or bad. You were, and still are loved.. And nothing will ever change that."
"One thing Brian? What will you do with Lucy, when I die?"
"Who says you will die, Ren? Maybe it will be me that dies.."
"Goodbye Brian."
Before he realized it, he had arrived.. Deep within the Den itself, in what looked to be a sanctuary of some type. Nestled deeply, and seemingly untouched, it was. A knoll of lush grass, with three headstones.
Gravestones.
One still damaged courtesy of one former Charlotte Ravenlock.
One for Renna that was.. One for Kouta, the grand son of Renna. And one for his mother, and daughter to Renna.. Emma.
"It was you killer, you killed Emma!
"I didn't mean to do it, Brian! He wouldn't stop crying! He wouldn't stop!!"
"This game ends, when I say it ends!"
"That's it, be a good boy.. And let it out to play."
A shake of head, as he was brought back to the here and now, "Alright, we've work to do.."
A hand lifted, as the gauntlet flared to such sickening life.. Runes of frost crackled with a thirst, soon to be joined by runes of blood.. The hissing, and crackling causing such a stir, as the area just outside the sanctuary reacted to the outburst of power not felt since ages ago.
A sweeping motion as the ground itself tore open, giving way to a pair of armored ghouls that shambled out, and to their feet. Looking towards the headstone now.. Her headstone, Raven sneered as the gauntlet flared once more, fingers clenching as he fought the very enchantments he once had placed on this most sacred of places.
And it did not take long..
The shattering of the wards, causing the sanctuary itself to shudder in turn. The ghouls crying out in undead delight, as they shambled towards their master. who had offered another sweep of hand, causing the headstone of Emma, to shatter, much like the ward.
The ground had begun to split once more, the ghouls crying out more so as a somewhat decayed coffin rose from its resting place. Nodding to the pair, that shambled back a tad, Raven eased the coffin out, setting it to the ground before them. Reaching down, the man lifted the lid exposing that which was inside.
"Emma.."
Closing it once more, he commanded the ghouls.. "We take it to the Black Altar! And be careful."
Turning, he moved ahead of the ghouls that now had the coffin in tow. Yes, these was work to do.. It was time to reunite mother, and daughter and once more, ignite the fire of chance, and utter terror upon this realm.. It was time to take things back a step-- and to more so, take what they wanted with NO recourse.
After all, they had history to write..
Oh and that second reason? Heh, wait and see...
"Would you mind if I hurt you?
Understand, that I need to?
I wish I had other choices..
Than to harm the one I love.."
'All that I am is what you can be.'
I forsake the light, I forsake the code..
With unholy steel, I'll serve her throne.."
History...
They say it is written by the victors... Is it really? I mean, let us look for a moment and ponder that statement. After all , there are two sides, if not more to each story, are there not? There is also something else, they say about history.
That those who do not learn from it, are in fact doomed to repeat it.
He knew that--- so very much he did. That is why he ventured once more, to a place that held so much history for not only himself, but for his family and so many other beings across this land. History, that was both good, and quite terrible altogether. A place that showed him exactly the darkness that lay within the hearts of man--and woman.
But this was not exactly his story you know.. No, it was her story.
That is why Raven found himself standing before a most familiar series of ruins..
The Den of Shadows.
The name not familiar to you? Hmm, there is that slight chance you are one of these 'normies' that have descended upon the realm recently.. Or perhaps, one of these recent visitors who come and go. Maybe, a new resident that obviously had not been in the realm long enough to realize what the Den of Shadows once was..
But those other residents.. Older residents. The ones that paved the way for the new with blood, sweat, tears and so much more.. They know exactly, what the Den of Shadows was. Even if it takes a reminder such as the name to jar those memories, they know.
But as fate would have it, the Den of Shadows was likened to many other articles of history..
It was forgotten by many indeed.
But he did not forget..
He had never forgotten.
Truth be told, he could not forget. Even if he wanted to, he never could. After all, he was one of the first to venture into it's depths to face the lady of the den, herself. And on many other occasions, he returned.. Some good, many bad.
And when the lady herself was defeated, briefly mind you.. He took this place, and tried to turn it into something else-- a school.
Ah the things one will do for their wife, no?
So long ago.. So many things in such ruin and decay. Forgotten.
But not by, Raven.
So further he ventured into the lair of the being once known as Renna of the Dark.
His purpose two fold..
Firstly, there was something still left here in these ruins. Something that, he himself had never forgotten about. Something that everyone else had forgotten of. Actually, it was someone history had forgotten of, completely. Raven knew better.. Always. And he was here for her.
"Emma.."
"Brian.. If I ever, ever start to remotely.... evil. Brian please promise me, like my mom you will."
"I want you to---kill me, if that ever happens."
"I... promise."
The words came so easily.. The words heard, and the words said. As he walked, the memories flooded back in such a wave, as he made his way deeper within the Den.
"I hear you're a killer.. I won't hold back you know."
"You know the time will come, when you will have to kill me."
"I know, Ren."
His eyes closed, as he moved further, and further. Sight was hardly needed, as he knew this place like the back of his hand to coin a phrase.
"I won't lie, Ren. I don't look forward to tomorrow. I wish there was another way."
"There is no other way, this is what I wanted. This is what I planned."
"If you remember one thing in this life, know that you were loved. No matter what you said, or did. No matter how good or bad. You were, and still are loved.. And nothing will ever change that."
"One thing Brian? What will you do with Lucy, when I die?"
"Who says you will die, Ren? Maybe it will be me that dies.."
"Goodbye Brian."
Before he realized it, he had arrived.. Deep within the Den itself, in what looked to be a sanctuary of some type. Nestled deeply, and seemingly untouched, it was. A knoll of lush grass, with three headstones.
Gravestones.
One still damaged courtesy of one former Charlotte Ravenlock.
One for Renna that was.. One for Kouta, the grand son of Renna. And one for his mother, and daughter to Renna.. Emma.
"It was you killer, you killed Emma!
"I didn't mean to do it, Brian! He wouldn't stop crying! He wouldn't stop!!"
"This game ends, when I say it ends!"
"That's it, be a good boy.. And let it out to play."
A shake of head, as he was brought back to the here and now, "Alright, we've work to do.."
A hand lifted, as the gauntlet flared to such sickening life.. Runes of frost crackled with a thirst, soon to be joined by runes of blood.. The hissing, and crackling causing such a stir, as the area just outside the sanctuary reacted to the outburst of power not felt since ages ago.
A sweeping motion as the ground itself tore open, giving way to a pair of armored ghouls that shambled out, and to their feet. Looking towards the headstone now.. Her headstone, Raven sneered as the gauntlet flared once more, fingers clenching as he fought the very enchantments he once had placed on this most sacred of places.
And it did not take long..
The shattering of the wards, causing the sanctuary itself to shudder in turn. The ghouls crying out in undead delight, as they shambled towards their master. who had offered another sweep of hand, causing the headstone of Emma, to shatter, much like the ward.
The ground had begun to split once more, the ghouls crying out more so as a somewhat decayed coffin rose from its resting place. Nodding to the pair, that shambled back a tad, Raven eased the coffin out, setting it to the ground before them. Reaching down, the man lifted the lid exposing that which was inside.
"Emma.."
Closing it once more, he commanded the ghouls.. "We take it to the Black Altar! And be careful."
Turning, he moved ahead of the ghouls that now had the coffin in tow. Yes, these was work to do.. It was time to reunite mother, and daughter and once more, ignite the fire of chance, and utter terror upon this realm.. It was time to take things back a step-- and to more so, take what they wanted with NO recourse.
After all, they had history to write..
Oh and that second reason? Heh, wait and see...
"Would you mind if I hurt you?
Understand, that I need to?
I wish I had other choices..
Than to harm the one I love.."