Topic: Destruction.

Lucy Ravenlock

Date: 2006-07-06 10:57 EST
(I inadvertantly forgot to mention this attack is on Jewell's home. Sorry for the cryptive suggestions and any confusement.)

It was a romantic peaceful morning in Rhy?Din like any other day, and you knew something was bound to go wrong. The skies were clear and the sun shone as bright as it ever did, reaching past the horizon it?s rays of light untainted and holy by greed and corruption of the mortals below.
The colossal blazing ball of life-matter creeping slowly into the sky with each passing minute, hour and second? Dispelling the darkness that was the night and leaving but it?s minions of shadow behind, the morning?s dew fast drying up the cool droplets clinging barley to the tips of the green blades of grass that surrounded parts of the 'House of Ravenlock' household.
The tiny insects to the smallest of mammals would not feast upon the dew with its purity and moistness until the morning next, where then life would go on and on in this boring circle.

Constantly.

That was until now.

This nest ? this refuge for the Ravenlocks would be put to the torch ? to the shadowy claws of the oncoming Shadowed Empire. If death could be as silent as the vacuum of space then this was now, it was almost as if the soil and nature was preparing itself for the sonic boom of the Portal tearing a hole in time and space, the Nexus was being manipulated despite the recent distortions and earthquakes. However they were using it and couldn?t careless of such phenomena, in the end, the Goodies would put the Nexus back to its ultimate balance and once again it would be all serene.

And boring.

The Portal expanded ? the swirling vortex of blue swallowing up a small portion of reality in an attempt into bridging a gateway from one place on Rhy?Din to another? The black center of the swirling vortex expanded out to consume the blue swirling energies that crackled in long electric jolts, charring the grass around into nothing but molecules of dust and ash.

And that?s when they poured out like a sea of black tar; black cloaks and hoods ? the groans of the Undead filling up the once so calm and noiseless landscape. Black Monks in all shapes and sizes and genders, the foot infantry each at least possessing one missing arm with in itself place a vector ? a shadow arm ? visible to the naked eye unlike Lucy?s which were that little bit harder to see even with the best of concentration.
As the ranks swelled and the minutes ticked by The Twins and Lucy too appeared amongst the fast growing crowd. In the end it looked completely ridicules! All 11,155 Black Monks had spewed out from the Portal in such a mad rush it took ages for the full force to appear ? every single corpse Lucy had raised from the pillaging of towns and cities by Alex, Lain and herself had come to this! A more than intimidating force of Shadow Demons standing in a crescent moon formation spanning 10 ranks deep, surrounding the Household of Ravenlock clan.

Keeping their distance from the magical Wards that were in place protecting the Household from intruders, such, was a problem to her Army? Renna had come here once before and certain wards had prevented her access, but Lucy had some chance in breaking them now. She had the Twins and herself ? with Alex and Lain on the way.

Today, this household will fall.

"... And Father didn't take me seriously." Lucy smirked.

Brian Ravenlock

Date: 2006-07-06 13:50 EST
He warned them all, and still nothing. It seriously pissed Brian off to be on the reacting side of things, and this by far was no exception. Brian had spoken with many the previous night regarding his "Family's" actions, and spent the rest of the night patching Viki and Charlotte up, and watching over his wife who had been beaten and was with child to boot. The toll on those who were gathered and beaten was getting bigger by the moment and the ramifications were starting to show themselves. His sister just returning from her sojourn, is beaten as well as other friends and relatives and now this, this invasion of sorts. Brian was beyond pissed as he continued to watch from his perch atop a hill a good bit aways. He knew Lucy could feel him, and he could feel her. But he didn't care, he knew this was coming to a head soon and the house could be rebuilt. He was just out to see what opening he may find.

Observations made and notes taken, as Brian watched on from his hiding place, suddenly a voice rang in his head, it was a voice he hadn't heard since the sealing. It was Rienna, daughter of the Abbey and former Guardian to Brian. A long time friend and so much more, her voice was calming and a bit sarcastic at best.

"Well this is a fine day to invade someone's door step, eh my Lordling? Aren't you supposed to be staying aways from all of this chaos?"

"Who me? I am just out.. Well you know what I am doing, I mean it isn't like Mother or anyone else has stood up in regards to this, now look at this mess! Fat lot of good each of you did. Did you see what happened to the others? What she has become?"

"She is as you said she was in the beginning before you got soft, and tainted. She is a living weapon plain and simple. But we feel she is not the master in all of this, or your brother for that matter. Something else is in play, and so far we have yet to come up with anything. I am sorry we didn't do more, but you had to be taken out of the equation in regards to assisting us, you and your wife learned to love her, and that tainted you in a sense."

"I don't need explanations! I need to figure out what the hell to do! Something needs to be done, and I need an opening. I need-"

"We are working on that m'Lord! Don't let her fool you, we came to help. Mother is away so we can play! We are across the valley, so don't worry, I am here too! "

"Nyu? Fine.. Do what you will, I have work to do. I need to go, we need to find another place to make our stand. Goodbye."

Brian cut the mental conversation short, and eyed the force once more. As it stood, a stand here would be ridiculous given the sheer number of the invading force, not to mention getting here would present a problem for any assisting forces. He tried to remain calm, and think of something.. Hell anything. In the middle of his pondering, he felt yet another mental tug.

"Look, Rienna I need to get back to work, I need to-"

Abruptly he was cut off, by an all too familiar voice.

" I think it is time, you and I regained what was taken from us, yes? You know this is all for naught, and I can help you once more. All you need to do is come to me, bring me what I need and I will assist you, and we will take back what was ours! We will take back what she, no 'it'... What 'it' took from us, from you. You want that quiet life again right? You, your wife and... Child? Yes, I know you, and I never left, you may have forsaken me, but I will never forsake you. Just meet me, in the Forest. No one can stop you as they are too busy licking their wounds."

Brian was stunned by the voice, and by what was said. His post abandoned, as he simply stood from his perch and made his way along the trail down the hill once more, the conversation fresh in his head, and a new option revealing itself. A bit behind him, a shadow peeled itself off of a near tree and followed him. In it's hand a silver collar.

Lain Amthras

Date: 2006-07-06 23:02 EST
Oh that night, that night of great fun. Inky black hues fell shut lightly as her head was laid against the trunk of a thick maple. It sure was comfortable, she'd give it that.

She'd exited the nice little warzone somewhat after everyone else, and hoping to have gotten into at least one more scuffle before it was all over... though we all can't get what we want. Though, the nice new addition of power made up for pretty much everything. Long story short, she now felt like a mundane little adept. Though shadows did have their perks.

One - Lain Voice was gone, or at least severely snuffed out. She'd been screaming, alright. Shrieking and wailing like a banshee who had its baby toe stepped on. "Alex look out!" "You good fer nothin' @#$%" "Learn ta fricken a swing a damned sword, no-nuts!" On and on for hours until Lu's little boost. The Doll let another relief filled sigh leave gray lips. Peace... and quiet.

Two - The look was fricken awesome. Of course, that would be a Schway Lain thing to say, but man; she liked what was going on with her. Oil black eyes, and a nice little non-existant ashen haze to make those grimy strands atwitter all on their own. Not to mention the new abilities and stamina boost. For god sakes, the woman should be reeling around and vomiting all sorts of oozing gore by this point... but she wasn't. Which was a good thing.

A strong breeze rustled through the branches of the tree, causing a few leaves to drop from their stems and settle into the grass. The Doll looked like she was in the wrong spot, a splotch of murky ebon amidst an array of plush green lawns and little wildflowers. The sun was rising to her back, though still piercing her eyelids with its sharpness. And just over that hill? Villa de soon-to-be-screwed Ravenlock.

Heavy boots planted under her bottom, she rose up on those legs with a stretch and a popping of vertabrae. Woo. Note to self, no more sitting on the ground for extended periods of time.

Gloved hands rose, pushing hovering strands away from her eyes, clearing her vision, even though it was being impaled by the dawn. A gentle ripple caused the head to snap over to the east, a smirk pulling onto her features, her legs already moving.

They're here.

Alex Ravenlock

Date: 2006-07-06 23:29 EST
He was out of the door of the inn and towards the home no sooner than he hhad arrived to speak with Zuere of the exchange. The shadows were there, and darkness had called - even if he wasn't sincerely present to answer eithers call, initially.

Words were briefly slipping from his mouth in an ever present chant as his legs pumped to carry him the yards and distance that was necessary for him to catch up.

He knew he was running late, against the rest.

There were considerable distance between here and there, and there, he was sure, was not going to be lighting up in a late party bash until he stepped on the scene and could cut the ribbon for the applause to sound.

Dirt was sure to kick up in his wake as he moved on, dodging travelers and merchants on the paths ahead, uncertain how far, or where, he might find himself ending up. One thing was for certain - Alex's memories had begun to fade after the events transpired.

Was he dying? Giving in? Perhaps he was. He spoke what he could to her, and before Alt cut him off, he heard those words, It's over. Alt couldn't dare think that the other half was willing to go on, after that. All the things he was doing, and his sole reason for living - that was it. Those memories began to leave him in the wake of the breeze that he was dashing through, letting them carry themselves about and weave through the natural - forgotten.

It's when he neared where the house was that he almost wasn't sure where it was located. Heaving several breaths, he slowed at an 'x' intersection, peering around at several of the homes, uncertain which direction it was that he was supposed to be heading.

....but the powers of two others.. plus the hard to miss massing army... he knew which to hed for, without question.

His steps picked up as the staff materalized within his hand, thrown out like a surf board in front of him to leap up upon, gliding inches from the ground as he made an evident approach.

It was time.

Lucy Ravenlock

Date: 2006-07-07 16:46 EST
Lucy and the Twins came to present themselves far in front very center curve of this formation of the falcate moon, the Queen of Shadows glancing back towards the black clothed wall of the front ranks who stood fast and hunched, the robes of the monks shifting idly in that morning wind which blew almost pathetically at the rooted statues of the Army.

?? It?s a shame we can?t use this place for other means, Mistress-?

?A waste of wood? Sister,? Mu nodded as her own robes flowed too with the direction of the wind, her black hair floating almost annoyingly across her sights. Both of the Twins took up their usual points at either side of their Queen, both tilting their heads down at Lucy as she began to walk towards the house in slow purposeful steps.

?The wards around this place can prevent our kind from ever entering, or even touching it. Renna had encountered this once before and she could not have entered with them in place.? A hand moved out to extend itself out of the long sleeve of the Black Monk robe; the paled fingers came together in a tight fist, extending one single finger out towards the door of the household.
?We will need to break it. Physical attacks will not work so we will use the next best thing?? She turned sharply, ?Aru? Mu? Destroy those wards and I may forgive the attack upon my Uncle?s Doll... I will also help you.?

Of course they would not pass up such an opportunity into regaining the Mistress?s favor with this simple and easy, they grinned to each other. Red eyes meeting red eyes and then with a simultaneous chuckle they abruptly cast their gazes to the sky, their footing left the ground soon after, floating up and across and away from each other with the flat of their palms guided out towards the house.
Their bodies continued their ascension up into the sky and to encircle around the household ? their arms moving respectively and keeping the sights of the household in their palms firing range.
Lucy did her part from the ground and took several steps close to the main door of the household, her arms moving out at her sides as if embracing nothing but the very air. Out from her back drooled the very same tendrils of darkness that sapped out the energy right from Jewell?s body. Up into the air they slithered and poised themselves into an s-shape striking position like most snakes took up before an attack.
The Twins had finally taken up point to hover just above the roof, back to back, both of their palms aiming directly down to tiles there. It was as if the Twins and Lucy were all linked ? for they attacked at the same time.
Tendrils pierced the invisible force that surrounded the household, and Lucy was sent back a few meters ? but held steady by several more tendrils that ducked themselves into the ground, attacking from below at the wards too. It was like a giant torrent of high winds pushing at her body violently ? wishing for her skin to be torn right from the bone?

Again.

The Twins had no such hardships like Lucy was having at this moment; they barely even touched the wards, attacking from a reasonable distance with their abilities. But the struggling Queen was observed in their side-vision and was now engaged on destroying the wards for her safety - for they both knew, Lucy would not stop until the wards were broken or her body was blown across the land in pieces.
Their attack was a basic thing? They extended their own mental to physical shield from around their bodies and moved it outwards in a quick expansion of their auras, melding both of them together upon contact? And sending it down to push upon the very magical properties of the wards?

While Lucy drew away it?s power into her own body and out into the ground below her. Further weakening it?

It was only a matter of time before it cracked?

Lucy was annoyed at everything and anything at this moment, drawing upon an energy designed into warding off her kind - the creatures of darkness and shadows, it was painful and Lain's little 'casual walking' was not appreciated. At all.
A head jerked sharply; her gaze to the Doll's direction now, Lucy's right eye closed and the other half lidded as this painful energy flowed through every cell in her being, and into her voice that was sent down a very abstract link similiar between her and Alex.
'Took your time, Doll!' Lucy commented in a sneer, 'Help us destroy this ward. Absorb it's energy..."

Lain Amthras

Date: 2006-07-07 19:07 EST
A smile as she made her way along at a leisurely pace, rod thin legs moving over the grass in her own good time. There they were, black army ready to go ahead and pummel the shit out of the establishment. Dark hues scanned the rest of the landscape for anything else.

Two specs in the sky, hovering around like gnats with their arms out, were spotted first and taken to be the Twins. To this realization, a wad of saliva was spat from her mouth. Disgusting. One such other spec was a good ways away from the army itself and it looked to be trembling or convulsing only just a little. Too small to be Alex, and she would know it if it was. Lu.

She stopped her walk at this point, the magics of the ward already jabbing themselves at her brain. Such power, such... possibility. The Doll stood still, and just let herself fall backwards into the ground. Murky noodles of black splashed up like water as she fell within her own shadow, disappearing. It was so much faster than walking, don'tcha know.

The crown of her head popped up behind the weakening Lucy. Oh, The Doll felt it. Different powers being pushed through Lu's very being, and causing a damned big ruckus in her anatomy. Tut tutting.

"It seems that I should have been here sooner," said cheerfully and lightly as the rest of her emerged from the ground, booted feet resting in the grass. Oil blacks now squinted towards the villa, sizing up the amount of power.

It was a dome. Not just A dome, but it seemed to be a crapload of domes, surrounding the whole place with a gentle pulsating energy. She couldn't see it, she could feel it.

"Took your time, Doll!" Lucy commented in a sneer. "Help us destroy this ward. Absorb its energy..."

A bit of a scoff to that one. Orders. She didn't take them from anyone, except maybe for Alex, but he wasn't here right now. He was on his way though, and she knew it. Weighing over this in her mind...

Could she do it without him? He hadn't told her to, but she was able to do it. She was right here, and she could help them out in ways that they weren't able to... Could she? Should she?!

"HURRY THE HELL UP, YOU IDIOTIC LITTLE WENCH!" Yell coming from Lu as she began to shudder a little more violently. Purse from The Doll's lips, stepping forwards. He wanted to do this, that's why he was going to be here. She'd help. He'd be pleased.

"I'll take it from here, sweethearts!" Called to all of them, but most especially Frick and Frack up in the air. Oh, how she hated them. Like... she could just... Ahem.

She'd stepped forward, an arm out to Lu to signal her to like... stop before she died. Gloved palms outstretched now, she neared the villa, stopping only when she wasn't able to go and further. (A given.) The halt consisted of a stumbling backwards as the domes pushed violently to the seemingly dark aura.

"Come ta mama," she whispered, mentally kinda coaxing it out of its domed shape. A little at a time... just a little. Aru and Mu had succeeded in destroying at least a couple of the magics, and Lu had siphoned out a good deal of it. There was only half of it to go. Confident she could do it, she set her palms to the barrier.

It happened almost immediately, the convulsions. First her fingers than arms, and then whole body. Teeth grinded together hard, making her jaw feel like it was going to explode into a billion pieces. Pinpoints of a soft pink began to swirl in otherwise ebon hues. The Voice...

"A'right, man. Totally thought'cha could silence me, huh? Huh?! Well screw you and yer stupid thoughts!"

The mental attack almost made her double over and she lurched forwards, eyes wide enough to almost tear the flesh of her eyelids. She yelled, groaning as it felt like a war had begun right in her brain. And in essence, it kinda did. Schway Lain had been strengthened. The dark entity was beginning to get pushed out. And this was causing a rather negative effect on The Doll.

A violent wind had begun to whip around the body, eyes tearing up, and flecks of spittle flying from her lips. Grimy locks flew like crazy about her features as she struggled to keep control. Schway Lain screeched loudly and seemed to have delivered a rather hard blow to the Dark. Gobs of ashen smoke billowed from her frame. And she stayed glued.

Lain... Lain, you must not lose control. Break away from the domes, Lain... Lain, you cannot let yourself force Me out. Who in the hell was this? Great, so now she had THREE voices in her head. Woopty doo.

"Ta hell with YOU, ya talkin' skankwad! Man, if I ever did see tha bog o' eternal stench, it so woulda been you."

Fire it off, Lain... A series of hyena-like chuckles had flooded her brain, and her jaw dropped, emitting a gutteral yell. The Doll wheezed, knees buckling as her hands curled into fists. Almost done... almost done... Fire it off, Lain... You cannot let yourself push Me out. You need me, Lain... Lain, I can make all of your pain go away. Help me, Lain. Help me to help you.

"I dun need NO ONE! Get the hell outta my head! GET OUT!"

You need to let the Light go, Lain... Lain, help me to help you. You need to get rid of the Light, Lain. I can make all of your pain go away, Lain. But I need you to help me.

She'd fallen to a knee, hands still stuck to where she'd put them. The wind, fierce and rippling everything on her person. Gobs of black and a gentle pink were flying from her back as she fought to keep control. Though of what, she wasn't sure.

"GET OUTTA MY HEAD!!"

Lain! You need to get rid of the Light! I cannot help you if you don't!

"Dun listen ta him girly, ya can get him out!"

You need me, Lain, you cannot live without me and you know it! GET RID OF HER!

"NGGYAAAAAAAAH!" The explosion that occured then knocked her back at least twenty feet, chunks of black and pink spiralling off into nothingness. Vaguely, she heard the yells and tearing of fabric from the crowd around her. Grunts and groans were next from the mass of black monks, rippling outwards into the silence.

It was gone. The ward was gone, and they were granted access. The Doll rolled, screaming, foaming from the lips with water leaking from the swirling hues. It seemed that they were having trouble deciding what color to become. The pink aura began to turn itself into skewers, flying off in all directions. A group sailed towards Lucy, a group towards the Twins, and a gigantic mass behind her towards the group of monks.

Very good, Lain. I knew that you couldn't resist the Dark. Keep it going Lain... Lain, you've won.

"I'm not goin' back in tha dark! No! No... N-..." Schway Lain's voice snuffed itself out as wild hues brought themselves back into the oily blackness they were previous. The Doll lay on her side, motionless aside from a few twitches and jitters.

Possibilities, Lain... Lain, you have potential.