((Follow-up to the The Coup))

?Men ought either to be indulged or utterly destroyed, for if you merely offend them they take vengeance, but if you injure them greatly they are unable to retaliate, so that the injury done to a man ought to be such that vengeance cannot be feared.? ~ Machiavelli

And suddenly, she was engulfed by magic. Not the customary sort that bends and twists the weave to accommodate whatever desire the caster has, but that of a greater potency. The type that binds and tears life apart. The raw arcana that can raise a city above the clouds or bury it beneath mountains of ash. This power was beyond most contemplation, swirling around her lithe form, entwining about waist and arms, throat and thighs, to pull her from corporeal existence into a realm of beyond. Upon a jagged plateau is where the Dark Mage stood, staring out across a horizon that spanned for miles and miles, the landscape littered with refuge and debris, embers and flame. To those of acute study they would know it as Carceri, the plane of imprisonment.

The planar shift caused an interesting change within the Demonlord of Phoencia. The human guise was left behind replaced by the creature standing before Arkon. There seemed to be a more ethereal glow to her and the presence of a tail and wings was not something to be missed. Nor was the pair of tiny horns on her brow. She bit back the normal sarcasm in favor of a more... professional tone. "You have called, Arkon."

"I have." He confirmed, his ailing frame careened partially upon the contorting length of his staff, the relic held within talon like fingers. His hood had been dismissed prior to her arrival, showing the thick stock of jet-black tresses that framed his nearly skeletal visage; the cheeks so sharp they looked as though they could cut diamond, and his eyes - bilious gems of sickly saffron - sunk deep within their sockets. He continued to survey the distant view, where hordes of incarcerated demons, devils, angels and cherubs all busily worked to move stone and build towers, all beneath the vicious whips of Daemon Taskmasters. "There is much that we must discuss, Natolii. Much indeed."

She gave the dark mage an assessing look. Well familiar in the magic that would cause such a decline and the strength of will to hold it in check. "And that is?" She arched a slender brow as that.

"It seems that there is turmoil within the school." He started. "Always turmoil, though this seems a bit close to home. And because of it I have made certain decisions that will affect the ebb and flow of how daily procedures are handled. Starting, unfortunately, with you."

There was some surprise at that, only some though. "I see. And?" Those arms crossed as she regarded Arkon.

He paused in obvious contemplation, though it was brief. "Ominous sounding, wouldn't you say?" He turned a look over his shoulder, finally regarding her with those powerful and morbid eyes. "As though you are the impetus."

"I'm sure accusations have been made, however unfounded." She half expected it, "And consistent failures over looked to suit those leveling the charges." There was a slow smile at that, "I'm not unused to politics and maneuvering."

"In positions of power accusations are much like storm clouds, Natolii. They roll in; they leave everything damp and muggy, and then fade away. That is not necessarily what I speak of. No, this is beyond mere politics. While I appreciate everything you have done for the school while saddling the role of Head Mistress, I fear that it is time to relieve those reins back to the Deaconess. Your value has always been in your instruction of Shadow Magic, and it is time that I think we refocus our efforts to offering a premier course in that regard." He drew in a breath and attempted to rise up fully erect. Able to only keep this pose for a moment, he quickly returned to a more hunched stance. "You are far beyond the punitive responsibly of a mere faculty member."

She nodded to that. "We've had an increase in enrollment in that regard in recent times." She drummed the fingers of one hand on the opposite bicep. "Some very promising Novices."

((Please note that this is a Closed SL to all except those listed in the Challenge declaration, the House Overseers, Arkon Darul and Satariel Shah. All PC's and NPC's listed as participating are out of circulation for the duration of this challenge. Tie-in here... Consequences to be prepared.))

It was a very rude awaking for some as the Vaden were tasked with the delivering six messages to the three houses, 2 apiece. Certain actions had not gone unanswered and indeed it seemed the answer was rather Ominous...

Shadow Challenge
Houses Gorgonhorn, Satyrkiss and Viperfang have grievously offended the Master of Barud Das and the Shadowmistress. As such, the following students are to report for a critical mission into the Plane of Shadow. To be fair, Stormsabre will be participating as well:

Gorgonhorn - Apprentice Pausanias
Satyrkiss - Mage Benedykt
Viperfang - Mage Havenlock

Stormsabre - Mage Damien Tanner - Student Teacher

All Students on the challenge with the exception of House Stormsabre have been hand selected by the Mastema.

The object of this lesson... Study the environments of the morphic Plane of Shadow and report your findings to the Mastema. Successful completion of this challenge will gain a reprieve for the participant's house.

Mage Tanner will be along to guide those that have been selected to complete this assignment.

A pair of unruly quasits, however, delivered a copy of the scrolls to Sorceress Rousseau and Mage Damien Tanner.

Sorceress;

Be aware this mission is an honor accorded to House Stormsabre instead of a punishment. Your rivals had sought to disgrace me in the eyes of the Mastema only to have it backfire in such a fashion. I have chosen Damien because of his skill in Shadow and his level-headed handling of such situations.

If they wish to make use of me in attempt to weaken your house, they will find that will cost them dearly.

Shadowmistress Tanner

The three conspirators would soon discover that their fears, while false at the time, would become very real...

http://eclipsedancer.com/gallery/albums/IAP/consequence.jpg

There was a brief nod to Ilyona, "Novice Albaelia could you hold back a moment?"

The snickering tended to annoy Damien more than Ilyona.

He looked over those thinking it funny and dryly remarked, "Perhaps you would like to join me on the Expedition Challenge?"

The blonde shook her head as she watched the scramble to exit the classroom. No one wanted to be under the Shadowmistress' care when she was this angry. And Ilyona had personally witnessed Natolii in a full fury when the assassins had come for her and the twins. It was not pretty and she was ever glad to be on her good side.

There had been whispers about Ilyona and Damien too. It was a good thing she got along well with Vliss and she took great care to assure the earth spirit of the truth. Ilyona had grown up with the twins and the DeAuster siblings. She did not have a romantic leaning towards Damien or Daniel for that matter. She accorded Damien the same respect, the same attention and the same affection that she accorded her brothers.

And she loved her own siblings very deeply...

"It is the Expedition that has you worried?" She murmured softly. This is the one case where House lines meant nothing. She was loyal to the Tanner family by things that even Thea could not dispute...

... Thea. Thea brought the displeasure of the Shadowmistress onto Gorgonhorn. With that displeasure, came Ilyona's. She was a face, a Diplomat after a fashion. Through her own influence, Gorgonhorn might have enjoyed a greater patronage within the school.

... had Thea not attempted to burn a carefully constructed bridge. As such, that bridge was left in the Shadow for personal gain. The plotting had harmed Gorgonhorn in ways Thea could not begin to realize.

The red-headed demon shook has head as he righted the desk he used. "More so that I have not been able to find Vliss to tell her. I know the rumors should have reached her by now."

The young blonde looked thoughtful, "I am supposed to meet up with her for the mentoring. Perhaps I could seek her out for you?"

The smile looked weary, "If you don't mind? I know I'm asking a lot, Yona."

She waved it off, "You are not, Damien. You are both friends." Loyalty meant something to her. She took a moment to place a reassuring kiss on the big 1/2 demon's cheek before gliding out to her suite of rooms.

((Huge Thank you to Craven Delight and Esteban for the hand in writing and to my daughter for tossing the dice to keep things really random.))

The portal snapped shut behind the three students charged with the challenge. The realm they found themselves in was a realm of black and white as if the color had been bleached away revealing this stark setting. The sky above was a stretch of pure black and their surrounding resembled the school they were familiar with, abet dark and twisted - Moreso than was normal.

Outwardly, Nemese remained calm and collected, doing quite well in hiding her nervousness. Cinder, however, wasn't fooled for a second. Instead of watching the museling, he chose to take in their surroundings with exacting detail. Benedykt himself was looking smug and aloof as usual. That air of superiority, even though he did not bother with anything outside of his chose craft, seemed to extend even here. It was another long moment before the emergency of crimson came into view. Indeed it seemed this little troupe was the only color in existence for the moment.

Especially for this little troupe? As Nemese retained statue-like rigidity, Cinder turned to regard the Shadow Mistress with a loathing look of detestable contempt; his usual, in other words. "Very well. Shall we get along with this... challenge?"

The looked was returned in spades, "Yes, let's see what you can come up with. I do hope you've done your homework, children." The last was directed towards Benedykt. "Somewhere, nearby, is an artifact of considerable power." She gestured to the changing landscape. "Let's see if you can locate it."

"What kind of... artifact?" The museling's voice never rising above a whisper was almost drowned out by Cinder's blurted question. "Do we all have to find it, or is this a contest?"

There was that predatory look in her eyes as Benedykt seemingly snorted in derision. Damien had come to stand behind his mother and two the right. "Now that is an interesting idea, Mage Havenloche." There was that sense of darkness from the Shadow Mistress. "I would think each of you would be resourceful enough to make this a challenge instead of just a boring Expedition?" Oh? That hint of mischief.

Nemese flicked her eyes to Cinder just enough to congratulate him on the masterful way he'd stepped right into that pile of muck. Furthermore, having her question steamrolled by his abrupt manner, or lack of manners, as the case may be, doubly disturbed her.

The nod was given to Damien as the question was not missed, just delayed. The Mage looked to the others assembled, "You are seeking a staff that is said to drain its power from this realm." It was vague and yet very revealing. There was an amused look to both Cinder and Benedykt as they were ranked enough to be considered peers, "That is if you can recognize it past the illusions of this plane."

"Illusions?" Cinder stopped short of openly scoffing, while Nemese held her place. For once, it seemed she had the advantage.

Benedykt still aloof, "This place looks like any other plane." He did scoff drawing a withering look from the Shadow Mistress.

Damien continued on with an amused look that resembled the Shadow Mistress' Eerily... "Illusions, especially those based in shadow, tend to pull part of this Plane. This plane is highly morphable and as a transitive plane, can lead you to others..."

"Yes, yes... what's this bloody staff look like, so we can get started?" Oh, the pride of the haughty, how it can blind. As Cinder continued to dismiss the dangers as beneath him, Nemese moved, just so slightly, to gain a more advantageous position.

She laughed at the arrogance there. "You are looking for a twisted black staff woven from strand of this plane itself." There was a dismissive wave, "Have fun children, do play...*nice.*" The sarcasm there was thick to say the least. A cold look was given to the kindred nearly 1/2 her age.

Given that she seemed *preoccupied* by her vision, it was easy for the white hair mage to follow the museling in the distance. Too Easy... Out of the peripheral vision were images of events past. Only to disappear as he turned to look at the image head on.

Blurring from shadow to shadow (a ridiculously easy task, here) Cinder followed a short distance behind, silent as a feather's fall. While he held Benedykt in the same regard as anyone else, his orders were clear. Find a way for the mage to remain behind. Permanently.

The shadow mistress watched from the precipice with a smirk on her lips. She could not have planned it better if she tried. She unfurled those crimson wings and took to the skies herself to oversee the challenge.

Nemese strode through the landscape, fixated upon the vision her spells had delivered to her. When a rise appeared before her, she moved around it; the same with trees. However, the appearance of a gorge almost claimed her, as she nearly didn't stop in time.
Benedykt was close to follow Nemese. Acting on instinct, the Air elementalist reached out and grabbed a hold of the apprentice's arm.

Teetering on the edge, the museling whirled with her hands curled into claws, hissing a warning. "What?!?"

There was a smirk on those handsome feature, "Well, there's gratitude for you."

"I do not need your... help. You argue too much." Turning away, gazing down the gorge in either direction, she spun on her heel, thinking she spied a bridge in the distance.

Consciousness flares sensing movement in the fluctuating shadows. Muscle and sinew ripples as it wakes and tilts an ear hole for the source of the disturbance. Carefully its serpentine neck elongates through twisted terrain hoping to catch a scent as once it has that, there is nowhere the morsel can flee. Carefully its ebon eyes glance upwards to its biggest asset. Being beneath the lone bridge in this region of the realm.

He held up his hands with a smirk, "Suit yourself Princess." He still followed after her.

And Cinder followed after them both, keeping a respectable distance to avoid accidental discovery.

Meanwhile, over the heads of the three, were the silent observers of the shadow mistress and the young mage. ~Now we shall see how they fare in this realm. I lay odds on Cinder.~

Slithering upwards he clung heavily to the canyon wall with claws its massive claws. In this place, food was not always found fresh; this would be a rare delight to be sure. Tasting the air with its dark tongue, the stygian brought itself just shy of the bridge, perhaps one good leap or so. Now it was a means of waiting.

For desire to see the future, to the present, one is blind. Nemese didn't answer the insulting tone, instead concentrating on the bridge and the short distance beyond, where her prize lay waiting.

He was following, trying to work out the most basic of spells. The universal type magic he had been forced the learn in order to reach his chose class. Like any other unused muscle, the grasp had atrophied.

A rare smile cracked the vampire's demeanor. This would be easier than he'd imagined.

Wings carefully unfold and shake off a moments stiffness as it scuttles closer to the bottom of the bridge, senses attuned to that which draws closer. Hearts and blood. Screams and flesh.

The two above, borne of shadow and blood, watched dispassionately. Afterall, if one was not prepared for danger, it was not their fault.

Nemese muttered under her breath, a feat for her. "Fool... " Then she readied another diagram, this one meant for attack. Cinder, meanwhile, crouched in the shadow, ready to spring forth to the 'rescue', so to speak.

Still, while the words made sense, the compulsion seemed to draw him forward, another step. He did not hear that muttered word.

The museling remembered one thing quite clearly from the Shadowmistress' introduction. 'Illusions.' She wouldn't trust anything here to be as it seemed.

Practically salivating it knew better. The other two were not so easy, to get the three on the bridge was key to a quick meal.. Holding completely still Tryklen waited with the patience of one who'd done this a thousand times. Or was it a thousand and one?

Another step forward, "I don't know why you are so scared. See nothing to it." That haughty demeanor was back.

"Patience is a virtue. I'm not surprised that you know nothing of it." Still, she waited, her senses open for danger.

The vampire slid closer to the ravine's edge, feeling the compulsion tickling his defenses. What manner of trap was the idiot about to spring? He was somewhat curious himself.

?It's a bridge we're all on edge. Things are too easy and it's put our guard up is all. One thing to be cautious, this borders on paranoia.? The thoughts drifted to the reluctant pair. Benedykt was all ready fully ensnared by his own hubris.

Benedykt looked about and around him. It was close enough to his chosen craft, though he could not access that power due to the nature of the realm. "Well, I knew you hide behind your rituals, but I did not realize it bordered on Cowardice." ... he is... afterall only human.

And she was not. "Call it whatever you want. We shall see who survives."

Carefully Tryklen inhaled, drawing on his glands to mix the proper vapors. He didn't want them dead...just slumbering. Unlike most of his kin, he'd learned to change his breath at between types.

Peering over the edge carefully, Cinder spotted nothing dangerous, other than a great fall. Quietly, he circled where the museling had drawn her diagrams, approaching the bridge from another direction.

Benedykt continued forward. Inwardly, he was hoping he could impress Veronique with this show of bravery.

One on, and one looking over the edge. Still as stone Tryklen remained, closing the protective film used for swimming over his eyes so there wouldn't be any glinting. Long has he perfected this game of wills and wits. Wings spread outward against the cliff like a great reptilian wall hanging. Changing its mind, Tryklen let the last chemical of its breath leak in and slowly let a slight billow of vapors drift upwards to slowly eat at the bottom support ropes of the bridge.

Benedykt?s lips twitched as he moved onward. The wand still clenched tightly in his hand.

Cinder stopped his advance, still hidden among the shadows. Not needing to breathe, he failed to notice any burning sensations in his lungs. Nemese still held herself ready behind her diagrams, watching the bridge beneath Benedykt's feet.

The bridge creaked menacingly, giving the mage a moment's pause. "What was that?"

Damien continued to monitor the progress of Cinder leaving Benedykt to his own devices. As the rope continued to fray, Benedykt remember his one tool. With a snarl the command word for the levitation was given. Rope still held onto.

Nemese whispered a litany of incantations as she walked. Not every ritual required elaborate preparations or complex components. Some just took an exorbitant amount of time to cast properly. Time she chose to take as she walked, keeping a watchful eye upon the path.

Natolii scryed the student's progress. There was a smile on her lips as she thought of other mischief to cause them. The Staff was her bait.

As he followed her ridiculously blatant trail, Cinder had a thought. The prize was to bring the staff back. Why not use this b***h of an apprentice for something other than decoration? Let her find the staff, then wrest it from her. Absurdly simple, and it freed him to concentrate upon his real goal.

With the rope still in hand, Benedykt was able to levitate out of the ravine. The levitation temporarily easing the tension on the fraying hemp. Up until he was of height to pull himself to the side. He would have to be quick.

The red-headed demon watched his schoolmates dispassionately. The Overseers were the ones that orchestrated this... And only one, possibly two might be distressed by this challenge. But then he believed in family above all else.

The closer Nemese got to her destination, the wider she spread her gaze, watching carefully for hidden dangers. She slowed, beginning to take advantage of what cover she could recognize.

The terrain seemed clear as they approached the one castle that seemed to be the focus of the vision. As clear as this colorless, benighted land could get. Still, it seemed as though there was no obstacles.

Nemese remained wary, but optimistic. Cinder knew better. Nothing in any world ever came easy. If it did, something was about to go horribly wrong.

The Shadowmistress wanted to see how they would react with... wait, what was that sound... Something unexpected... a Rumbling that was growing.

Unexpected for her, perhaps. Cinder possessed senses vastly above and beyond the norm. Again, he hid himself in the shadows, watching. Nemese, once the rumble penetrated her sphere of attention, drew on the powers imbued into her cloak, surrounding herself in a protective field.

The land itself started to shake and rumble. Just as Benedykt was inches from the edge, the rope finally gave way. He was unceremoniously dropped to the now shaking ground. The ground heaved and shifted in the throes of a shadow quake.

Nemese shrieked, falling to the ground, clutching at whatever she could find within reach. Cinder snarled a challenge, leaping back out of the quake's range.

There was a chuckle as she watched the reactions from her vantage point in the sky. Even Damien seemed unaffected and smirking at the other being tossed around be rag dolls. Benedykt stumbled and face planted as he moved towards the other two.

Being tossed about like a chew toy in the jaws of an overly enthusiastic puppy did nothing at all to improve Nemese's demeanor, as she openly sobbed in fright, the sounds of her cries lost in the cacophony of quaking earth. Cinder watched, until the scent of blood upon the wind warned him of Benedykt's approach, and then retreated into the shrouding shadow.

Nemese chanted gutturally, incantation after incantation, recklessly expending her magic to find something of possible use. Cinder crept to the unguarded doorway, seeking ingress to the castle and the prize. Of course this did not mean that inside the door was unwatched. Indeed, the shadowy Sentinels seemed more aggressive.

Cinder backed away, his hands ablaze with sudden intensity, holding up his hands to direct the bright light at his opponents. The plane itself seemed to swallow the light before it left his hands, and Cinder snarled in consternation. Taking a different approach, he looked for an opening, darting this way and that to confuse the guardians at the gate.

The sentient shadows seemed to be hard to confuse, and indeed were seemingly herding him with precise attack with those tendrils.

Leaping backward, Cinder spit out a violent formula, a flaming ball erupting from his hands, aimed at the gathering of shadows. The fireball hit one of the sentinel's and seemingly dispersed it. Seemingly... Still there was another one that took advantage of the opening to strike at the Mage.

Unable to turn in mid-air, the vampire hissed out in pain as the tentacle scored upon his leg, spreading his hands wide to envelop the entrance in a sheet of flame. The tentacle disintegrated at the touch of the spell.

Meanwhile, outside... Benedykt sent an his own magic missile at the shadow, granted he was not meeting with much success of his own

The museling had little in the way of evocation magic to call upon. Instead, she enveloped herself in a cloak, moving aside from where she'd stood, and began a new diagram upon the ground. She sought to summon an elemental to assist her, and croaked out her formulae to the sky.

Cinder, on the other hand, continued to rain fire down upon the gathered shadows, for as long as his spell held.

The elemental couldn't answer, but the capricious nature of the plane caused a shadow vortex to ... admit a storm into the field of combat. Benedykt was struggling within the grasp of one of those creatures.

Nemese's eyes widened, as she felt the sapping of her will. Through rapidly reddening eyes, she directed the storm's fury upon the shadows. The shadows outside and inside started receding against the defenses of the younglings.

Cinder limped forward, concentrating his efforts, heedless of the storm building behind him. The shadow mistress was waiting. The staff close to her hand and she watched the vampire with Predatory eyes. "Congratulations, Mage Havenloche. You are the first to reach this prize."

Panting with exertion, the vampire glared at the Shadowmistress. "Bullshit. You, out of anyone, wouldn't just... hand it over." However, his own talents of compulsion coming to play here. Why? Call it a whim.

There was a smirk at that and the compulsion slammed into what felt like a brick wall. "You are not as stupid as the others, Leech." There was a guttural sound and a spirit wreck was cast upon the vampire.

Nor was he as slow, flailing himself out of the line of sight. His face contorted in agony as the spell partially took hold, and he fought to concentrate upon another spell.

Nemese maintained her hold upon the spell, until the effort grew too much for her to overcome. With one last directive, she sent the storm toward the castle itself, before collapsing upon the ground, blood seeping from her nostrils.

She stood still and smirked at him, "Or perhaps I have overestimated your intelligence." There was a flexing of her form, exerting her inhuman strength against the grasping spell. At the Same time, Damien stepped into View and growled in that guttural language. A seeming Fireball was sent at the Mage.

With inhuman attributes of his own, the vampire seemed to vanish from his spot on the ground, with only a plume of dust giving a hint as to his trajectory. When he stopped, he held up one hand already crackling with electric energy.

The air crackled as he unleashed the spell, lightning arcing from his hand toward the shadowmistress and her mongrel offspring.

They both shadow blinked out of the path of the bolt. "Looks like someone is begging to be expelled." She purred and walked towards the Mage. "You have one chance to stop while you are ahead." She smirked almost begging with him remain stuck on Stupid. Benedykt stopped short at the entrance to the room.

"So, I'm simply to take whatever you wish to dish out?" He readied another spell, but held it in check.

"You are the only one playing stupid and it is the Mastema's will." She said sharply as Nemese entered as well. "You only have your Overseers to thank for this exercise. So far, you all have lived up to the expectations. Craven..." Her eyes rested on each, "Greedy." The gaze finally landed on Benedykt, "Arrogant." The eyes returned to Cinder, "You are skirting expulsion Mage Havenlocke."

He locked eyes with her a moment more, then dispelled his readied attack, turning away.

A Shadow vortex ripped into existence in the middle of the room, "Enter... You will be expected to present your findings to the Mastema."

"Very well. Ladies first." As Cinder spoke, he nodded toward Nemese, but turning his will upon Benedykt. Flee, now. Flee for your life.

"Oh, and Mage Havenlocke. I am far from finished with you for this affront." There was that predatory smile. "While you have fulfilled this mission, I will be discussing your continued Tenure with the Deaconess." She intoned quietly, "Men ought either to be indulged or utterly destroyed, for if you merely offend them they take vengeance, but if you injure them greatly they are unable to retaliate, so that the injury done to a man ought to be such that vengeance cannot be feared."

She watched Benedykt flee into the vortex, followed by the scowling Cinder. Finally, Nemese brought up the tail in the little procession.

She smirked to Damien, "Sometimes, it is not damaging them immediately, but giving them enough rope to hang themselves." The two demons faded into the shadows leaving the castle forlorn and forgotten.