Topic: To Kill a Demigod

Celeth Vindra

Date: 2010-01-25 21:38 EST
((OOC Note: DEAD SL due to depression, illness, and redirection of character... pretty much just ignore this. Not going to delete it since some things have emerged from its original intent, but this will not progress.

This was intended a continuation of Past and Present, and connects to the Dragon Bone Acquisition challenge given to the Institute of Arcane Principle.))

A letter arrived on the Archmage's desk, sealed with blue wax, with the imprint of a bladed snowflake.

The simple paper was written in plain letters, uniform and precise, almost as if typeset. The absence of style or flair was a trademark of the cold man's penmanship.

TO THE ARCHMAGE ARKON DARAUL,

CONSIDER THIS LETTER MY DECLARATION OF INTENT TO PARTICIPATE IN YOUR EXERCISE.

I HAVE LOCATED A SINGULARLY UNIQUE SPECIMEN THAT WILL UNDOUBTEDLY SUIT YOUR PURPOSES. SHE IS, HOWEVER, THE QUEEN OF HER KIND, AND IS ACCOMPANIED AT ALL TIMES BY A POWERFUL IMMORTAL FROM MY HOME PLANE.

ONE SHOULD BE ADVISED THAT IT WOULD BE EXTREMELY UNWISE TO ATTACK THESE TWO DIRECTLY WITHOUT PRECISE PLANNING AND FLAWLESS EXECUTION. SHOULD YOU WISH YOUR ACOLYTES TO SURVIVE THIS CHALLENGE, THEY SHOULD BE INSTRUCTED TO SEEK THEIR PREY ELSEWHERE.

CELETH, VINDRA CMXXIV

Celeth Vindra

Date: 2010-01-29 16:53 EST
Celeth's scrying eye displayed the scene with amazing clarity. His target, the avatar bearing the Emperor's Gift, sat in a catatonic state before his dragon companion shifted into a human form to carry him from the Inn. The frozen man couldn't help but laugh.

He'd learned much about his prey in recent weeks, and he was not impressed. The damned fool had lost his senses and nearly his very sanity over a shiny bauble of elven flesh. A forbidden love for a married woman had driven the avatar to drink himself stupid and wind up with a spear in his back. He didn't stay down, since his essence remained, but Celeth was no fool bandit with a mundane spear. This would be easier than he thought.

To even further his delight, the dragon would then carry her charge back to the vessel in which they dwelled. She cast sealing magics upon Angel, presumably to keep him from making the same mistake again. Then, to his great surprise, the dragon left him sealed inside the shell and returned to the Inn!

Celeth was a man of caution and patience, however, and would not simply rush in. He knew there would be powerful wards in place, and a disruption would bring the dragon queen's wrath. He was confident in his power, but to take that one on unprepared would be suicide. Slowly, methodically, he reached out magical senses to examine the wards and seals, careful to leave no trace of his presence.

If the dragon felt secure enough to leave once, she would certainly do so again, and these seals were designed to last a week. Celeth did not understand the intent, nor did he care. This was an opportunity he could not squander.

Footsteps of ice left in his wake, he crossed the city on foot to the Inn, enjoying the brisk, freezing night. The dragoness soared overhead in the opposite direction, back toward the shell, oblivious.

Lighting his pipe mid-stride with a touch of his finger, Celeth began to whistle a soft tune even as he clenched the stem between his teeth. His usually frozen hair had come loose in several places, draping down to frame his face, but he couldn't care less.

Tomorrow, he would begin his preparations for what could be the most dangerous, most rigorous battle of his life. The Azure Queen. Tonight... he would celebrate.