Atlantic Roleplay Community Boards

[Isk]

---

Many weeks ago...

Kaigetsu sat on his stone throne in the heart of his prison realm. His once black robes were now drenched red with blood. His long white hair was plastered across his back. He sat with arms outstretched, masked face raised to the sky, laughing like a delighted child as the storm of blood powered by his crimson column raged on. As he watched the blood fall upon his realm, he could feel the dark energies his artifacts were being used for. His eyes and ears now stretched across the tellurian, carried by the power of his artifacts.

“For centuries I have remained hidden in the darkness...” he said in the loud, clear voice of a courtier. Kaigetsu looked through the eyes of the Helm of Evil and observed the ritual Smogg was performing in the true realm. The necromancer was playing with souls, twisting the spirit of an elf with a daemonic song which made Kaigetsu smile. Smogg was reaping the elf’s soul using the Gauntlets of Evil. “...but soon the land will know that I have returned”

* * * * * * *




The ritual was nearly completed. Isk held the Helm of Evil to give it a clear view of what was to happen next. One of Smogg’s cultists, a troubled woman named Kathy, had her soul likewise removed from her mortal shell. Smogg’s attendants moved the torpid body of the elf to an adjacent rooftop where the Gauntlets of Evil once rested in the middle of a bloody pentagram. The Magnate could feel his wife’s hand rest on his over the Helm of Evil as he took in the unnatural sights. She gave him comfort and grounded him to his reality. For a moment the helm shook as if trying to dislodge her hand in jealousy but Isk only held it down harder.

Within moments Smogg appeared on the opposite rooftop. The Gauntlets of Evil were clenched together by his hands as the necromancer stood over the spread out body of the soulless elf. Invoking the name of a long forgotten god Smogg branded the elven body with a sigil. He poured honey into the mouth of the unconscious body and waved his hands about calling for the spirit of his cultist. With members of the Zog cult behind him Isk felt the dark energies as they were invoked, he was surrounded by evil but his eyes were captivated as if watching the tragic plays he enjoyed in his youth. Isk felt a sudden hot breath on the back of his neck as the spectators to the ritual gasped at the sight of a moving hand. The ritual was a success and Kathy’s soul now rested in the immortal form of an elf. The elven body rose on its feet as Kathy’s soul adjusted to its new home.

[The perfect tool]

“Just like Reminiscence said” Isk stated.

Smogg retreated from the adjacent rooftop and made his way back to where the witnesses to the ritual were sitting. With a few words and the wave of a hand he dismissed the audience. Selecting Isk and Angelique the two were led into another room with Kathy in her new body following behind them. As Isk and his wife entered the room darkness shifted around them, but Isk paid it no notice. What does darkness matter, when one makes allies of the damned? Isk stood near the center of the room, eyes beneath his porcelain mask fixed upon the necromancer. Across from him, the elf stood motionless, waiting for her lord’s voice, the raise of his hand, any motion from her cult leader that might speak to her, command her. The darkness, thick and cloying, settled around them like a traveller's cloak, and neither of them moved, they did not blink, did not breathe. Isk dared to shatter the atmosphere “I am making progress”

Smogg nodded in response, his wide brimmed wizard’s hat shook sluggishly on his head. “I hope so, time is not eternal. The Hand of Evil has selected you so you can not fail.”

“Yes, I understand that.” Isk modulated his voice to sound less passive in the presence of Sosaria’s most powerful ritualist. “After Kathy gets the leggings from Molly I will only require the chest piece and the gorget. Then I will complete the prophecy.”

“Very good” Smogg exclaimed, his rotted breath reaching Isk’s mask as the necromancer leaned forward to describe the details of the plan Reminiscence had given him nights before in Hugh’s tavern. “Kathy’s soul inhabits the body of an elf. After you spread the rumour that your helm has been stolen by an elf Kathy will approach Molly in a casual manner. She will befriend her and under the pretext of studying the Leggings of Evil she will present Molly with this...”

Smogg reached into the shadows and pulled a shadow iron helm from the thick darkness. The shape of it was clearly wrong. While the forgery gave off its own sinister aura it was a pale copy compared to the original. “The smith who made this was a fool” Smogg stated knowing that the shape of the forgery differed greatly from the true helm Isk presently held under his left arm. “But Molly will be tricked by it.”

Isk let his envy green eyes glance sluggishly at the silent elf. “She will need a new name... and more cheerful colors to pass herself off as an elf”

Kathy grinned “I like the name this elf had before I was given her body, Skye. I think I shall keep it for this quest.”

Her lord gave his approval. “Remember Isk, you must spread lies. Have the realm know that your helm has been taken.”

With no further words Smogg dismissed the Magnate and his gypsy wife.

* * * * * *

Clicking his gloved fingers the rain of blood quickly ceased cutting Kaigetsu off from the empty sockets of the Helm of Evil from which he pierced the true realm. Having cut his link to Sosaria Kaigetsu smirked and lifted himself from his throne. Sliding his sandalled feet across the bloody ground he began to wave his hands in intricate patterns. Leaping into the air he turned his body horizontally into a dancer’s spinning kick and followed up the motion with a graceful landing. As his bloody robe clung to his body Kaigestu shot his arms forward and clenched his fists while he pulled back with his arms as if tearing at something. The violent dance continued with Kaigetsu, the Hand of Evil, spinning himself with arms outstretched. As he spun himself faster and faster the blood from his robes shot out into the desolate plain of the corrupted prison realm. His hands made strange unnatural gestures as his fingers bent in the wrong places. As if obeying its master’s summons the column of blood thundered towards its daemon masked lord. Kaigestu became consumed by it. From within the eye of the blood hurricane the lord navigated the column of blood across his realm. It was a nostalgic moment for the being which called itself Kaigetsu because the dark lord knew that his time in prison was nearly at an end.


Chapter 8


The history of the Axe of Evil is a complicated one. Forged by Kaigetsu around the time of Mondain it was believed lost when the Hand of Evil was defeated. Many years later the Axe resurfaced having been found by either an orc or a necromancer, regardless of who discovered the dark artifact the two factions were soon at war over it. The numerical supremacy of the orcs caused them to win the axe but as short minded as those creatures are they soon forgot the power the axe could wield and traded it away to the Cult of Infernal Necromancy. Even more years later the axe was used in a plot to destroy the then current queen of Stormhaven, Lady Lipstick. Her death came suddenly in Nujelm and Aleph was discovered holding the dreaded axe. It was then that the axe made its way into the hands of the HoA and later into that of the Regency until a time came when one love stricken Regent named Huma Dragonbane passed the axe to the object of his affections, Savhanna of Spiritwood.


* * * * * * *

Dodging past the trees that littered around the isolated town Athlon raced to the next house. Spiritwood was a large locale spanning a great distance just north of Trinsic and Athlon had to rely upon his brother to help him get to where the toys were.

“Uum, hers no have too many toys in there, just things from hers friends” Auris reminded his brother as the blind child followed in his brother’s shadow. “And we not post to take nuffin”
Having made it to the next house Athlon let himself in after reading the sign “This says Mayor’s office”

Auris only nodded and felt for the door frame before following his brother’s energetic movements. From having shuffled through many chests and armoires in the previous homes the two kids knew Savhanna was skilful at hiding her most interesting items.

“Ohh, hers tricksy” Athlon stated as located Savhanna’s rare plant seeds hidden in a detachable part of a flowerpot. Auris laughed a little before speaking “Ya, you know hers keeps hers boyfriend’s things round huh?”

Athlon’s eyes turned round “Hers got a boyfriend?” He spoke with obvious surprise. Auris responded slyly “Nah, hers had some before tho like Regent Dragonbane.” To which he added “I bet hims stuff is here someplace”

“Whoa, bet Regents play with all kinds of neat things” Athlon said as he continued to rummage through the various chests located around the room. Then suddenly the child momentarily paused “Hey, how come you know about all this stuffs and I don’t?” Auris only shrugged “Antee tells me all kinds of stuff when I visit”

Athlon frowned for a moment. “Alls I can find are seeds an junk” Auris nodded his hooded head “And alls I can find is papers. Must be portent” Athlon chuckled as he looked over at what his brother was doing “Thems maps to treasure” Both the children grinned.

As Athlon ran up to his brother to look at the papers Auris leaned back and unwittingly revealed a series of hidden boxes pressed between Savhanna’s large furniture and the wall. It was then that the boys made the same remark “Tricksy”

Letting the maps remain where they were the boys looked for interesting toys in the boxes. Auris felt the objects with his hands as Athlon quickly glanced the objects over, moving only a couple things to see if anything was underneath.


* * * * * *

Resting in his realm Kaigetsu felt the familiar ever present boredom creep back into his day. Everything was tedious in prison. His cyclone of blood, the dead landscape, continuous storms and a single dry tree out in the distance were all that he could see. Of course he could shift the material of his realm to create anything his mind could conceive but Kaigetsu was not overly interested in making modifications to his temporary home. He placed the elbow of his right arm upon his throne’s armrest and rested his chin on his hand. Lazily he looked at the horizon.

Weeks had passed since the ritual in Smogg’s haven. Kaigetsu had to remain patient until the plot has had its time to work and he had plenty of patience. The only regret he had was that his link to Sosaria was locked, the Helm of Evil had not been touched by Isk for days and for a brief moment Kaigetsu felt a moment of shock. But even that had passed. Boredom, boredom boredom.

He slid his sandals along the floor as he sat and sighed to himself.

Suddenly there was a disturbance and Kaigetsu leapt to his feet. He felt a touch against his arm and the hairs on the back of his neck rose in response. “YES!” He screamed. “YES! Pick it up!”

* * * * *

“Whoa look!” Athlon lifted an open box with both hands. “Huh?” his brother responded. Scrunching up his nose beneath his blue tribal mask Athlon whispered an apology to his blind brother and described the neat item he just discovered within. “It an axe. Looks portant.”



Setting the box down between himself and Auris Athlon reached into the box and lifted the heavy black axe. He wrapped both his hands around it and almost instantly felt his stomach turn. Dizzily he dropped the axe and blinked his eyes at it.

[Take it with you]

Athlon narrowed his eyes as he heard the voice echo in his mind.

[Take it home with you]

“Think antee will know if we takes it with us?” Athlon asked quietly.

“Uhh.. Hers would know. Leave it here, you said we not gonna take nuffin member?” His brother put on his wise voice like he did when the two of them played Regent “Stealin is wrong”

“Ya I know” Athlon stated with a tired tone which his brother mistook for grief “Ask antee and she gonna let you play with it for sure Athlawn”

[Play with it now]

Athlon leaned down to pick up the axe again but his brother’s hands came to rest on his and with the help of his twin the axe was put back in its box and hidden back where the two found it.

“I’m tired. Lets go home” Athlon rose to his feet sluggishly and walked to the door, his brother was soon behind him searching his belongings for a rune book with a bent corner for home.

[Athlon]

“You hears that?” the child asked his brother as they were outside. “Nah” Auris responded. “Lets go home sleepyhead”

[Return for it...we need to play]



Chapter 9

Athlon leapt nimbly from place to place, landing with careful grace. The hem of his robe did not so much as brush the loose dirt that passed for a road in this remote region. He glanced around the town before him. The young son of Isk and Angelique could not help but feel somewhat disappointed. There were no animals in sight for him to test his new axe on, all that stood before him had been hacked and slashed to death already. Not even the pack of wolves which unwittingly entered Spiritwood could stand up against the boy and his axe.
[You have done well]
The voice in his head which emanated from the Axe of Evil was friendly but in the back of his mind Athlon knew he did wrong in desecrating his aunt’s peaceful town. The place had not seen blood spilled since the attacks performed by the Brotherhood of the Hand many years ago.
[Now lets kill something bigger. I still hunger]
The child frowned down at the axe “You eats and eats all the time”
[Your aunt has kept me starved young Athlon. Let us find someone no one will miss]
“Uhh.. You want me to kill a person?!” Athlon rejected the notion.
[Someone of no consequence, like one of those wandering healers]
The blue masked boy shook his head “I not gona do that. That’s wrong”
[You will do what I say, young Athlon. Know that I can reach your father and tell him how much of a bad boy you have been... killing all these helpless animals]
Suddenly the child was overcome with the magnitude of his deeds. With swift feet Athlon ran to the mayor’s house and tossed the axe back into its box, all the while the axe protested.
[No! Athlon...n-] and then the box was shut. In tears the child ran away from Spiritwood, like a thief in the night escaping a crime. He stumbled upon Brianna who only had questions the traumatized child could barely answer. Finally he found his friends Hugh and Lorilli at the Freehold and brought them to Spiritwood. Athlon felt he needed to atone for his crime and there was no way that he would tell his mother and father about this. The blue masked boy did not want his parents to think lowly of him.

“I been bad” he stated to them as the three surveyed the collection of slaughtered animals. When the voice of Kaigetsu found the child Athlon covered his ears to no avail. “No axe man!” he screamed to the total bewilderment of Hugh and Lorilli but Lorilli placed her gentle hand on Athlon’s shoulder and for a moment everything was right again. With the reassurance of his friend the blue masked child took his hands off his ears while the voice echoed in his skull.
[I knew you would return. Come for me. I am your friend, these two will only tell your aunt about what you did, if you hurry we can stop them together]
As Athlon sniffled away his tears Hugh paced the blood soaked grounds, surprisingly he took the situation lightly and smiled pleasantly at Athlon “Lad” he stated “I will tell yer aunt that I took tha axe whilst I was drinkin”
Athlon turned to Hugh, a grave frown forming on his face beneath his mask “I gotta take s’ponsibility” Hugh nodded but held his fond smile “Ye still be a child, Athlon. I will tell Savhanna in the morn that twas me who done this”
With Lorilli patting his back for encouragement Athlon nodded to Hugh’s deal. “Ok Hugh” the child stated in a defeated voice though deep down inside he was glad at the outcome. He would avoid taking responsibility and save his reputation.
[See young Athlon? People are stupid. Remember that as long as you have allies you can do what ever you wish without fault. Rely on the face that you can push your problems off on others]
* * * * *
In the coming days Athlon was lured back to the axe by its dark whispers. Kaigetsu had learned his lesson, he had to be more gentle with the child. Slowly he won Athlon’s trust again and taught him lessons that his father nor Tai would dare speak before a nine year old.
The two of them went off to hunt wolves from time to time. The feeling of taking on an entire pack of wild wolves gave Athlon a special type of rush, and the Axe of Evil enjoyed the bloodbath.



[Each day is a new battlefield]
“Uh huh” the child absorbed his lessons as he slashed at the creatures, pilling them up into a mock trophy display. “Gotta always win”
[Yes child, you are learning well. One day you will be just like your father.]
A familiar voice came from behind taking both Athlon and the axe by surprise. “Brother?”
Athlon turned and smiled towards his twin. “Brother I smells blood”
[Lie to him]
“I cant, he my bruther” Athlon responded to the axe. Auris tilted his head “Who you talkin to?”
“The axe man, hims my friend” Athlon grinned as the axe vibrated in his hands disapprovingly.
“You got the axe again huh? Killin animals again right?” Auris’ voice was sharp and to the point, the child was just like his mother in the way he cut through the pleasantries to get at the heart of the issues.
“Yea, I gonna borrow it from Antee” the blue masked child stated to his brother who shook his head disapprovingly. “Nah, you gona get into lotta trouble. Takin stuffs without tellin is stealing” To which Athlon shrugged, nagged on by the voice in his head the blue masked child responded “It not stealin if you gonna put it back.”
[That’s a good lad. You can keep me in your room, all the fun we can have...perhaps you can bring me to your father]

* * * * * *
And so the Axe of Evil fell into Isk’s hands. Having heard of the axe from his wife who found Athlon sneaking it under his bed Isk was intrigued by the description his wife gave of it. Within minutes the axe was his. Isk did not care that the axe belonged to Savhanna, there were always ways around those sorts of things.
“This is a part of my destiny” Isk stated to himself “I was meant to have this. All those years ago when the axe first resurfaced to kill Lipstick of Stormhaven I knew that I would hold the axe one day.”
[It needs to be smelted]
“What?” Isk blinked his eyes and glanced down at the axe he held in his hands. He was surprised that the Axe of Evil could carry Kaigetsu’s words to the mortal realm as clearly as his helm.
[The gorget is lost, you must smelt the axe to forge the new Gorget of Evil. It is the armor we need to complete the prophecy of my return, not the weapons.]
“Very well... though I am no smith” Isk remarked.
[There is one mage with experience enough to forge the new Gorget of Evil]
“Who?” Isk narrowed his eyes at the axe “Who is this mage?”
[Bailos. He has held the Polearm of Evil, he knows the power of my touch. You must trust him for he knows the importance of this task]
“Bailos...” Isk nodded slowly “...very well.” With a moment’s pause Isk spoke again “You used my son to get to me”
[Yes, he is much as you are but his destiny is greater]
“Is he the Philosophe?”
[That will be revealed only when you make me whole. Seek out Bailos and we will both be one step closer to what we want]


Chapter 10

The Magnate carefully paced through the halls of the Blackguard keep deep within Sanctus territory. He had not written to Bailos or informed him of his coming but Isk’s trip was unhindered and the guards made no move to apprehend the axe wielding Magincian, it was as if he had been expected. Isk’s suspicions were proven true when two doors opened ahead of him as if by a sign beckoning the porcelain masked man to enter. With a careful first step Isk saw himself into the office of the new lord of Sanctus.

“Ahh. Isk, it is an honor to be once more acquainted with your presence. This is what, the second time we have met to talk?”

Isk tightened his grip on the axe of evil before he responded with equal courtesy “It is an equal honor to speak to you Bailos. I was about to bow before the new lord of Sanctus.”

Bailos waved his hand dismissingly and allowed the Magnate to state the purpose of the meeting.

With delicate care Isk set the Axe of Evil down before Bailos and waited to stretch out the silence. Both men glanced down at the axe, there was familiarity in Bailos’ eyes and the mage sunk back into his chair before looking up to Isk.

[He remembers my mark]

“I have been told that you once held the Polearm of Evil, you know the strength of the hand. It has touched you in the past and now it is time for you to aide it in its return to completion.” Isk chose his words carefully. Letting his eyes move from the axe to study Bailos’ face the Magnate continued speaking “The Gorget of Evil has been lost to history, another needs to be made. Your skills in magic as well as your experience with the Hand of Evil make you the only man capable enough to forge the new Gorget of Evil.” Seeing Bailos absorb the information Isk divulged the information Kaigetsu had given to him “Kaigetsu has told me that the axe is of no consequence, only the armor is needed. Thus the Axe of Evil needs to be smelted and its material used to forge the new gorget... you must play the part of the smith”



Isk placed both his hands on Bailos’ table and leaned over his axe to stare the cunning new lord of Sanctus in the face. The Magnate narrowed his eyes as Bailos tilted his head to Isk’s curious suggestion. As the moment stretched on Bailos glanced from the artifact on his desk to Isk, leaning to rest his arm on the table the mage nodded his head as Isk stirred in anticipation for what the answer would be. For a moment a single streak of sweat ran down the Magnate’s cheek and lingered on his chin. Only his mask gave Isk the appearance of control. If Bailos refused to help his quest would be impossible to complete.

“Who am I to stand in the way of destiny?” Bailos stated “I too have travelled down a predetermined path. I know the power of fate”

Isk leaned back and stood straight. Thinking that Bailos had just agreed the porcelain masked Magnate double checked to be certain “You will perform the smelting, you will forge the new Gorget of Evil?”

“Yes, I can sense the magnitude of your destiny and know that I have this part to play. How many more pieces are needed save for the gorget?” Bailos’ eyes were on the axe now as he spoke, he did not for a moment look away from the intricate engravings upon the black artifact.

“Two more are needed, the leggings and the chest piece and they may both be held by the same woman” Isk spoke from under his breath as he mentioned the later part of his sentence. Speaking of Molly always landed a bitter taste in his mouth. “Soon they will all be mine”

Bailos traced a finger half an inch above the axe as if afraid to touch the artifact. The mage leaned forward and the axe became his center of attention. Within a moment he parted his lips to speak, his words like an afterthought “...yes they will”

[Leave me with him]

Isk grinned beneath his mask and gave voice to the axe’s suggestion “I will have the axe remain with you so that you may find a way to smelt it. Report back to me when you have found the proper method.”

“That is good, artificing magics at this level require precision. I will definitely need the time and practice to create a working method to smelt this treasure”

The porcelain masked warrior took a noticeable breath and nodded to the mage. “We are on the same path now. I know that there will be no betrayal between us” With those words said Isk saluted Bailos out of respect and exited the lord’s chambers. As he walked out of the room and down the hall the double doors shut behind him and with a loud clang Isk knew that they were locked. For a moment the Magnate paused and turned his head to the locked doors. The Axe of Evil, the most recognized weapon of evil now rested in Bailos’ hands within the heart of Sanctus.