It was always so weird jumping into the middle of a story. Both figuratively and literally, in Exo's case, as she juggled two of her orbs at the side until the time came that she reached the town with the "protagonists" of her interests. It was an unfortunate event, indeed! When one jumped in the middle, they had almost no idea as to what went on or how things worked or anything in between and that in itself could be a poor existence. She was inclined to ask about what the lot of them were up to but-

Well. Wouldn't you be cranky if you fought off a big green lizard with a penchant to act like a bull? So she remained quiet for the time being and had actually taken the time to politely ask the owner of the inn if she could stay on top of the roof before she came down to pay for a room. Perhaps it was a question that wasn't asked commonly, because the dumbfounded look on his face followed with a slow nod before she clapped her hands in delight and made a little staircase out of her orbs from the back of the building to get up there and settle down. Nighttime was always a time to look up at the stars and see how the shining lights connected -- especially for an adolescent so enamored with lasers and shining spells of varying degrees.

She even played a small game of connecting the lines with tiny lights that patterned through her orbs, laying on her back to make it "fit" visually before the night finally got to her and she settled her way downstairs to pay for a room and get her ass to sleep. Well. As much sleep as someone like her could manage with this incessant question bothering her.

And that is why she almost pounced on Sable the moment she saw the woman awake.

"Miss Protagonist! I never got permission to use your name or the chance to ask why you guys were out fighting a dragon in the first place. Is it something confidential or could I be clued in?~ And good morning! I hope you slept well."

N'kara yawns as she wakes up, the bed creaking as she turns from one side to another. Well, she reached Rivenwood... Now what? Last night was not really that special. As soon as she entered into town she saw alot of Imperial soldiers patrolling around. Not sure to what their intentions were she hid herself under her cloak, covered her mouth with a scarf and went to the nearest inn as she could find. Once in there she asked the innkeeper for a room for one person. She also asked him if he could bring some food up to her room later. The innkeeper was suprised and said that she was his second guest to ask that today. Not caring about that statement, N'kara went straight up to the room.

Now it was already morning and she was looking up the ceiling, lost in thought. Good morning, you didnt sleep that well, did you? Is something troubling you? A smile formed on her lips. Indeed... You always see right through me dont you? Now then, since you know everything, why do I feel like this? It chuckled in response. Well, your thoughts are not a secret for me so I guess you could say so. And I know what you're missing. You feel like you dont have a purpose anymore. N'kara let out a loud sigh. That was indeed what she was lacking, nothing drove her anymore. But somehow she had a feeling that in Rivenwood she would find her true purpose. Be it that the gods had something in store for her or just by pure chance, she knew that there was a reason which drove her to Rivenwood. Well, I guess you should get dressed if you want to find out what you're doing here. N'kara smiled as she sat up straight and put her chainmail on.

Once she got down stairs and paid the innkeeper for his services N'kara spotted a boy who seemed very eager to get out of town. Although she did not know why, she had the feeling that this boy might be important, or atleast usefull, in finding out what she was supposed to do here. She proceeded to follow the boy and as she did he bumped into someone at the town square. A girl full clad in red. He seemed to act as if he knew the girl but his pose seemed aggressive. It didnt really seem like the girl was interested in him, she didnt even seem annoyed by him. That boy... He reaks of bloodlust. If you want to find out what you're here for you better stop him from doing something stupid before the guards get involved. A grin formed under the scarf which covered her mouth. Although the prospect of killing excited her she was more concerned that this might be her last chance at knowning what her true purpose was.

Slowly she walked over to the pair, noticing that there were others interested in the two of them as she closed in. The boy was overconfident, if he were to start a fight he would have to face atleast three people; the girl in red and two others. He would surely lose, but then again, he was hiding some dark power. The best way to make sure that it wouldnt result in a slaughter would be to... No... What are you doing... Ooh damn it all.

As N'kara got closer she could hear them speak. And then to make sure that they wouldnt attack eachother she decided to give the boy something else to think about. Oi, whelp! Get you're arse out of my way! As she finished her sentence she tried to push the boy with her shoulder. And here I thought you would do something sensible for once. Instead you try to avoid a fight by starting one.

Perhaps this wasnt the person who would help her with her serious matters... That didnt mean she couldnt get abit of fun out of him though. Unfortunatly N'kara didnt look where she was walking and stumbled. Now she accidentily tackled the boy... This just keeps getting worse, doesnt it?

Sable blinked.

She had not been expecting this sort of activity to take place so early in the morning. She had slipped by Atreides back at the inn, figuring he still had his own thoughts to contend with. Now she stood in the center of the village…only to be approached by the rather rude fellow from yesterday. Sable scanned Mal up and down with a blank gaze.

“We are in search for the other Relics,” she answered honestly and methodically. “Therefore, there is no need to rush towards our next location. At most, I can guess the Imperium soldiers from last night were looking for them too. That means-oh.”

The Crimson Streak was interrupted by the girl with the floating balls; the rather eccentric one who spewed around literary titles everywhere. Sable gave her a small nod of greeting.

“Good morning Exo. To answer your questions in sequential order: My name is Sable, though people tend to call me the Crimson Streak. The dragon attacked us out of pure instinct I imagine. I hope that sates your curiosity.”

And then, lo and behold, someone new showed up, promptly tackling Mal to the ground without reason or care. Watching the boy fall, Sable moved in to the new woman and did the polite thing.

“Hello.”

Something was wrong. Sable could sense an unnerving aura surrounding the newcomer, though she couldn’t place what it was nor did she comment on it aloud. She would have to ask Atreides to study her if possible. He was, after all, much more adept at seeing these kinds of things she was.

“Please do not start fights,” she told to both Mal and the newcomer. “The townsfolk are watching.”

Indeed, the citizens were watching, having gathered around outside their homes to witness the gathering of strange people. Some of them whispered among themselves, casting suspicious glances their way.

“Mercenaries,” one of them, an elderly man, spat. “No good comes from their kind. Especially with those accursed Relics popping up everywhere. First them, now the whole damn Imperium breathing down our backs…”

Atreides eventually strolled out of the tavern, having kept an eye on the comings, goings, and gossip for awhile, leaving payment for his drinks and time spent there, and unlike so many of the usual mercenaries and sort coming through the town, the Taskmage was one who was usually tolerated more than others, due to his beneficial nature alongside hte profit of having them paying to stay and resupply in such places. But as he walked out of the establishment and skirted down the sides of the road, he noticed something that made the man sigh. That punk ass with the shadow chains was getting in Sable's face, and to make matters worse, some barbarian that reeked of the Old Gods had went and tackled him, which would no doubt start some fight that would destroy far too much property to ever be welcome again. And would bring Sable into the line of fire, which simply would not do. But he couldn't just blast both into oblivion, god knows what the woman would do if she died with that stinking aura of the Old Gods, and punk ass probably had something nasty up his sleeves too.

"What in the blazing fucks are you two damn clowns doing? Making some big stinking scene in the road, let me address both of you. One, lady, really need to ditch that Old God thing you got going, you reek of it, from a mile away. Secondly, if you need male attention that badly, tackling strangers in the road ain't the easiest way to go about it. As for you, punk, getting up in a ladies face, rude and uncalled for. No one sees you big and tough getting in her face like that. Especially considering she cold filet you and string you up to dry before any of us blinked. Secondly, none of your damn business what other folks are doing or why, savvy? Try being polite and not barging into another persons business, aye?"

Atreides was giving his speech all as a front, walking in a circle around the group, his movements seperating Sable from the tackled pair of fools, and outside the circle in the dirt that eventually was formed as he finished speaking, standing beside Meat with his arms crossed and a very, very dissaproving look on his face. The two idiots try something, that circle was one of his dirty tricks, it formed a barrier that nothing gets in or out of, so any damage would be contained and prevent harm to the surroundings. Second, if either of them came after himself or Sable, same deal, and he would leave them to either figure out how to get out, or starve in the street. He didn't take kindly to these sort, especially the kid who was so damn determined to not come across as some weak ass punk. No one cared, Atreides certainly didn't, about what the kid thought he had to prove. The Taskmage had been there, done that, and all he got was a lousy shirt from the whole mess. Let the kid try something stupid, either of them, Atreides had some energy to burn for once.

Now, Mal was planning on leaving them alone and waiting for the guy with the eye-patch to get there. He had only the one target (two if you counted the information he needed). The Crimson Streak had done nothing to convince him that she needed to be dealt with. Was he a little brash? Maybe, but then again, he wasn’t really sure about the idea of a “comfort zone” either. He was only really asking her to wait out the other man, and possibly weasel out any information the mercenary had. Two birds with one stone, so to speak. He got a closer look at the other people that were approaching. One of the figures he saw seemed unfamiliar, but she appeared to be rather friendly with the red warrior. He was about to introduce her to the conversation when a quiver went through his body. The spirit inside him started to shudder violently, as if it had discovered another force coming his way. He glanced upwards, trying to find the source.

Then, with a mighty yell his perception changed.

Mal’s eyes went wide as a heavy force smashed into his side. In the split second between the heavy blow and his impact with the ground, his body and mind did several different things: His eyes flashed bright red as the sigil on the side of his neck spiraled from its centre point. His body tensed all at once as he felt the spirit inside him beginning to explode. His grin disappeared as he already felt his skin begin to rip as the spirit rushed towards any opening it could find.

“Fuck! Not now!” He snarled. His voice sounded like the cry of a frenzied, tortured animal.

Blades of dark energy burst from his core. Shaped like axe-blades, they blew out in all directions and smashed into the ground and the sides of buildings, leaving heavy gashes in the sturdy material. The largest blades struck out towards every possible threat in a close proximity. An asterisk-shaped wound slit through the top layers of the skin on his chest, causing blood to drip down once more as small shreds of fabric were torn off his hood. His back hit the ground. The blades exploded all at once in every direction in a similar fashion to how he’d torn apart that headmaster so long ago.

And it frustrated Mal to every extent that he could not express any control over it.

(OOPS IGNORE THIS POSTING MISTAKE)

Damn that kid! I swear I'm gonna kill hi-. As that thought crossed her mind N'kara started coughing up blood. She had to pull the piece of cloth off her mouth as it was stopping the blood from coming out, nearly letting her choke on her own blood. Several of the blades had pierced her armour and severly injured her. You're lucky you have me, if I wasnt protecting you against this kind of magic you would have been torn apart you fool! N'kara displayed a painfull grin as she pulled one of the blades out. Slowly she was starting to heal, the flesh wounds were already close to being healed. The gapping holes of the blades on the other hand would take a while longer to heal. If only there was a healer out here, then I could easily take this punk on! The thing in her laughed. Hey, it isnt his fault you tripped and fell on him now is it?

N'kara spit out some more blood and groaned; Shut up... She looked up at the boy infront of her. If she were to attack him now it might cost her dearly. This boy obviously had more power then his appearance would make one believe. And besides that, attacking the kid now wouldnt help her find what she was looking for. She slowly rose up and looked at the gathering crowd. Great, exactly the thing she was hoping to avoid. She tried to walk away slowly but was then stopped by an invisible wall. She looked around for a few moments before she turned her attention to the man who had been scolding her. She grinned and bared her wolf-like fangs at him. Say, you wouldnt believe me if I told you that this was all an accident, would you?

Sable’s eyes narrowed into slits. Quick on her feet, she pounced on Exo to bring her to the ground. Moments later, the area above became filled with flying blades conjured out of dark energy. Sable checked to make sure Exo was alright before slowly standing up.

The destruction at hand was evident. Although Mal and the newcomer were still trapped in the circle, the blades were free to do as they pleased. They scattered everywhere, landing into the nearest buildings and sailing into the gathered crowds of people.

Screams tore out as the citizens panicked and fled, some even becoming impaled by the summoned weapons. A small price to pay for Mal’s lack of control. Soon enough, the attack halted and the deed was done.

Several of the buildings lay in scattered ruins, with the injured, dead, and scared surrounding the small group. One of the citizens, a short man with a very, very red face stormed up to Atreides and frowned. He seemed to be the leader of this village.

“Taskmage. I’m asking you and this group to leave this town immediately. I know we’ve done business with each other in the past, but lives have been lost today. I take it you hold responsibility for that one?”

The man cast a sour glance at Mal.

“For all of our sakes…I don’t want to use force on you.”

“Do no let them escape village leader. Let the heretics stay to face their judgment.”

Sable tensed, drawing her blades up at once with RE-Arch. That voice was cold and metallic, echoing around them. Turning around with everyone else, her eyes caught sight of an armored warrior in white and blue. Resting on their shoulders was what appeared to be a massive cannon matching the color scheme of the knight, crackling with magical energy.

“An enemy,” she told Atreides.

At once the village leader fell to his knees, bowing humbly before the warrior. Soon, the rest of the village-those who could still stand-followed suit as well.

“S-Sapphire Guardian of the Imperium. Neflheim. Forgive us for not becoming aware of your arrival! W-Why do you grace us with your presence?”

One of the Four Guardians of the Imperium. To warrant their interest was near impossible…unless…

The Sapphire Guardian raised a clawed gauntlet and pointed right at the group.

“I am to retrieve the Relic that spouts its energy near Rivenwood. However, now I have changed my approach to reprimand these mad heretics. They must each be cleansed by the purification of justice. And so I shall fulfill my purpose, as decreed by the Grand Imperator.”

The knight slung forth his mighty cannon, aiming at the group to purge them from this world.

“As for you Crimson Streak…let your treachery burn away in the eternal hell fires of my judgment as well.”

The spirit buzzed violently through his body. Even after a night of rest, it still seemed on edge at the limit. With a loud snarl, the Sigil receded back to its origin point as Mal pushed himself back up onto his feet. He casually glanced at the houses around him and cursed under his breath.

It occurred to him that children might have been injured in his burst. That was shameful. He was about to give a piece of his mind to the muscular woman who had the audacity to trigger this event when the flickering of blue energy caught his attention. His head lifted up with the rest of his body as blood trickled to the ground, and immediately his eyes snapped into a harsh stare.

Now Mal realized his initial confusion. This “Taskmage” was an enemy of the Sapphire Guardian? Mal had his targets confused. The man may have been a dick, but he wasn’t an oppressive force.

And any enemy of the Imperium was an ally of his.

He ignored the stares of the older man as he reigned in the power of the spirit. It was an involuntary reaction more than anything. The spirit would severely overreact to the pain an attack would cause and lash out violently against whoever caused it and whoever was in the area. While the faces and the timestamp felt foggy, he could still clearly remember the headmaster with his body split in two when he “tested” the experiment by smacking him in the side.

But Mal was back again once more as the sigil’s lines fell back into the point and his predatory grin appeared at full force.

“The Sapphire Guardian,” Mal cackled under his breath as his hands latched onto the chains at his side. That cannon would be more than enough to wipe all of them out. He could not take on that power himself, of that much he was aware.

God, what he’d give to go back to tracking people down, stalking them into alleys and tearing them apart before they were even aware of what was going.

“Mr. Eye-Patch, I appear to have misjudged your intentions," Mal grinned, “I tend to get touchy around pushy people. They make me think of the Imperium, which makes me think of the squishy organs I’ve pulled out of people who hurt others to get what they want. So, unless that’s in your career path, I’ll be out of your hair after we rip this guy to shreds.”

Mood whiplash was pretty common when it came to Mal. While it usually took more convincing to prove that you weren’t super oppressive, it became a lot easier when you were both on the opposite end of the same cannon.

Then Mal’s eyes snapped to the girl who had set off the spirit in the first place. “As for you, be careful. Your aura already makes the shadow antsy, and it really hates being jostled around…”

At last, his head tilted back to the man in the armour in front of them. His eyes glowed ominously as he stood with his jagged grin.

His hands wrapped gently around his chains as he stared at the man. Darkness spiraled around the chains as he stared at the man.

“Crowley, Naga. Arise.”

The spikes at the ends of his chains rose to the same height as his head. He stared down the cannon like he wasn’t afraid in the slightest.

But he was seriously hoping that the others would not leave him in the dust, because otherwise he was pretty sure he wouldn’t surprise.

N'kara was waiting for the one-eyed man to respond. In the mean time she was looking at the damage the boy had caused with his attack. Eventhough it was very unlikely that it would have caused a carnage, the thought of a bloodbath exited N'kara. She appeared dissapointed at the sight, only a few had died or were mortally wounded. Her own wounds were now getting closer to being healed, most of the bleeding had already stopped and the pain of the healing was lessening. She glanced back at the one-eyed man. So if you dont mind, would you please rele- She got interupted by an Imperial soldier who seemed to be a rather important member of the Imperium.

“I am to retrieve the Relic that spouts its energy near Rivenwood. However, now I have changed my approach to reprimand these mad heretics. They must each be cleansed by the purification of justice. And so I shall fulfill my purpose, as decreed by the Grand Imperator.”

N'kara's grin turned into a furious look. She straightened her back, towering over all in the square, before she yelled out with an enraged voice audible over the entire townsquare; How dare you call me heretic!? You who serves the rotting edifice that is the Imperium! By Khârn I shall rip your head from your spine and grind it to dust! She looked back at the man who cast the dome. You! I demand that you release me from this wretched prison! I am willing to offer you a deal, you release me and I will fight with my life to make sure you get out of this town. I know you probably wont take my word for it so let me offer you a bloodpact! Because of the demon inside of her she would be unable to break a bloodpact and N'kara knew that this man must have atleast sensed the demon's presence eventhough he might not know what it exactly is.

She continued staring at the man. So what say you? Do you want to keep me locked in here and die or do you want to live?

Atreides had his arms crossed, and was about to give the elder of the town a response when an all too familiar voice rang out, decrying them heretics and he turned, a shit eating grin on his face as he dropped his arms to his side, one hand resting on his sword, as he looked towards that blue armored fellow. Neflheim, the man was known to Atreides. Rather bold, religiously focused on purging the heretic with that massive damn cannon on his shoulder, all around unpleasant and a fellow he had not wanted to have to cross paths with, not again. This man knew nothing of control, of precision, and would burn this village to the ground if it meant taking out his targets. And that, right now, was him and the clowns he had locked away, for better or worse. Which meant they were now stuck in the same lot right now, and he sighed, glancing to the village leader, and addressed him first.

"Get everyone to a safe distance, this will get ugly before it gets better. We won't hang around once this unnecessary display of force is done."

Next he kicked his heel into the ground, breaking the circle surrounding the demon whore and chains brat. Any other day he would have put more restrictions on the matter, addressing them without turning. He would know if they tried anything directed at him, the dead silence of a standoff made that much fairly easy. He scoffed at the offer of a blood pact, one did not lightly sign into any sort of deal with demons, let alone a blood pact. Blood held power, in the right hands, and he was not near knowledgeable enough in that application to trust any sort of deal.

"How about this, you two try anything against me or Crimson Streak, I leave both of you near dead in a barrier circle in the woods. Let you two figure it out from there."

Without warning, mid senteance, Atreides conjured a rock pillar from beneath the Sapphire Guardian, intending to throw him upwards enough to disrupt his aim, sword flying out of its sheath, mutterings from Atreides causing the blade to erupt in flames once more. It was a preferred talent of his, and he stood, a ball of fire erupting in his hand, electrical arcs bouncing up and down the very same arm, sword coated in arcane fire while he scowled at the cannon wielding enforcer, and he addressed the man boldly.

"AND AS FOR YOU! Take your bullying and intimidation elsewhere. Your purpose is little more than the Imperator's bootlick, grovelling for favor and station while you mindlessly murder supposed heretics and obliterate the villages they happen to be passing through in the process. I know your handiwork, Neflheim, and you are no embodiment of Justice. You are little more than a prideful, boastful hound of the Imperator, and that's all you'll ever be, just to be put down once your no longer useful."

“Ignorant Taskmage.”

Neflheim was unfazed by the sudden appearance of a rock pillar beneath his feet, merely swinging his cannon back to his shoulder. Looking down on them all from below, he aimed once more and fired off a burst of magical energy directly at the two still in the dirt circle. Not bothering to check if they were dead, the armored warrior pointed a clawed hand both at Atreides and Sable.

“Do not speak to me about reckless doings scum. The woman stated clearly to me that Khârn was amongst her soul. Worshippers of the Old Gods are to be seen as nothing but violent enemies to the Imperium and to the people.”

He was caught off by something swift and small. Sable had launched both her knives at him, already running along the stone pillar to meet him head on. Neflheim deflected both weapons with a swipe of his arm, sending them flying away.

“RE-Arch.”

The blades appeared once more in Sable’s and she leaped forward. Held aloft, she slashed downward at the Sapphire Guardian. Neflheim saw this and more, parrying with the brunt of his cannon and knocking her back down savagely. Sable plummeted to the earth below, twisting and skidding on the ground.

Neflheim jumped then, landing with a massive impact on the ground, sending shock waves all throughout the village. By now, the village leader had taken Atreides’ advice and was now directing everyone to the other side of the village.

“Kneel Crimson Streak. Your betrayal to the Imperium shall be treated with the utmost diligence and efficiency.”

The Sigil had receded only to come back in full force as Mal pressed all of his added agility into leaping away from the heavy blast of the laser, barely getting away as he smelled part of his cape burnt by the heavy collection of energy. The snakes followed him, still surrounded by the shadows since his hands never left his belt. He landed on his feet, only to be shaken off balance as the man landed on the ground. He stumbled slightly at first before blood-red eyes flashed towards the armoured man. His mind quickly mapped the scene, keeping track of the knocked-down Sable, the Taskmage behind him, the devil worshipper at his side – and the Sapphire Guardian in front of him.

He patted his pocket, feeling the dark chain of his medal like it was an uncomfortable itch. He might be a good target for Oblivion. But I’d need to get him immobile first. Maybe the others would assist?

“Snakes. Pull at his feet, take him off balance.” He ordered as the chains sprang to life once more and rushed towards the man. Like constrictors, the chains rushed towards his legs and wrapped around them with the hopes of knocking him off balance. Mal kept his hands planted firmly on the chains. The sigil on his neck continued to spiral outwards until it was a dark swirl on the side of his neck. The spirit was tugging at his energy, but it would still be a while before he felt full effects.

Unlike the monster the day before, the Sapphire Guardian caught him at the peak of his energy. If he could get the man incapacitated soon, there was a possibility that Oblivion would knock him out for a maximum of a couple days.

“Try and get the gun away from him. If we can keep him still, I think I can solve this problem.” Mal asked, “It’s your call really, but there’s something that I’ve been itching to try out again.”