Looking for more playersDusk: The Return of Caligo Nox.
There are many different renditions of the great story ‘Caligo Nox: Vanquished Shadow Wizard,’ but they each have a level of falsity. For starters, Caligo Nox was never truly vanquished, but rather sealed. This is the truth of the historic tale, without embellishment.
Almost a thousand years ago there were five friends, a True Vampire, a Shifter Werewolf, a Rune Wizard and a Shadow Wizard. They went on many adventures together and despite their differences they overcame any obstacle. On one such adventure they journeyed to a cave which was said to house a horrible monster.
”Hurry now, Caligo!” A voice called from above him as he strove to climb a cliff face.
“Easy for you to say, Lupin, you were up there after a few leaps!” Caligo yelled right back, miffed with his own lack of agility and strength.
“I still think you could climb a lot faster if it wasn’t for that silly robe you insist on wearing-“
“Hey! This is a Nox family heirloom and I Caligo Nox-“
“Wear it as a testament of being a true Shadow Wizard. Yeah, yeah so you keep telling me. But honestly, it’s ancient, like Vladimir ancient.” His comment, overhead by the said vampire, caused him to be whacked on the back of the head.
“Refrain from dragging me into your little spat, Pup.” Vladimir countered with a smirk and easily dodged the swing aimed at him. While they continued Caligo slowly climbed ever closer to the ledge. Yes the ends of his robes looked to be in tatters, but that was what it was meant to look like. It was the Shadow Wizards style.
“Leech!”
“Pup.”
“Old man!”
“Flea ridden mongrel.”
“Cold blooded-“
“Shh! Both of you!” Chrystoph interjected as he returned from scouting ahead, his homemade rune shoes allowing him the ability of flight. It wasn’t that he was angry at them; he was just worried that the monster would wake up. “I found the cave. It’s only a little further up and I could hear it sleeping. Lupin, help Caligo up. Vladimir follow me.” With that Chrystoph was off with Vladimir following closely behind, scaling the cliff face effortlessly. Lupin looked over the edge and down at Caligo. He was further up than he was before, but now he was just about in reaching distance. Dropping to his knees by the edge of the ledge he was on, Lupin reached down and grabbed hold of Caligo’s wrist and hoisted him up, as if he weighed nothing.
“What the-! Lupin, put me down!” Caligo spluttered indignantly. He had almost gotten to the top, without any help.
“Sorry. Sorry.” Lupin apologised through laughs and gently set Caligo on his feet. “Scrawny thing aren’t you?” He observed jokingly while also staying close in case Caligo needed to be steadied in his state of exhaustion. Caligo whacked him in the chest, not that Lupin really felt it, and looked around.
“Where did Vladimir go?”
“Oh I got fed up with his attitude and tossed him over the edge. Did you not see him on your way up?” Lupin replied seriously but it only lasted a moment before a big smile appeared and he chuckled at the look on Caligo’s face. “To the cave. The monster is asleep in it.” He finally answered honestly then apologised.
“Why are you apolo- Ah!” Before he could finish asking the question, Lupin hefted him over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes and took a running leap at the next section of cliff. And in almost no time at all Caligo was again placed on his feet as the stood next to both Vladimir and Chrystoph as they observed a dark cave entrance. The sight of it made Caligo rather happy. As a Shadow Wizard the dark was his domain.
“Crystoph, you said you could hear it sleeping right? I don’t detect anything.” Vladimir whispered just loud enough for the three to hear.
“So? It just means that things will be a lot more interesting. But, I will take the lead with the Leech and you two can bring up the rear.” Lupin whispered back before shifting into his true form. A big, black furred wolf with striking gold eyes, standing just about shoulder to shoulder with the others. With a nod from each of them, they strode forward and into the depths of the dark cave.
Before the light from the cave entrance complexly faded, Crystoph took a crystal globe from his pocket and wrote the rune of Light onto its surface. His eyes glowed white as he transferred his power and moments later the globe filled the cave with a soft light.
“What’s this? A Vamp, were and two wizards? How… interesting.” Came a deep rumble from the back of the cave and the group came to a sudden stop. The light from Chrystoph’s globe revealed the form of their monster and it was big. It stood up on hind legs, matted fur covering its bulk with areas of grey skin, primarily on his feet, tail, chest and taloned arm wings. With ears pinned back, Lupin bared his fangs at the creature and stood protectively in front of both Caligo and Chrystoph. Next to him Vladimir regarded the creature intently.
“How unexpected. We’ve stumbled upon a-“
“A hybrid. Born and raised.” The creature affirmed with a leer and seconds later it charged forward.Caligo became enraptured by the hybrids show of power and after its defeat he hauled himself up in his family’s library to research how he could obtain the same. He remerged days later and sought his friends, for he had found a way to achieve what he greatly desired. Power. His proposed idea was met with discouragement from his friends but still he persisted. Months passed and his obsession grew ever stronger, when he was alone, he heard voices from the shadows, telling him that if his friends would not freely give what he needed, then he should just take it. And he did.
On another adventure, the group faced a particularly vicious Changed, one who had not fed in quite some time and had been reduced to a mindless beast. Both Vladimir and Lupin had been wounded and after Chrystoph administered treatment (despite knowing that the two would heal in no time), Caligo took the bloody bandages, hiding them until he returned home.
He locked himself in his study and moved furniture to the sides of the room in a mad frenzy, causing things to fall and break. The only thing untouched was an ancient tome on a mantle, tendrils of darkness flipped through its pages as he approached. In one hand he held the bloody bandages and in the other a shadow blade formed. As soon as he reached the dais the pages stopped on a rather dark spell and he read the words of a forbidden tongue. During the first line he used the shadow blade to cut both of his palms and lifted them up as if in offering before binding his left hand with Vladimir’s bloody bandage and his right hand was bound with Lupins. Again he raised his hands up and continued to recite. However, unnoticed by Caligo, trails of shadow crawled up his legs, congealing upon contact with his skin.
By the time he finished reciting the spell, the shadow had reached his neck and it was only then that he seemed to realise it. His eyes widened as he clawed at the thick substance, which covered him as a second skin. No. No! No!! His mind screamed while the dark covered his mouth and continued over his, nose, eyes and eventually his whole body. His thoughts ran rampant throughout his mind.
It was their fault!
They should have stopped him!
They were the cause of this!
He managed to fall to his knees before the hardening blackness rendered him motionless. Over the span of a week, as if in a cocoon, his body morphed and changed. He was getting what he wanted. Power. But it came with a price.Breathing in the air in what felt like the first time, a screeching howl left his lips like a babe just born. Birds from a radius of almost one mile, took flight and left the area with other animals following their example. Caligo, who was once a normal Shadow Wizard, was now a
monstrous hybrid who thirsted for flesh and blood and stalked the night forever in search for more.
I am the Gloom of Night.
That shadow just out of sight.
The whisper in the wind,
As a chill blows in.
From shadow I strike,
Deep at night.
Flee.
Hide.
Just try.
But your life,
Mine.
A monster?
A Blight?
Nay,
I am always.
I am forever.
I am the Gloom of Night.Flesh and blood, however, was not the only thing he now desired. What he wanted above all else was retribution, against three people. Vladimir Cruor, Lupin Dualis and Chrystoph Loitsu. He had a deep set hate brought about by the darkness and not even their deaths would be enough. But he need not search for them for they would undoubtedly follow the path of destruction and find him.
Caligo Nox was their friend and there was no way they would kill him. But it wasn’t just that; they didn’t know if they even could kill him. Chrystoph could sense the powerful dark spell on him and it was an ancient one. Since killing wasn’t an option it was decided that they would try to seal him instead, but a sealing on a living body was unheard of, not to mention that they didn’t exactly have the materials for such a thing. They were currently at Caligo’s family home, which had basically been reduced to a state of shambles and Chrystoph remembered giving Caligo an ebony crystal cube. If he could find it, it would be perfect to use as a container for the sealing. Leaving Lupin and Vladimir to distract Caligo, Chrystoph successfully found the ebony crystal cube and began making adjustments to it via writing runes onto its surface. With it now complete they only needed to keep Caligo in place long enough to seal him away. Lupin’s attempts were futile as were Vladimir’s but by working together, Lupin distracted him and Vladimir, in his true form, successfully trapped him in his blood snare. Unfortunately the win did not come without sacrifice and Vladimir paid the ultimate one. Keeping Caligo in place had to be done in close range which meant that Vladimir was also in range of counter attacks. Shadow tendrils continuously staked Vladimir’s body until a final one staked right through his heart just as Caligo was sealed.
Lupin and Chrystoph were herald as heroes although they felt like anything but. For they had lost two of their best friends. One in death and the other to shadow. Knowing that the seal could still be undone, Chrystoph took the rune cube with him on one of his trips over to the human side of the barrier and to a hidden study, where it has remained in secret ever since.
History is now a myth. A bedtime story that mothers tell their children. But soon it would return to being a reality…
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------~One month ago~“Chrystella Loitsu! Chrystella! Ella! Open the door!” The incessant voice was joined by thundering knocks upon the front door all of which echoed up to the top most room of the tower. Chrystella knew exactly who it was at the door, her young cousin Chryston who was a mix of Rune Wizard and Changed Werewolf. He had been coming over every week for the past few years and spouting on about wanting to find a way to break her immortal rune. But it was impossible and she had come to terms with that. The only thing her cousin was accomplishing was reopening old wounds and pouring salt on them. He thought he was doing her a favour but he was only hurting her. Today she drew a line, enough was enough and it was high time she set things straight. She did not want to hear another word about her cursed immortal rune.
Chrystella took her sweet time in getting to the front door, stopping to straighten crooked paintings and opening closed windows. Not once did she bother saying that she was almost there to let him in and so the knocking and yelling persisted. In what could have very likely been fifteen minutes, Chrystella finally opened the door and watched with a smile as he fell onto the floor by her feet.
“Oh good. I thought you couldn’t hear me. Perhaps you should invest in a door bell?” He suggested as he stood up, dusting away the invisible dirt on his pants. He moved in for a hug but Chrystella was already heading to the living room so he closed the door and followed after her.
“I think I found the answer this time Ella! I found out that Chrystoph Loitsu, your great, great, great, great, great grandfather and founder of the Rune Witch and Wizard line, had a secret study over on the human side of the barrier. If I can find it I am positive that I can also find the way to remove the immortal rune that the old hag gave you.” He exclaimed happily, too excited to sit down on the couch where Chrystella sat, a frown on her face. She gave him a moment to calm down before responding.
“Chryston, I know you mean well, but, I want you to stop this nonsense! There is absolutely nothing that I, you or anyone else can do to remove it. I have accepted this fact, why can’t you? You are my little cousin and I do not want you wasting your life on this stupid-“
“Exactly! I am your little cousin; I am eight years younger than you and already look older than you!” He exploded and grabbed hold of her arms, lifting her up from the couch. Momentarily forgetting his stronger than average strength caused by his half Changed blood. “Everyone else in our family is ignoring you like the plague. They think they are doing you a favour by not coming to visit! Have you even heard from your mother?” He dared to ask, it was a cruel thing to do, but he felt it was necessary. Until he caught sight of her tears and mentally kicked himself. He gently set her back down onto the couch and knelt in front of her.
“Oh Ella… I am sor-“
“… out…”
“What?”
“Get out!” She repeated louder and moved away from him. She didn’t think he could sink to that level, but he just did and it greatly upset her.
“They
are doing me a favour! They know how it will break my heart to see them age right before my eyes! But you! You don’t even seem to care that it seems like only yesterday that you barely reached my shoulders and now tower over me! And who knows maybe tomorrow your hair will be greying and you’ll bring along your kids to visit me! You want to go over to the human side? Fine! But do not think that I will let you back! Now show yourself to the door!” She yelled through her tears and ran out of the living room, to the staircase which led to the tower.
Chryston was absolutely ashamed with himself. He had never seen her that upset before and he was the sole cause of it. He clenched his fists and made a decision. He was going to find the secret study and a way to break Chrystella’s immortal rune, even if it was the last thing he did. However before leaving he wrote a letter and placed it on the living room table.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------~Present time~Chrystella safely placed the letter from Chryston into an inner pocket of her dark navy blue cape as she stood on the towers balcony, ready to leave on her daily barrier maintenance run. From her over-the-shoulder Space Rune bag, she pulled out her handmade Antigravity Flight Rune broom. Once comfortably settled, the broom rose from the balcony and took to the air. The air was cold as it usually was during this early hour but it had a biting chill and carried a dark intent. Something was stirring. Something dangerous.
Still awhile away Chrystella could hear the booming sounds of collision upon the barrier, but even from her vantage point above the tree tops, she could only see the resulting flashes of light as the barrier deterred and not what was making the impact. She wasn’t sure how long it had been going on for but once she returned home she would probably have inquiring guests. As she drew nearer to the barrier whatever it was causing the disturbance seemed to just vanish, that was until further along the barrier the disturbances began to reoccur. Heading over, whatever it was once again vanished only to reappear further along. The process repeated until Chrystella had finally had enough and directed her broom to lower back to the ground. The moment her feet touched the ground she hopped off the broom and carried it over with her to the barrier and pulled her crystal wand from her sleeves. Crouching down right before the barrier she infused the wand with her power, her eyes flashing different colours for each of the elemental runes she wrote onto the barriers surface. Next she wrote a command rune which caused the barrier to release a wave of repelling energy all the way along its length
Over on the other side of the barrier a humanoid form covered in writhing shadows approached. It seemed to be struggling with itself, one part wanting to go forward and the other wanting to go back to way it had come, yet it ever slowly continued forward. Chrystella rose from her crouch and stared curiously at it, her heart thumping loudly in her chest when it raised its hand in her direction as if reaching for her. No, not for her, but the very barrier itself, her eyes widened. Didn’t it know that it would be repelled back? No one or thing could enter the barrier unless they had an Entry Rune and only she provided them. Well, for a price, just as it had always been done by the barrier protectors before her. The Vampires were her biggest buyers and often always got the more expensive, 10 turn pass runes.
She jumped back just as the shadow covered hand touched the barrier. Instantly a light display began in response to a touch without an Entry Rune and tried repelling the intrusion. The shocks which would undoubtedly have been coursing through its form seemingly went unnoticed as its hand stayed flat against the barrier. Amazingly, the longer the hand remained more and more of the shadow was blown back and revealed what was underneath. A young man and as more shadows were removed the man became increasingly familiar.
“Chyston…” She whispered breathlessly and once the name left her lips his eyes darted to her. From sunken, sleep deprived eyes, tears began to form. His skin was chalky white and he looked severally malnourished, it was like the shadows had been draining his very life force. Suddenly things made sense. He did indeed know that the barrier would repel him without an Entry Rune, but it would also repel the shadows and that was what he had been counting on.
When the shadows were completely removed from his body, Chryston finally allowed himself to be blasted away from the barrier in a final flash of light. Chrystella ran after him, right through the barrier and to his side. Checking for injuries she only found a singed palm.
“I Found it… I-it exists and… and the answer is there. B-But, it’s my fault… My fault!” His weak body began to spasm from the strain and grabbing onto Chrystella’s arms he whispered, “He is back… And angry, very angry. With only a taste of my blood he saw my memories. H-he saw… you.” His words sent a shiver down her spine; however she ignored it and tried to calm him down.
“Shh it is alright now. It’s okay. I am here.” She cooed softly and pulled him into her lap, stroking his hair just like she use to when he was much younger. Sleepily he stared up at her and raised a bony, ice cold hand to her cheek.
“At least I didn’t fail my promise. Find the way to break the immortal rune, even if it is the last thing I do, so that Ella doesn’t have to be lonely. I just wish I could be there… to see you happy.” His whispers were getting increasingly harder to hear and his eyes stared at her unseeingly. Another tremor shook his body, yet he continued to speak.
“Flee… Hide... Just try... But your life…” The words faded and with an exhale of breath so too did his life. His arm falling limp. Hugging his body close, tears trailed down her cheeks. The next second she was watching in horror as his body began to blow away into the wind, like ash, catching the particles was futile as it only slipped right through her fingers. Not knowing what else to do, Chrystella threw her head back and screamed.
“Chryston!” She never got the chance to say sorry. Never got the chance to let him know just how much she loved it when he came over and how much he meant to her. And now she would never get the chance. She wouldn’t even get to give him a proper burial and his friends and family wouldn’t get to say their farewells.
Lost in her grief, three disfigured creatures approached from the bushes behind Chrystella. A crack of a branch under a sharply taloned paw finally alerted her to their presence. Looking back she jumped up in shock at what she saw. The creatures were definitely hybrids, but they slowly stalked forward like hungry mindless animals. They were no more than mere beasts and she was their pray. The closest one lashed out at her, its sharp claws slashing three wounds on her upper left arm. Gasping, she spun around and sprinted back to the barrier, hurriedly giving herself the Entry Rune on her palm. She passed though just before the three creatures pounced, their bodies colliding with the barrier and suddenly being thrown back. The shock did not deter them and they continued to throw themselves at the barrier. Wasting no more time she hopped on her broom and took flight back to her home. Her wound seeping blood through her fingers.