Bluetommy

Epic City: Starburst

@Old Amsterdam@thewizardguy

"Yes Edward! Free me from the manipulations of fate, end my suffering!" Nudd yelled in response to Shatter's order, attempting to smile despite his lack of lips. "Do one last thing for your old friend!"

Edward let out a breath as he realized that they probably wouldn't need to fight the new arrival, nodding in response to Shatter's order and disappearing with a sonic boom, letting out a loud crack, he grabbed the stake in his hand and ran towards Nudd, who was too slow to react, his teeth barred in a horrific imitation of a smile as Edward approached.

Edward yelled as he thrusted the stake forwards.

The stake pierced Nudd's eye with a squish. When the kicked up dust cleared, Edward stood, stake firmly planted in Nudd's head, he stared a moment at Nudd, his body twitching as if he didn't know he was dead yet, then pulled the stake loose and dropped it to the ground, Nudd fell to the ground in a heap, mouth held open in a silent scream.

"For all those who you killed," Edward offered solemnly at Nudd's corpse. He stood a moment longer in silence, before growling. "I don't get it! Why don't I feel anything? After all he did, this should bring me satisfaction, and yet I feel nothing!" He yelled in fury at the ceiling.

He sighed and turned back.

"Well, at least he's dead, should we report back?" he asked Shatter, ignoring the new arrival

Epic City: Starburst

@Old Amsterdam@thewizardguy

"Oh, another guest, how unexpected! Perhaps introductions are in order..." Nudd spoke first, spitting up a host of scorpions and spiders due to the many internal wounds he had suffered as a result of the fight.

"Eisht, Nudd! By christ I'm right going to rip your kokum head right off yer body!" Edward yelled across the room, his Welsh accent reappearing due to his heightened emotions. He looked at the new arrival. "And you, you twp in the 'ead boyo?" he asked angrily as he pushed off of the wall and clenched his fist.

"As me four-armed butty says, you be messin' with the wrong guys, as I asked, you twp in the 'ead? Only you're fucking with a right nutter who don't bleed..."

"I wouldn't say I'm crazy-" Nudd interjected before getting cut off.

"And you're fucking with the High Venom ya' is, mochyn brwnt."

"That means dirty pig." Nudd helpfully translated. Edward took a bit of fabric from what remained of Nudd's last victim and tied it around his fist.

"And I'm not no pansy meself, boyo, can run up to mach 200 I can!" he said, noticeably leaving out the fact that at that speed hitting anything would probably snap every bone in his body. He vibrated his hand in the air, and the fabric upon it burst into flames due to heat from friction.

"Now, ye'd better move, because I'm about to punt that mask off your face, and you'd better hope it's not that attached, because if so, wave goodbye to your 'ead!" Edward was already frustrated by having to see Nudd twice in the same day, and the fact that he was being prevented from killing him already drove him over the edge.

While Edward was posturing, one of Nudd's insects, a poisonous spider, approached the new arrival slowly. Nudd watching the scene quietly, attempting to avoid notice.

Epic City: Starburst

@Old Amsterdam

Edward was immediately confused by their sudden arrival at Nudd's hideout. He looked around before realizing where they were. He then cracked his knuckles and gave Shatter a smile.

"That's some cool stuff right there. Ten minutes you say?" he chuckled. "I can easily give you an hour," he stated confidently, brushing a few wayward locks of hair out of his face.

"So you hold him, I stab him with some wooden stick or something... speaking of..." he darted off with a crack then returned a few moments later, holding a sharpened wooden stake. "God bless super-speed, you can make things in the blink of an eye. Anyway, so you do the freezy-thing, I stab him, sounds like a good amount of fun to me."

Edward entered the building after one last look at Shatter, walking in with a scowl at Nudd, who had clearly just finished with a victim, whose body was currently being devoured by the horde of insects as Nudd cleaned his blade. Nudd turned towards the door with a jump.

"Hmm? Oh, hello again Edward, I'd have expected you to be free by now, and you've brought a friend! Well, isn't this just wonder-"

Edward shot forwards and grabbed Nudd's wrist, hoisting it over his head, in one smooth motion, he lopped off Nudd's arm with nothing but speed and the side of his hand. Nudd let out a cry of pain and attempted to escape as the wound spewed insects, but Edward grabbed him by the throat before he could move.

"I could have done this anytime I wanted, Nudd, and there's not a damn thing you can do about it." He tossed Nudd into a wall, which visibly buckled under the force of Edward's speedy throw. Nudd climbed up to his feet, a group of insects securing his arm back in place.

"I'm more impressed than ever, Edward, but if you could have done this all along, why didn't you?" Edward glowered in response.

"I wanted you to suffer, but now I'm just here to end this." Nudd actually seemed fearful due to this declaration, but he attempted to hide it by nonchalantly twirling his knife.

"You've really cornered the market on cliches, old friend, and it's no more true now than it was then."

As he finished speaking, Nudd grabbed Edward's arm and then flew backwards, as he had done in their first fight, Edward didn't even try to avoid it, though he could have. Edward proceeded to charge at Nudd as he retreated, a moment passed, and Nudd's mouth opened in shock as Edward closed. Edward's punch was powerful enough to shatter the nearby windows just by the shock-wave, and his fist traveled right through Nudd's body, impaling him on Edward's arm.

"What...?" Nudd asked in shock, his insects worthlessly attacking at Edward, their stings unable to pierce his skin. Edward pulled his arm loose, allowing Nudd to fall back in pain, reaching under his jacket, he pulled the scorpion loose, examining it as it frantically stung at his hand. He crushed it in his fist then turned back to Nudd.

He launched a furied assault on the man, knocking him everywhich direction even as Nudd covered his body in an armor of insects. Wherever Nudd flew, Edward was soon behind him, knocking him across the room with each blow, soon the floor was littered by the dead of Nudd's insect armor. Finally, Nudd was knocked through a support beam for the ceiling and ended up planted firmly in a wall, wounded despite his armor.

"Let's go Shatter, get charging, I'm starting to wonder if I need you."

Epic City: Starburst

@Old Amsterdam

Edward reacted with shock to Shatter's laugh, quickly calming when the man began to speak, gently, casually even, despite his appearance and voice.

Edward sighed out of relief and began to walk as had been suggested. He looked around them at the all-consuming haze in awe, he loved shows like this, Spectrum's armor, his own body igniting when he ran fast enough, hell, that guy who he owed a sexually-charged hug and his flames even. He really got a kick out of the thrill of seeing something beautiful.

"I don't mind taking it slow if you'd prefer it, I'm still relatively normal, I can see the world at the same speed as everyone else if I focus hard enough," he explained, tapping the side of his head as he spoke. "I'm not exactly mister serious myself, as you can probably tell, though whiskey isn't exactly my thing, hyperactive metabolism you see, I get a buzz for maybe a minute at most, then an immediate hangover, and now that I'm toxin-resistant, probably not even that."

"Germany eh?" he continued after a moment of contemplation. "I've been there once or twice, never stayed for long. I remember this one race in Ulm, good time, had a lot of fun, got really drunk for a few seconds then spent the rest of the day lying in the darkest corner I could find so that my head didn't explode, I think my second boyfriend had a little German in him, nice guy, too bad he didn't like my personality that much," he reminisced, looking off into the distance with an almost sad look on his face.

"But enough about me, what's your..." he waved his hand up and down in Shatter's direction. "...Thing... I mean, I know you can make the sky look really strange, but other than that, what's your thing?" he asked with a hand on his chin, hunching his back and looking up at Shatter as they walked.

Epic City: Starburst

@Old Amsterdam

Edward listened, nodding along as the High Venom spoke, his eyes shooting open and his shoulders moving back as he was threatened. He took a few deep breaths and aided Nightmare in putting the blindfold over his head, feeling much less rebellious now. The entire trip to the surface, he never opened his mouth, deciding that he had already done enough damage through that.

---

Wood huh? There's a joke there that I'm too terrified to use. Edward let out a confused groan when the blindfold was lifted and he saw blinding sun for the first time in what felt like hours. He held a hand over his brow, squinting until his eyes finally adjusted and he saw Shatter for the first time. He let out a gasp and grabbed his chest. Realizing what he was doing, he stood fully and examined the surroundings and the odd person in front of him.

"Shatter, huh? Nice to meet you or something." He made a conscious effort to avoid referring to Shatter's mutations. "I guess we're bug-hunting, good thing I know where he lives, of course I'm sure the High Venom told you as well... cool effect by the way, the one your powers are making, pretty cool looking." He was also making a conscious effort to be nice to this person, considering that they were a servant of one of a group of virtual gods.

He scratched his head and looked around.

"So, you're probably all business, but it'd be nice to get to know you before we put our lives in each-other's hands, we do have the time, unless you're unable to take speeds past the sound barrier, in which case I don't mind going real slow, maybe around a hundred miles per hour? Should give us plenty of time..." He looked over the horizon. "...If I know where I'm going, I'm sure you know, so... hmmph," Edward stuttered out.

"...Here, let me start, I'm Edward Iwan, I'm Welsh, and I can run really fast. Yeah, that's about it, though you probably knew all that and I'm just going to stop talking and let you tell me what to do."

Epic City: Starburst

@Old Amsterdam

Edward uncomfortably shuffled when the High Venom touched him, he grunted slightly when his hand was sliced, but he knew better than to complain. He nodded as the High Venom returned to her seat, knowing that he really didn't have a choice in the matter. This time would be different, he wanted to see Nudd suffer for what he did, but now it was time to end his murders, for anyone that was on his list.

When Nightmare approached him, he looked at the mark on the back of his hand, already beginning to heal due to his accelerated metabolism, that would be a scar, not that his arms weren't covered in scars prior to today.

"Forevermore eh? I hope that means that this is permanent, because if so I'm going to have a new repertoire for party tricks, not that I go to parties... You get it right?" He asked Nightmare, timidly looking down when he realized what he was asking. "Oh yeah, you live down here, doesn't exactly seem like the party capital of the world."

"Right, so just between you and me, I wasn't trying to kill Nudd the first two times we fought, the first time because I thought I could fix him, the second time because I wanted to play with him a bit, but now, I promise he won't lay a finger on me," he declared with a determined look. "It would be nice to have a little help, but I doubt you'll give it to me, considering you're all 'yes governor'... er, no offense." Dammit Edward you're going to get yourself killed one of these times.

"Though the blindfold really won't be necessary, I'm not one to spread rumors about all-powerful godlike beings... Well, that and the fact that my brain works at speeds more then ten-times your own and I'm fairly certain I can outrun you. Anyway, do you have any idea what Nudd's weakness is? Because I'm clueless and that would be really handy to know considering he doesn't bleed and I can barely hit him in the first place."

The Chronicles of Irenaea [Always Open] [Historiograhy-Based] [Low-Commital]

The Byllesian Regency Begins
Lord Governor Ilyseuco Laurelcrown Haedulus of Bylleseus

Changes in the world's balance of power come with consequences greater than minds of the simple are prepared to understand. The ascension of great Emperor Aedrius to the pale throne of heaven being one such change. Aedria, awash in scream and slaughter, was only forcibly held upon and pulled out by the coming of Lord Governor Ilyeseuco Haedulus, striding above the streets not aback a horse, but humble, in dress seeming poor to a peasant. He even was accosted by a poor fool who knew no better. The Lord Governor was then revealed by his guards, hidden in the crowds, drawing their blades and severing a fool's arm.

Lord Ilyseuco was the only of the great Aedrian generals to stand vigil over his mortal body, stresses and ruling his own kingdom having plated a few gray hairs on his black mane where the ascended one remained smooth. They remained in this way at length, hours continuing to pass without effect on either's form.

Teucer Denelus, Courtier, 37

Ilyseuco assumed his office later that day, little deliberation was given by the advisory council, Ilyseuco had come to Bylleseus when it was wild and created, out of nothing, a beauty unseen in all the world at the time. Of dissenters, there was only one, Lord Treasurer Gulenius Goldtongue Deme. Declared he; "Aedria is the land of Aedrians, not for nothing shall I give away the godliest kingdom to a man, once of us, now foreign to all but the most distilled of Aedrian blood."

Ilyseuco needed not respond, for the vote had forgiven any transgression and named him regent of Aedria, but ho, react did Ilyseuco, seemingly prepared for this very moment. "Aedria was not born in the manner you seem to remember it 'till our lord Aedrius declared it so, what, pray I ask, is the name of our continent? I recall it being Irenaea, given such by our god ascended himself. Much has changed since Lord Aedrius created our empire, but not all has changed, I am Irenaean, Aedrian still, and I remember the world before this ideal that you and those like you strive for existed. I truly believe it was a better place, men as yourself continue to prove me right."

Gulenius sputtered thrice in response, how confused was he. "Dare you speak heresy!? All done by Aedrius has improved this land far greater than what had existed before!" Ilyseuco planted a hand upon Gulenius' body and poked at his stale. "How does your breath agree to speak such foolish words, how does your tongue not free itself and dry into a husk in response to your instructions? Derith, as I knew him, was as fallible as any man, his purported godhood continues to vex me and put a black stain upon the legacy of my dearest friend and ally, aye, his aspirations large and his skill far larger, but Derith was still always at heart an ambitious student of the skies above, to suggest that he was ever divine in any sense incenses me far beyond the normal anger common to those of this fine land.

"Speak you of Derith, whose given name had been unknown to you until I spoke, when you know not of his character? You knew of Derith for perhaps a year and two, I knew of Derith from birth to decession, he confided in me more than you know of from your own life. He feared his own death, he never once claimed to me of his own divinity, he never once confided in me that he was a deity of his own creation.

"What does this mean? You ask silently. It bears the meaning that for as long as I am Regent of Aedria, no man can nor shall give praise to Aedrius Derith Irenaeus as a deity, for I dare not disrespect the secret wishes of my overlord."

Immediate response from two of the other councilmen followed, declaring Ilyseuco an impostor, or worse, a blaspheme, an apostate, a heresiarch, or even a philanderer. Ilyseuco responded with quick wit; "Your wives would know well of my philandry."

The councilmen were thrown into a frenzy, but Gulenius moved cross the room, standing alongside Ilyseuco, stating that he had been convinced by the beauty of the man's words and the fury of his assault. Despite the loss of two votes, the majority of the room remained convinced by Ilyseuco's previous showings of skill, but most disagreed with his position on Aedrius' divinity.

That night, a crown was placed, menacing with spikes of gold, upon the head of Ilyseuco, Regent of Aedria and Lord Governor of Bylleseus, and a new saga began, that of the Byllesian regency.

Teucer Denelus, Courtier, 37

The Chronicles of Irenaea [Always Open] [Historiograhy-Based] [Low-Commital]

Credit to @Bluetommy for finding a birth/death year mistake in House Haedulus. It's been fixed.

@Publius

That's me! What do I get? A medal?

Epic City: Starburst

@Old Amsterdam You know what? I might! Hah! Take that!

Epic City: Starburst

Ooooh poison resistance? Hoping that's permanent.