- Last Seen: 5 yrs ago
- Old Guild Username: NightlordKrusnik
- Joined: 11 yrs ago
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Username history
- NightlordKrusnik 11 yrs ago
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8 yrs ago
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Hello Darkness, my old friend...
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likes
9 yrs ago
I'll tell you where they're not..... Safe....
10 yrs ago
Bio
Basically I'm like nobody you've ever met before.
Unless you've met Carantathraiel, whom I am essentially a carbon copy of, excepting of course that whilst she has girly parts, my parts are decidedly male
Most Recent Posts
More than likely I'll just get a metric fuck-ton of rain
In
♀Female Looking for ♂Male or ♀Female. Medieval/Fantasy/Casual/+18
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10 yrs ago
Forum: 1x1 Interest Checks
I'm good at bastard dark elves.... but then again, you know that already
Winter is Coming! just be patient
Happy New Year to any fellow pagans here! All Hallow's Eve was quite the success in my household
HUZZAH!
A spurt of red, and a cry of pain from Miral as a blade went through her foot. Despite his injuries slowing his reactions, Taris still was faster than most, and took the opportunity to throw an orb of flame and ice into her chest. The other assassin was knocked of the carriage by the impact, rolling in a heap along the ground before being blasted into the air as the ball exploded. “Good man, Envy,” he muttered with a feral smile.
The night became a flurry of motion as Taris began spraying spears of ice and tongues of fire all around, the assassins weaving between spells. A quick pause in attacking to throw a shield above and to the sides of Russel to help protect the boyo, gave another assassin the opportunity to get to the door. Taris turned back in time to see the ward he put up activate, ice blades piercing through the assailant’s hand as it closed around the handle, cutting it to pieces.
Taris reached into the bag of gems and pulled out a handful, letting them hover around him. Best to try and end this quickly. Blasts of energy went off in all directions, homing in on the assassins, but only hitting a couple. They were good, the elf had to admit. He would have to focus his attacks.
But the most important person in the world was below him, unconscious, helpless…
The black mist flared from his eyes with fury. “I will kill you all.”
The night became a flurry of motion as Taris began spraying spears of ice and tongues of fire all around, the assassins weaving between spells. A quick pause in attacking to throw a shield above and to the sides of Russel to help protect the boyo, gave another assassin the opportunity to get to the door. Taris turned back in time to see the ward he put up activate, ice blades piercing through the assailant’s hand as it closed around the handle, cutting it to pieces.
Taris reached into the bag of gems and pulled out a handful, letting them hover around him. Best to try and end this quickly. Blasts of energy went off in all directions, homing in on the assassins, but only hitting a couple. They were good, the elf had to admit. He would have to focus his attacks.
But the most important person in the world was below him, unconscious, helpless…
The black mist flared from his eyes with fury. “I will kill you all.”
Taris opened an eye at being nudged, coming partially out of his meditation and turning his face towards the thief. Something about Envy’s voice warned him something was severely bothering the large elf. At his question, however, both eyes snapped open. For a moment Taris only stared at the other male, before his eyes closed again. The assassin opened them again and looked blankly at Aera’s sleeping form, “She… no Envy. When I checked her for wounds, for what he did to her, the magic reacts to that. She isn’t Envy, you have my word.”
He closed his eyes again and left it at that. Some things were just better left unsaid.
Just as he tried to sink back into his meditation, he felt his wards tremble. Surrounding the carriage were long, nearly invisible threads of ice held by the magic in the gems.
One of them had just snapped.
Then another, and another.
“Envy, trouble!” was all he said, quickly but gently laying Aera on the seat and opening the carriage door as Hadhen gave a warning shout. He flipped up top, next to the human thief, who was pulling a small dart from his arm. Already he was swaying from the poison. “Damn, here drink this,” the assassin told the young man, handing him a small vial and lowering him into the coach with the other elves.
Standing on the roof of the carriage, ice spiraled around his forearms. “Envy!” Taris shouted, “Get ready, the Assassin’s Guild is paying us a visit. Hadhen’s been poisoned, make sure none of them get inside.”
His eyes easily picked them out of the darkness, behind and to the sides of the carriage, magic lending haste to their feet. There were eight of them, plus the leader that landed neatly in front of the elf. “Greetings, Guild-sister,” Taris said calmly, the guild symbol glowing on the back of his hand, “These people are working with me and under my protection, so why don’t you tell me what you’re doing here.”
The other assassin lowered her hood, “Ah, the infamous Shadow Elf. I am Miral. And we have been contracted to ensure the Princess dies.”
Black mist suddenly burst from Taris’ lavender-flecked eyes and tongues of blue flame twined with the ice tendrils around his arms. His voice went deadly cold, “That isn’t going to happen. Leave.”
Miral took an involuntary step back, but managed to keep any fear from showing, even giving an arrogant grin. “Angry? That's fine, the contract is for you, too.”
He closed his eyes again and left it at that. Some things were just better left unsaid.
Just as he tried to sink back into his meditation, he felt his wards tremble. Surrounding the carriage were long, nearly invisible threads of ice held by the magic in the gems.
One of them had just snapped.
Then another, and another.
“Envy, trouble!” was all he said, quickly but gently laying Aera on the seat and opening the carriage door as Hadhen gave a warning shout. He flipped up top, next to the human thief, who was pulling a small dart from his arm. Already he was swaying from the poison. “Damn, here drink this,” the assassin told the young man, handing him a small vial and lowering him into the coach with the other elves.
Standing on the roof of the carriage, ice spiraled around his forearms. “Envy!” Taris shouted, “Get ready, the Assassin’s Guild is paying us a visit. Hadhen’s been poisoned, make sure none of them get inside.”
His eyes easily picked them out of the darkness, behind and to the sides of the carriage, magic lending haste to their feet. There were eight of them, plus the leader that landed neatly in front of the elf. “Greetings, Guild-sister,” Taris said calmly, the guild symbol glowing on the back of his hand, “These people are working with me and under my protection, so why don’t you tell me what you’re doing here.”
The other assassin lowered her hood, “Ah, the infamous Shadow Elf. I am Miral. And we have been contracted to ensure the Princess dies.”
Black mist suddenly burst from Taris’ lavender-flecked eyes and tongues of blue flame twined with the ice tendrils around his arms. His voice went deadly cold, “That isn’t going to happen. Leave.”
Miral took an involuntary step back, but managed to keep any fear from showing, even giving an arrogant grin. “Angry? That's fine, the contract is for you, too.”
Taris pulled his eyes away from Aera’s to look at Envy, “It should be. I made sure to leave enough of myself behind to keep them busy for days. Weeks if they’re incompetent. But just in case, I have a few more special surprises in here.” He set Aera partially on a couch and held up a leather bag, its contents clanking together dully. “We’ll be ready for them, Envy.”
He slipped the bag into his belt and lifted the pale elf in his arms once more, gesturing to the Kartaian to open the door. As the two walked to the waiting carriage Taris gave a grim chuckle, “To be honest, Envy, it will be strange to play the mage again. I’ve only used my Shadowmancer skills for nearly 20 years, and then mostly just to augment my physical abilities. It will be fun to practice my other magic again.”
With help from the two humans they got their precious bundle inside the enclosed cabin, Envy next, and finally the assassin. Russel hopped into the driver’s seat and grabbed the reins while Hadhen took the watchman’s seat up top. Taris nodded to Envy, who knocked on the wall of the carriage, calling, “Let’s go Russel, full speed back home.”
The thief rocked slightly as the coach lurched forward and looked back at the other elf, “This is going to be a very stressful ride, whether we run into trouble or not, Assassin.”
The Shadow Elf only nodded, “You aren’t wrong, Thief.” He grabbed a pair of blue diamonds from the pouch on his belt, rubbed his thumb once over each and released them to float above his head. Taris’ ears twitched and eyes closed as the gems began to glow softly, tendrils of icy fog undulating from them. A film of frost lined the corners of the windows, without chilling the rest of the cabin.
Envy eyed the frost, “Assassin?”
“Defensive wards,” Taris replied without opening his eyes, “They’re safe to us and your boyos out there, but should be enough to give anyone else a really bad day.”
He slipped the bag into his belt and lifted the pale elf in his arms once more, gesturing to the Kartaian to open the door. As the two walked to the waiting carriage Taris gave a grim chuckle, “To be honest, Envy, it will be strange to play the mage again. I’ve only used my Shadowmancer skills for nearly 20 years, and then mostly just to augment my physical abilities. It will be fun to practice my other magic again.”
With help from the two humans they got their precious bundle inside the enclosed cabin, Envy next, and finally the assassin. Russel hopped into the driver’s seat and grabbed the reins while Hadhen took the watchman’s seat up top. Taris nodded to Envy, who knocked on the wall of the carriage, calling, “Let’s go Russel, full speed back home.”
The thief rocked slightly as the coach lurched forward and looked back at the other elf, “This is going to be a very stressful ride, whether we run into trouble or not, Assassin.”
The Shadow Elf only nodded, “You aren’t wrong, Thief.” He grabbed a pair of blue diamonds from the pouch on his belt, rubbed his thumb once over each and released them to float above his head. Taris’ ears twitched and eyes closed as the gems began to glow softly, tendrils of icy fog undulating from them. A film of frost lined the corners of the windows, without chilling the rest of the cabin.
Envy eyed the frost, “Assassin?”
“Defensive wards,” Taris replied without opening his eyes, “They’re safe to us and your boyos out there, but should be enough to give anyone else a really bad day.”
Taris nodded absently at Envy’s words, his hand going to a stone on the headboard. A twist and it came off and he held it out to the Kartaian. But before Envy could take it there came a flash from the stone and a wave of heat, before the stone cracked and turned to dust. The assassin looked the thief in the eye, “You know I’m not from anywhere near these lands, that my people live on the other side of the Barrier. Magic works differently there, these stones… they can hold magic and store it to be used later either to create spells or just recharge the user, like I just did.”
Envy nodded, “I assume this means you have a plan?” He pinched a bit of the dust between his fingers and looked closer. It seemed the stone had been a ruby before. “What happened to the gem?”
“Gems and other Spellstones all have an innate bit of magic within them to begin with, which allows them to be shaped and used. When I absorbed the magic back from the stone I took even that little bit, and the ruby was destroyed,” Taris explained. He tossed the dust into a bin and wiped his hands, “But you’re right, I do have a plan. It’s a long shot, but I think it’s the only way.” Taris paused and grabbed another gem from a bag on the nightstand, absorbing the power from it as well. “Tell your boys to put on some servants’ uniforms and go hire a carriage in the market, money’s everywhere around here. We’re going back to Pareigh, I’ve got the Spellstones I need back there.”
It was definitely a risk, one the Shadow Elf was more than willing to make for Aera. Still, it unnerved him, the past week had been beyond taxing, and if he’d had any other choice Taris would sleep for a week to recover.
But there wasn’t another choice.
He gathered several more gems from around the room, draining each as he went.
So be it.
Taris smiled grimly, “I’m too stubborn to fail. Just hold on, Aera.”
Envy nodded, “I assume this means you have a plan?” He pinched a bit of the dust between his fingers and looked closer. It seemed the stone had been a ruby before. “What happened to the gem?”
“Gems and other Spellstones all have an innate bit of magic within them to begin with, which allows them to be shaped and used. When I absorbed the magic back from the stone I took even that little bit, and the ruby was destroyed,” Taris explained. He tossed the dust into a bin and wiped his hands, “But you’re right, I do have a plan. It’s a long shot, but I think it’s the only way.” Taris paused and grabbed another gem from a bag on the nightstand, absorbing the power from it as well. “Tell your boys to put on some servants’ uniforms and go hire a carriage in the market, money’s everywhere around here. We’re going back to Pareigh, I’ve got the Spellstones I need back there.”
It was definitely a risk, one the Shadow Elf was more than willing to make for Aera. Still, it unnerved him, the past week had been beyond taxing, and if he’d had any other choice Taris would sleep for a week to recover.
But there wasn’t another choice.
He gathered several more gems from around the room, draining each as he went.
So be it.
Taris smiled grimly, “I’m too stubborn to fail. Just hold on, Aera.”
Taris clutched Aera’s limp body gently against him, stroking her hair until her trembling calmed, all but ignoring the Kartaian for that time. The assassin said nothing for a time after her breathing slowed, before he finally lifted her fully and placed her back in the bed. Envy gave him a questioning look, but Taris merely shook his head, going into the bathing room. Minutes later he returned with a bucket and towel and began cleaning the dried blood from her body, muttering, “Get this stuff off of her…”
Envy looked at him for a moment, before nodding and heading downstairs to check on the humans, as well to gather his own thoughts and allow the Shadow Elf to sort out his own. After some minutes had passed he made his way back upstairs, sure that Taris had questions after that outburst. However, the look on the assassin’s face when he returned was enough to give Envy pause.
“He tore her apart….” Taris said flatly.
The thief went rigid, immediately knowing what he meant, “How did you discover that?” His voice had a small edge.
The assassin didn’t even glare at his insinuation, “Recovered a small bit of my magic, wanted to know the extent of her wounds. Spell doesn’t take much. I doubt that she’ll want to be touched like that for a while, if ever. Envy, they’re monsters…” His voice trailed off and he looked back at Aera. Envy noticed that he’d found a robe for her and looked between the two, noting that Taris touched the light, hand-shaped scar on his own chest almost fondly. “So he’s dead then, your mind-reader? That’s what broke her?” He waited for Envy to nod, before asking, “Who’s Ezra?”
Envy sighed and opened his mouth to answer when the room suddenly chilled around them. Taris’ eyes widened and he sprung to his feet, throwing knives in hand. From the washroom came a chuckle, and a silk-clad Shadow Elf with lavender-grey skin stepped into the room. “Put those away Curse-Brother, you and I both know in your state you can’t win against me.”
“Esverin…” Taris growled.
The other laughed aloud at that, “Ah it has been a long time indeed, Mirn’zelnen, have you forgotten? He accepted me, fully, and all the power that I bring.”
The assassin’s eyes narrowed, “Abarach.” The knives came up and ready to be thrown at the slightest provocation. Envy watched cautiously at the two Shadow Elves stared at each other. The silk-clad elf gave another chuckle, even that flowed like a caress from his mouth, “Ah Brother, didn’t I teach you this lesson before? Love is a noose, Mirn’zelnen, and there are those that will use it to hang you. I’d thought you learned that well after I killed your wife all those years ago.” Esverin, Abarach, paused and cocked his head.
Taris groaned and fell to a knee. “Get out of my head,” he growled through clenched teeth.
Abarach shrugged and shifted his gaze to the unconscious Raielwen. “The Wolf is loose I see. He’s howling in your mind even now, and the Void nearly trembles at his call. He is waiting for the trauma of your failure, do you know? He is gathering his strength until you do. But her… ah Taris, she is trapped deep in her own memories. In her pain. And still she calls for you.” A smirk, “See what happens when I plant the image of her burning you to death in there?”
Aera cried out in her sleep and Taris immediately burst out in a sweat and launched his knives. They flew wide and the assassin lurched to his feet, “Stop!”
“As you wish Brother,” and Aera calmed once more. “You’ll have your work cut out for you bringing her back out here. But I know your ability to manipulate minds is limited, being a Shadow Lord as you are.”
“What do you want?” Envy asked.
Abarach turned his gaze to the Kartaian for the first time, “Nothing, but a little entertainment. I wish to see how this turns out, for now. My Brother has proved himself more resourceful than one would believe at first glance in the past. But my time grows short, and I must leave you now. Take care Mirn’zelnen.”
A swirl of shadow and he was gone. Envy turned back to Taris, “More bad news? Your brother?”
“Curse-Brother, another like me, with a spirit inside him. However, he gave in, long ago to the temptation. Now he’s Abarach, the Lady’s Mind. The other half to Her Blade, the Wolf inside me.” Taris sat on the bed, shaking just a little. “It also means they’ve found me… what’s left of the Shadow Wolves.”
“How long before they come?”
Taris thought for a moment, “Don’t know, I think Abarach wants his game, so not until Aera is saved or los… until she is saved.” He paused for a moment a sudden thought crossing his mind, “Hey Envy, what if he’s right? And I need to get inside her head to get her out? How big is the risk, do you think?”
Envy looked at him for a moment, before nodding and heading downstairs to check on the humans, as well to gather his own thoughts and allow the Shadow Elf to sort out his own. After some minutes had passed he made his way back upstairs, sure that Taris had questions after that outburst. However, the look on the assassin’s face when he returned was enough to give Envy pause.
“He tore her apart….” Taris said flatly.
The thief went rigid, immediately knowing what he meant, “How did you discover that?” His voice had a small edge.
The assassin didn’t even glare at his insinuation, “Recovered a small bit of my magic, wanted to know the extent of her wounds. Spell doesn’t take much. I doubt that she’ll want to be touched like that for a while, if ever. Envy, they’re monsters…” His voice trailed off and he looked back at Aera. Envy noticed that he’d found a robe for her and looked between the two, noting that Taris touched the light, hand-shaped scar on his own chest almost fondly. “So he’s dead then, your mind-reader? That’s what broke her?” He waited for Envy to nod, before asking, “Who’s Ezra?”
Envy sighed and opened his mouth to answer when the room suddenly chilled around them. Taris’ eyes widened and he sprung to his feet, throwing knives in hand. From the washroom came a chuckle, and a silk-clad Shadow Elf with lavender-grey skin stepped into the room. “Put those away Curse-Brother, you and I both know in your state you can’t win against me.”
“Esverin…” Taris growled.
The other laughed aloud at that, “Ah it has been a long time indeed, Mirn’zelnen, have you forgotten? He accepted me, fully, and all the power that I bring.”
The assassin’s eyes narrowed, “Abarach.” The knives came up and ready to be thrown at the slightest provocation. Envy watched cautiously at the two Shadow Elves stared at each other. The silk-clad elf gave another chuckle, even that flowed like a caress from his mouth, “Ah Brother, didn’t I teach you this lesson before? Love is a noose, Mirn’zelnen, and there are those that will use it to hang you. I’d thought you learned that well after I killed your wife all those years ago.” Esverin, Abarach, paused and cocked his head.
Taris groaned and fell to a knee. “Get out of my head,” he growled through clenched teeth.
Abarach shrugged and shifted his gaze to the unconscious Raielwen. “The Wolf is loose I see. He’s howling in your mind even now, and the Void nearly trembles at his call. He is waiting for the trauma of your failure, do you know? He is gathering his strength until you do. But her… ah Taris, she is trapped deep in her own memories. In her pain. And still she calls for you.” A smirk, “See what happens when I plant the image of her burning you to death in there?”
Aera cried out in her sleep and Taris immediately burst out in a sweat and launched his knives. They flew wide and the assassin lurched to his feet, “Stop!”
“As you wish Brother,” and Aera calmed once more. “You’ll have your work cut out for you bringing her back out here. But I know your ability to manipulate minds is limited, being a Shadow Lord as you are.”
“What do you want?” Envy asked.
Abarach turned his gaze to the Kartaian for the first time, “Nothing, but a little entertainment. I wish to see how this turns out, for now. My Brother has proved himself more resourceful than one would believe at first glance in the past. But my time grows short, and I must leave you now. Take care Mirn’zelnen.”
A swirl of shadow and he was gone. Envy turned back to Taris, “More bad news? Your brother?”
“Curse-Brother, another like me, with a spirit inside him. However, he gave in, long ago to the temptation. Now he’s Abarach, the Lady’s Mind. The other half to Her Blade, the Wolf inside me.” Taris sat on the bed, shaking just a little. “It also means they’ve found me… what’s left of the Shadow Wolves.”
“How long before they come?”
Taris thought for a moment, “Don’t know, I think Abarach wants his game, so not until Aera is saved or los… until she is saved.” He paused for a moment a sudden thought crossing his mind, “Hey Envy, what if he’s right? And I need to get inside her head to get her out? How big is the risk, do you think?”
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