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Post by Bellighul//Amilcar on Feb 7, 2024 13:09:36 GMT -5
“Well, this was unexpected…” Bellighul kicked a small stone across a patch of dirt. Peeling a sliver of small velour off his shoe, his lips curling slightly as he had no one to blame but himself. Examining his shoe, twisting it in the light as Jacapo began to speak.
“Master, your time in the chasm was far longer than you perhaps thought. Much of Charon is in ruins. Had you been available, this would not be the case.”
“Certainly not Jacapo. Certainly not.” His vaingloriousness was well beyond the border of folly. He smiled widely as he caressed his chin, the Necromancer now gazing about the debris. Smoke still bellowed from buildings, and dust of brick and mortar lingered in the air. He fantasized about the worship of the people if he had saved the world. Stopped Vulcadreaus single-handedly in a mighty battle. An enormous monument erected in his honor, taller than any in all of Sol City. He knew nothing of the pain and suffering of Darkveil and cared little to know.
“Your grandeur has no equal, my Lord.” His manservant reminded him, for the seventh time this morning. His pleasantries had been on overdrive, as Bellighul had been without them for months.
Amilcar turned from the middle of the street, letting his robe bellow widely in the sulphur-tinged wind. Ever dramatic, by some case of magic or sheer luck. A wide-brimmed hat, nearly the width of his shoulders, guarded him from the clouded sunlight momentarily. “I overheard the Rookery was in shambles…but seeing it I do not feel any form of delight. Perhaps, it's due to not being from my hand that I feel a sense of… melancholy.” Bellighul walked forward, grasping a shattered stone that once belonged to the Rookery. Now, a towering pile of rubble from a great collapse.
He was unaware of Zarius’ fate, coming to this land to mock his adversary. Though now, he found himself saddened. Thus, he turned to Jacapo, arcing his head slightly as his eyes shot daggers at the scarecrow. And a slight smile emerged as he had a malicious though somewhat utilitarian thought. “Perhaps, the people here need assistance. It seems our foe has yet to aid his locale…thus, Bellighul, in all his generosity, is here instead.”
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Post by Eameia (Zarius unavailable) on Feb 7, 2024 16:55:07 GMT -5
Weeks away from home had gone exactly as Eameia had anticipated. She was very green to the adventuring world, and reality was quick to humble and show her just how ill-prepared she is for carrying on her brother's legacy. Her first fight against some bandits had been a complete disaster, and she had hardly managed to make any meaningful or valuable connections with anyone else she met while traveling.
Eirynor, Snow, and Shael have done their best to support her as they have supported Zarius, but it's clear that her brother had a much better handle on this kind of business than herself.
Time away from Darkveil had simply not been fruitful, and her whole reason for leaving home continued to elude her. It felt like a waste of time and effort when she could have been here doing what she was clearly better suited for. However, a piece of her still finds it hard to be in Darkveil with her heart weighing so heavily. Another piece of her wishes she had run into Cyran while abroad to at least get some sort of closure. Needless to say, she was probably the last person the elven man ever wanted to find him.
Upon returning from her stint abroad, she walks down the crumbling streets with Eirynor close at her side. Snow and Shael went ahead, eager to get some rest before they were called into action once more.
Looking around, little progress has been made in getting the city back to normal after the devastation Vulcadreaus's revival had caused. Any repairs people have attempted have been haphazard at best, and even more, people have cut their losses and moved on to new ventures elsewhere. The city's infrastructure and workforce had taken far too many blows.
Just how long would it be before Darkveil is reduced to nothing more than a ghost town overrun by soldiers from the Legion of the Black Sun turning over rocks for any criminal desperate enough to remain? Even though the skies are clearer than ever before, she can't help but feel as if they will suffocate from the noose that grows ever tighter around their throats each and every day.
It's hard not to feel helpless. And the absence of the Rookery's iconic clock tower in the city's skyline only serves as a reminder of the empty hole left in her family.
Rounding the corner and approaching what remains of the Rookery, Eameia stops in her tracks as she spots figures standing near the rubble of stone and wood. There, surveying the wreckage, is a tall man, his white hair gleaming against the soot-stained cityscape with a billowing cape draped from his shoulders. She doesn't recognize him at first, then the brief encounter from over a year ago flashes in her mind.
She stares at the man for a moment in disbelief. The Lord of Ghouls, here, in Darkveil. This was the last place she expected to find the necromancer after having set out to find him weeks ago.
Her father's warnings of not pursuing making contact with any necromancers about their situation ring in her ears. It's a sound warning and one she cannot hold against her father for making. But what other choice do they have? What harm is there in at least entertaining the idea or gathering more information? Even if the man says no, then at least that would put the final nail in the coffin, right?
Eirynor stands a little bit closer to her side, protective as he knows of the Lord of Ghoul's distaste for the fellblood's sibling. The mage is dangerous, not just because of his fabled magical prowess, but also because of his quickness to lash out violently. At least at the party in Sol City, there were enough witnesses to make the man think twice about ringing someone's neck then and there. Here, on the blood-stained streets, no one would bat an eye.
Despite her companion's rightful caution, the young fellblood approaches Bellighul and Jacapo boldly. Eirynor is quick to follow at her heels, hand rested on the hilt of his longsword in case it is needed. Though the half-elf's chances of actually driving off the man should he turn violent are slim to none. At most he could only hope to buy Eameia a few precious seconds to escape with her life.
Eameia, however, has a few aces up her sleeve. If played right, there would be no bad blood between the two practitioners of arcane arts.
"Excuse me, Lord Bellighul?" She is careful to not sneak up on the man, and only when he casts a glance does she sweep down into a bow. "It is a pleasure to be graced by your presence, my Lord."
She doubts she has mistaken him for another. Few people could command such presence, and even fewer exuded an air of vanity and pretense. And if she is right, then laying the flattery on thick would win his favor easily enough. Her brother may have not been willing to throw away his pride before the man, but her own pride was hardly of equal value to what she hoped to gain from the necromancer in the end.
Waiting a moment before she rises to ensure she does not disrespect the man, she gestures towards the wreckage. "My apologies, as you can see we are unable to accept your patronage given the state of our establishment. We hope to rebuild soon, though supplies and labor have been hard to come by with the city in such a state."
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Post by Bellighul//Amilcar on Feb 8, 2024 15:01:35 GMT -5
Bellighul caught a glimpse of a fellblood, whose words rang in his ears with a sense of familiarity. Narrowing his eyes and releasing the portion of brick from his hand. A slight incline causing the brick to tumble slowly down away from the scene. His fingers, ever gilded and ornamented with a number of opulent rings, reached towards his chest and pressed against it lightly. Partially covering his enormous livery collar, a series of golden links depicting lunar cycles and various esoteric sigils. He did not hold office or any true noble title, this statement piece represented a more sinister belonging. Proudly displaying his religious and magical fanaticism. His smile was grim, almost snake-like, eyes ablaze as he was seemingly touched by the courtesy. Thus, as Eameia rose, he likewise bowed, though not nearly as deeply, for a moment as she greeted him and apologized for the ruination.
"Your hospitality is remarkable." Flashing his ivory teeth, canines dagger like and pronounced. "It truly is a shame about the Rookery...you would be far better to patronize it than..." He suddenly recalled her face, at the Black Harvest Ball. Kamille spoke highly of her as well in the past. "...you are the sister of Zarius. I have always preferred you to him. Eameia, if memory serves me correctly."
He paused.
Looking at her companion, whose hand rested on the hilt of a sword at the him. Posed. Body language suggesting a preparedness and action. He was of little threat to Bellighul indeed, but as always, the Dark Magician loved to rattle the canary's cage. Lifting his hand from his chest and lacing his fingers together, he approached closer and off to the side as if circling her slowly. The shadow he cast was twisting in malice and deformed ways.
"How fairs your brother? I've missed him so..." He glances at the sword and smiles wider, his optics catching Eirynor's. "In my absence I have found that a great and many evils have taken hold of or decimated our motherlands. I am sure Zarius has aided in...preventing some of the fallout. Though, Darkveil and his possessions, must have been put to the side for now."
He stopped, noting that Jacapo and Ronaldo had begun ultizing a wheelbarrow to remove rubble from a nearby storefront. Pleased, he continued. "Very utilitarian of him...but I have found, evil lurks everywhere and it best to guard your treasures first."
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Post by Eameia (Zarius unavailable) on Feb 9, 2024 0:27:54 GMT -5
She nods to confirm his recollection of who she is. It wouldn't have been a surprise if he didn't remember her at all as they'd only briefly been in the same room on two separate occasions. She's had more contact with the Dark Lord's companions than himself through stocking the Rookery with his unique vintages of wine.
Eirynor keeps a stoic expression and holds his ground as Bellighul starts to very obviously act and speak in a taunting and menacing manner. It wouldn't be the first time he's seen this kind of intimidation tactic at work, and if anything it just makes him regard the man with even less respect. He's listened to enough of Zarius' rants about the vampire to know how dramatic he can be.
Every hair on the young fellblood's skin stands on end as Bellighul closes the gap between them. His words slither out of his mouth and the air around him carries an unnatural and unsettling chill. He's not a man to be toyed with, she knows that. Still, a little bit of playing along with his antics could prove to keep him in a good mood.
"Have you now? That is surprising, but I will ensure your sentiments are passed along," she assures the necromancer while avoiding answering his initial query.
While she wants to get his assistance, she's not so naive to believe that the man wouldn't use the knowledge of her brother's death for his own benefit, whether that be to cause more harm, or to take advantage of their family's precarious position. He's not someone to trust with sensitive information, so she navigates their conversation very carefully.
"All of Darkveil has suffered significantly as of late, clearly. Though we are a resilient bunch. We will get by one way or another." She does not comment further on the matter, merely keeping calm as the necromancer circles her like a hungry wolf. Her eyes flit to the thralls already hard at work. "I appreciate your concern. We recovered everything of worth from the wreckage quite some time ago, but we have had to prioritize other matters over rebuilding."
She looks back at Bellighul, meeting his gaze. "I can assure you, nothing we value has been left unguarded against evil or otherwise. However, that does bring to question what treasures you were expecting to find by lurking about yourself. If there is something you seek, perhaps I can aid you in acquiring it."
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