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Post by Admin on Nov 9, 2014 6:41:38 GMT
« Reply #15 on: Aug 20th, 2014, 10:16pm »
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Belyal and 5 others growled deeply, almost in unison. They moved towards the corner of the bar which held Llewellynn, they expressions showing no real hostility, only purpose. " Should this be any other WE kill it. should this be The Dragon or Aramis, we will help you bring him home." They all dropped upon their knee, a fist to their hearts. " We will not have another bastard of the apocalypse, and we will not lose you to one Queen."
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Post by Admin on Nov 9, 2014 6:42:24 GMT
« Reply #16 on: Aug 20th, 2014, 11:19pm »
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Llewell turned as she heard the men approach. As they took a knee, she laid a hand on Bylal's shoulder and smiled warmly. "There is no need for such protocal with me, Bylal. And fear not, you will not lose me." She looked at the others and nodded. She knew if she had spoken like their queen and not a love sick or petulant child, she would get a response.
Though they called her Queen, it was a title she fought for everytime she saw them or spoke a word. This time was no different. "We all seek the same thing. The return of our King, or Kings if She will be so king. And at the very least, knowledge of who this hooded figure is and if we have reason to raise arms in embrace or in protection of what we have and are."
Stepping between them she touched them one by one on the shoulder on her way to the door. "Then let us go. I cannot step past the Monestary without permission. If any of you can, perhaps I will be granted permission to join. And if not, we will find a way." She laughed as she reached for the doorknob and glanced over her shoulder. "We ARE of Chaos... we will always find a way!"
She opened the door and turned to see how the other would react to such a bold statement.
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Post by Admin on Nov 9, 2014 6:43:07 GMT
« Reply #17 on: Aug 20th, 2014, 11:36pm »
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The silence at her proclamation was short lived, a sudden outburst from young and old alike echoed in every shadow and hall in the keep, " Long live Chaos, Long live The Dragon, Long live The BloodAngel, Long live The Queen." As one man they drew swords raised in but a moment of salute. The eldest shifting to ethereal form as they slipped from the room, the youngest placing helmets and other accoutrements on before following suit. It didn't take long before banners were gathered and dread steeds mounted. The Knights as a whole were willing to ride, the keep literally was stripped to a skeleton crew of people and specters. Orders however quickly barked left the escort to a still impressive 200, though not nearly the 600 and some who had taken up the call.
The Chaos Knights who were the eldest held a banner that was far less known, a newer one rampart to that depicted for Aramis himself. The sigil whispered its meaning to Llewellynn within her mind, in simple terms it translated " Armored Empress" but in a much more literally context for the Knights it meant " Sovereign of War". Belyal held a strange banner upside down, an ancient banner that depicted a humanoid shape engulfed in blue flames standing upon the ever present, though cracked in this depiction, Dragon sigil.
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Post by Admin on Nov 9, 2014 6:43:57 GMT
« Reply #18 on: Aug 20th, 2014, 11:56pm »
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By the time Llewell had garnered and donned her own armour, and stepped outside to find her own mount, the numbers had dwindled to a much more managable size. She had been overjoyed at the outpouring that had left the Keep but an hour before. But she also knew they could not leave the castle unprotected. Quests were not meant for the masses, only the mad.
As a stable boy handed her the reins and she mounted, her eyes caught the banners. She caught site of the usual ones, for the Knights and the Kingdom itself, but it were two that were new to her.
The first one whispered into her mind just as she was about to query. The banner was for her. Their Armoured Empress. She paused and stared at it a moment longer, a tear tinting the corner of her sapphire eyes. It was not something she had expected, nor been prepared for. She had expected Aramis' flag, even Vladamere's... but this... she glanced towards Bylal and smiled and nodded in thanks when she caught his eye.
The other banner was still unknown to her. The sigil seemed like the one they had spoke of. The one in the sand. But this banner was older than her own and obviously not recently made. Which means either it was old, and this had happened before, or one of the seers had fortold this day and had had it laying in wait.
It mattered not, either way. Today she wasn't just the King Slayer or even just Aramis' Lady... today she was the Queen, The Protector of the Crown and the Armoured Empress. She lifted her arm and threw her fist forward towards the monestary in the distance. There was no need for fancy words. All the momentum and energy was already there.
She reined her mount around and headed off into the coming darkness.
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Post by Admin on Nov 9, 2014 6:44:42 GMT
« Reply #19 on: Aug 21st, 2014, 12:12am »
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The knights rode without sound, aside from the hooves beating upon the roadway. Their expressions focused, their demeanor almost hypnagogic. Shadows were forming on the roadway here and there in their journey, the shadows followed and took shape, and soon a very old order joined the ranks, the Wraiths. These were spoken of only in whispers, the Knights of old that had abandoned all corporeal form and society to serve The Dragon within Shadow itself.
The archway, the dream of a portal between Camelot and Chaos, long ago constructed by Vladamere layed in ruin, a stone placed in its center to break any tie of a portal from being made. The mountain, cracked upon its top and jaggedly outlined in the sky, believed to be the birthplace of the Dragon, still had pilgrims making there way to it in tribute and hope he would return.
The first Monestary they would come across was not silent as it usually was, this one was an uproar. The priests and monks flowing out, horses, coaches and even wyrm mounts were being drawn for a pilgrimage of their own. Within the doorway laughter could be heard, and the starry gown of Chaos only briefly glimpsed, that is if one were to look.
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Post by Admin on Nov 9, 2014 6:45:29 GMT
« Reply #20 on: Aug 21st, 2014, 12:39am »
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- She watched the monestary bustle like a hive of hornets and smiled. She knew not where they were going or why, but somehow knew it had to do with their own quest.
She reined in her mount next to Bylal and frowned slightly. "Are we expected to have them with us? Or are we to join them? Or is this merely a stepping stone on our journey?" She laughed softly. "Forgive me, old friend. But Aramis and Demascus forbid me from these hills because they feared my Pendragon blood would boil and harm me. We didn't know the reason Chaos embraced me so easily was because I had some of Her within me as well. Unfortunately, that means I was never privy to this side of the land. I fear in this matter, I must defer to your judgement."
She hated to admit needing someone else. But this time, she knew it would hurt more than her pride if she didn't.
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Post by Admin on Nov 9, 2014 6:46:04 GMT
« Reply #21 on: Aug 21st, 2014, 12:51am »
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Looking first to the monestary then to her he shrugged a little and spat on the ground. This was a mock gesture to show distaste, not a necessity by any means. " The monks and priests want to be on the winning side, so they are going to the Sentinobate If he's the returned emperor, whichever he may be they will kiss his ass, if he's the..." Spitting again he growled, " Dark Scion, they'll fight eachother and kiss his ass. Either way let The Lady sort them out, She's around, you can feel her. Something is moving here, something big." Nodding towards the sky it was clear from the shadows in the clouds, hundreds of wild wyrms were already fleeing the desert like areas near the abyss.
" Do you hold a faith? I mean in the return of The Dragon, or any of the other bits? " He looked her over slowly as the other elder knights joined them. " The reason I ask is... If The Lady does have thoughts on changing reign... well, it won't happen without a fight if you understand me."
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Post by Admin on Nov 9, 2014 6:46:54 GMT
« Reply #22 on: Aug 21st, 2014, 01:40am »
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Llewell watched the others join them and took a deep breath. She tried to see The Lady in the stars above, but the sky remained its usual star strewn self. No face, or void or gown clad ebon eyed beauty looked down on her.
She finally look to the others and to Bylal. "My loyalties lay with The Dragon and those who are named successor. To deny that would be to deny my blessed place in that lineage as both Protector and Queen to your King."
She looked down at the belt over her chest that held her sword to her back. Ssinjin Suut had been handed to her by The Lady, herself. An ancient sword not seen in so many centuries it was a myth till Aramis' coronation. It held the seal of the Dragon on it... the seal of the house she now sat ruling over, and protected with her life. But for the first time, this close, she noticed something else... the sigil.
Running her fingers lightly over the emblem, she looked back up at Bylal with resolve. "Let us go. If there is no reason to stay, then there is every reason to go. We have a Dragon to welcome home... don't we?" She smiled and waited to make sure there wasn't something she was missing.
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Post by Admin on Nov 9, 2014 6:47:50 GMT
« Reply #23 on: Aug 21st, 2014, 01:53am »
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Watching her Belyal pulled his reins drawing his horse ahead of hers, the others making up the rest of the circle to cut her completely off from retreat. This was serious to them, deadly serious. Belyal lowered the banner so it was visable even more, the crack in the sigil evident even with the banner hanging upside down. The human shape seeming to roar, head raised, arms outstretched and engulfed in finely ornately sewn blue flames. " I don't think you understand. This one came in the form of The Dragon, his one wasn't a dragon at all, just a man. This one rose up in power and brought about a war that caused the badlands to even exist. This one spoke, looked, and held himself like The Dragon. He held a power, a dangerous power, a deadly power, just like The Dragon, only... different. If we think it be that one, and not one of The Dragon's ilk... we will destroy it Miss, and any of those that come in our way. So I ask again... do you hold faith?" He was searching her face and eyes, this question simply put was, could she be turned against them.
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Post by Admin on Nov 9, 2014 6:48:35 GMT
« Reply #24 on: Aug 21st, 2014, 02:11am »
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- he grabbed Belyal's arms and forced him to look at her. "I give you my word," she glanced around and half growled, the silver of her dragon form flexing around her in a soft aura, "I will protect and serve the Dragon and ONLY the Dragon! I will serve no traitor. And should I be taken in, or if one of you sees a truth I am somehow blinded to, I will not hold it against anyone as long as the Kingdom is served. The Dragon rules here... and The Lady..."
And she let the dragon within her boost her voice to a near roar to be heard over the full 200 of them around her. "And I will die before I lose another home!" She stared at each in turn and dared them to gainsay her.
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Post by Admin on Nov 9, 2014 6:49:20 GMT
« Reply #25 on: Aug 21st, 2014, 02:21am »
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nodding he raised his fist to his chest once more and made to form rank again. Slowly each steed was brought in front of her and each did the same. They were the eldest, they remembered the devastation and death the last one had caused. Death was simply a change in vocation here, but true death... the kind they'd witnessed made any sembalance of hell look like a vacation. The ranks formed behind them, banners held high once more, the largest of the elders spoke. His words had a strange echoing resonance, as if spoken by all the Chaos Knights, but through his mouth. If one were to look closely they would note his shoulders were jointed with skulls, and his armor was that of dragon scale, not wyrm like the rest. His neck bones horned, like the spinal column of a dragons. " You are Queen, We follow you until the Abyss takes us. Should you tell us to kill, we shall kill. Should you tell us to protect, we shall protect. Your wish is done, your wish is Law."
As if a spell were cast, the entire assembly of Knights shifted to a more rigid attention, their eyes focused more keenly. Even the steeds seemed to become on point, simply awaiting a motion to charge forth as they would now follow her lead to the ends of Chaos and to challenge The Lady herself should LLewellynn but say she wished it done.
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Post by Admin on Nov 9, 2014 6:50:07 GMT
« Reply #26 on: Aug 21st, 2014, 02:37am »
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- She glanced at them in turn as they passed her and then once more as the rank was settled. She felt the power of the words bind and ripple thru them all. She knew what happened here was not happening slightly. And would probably not happen again. She knew of no time in her lessons of this place that such words had been spoken to a woman, much less one not of pure Chaos. She did not take it lightly.
"I do not ask for blind allegiance. Again, I am the most vulnerable of you. For I have the most to lose, and the most to giev if it's forced from me. Follow my lead till you know it to be false. Them speak amongst your eldest, your wisest and choose if my fate is one you wish for your own, or if my fate needs to be mine alone. I will not lose a Kingdom nor a people because my sight of what is True and Right was taken, stolen or coerced from me."
She then took the lead set out. As they moved, she whispered softly to herself forgetting how close Belyal was, "Please, please do not let me fail them. Please let me shed this mantle of ill that seems to surround me and let me be a star in the darkness of this Void."
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Post by Admin on Nov 9, 2014 6:50:46 GMT
« Reply #27 on: Aug 21st, 2014, 02:47am »
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Laughter rippled through the ranks upon her words. Again the eldest spoke, this time in a more normal tone, " I seem to recall The Dragon told us to ' Find our own damn way as long as it wasn't in his way'. I find yours more tactful but still the same. ' Use your own brains and piss off'. You'll do just find Queen." Chuckling the mood lightened a bit, it would help pass the time as the road would be long.
Chaos however had other plans for this day, the road rippled, the sands darkened and for a fleeting instant the entire group simply shifted. Natural horses screamed as the scenery around them shifted so quickly, the steeds themselves simply shifted and stamped a bit. They were on the edge of the Badlands, almost a full days ride from the keep, and all in an instant.
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Post by Admin on Nov 9, 2014 6:51:34 GMT
« Reply #28 on: Aug 21st, 2014, 8:13pm »
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Llewell was half Chaos, but she was also half Pendragon. Her stomach lurched and only her Chaos side kicking in out of second nature saved her from being unmounted as the world shifted around them. Having her Chaos steed beneath her, and not a natural house, was a great help as well. It didn't bolt or shy like some of the others.
Someone close by recovered faster than the others and a hand reached to grab her arm to help steady her. She nodded absently and the hand released itself before she could look up to see who had helped.
When she was once more steady and sold, laughter bubbled up. Her long hair, bind tightly to get had in war braids, bounced slightly at her mirth and she brushed a stray tendril back over her ear as she spoke. "Apparently, The Lady doesn't want to be kept waiting."
Looking around at the others, she finally let her gaze fall on Belyel. "Any idea where we are, Knight? I don't think I have been this far except once, perhaps. But that was by air far above the rocks and paths. I fear I don't recognize where we are." She shifted slightly in her saddle trying to make sense of their location.
The fact she didn't recognize anything made her think they were more than a day's ride from the Keep.
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Post by Admin on Nov 9, 2014 6:52:39 GMT
« Reply #29 on: Aug 23rd, 2014, 03:36am »
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- His gauntlet glinted in the now blazing shine of the sky. The style was old, the careful scrollwork like etching lost in use and time to be but a faded hint on the steel of each joint. He ignored the comment as he released the reigns of her steed with barely a thought. Drawing his sword he rode forward slowly, his jawbone crackling as he ground his teeth, those almost fang like teeth hissing as he did so.
Belyal pulled up along Llewellynn, his eyes watching the old one before he looked around. Sighing his eyes widened a bit, his ethereal face a sign of surprise. " This... this is the badlands... " Looking back behind them he gasped, " the mountain of The Dragon is behind us by a long ways. We aren't even on the road we were on." looking around a bit more he spoke quickly, suddenly almost whispering, " We may have problems, this is the borderland of the Badlands, we're near the tableau of the fall... The tribes in the badlands hate us, and most specifically.. your kind." He nodded toward the one before them.
The cliffs on either side of them were already chittering with movement, the desert looked like a roaring vast expanse of ash and huge rocks jutting out, they were actually mountains. The trees were stone, the bones still jutting out of the ash were stone, nothing left untouched.
Belyal spoke to some of the others, returning soon to announce, " we are near a small village, little more then a few houses of the older races. The issue we may have is, the badlands... the reason they even exist is The Dragon, look around, this was his work, he destroyed almost all life in the battle of the Scion... "
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