When RP takes control IC thread

[Armphid]

Jasleth

Fire exploded around him, though he was untouched by the scorching flames. The undead squires screamed in an unholy chorus of agony as the hungry fire licked at them. The barrage of arrows ceased for a moment as Soliel, cursing like a sailor, rolled into a somersault extinguishing the flames tehat ate away at her.

"Good shot, Kryss!" Jas called, slamming a shoulder into a burning corpse. The zombie cracked into a wall with a meaty thump, then tumbled unmoving to the flagstones. The fire was doing it's work, making the things much easier to drop. He stepped back out of the swing of a scorched short sword, ducking back in for a quick right cross-front kick combo that sent another body back to the embrace of death. He laughed as Avrice was engulfed in green fire, "Not working out like you thought, is it?"

The fire faded quickly to reaveal a barely singed Avrice. "A shield that absorbs fire...a very handy spell when you know what to expect." Though, he ahdn't counted on the dancer being able to use that much power, some of the spell had leaked over. The necromancer would have to be more careful, he wasn't going to elt the whore ruin this for him. He smirked at the monk, slowly turning a wicked dagger in one hand. "Haven't you forgotten someone?"

Jas was about to reply when the scream of a hawk caused him to look up just as Sinbad swooped in and attacked. Claws scrabbled at his face, wings buffeting his head, the sharp beak seeking his eyes. "Damn!" The agile monk hopped back, forcing the raptor to pursue him, screaming an angry war cry. Again the bird flew in, blinding him with it's own body as it sruck at him.

After a moment, Jas lashed out with a backhand slap, sending the vicious creature spinning away. Sinbad had done his job though, as at that same moment, a stunning impact in his right shoulder sent Jas staggering back into a wall. Pain shot through him, and he let out a strangled cry from between clenched teeth. His eyes were wide as he looked at the arrow shaft that protruded from his right shoulder. "Ah...that's..bad..."

He cast his eyes up, finding Soliel perched on a rooftop, her copper hair catching the faint moonlight. "Too easy, monk!" "Can't cheat your way out of this!" "Your whore won't save you either!" The undead archer nocked, drew and released in one motion, Jas slowed by his wound enough not to dodge it completely, the arrowhead drawing a bright line of blood across his chest as it shot by.

Jas snarled, leaping and vaulting over the still fighting corpses as Thalryn, blades flashing, charged into them. Just as he came to the building she was on, he grabbed a corpse around the neck and hurled it upward. He leapt up behind it, glad he did so as two more arrows shot into the squire's charred body. Soliel swore as Jas emerged freom behind the squire's falling body, throwing herself backward to avoid the monk's deadly ax kick. Slate cracked and shattered, stone chips spraying them both as he came down. "Guess I'll just have to save myself." Jas shifted into Unyielding Tiger Stance, his face deadly serious. "I'll let you go to the rest you deserve, Soliel." "I won't allow you to endure this indignity anymore."

The two paused watching each other, then Soliel loosed an arrow at the same time that Jas channeled his ki into his fist and dropped to a crouch. The arrow drew a bloody line across his cheek as he thrust his fist toward her. "Rising Anger...Burst!" "Wave Fist!" The diminutive archer bent over double for a brief second before being cast backward throught he air like a ragdoll from the impact. She hit hard into the chimeny, the brick cracking from the shock. Jas rose to his feet, wincing at the pain in his shoulder, as Soliel fell to the slate tiled roof. "Can't be that easy..."

At first, he dared hope that the strike would have been enough. Then her limbs trembled, and she raised herself slowly to her knees, dark red blood dribbling from her mouth. "Stay down!" Jas charged, hoping to get to her before she could lay a hand on her bow again.

 

[NyghtRayne]

Skyler

Everything seemed to happen so fast, the squires rushed forward. Seth went after Thalryn and Soliel went after Jasleth from a distance at first. Skyler was set upon by the squires and it took some fancy swordplay to keep herself from being overwhelmed.

She heard Jasleth yell to Kryss to use fire, something deep inside of her clicked and she did her best to get out of Kryss’ range as fire was to her the same as it was to the others. She moved back away from the main group with two of the undead squires following. It took some hard work but she was finally able to dispatch the two.

When the fire cleared, she noticed most of the squires had been taken care of. She looked about quickly and saw Thalryn finish off Seth, that was something she knew she should have done at the temple after they saved Dominic. She just barely noticed the bird as it came flying in, she did not have time to shout a warning before it was attacking Jasleth.

She looked about for Dominic, unable to find him in the commotion. As the flames began to lessen, she heard Avrice speak. "A shield that absorbs fire...a very handy spell when you know what to expect." She turned and looked his way, and knew that was going to be her target.

With Avrice distracted, she made her way towards him. She knew if she could get to him and grab him, she would have him. She pulled her dagger from her belt, it slipped from the well oiled sheath without a sound, she approached silently and was within range when he turned his head and looked directly at her.

“Ah, the vampire bitch.” He chuckled then, a very nasty sound. He brought his hand up between him and Skyler, and there was a brief flash as the spell went off. “This should take care of you.” She stopped in place as the spell took effect. “Good I was hoping you were low enough level for it to work, come to me dear.”

Even though she tried to resist, she felt herself pulled to him. She drew nearer to Avrice, every fiber of her being wanting to move away, but she was unable to. As she was in reach, he grabbed her and pulled her close, holding her there until he had the other’s attention… He whispered into her ear, “You my dear are my ticket out of here.”

 

[Xenocide_613]

Thalryn

He wiped the sweat off his brow and stalked back in toward the tree to join the fray.

Two smoldering squires charged him, blades held high for a chop. He danced in between them, stabbing straight through one with Seldarine and slashing a deep gash across the throat of the other as he kept moving forward, dancing out as the two completed their chops and cleaved through each other as the elf was already long gone from between them by the time their blades fell.

Thalryn glanced behind him to see both squires fall dead from their comrade’s blade, out of the corner of his eye saw Avrice holding Skyler in thrall.

Elistraee, is there anyway you could get on Avrice without him knowing?

I can try, but I don’t like my chances at not being seen.

I’ll worry about chances, you just find a way on.

Whatever you say.

Thalryn sidestepped a spear thrust from an undead guard, locking his blades around the weapon. Then he leaned back, set his legs, and kicked up on the pole arm as he fell, vaulting the zombie into the middle of a trio of squires who were still flailing from the fireball.

He heard the screech of a hawk and turned to see Sinbad diving for revenge on Jasleth. In one fluid motion Entropy was sheathed and Firefly was ablaze and airborn at the bird.

The axe spun low and the raptor flapped hard to dodge the blade, but its efforts were in vain, for even as the blade missed the mark, the fire caught in its feathers. Sinbad squalked in denial as he plummeted toward the ground.

Then another Zombie happened to stumble into Thalryn’s view. The elf reached out mentally for the axe, focusing on the hilt, and it appeared in his hand. He leaned back and tossed hard, then redrew Entropy and ran the undead guard through.

The fight had thinned the undead ranks substantially, and the elf glanced around and remembered Skyler’s plight. He reached out to his familiar, waited for Avrice to look away, then let energy envelope him and he disappeared from view.

He circled around behind the knight, sheathing his swords as silently as possible. He concentrated, visualizing the invisibility spell in his mind and changed it, rewriting the runes into a dispel. Then he repeated the process, converting another invisibility spell into a haste spell.

He panted hard from the mental strain, then checked himself, remembering he was invisible. He stalked slowly in, getting within range to use the dispel. His hand came up to touch his crescent moon amulet, which was imbued with spell amplification. He opened his mind up to the magic jewel, and power flooded in, burning his mind as he fought for control. He let all his awareness flow into the spell and his arms and fingers danced in the movements of the spell. His strong tenor voice began the melody of the spell, and he entered view as the spell took affect, slamming into Avrice’s spell sheild. The high elven spell slowly began piercing through the necromancer’s magic, but the man regained his composure too quickly and initiated will-battle.

The dark wizard entered the elf’s mind, as he entered the wizards. Both men forced their power onto the other, trying to break the other’s focus, and thus, his will. Thalryn gritted his teeth as he clutched the amulet, letting everything fuel into the battle. He vaguely heard the necromancer’s evil laugh as he strained.

Suddenly, Elistraee’s consciousness entered his mind, adding just enough power to stem Avrice’s mental onslaught. Thalryn again mentally reached for power from the amulet, but instead of yealding magic, it flared into white hot fire and dissentigrated, branding the crescent moon into Thalryn’s palm.

“AAAAAAAARRRGH!” the elf and wizard cried out in pain simultaneously as they retreated from each other’s mind. Thalryn’s face twisted in a strange mix of pain and glee as he passed out from mental exertion, his last thought being how he’d somehow managed to break the wizard’s concentration, giving Skyler a way out. He collapsed to the ground as Avrice clutched his throbbing forehead.

 

[Armphid]

Jasleth

His fist smashed down, sending shards of stone in all directions as Soliel rolled back and kicked off the roof. He looked back over his shoulder as she vaulted over him, the world seeming to slow to a crawl. She was smiling, her yellow eyes bright as she released an arrow in mid-flip, directly at his unprotected back. Even as it left the bow, Jas knew it was too close to dodge. The terrible impact hit his left shoulder, spinning him in that direction. He threw himself with the momentum, bringing his left foot around in a kick that caught the upside-down archer in the side. She skidded across the roof, cursing, as he landed hard, feeling the arrow sticking out of his back snap off a few inches from where it had pierced him.

Jas rolled to his feet, knowing if he didn't press the advantage he could lose. Soliel was an excellent shot, and was near his level, if that mattered for anything now that the Game had changed. She had rolled with the impact and was just getting to her feet when he caught up. His right fist caught her in the forehead, rocking her back towards the edge of the roof. A hop into a rising left uppercut sent Soliel higher in the air, the sound of crunching bone accompanying his strikes. Arrows clatterd onthe ground below, her quiver having been upset by her violent motion. As she fell past him, down toward the flagstones below, Jas leaped off the roof after her. Soliel struck the ground hard, bouncing up before Jas landed on her chest with both knees, the snapping of ribe and another spurt of partially congealed blood from her mouth drowning any cry she might have made.

Jas fell over atop her, both moving feebly after the impact. His hands grasped the sides if her head firmly, and he forced her eyes to look into his. Later, when he thought back on it, he still was not sure why he did so. Maybe he was looking for some hint of the person he had known, maybe he just felt guilt for what he was about to do to someonehe knew had a player connected to them somewhere. He felt a sudden pain in his side, glancing down he saw that she had grabbed one of her fallen arrows, and stabbed him. Luckily, she was not as strong as her bow, and Kryss's spell had done the rest, keeping the penetration light. He returned his gaze to her eyes. "I'm sorry." Then he quickly and brutally twisted her head clean of her spine. The terrible snap as her neck broke seemed like a crack of thunder in his ears, and he felt her go limp beneath him.

Jas stayed like that for a moment, cradling her shattered form in his arms. He set her gently onthe ground, closing her staring eyes. He let the sorrow he felt go, embracing the anger that came over him as he though of the one who had done this. He rose to his full height, ignoring the battle that went on behind him, his eyes fixed solely on Avrice. The arrow that had struck him in the right shoulder had snapped off, leaving about six inches of the shaft stickig out. The other in the back of his left shoulder had broken, but the rear end still dangled precariously. The intensity of his gaze made even the confident necromancer flinch as Jasleth stared at him, eyes burning with fury and hate. "Avrice." "Let Skyler go...your business is with me, with blade and fist." He took a step forward, barely feeling the pain of his wounds or noticing the blood that seeped from them. "Let's end this." "You've escaped justice long enough."

 

[Tantrikenetic]

Dominic

The squires were coming on in waves and all I could do was hack at them with my sword. Slip hid in my backpack, trembling. The swath of zombies kept coming and I kept killing them. It wasn't until a giant fireball exploded around me that I was thrust from the battle.

I fell back onto the soft ground. When my vision focused, I looked up to see Avrice holding Skyler by some kind of spell.

"Skyler!" I screamed. I got to my feet and ran at him. I could see he was mentally hit by something and that this was my chance. "Run Skyler!" I yelled.

But she didn't move. She just stood there. "SKYLER!" I screamed. Avrice regained his composure.

I ran up toward Avrice. "Let her go!" I heard Jas yell at Avrice and I turned around to see what happened. That was a mistake. As I turned back around to face Avrice, his hands were glowing again.

"What the..." I started, then felt a terrible pain in my legs. In a spray of blood, my leg bones were torn from me and flew through the air toward Avrice. I screamed and crumpled to the ground in pain.There were large gaping holes in my legs now, and there were no bones to support them. Blood gushed freely onto the ground through the rips in my skin.

My leg bones spun in the air and fused together in front of Avrice. They sharpened instantly and became a sword. He grabbed it and swung it around. "Excellent. Now let's get to the point." He pointed it at Jas. "Your death."

 

[Armphid]

Jasleth

"DOM!" "NO!" Jas stretched out a hand as Avrice's spell tore Dominic's legs apart. He had seen Thal drop, and now Dominic too. Skyler seemed to still be entranced, though Avrice was no longer paying attention to her. His focus was only on Jasleth now.

Jas felt his hate and fury surge, his teeth bared in a snarl that distorted his face. "Bastard!" "No More!" He charged screaming a wordless cry of rage that seemed to echo off the walls of the cold city. Avrice smirked, stepping forward to meet the charge, swinging low to cut Jas's feet out from under him. At the last moment, Jas threw himself into a backwards somersault, catching himself with one hand and pivoting to lash out with a kick toward the necromancer's head. "Kryss!" "Save Dom!"

Avrice jerked back, the kick barely missing. Jas rolled backward, coming to his feet about ten feet from the swordsman. "Clever feint..but not good enough!" Avrice rushed forward, the bone sword moaning with Dominic's pain as it cut through the air.

Jas side-stepped the charge, then spun right as the gleaming white blade sliced a few hairs from his head. The horrific weapon seemed to almost bend and twist as Avrice swung, seeking Jas's blood of it's own volition. Avrice lashed out at waist level with a wide slash, laughing his cold laugh. Jas dove into a roll, under the hungry blade, coming up into a headstand kick that forced Avrice to backpedal to avoid the blow. Avrice brought his weapon down in a massive overhead swing as Jas touched down, hoping to drive the monk back. As long as he could keep a blade length on him, he had the advantage.

Instead of dodging, Jas set himself, letting his senses follow the arc of the blade. Avrice's eyes lit up with unholy joy as it looked that his goal was achieved, Jas just watching the strike descend. Then his hands clapped into place of either side of the flat of the blade, halting the strike. Jas rose to his feet, pushing Avrice into a corps-a-corps, both men snarling. "Why me?" Jas pushed harder, forcing the necromancer back a few paces. "Why is it my death that you need?"

Not waiting for an answer, Jas smashed his forehead into Avrice's face, bringing a cry from the necromancer. As Avrice staggered back, Jas snapped a knee into the robed man's gut, blasting the air from his lungs. A powerful backhand sent Avrice slamming into the trunk of the massive tree, the branches shaking fromthe impact.

Jas waited as the necromancer stepped forward again, raising the sword. He'd gotten lucky there...but Avrice was good...real good. "Come on, answer me!" If he could get a little more time...he could think of a way to win. For this one, he had to fight smarter, not harder.

 

[katalynn]

Kryss ~

Back stabbing with both my daggers into the squires that came at me. The poison and the heating blood the daggers gave killed them practically instantly. Once I was cleared of the on coming squires, saw what was happening to the party stood there stunned as I watched Dom's legs rip out of him and made into a sword. He was still barely concious that pain alone would make someone passout. I ran to him right before I heard Jas telling me to take care of him. I looked up to him, saw the arrows in his back wanted to cry, wanted to help him, those arrows were deep into his shoulders and each movement they were getting deeper.

I got near Dom, he was bleeding so much blood, on the verge of unconciousness.

"I... I don't know what I can do about the bones themselves. For now, I can at least make the pain and bleeding stop."

With that I placed a hand on each of the gapping wounds first the thick seeping blood seemed to back track, going back where it belongs into his body. Then came the closing of the wounds the wonds were pretty deep and this took some time to close them, felt like it took to long. Eventually they both closed leaving a deep scar but they will not split open. Finally the pain ceased, once I saw that he would be ok, well for the most part, I went straight to Thal.

His body was breathing hard as he layed still. I kneeled above his head, placing both hands on the side of his head put all my focus into controlling his breathing, I became a part of him for a moment. Blocking everything around me out till he came back to me, giving him some of my energy and healing his mind. I didn't know exactly what he did, but something told me that it was more than physical wounds that he needed. More of a mental clarity is what he needed.

It wasn't the best of job, but it did work for the time being. After Thal was at least back into the real world I was feeling a bit weak, but I didn't let that stop me. Cautiously I looked towards Skyler, at first wondering if I should near her, if I did will she attack me. She just stood there frozen, didn't know what I could use to break her out of this trance she was in.

Very slowly went up to her, she didn't move as if she was waiting for his command to attack, since he was busy with Jas he totally forgot about her. I tried the same thing I did with Thal, giving her mental clarity. The look in her eyes told me she was still there wanting to be free. I was doing exactly what I did with Thal, giving her mental strength and the power threw her to break this. I had to be strong till everyone was back with me, and then some for Jas.

 

[NyghtRayne]

Skyler

She watched helplessly as the others fought off the zombies. She fought against the spell holding her. She screamed in her mind as she watched Avrice attack Dom, tears ran freely down her cheeks at her inability to break the spell's hold over her. She could only watch as Kryss tried to free her mentally, she wished she could only tell them she didn't know what he had done.

She ran through options in her mind he would have to free her eventually or she would be free if Jasleth managed to kill him. She knew in her heart she would be able to kill him player or not after what he had done to her friends, especially for what he had done to Dominic.

As she watched Avrice battle Jasleth, she felt something, something that felt like tiny little strings around her breaking, slowly one by one. She knew it was the hold Avrice had on her breaking away little by little as he focused on battling with Jasleth.

 

[Tantrikenetic]

Dominic

"My leg! My fucking leg!" I yelled as Kryss healed me. He tore the bones right out of my leg! What the hell was wrong with this freak!?

As Kryss healed me, I struggled to sit up. The pain was severly lessened, but I couldn't move my legs without those bones...I didn't know what to do. I looked over at Skyler, who had tears streaming down her cheek. "C'mon Skyler...you can do this. Please break free." I whispered to her. "C'mon..."

I could hear Avrice's laugh as he stood up. "Kyle, Kyle, Kyle." He chortled. "I guess you just aren't as smart as I thought you were." He swung his sword around a bit. "But you do have the strength." His eyes and hands gave off another glow and Seth and Soliel got up, grabbing their weapons. Seth picked up his head and put it back on. They both moved toward Jas.

"Funny thing about controlling the dead. They are mine...forever." Avrice smiled and pointed at the monk. "All of your friends are mine in one way or another. The vampire is under my control. The Elf is out of commission. The oracle's own bones are the weapon I will kill you with. And your girl...I already had her. And she loved every minute of it." He smiled manically. "You see...all you friends have joined me. Why don't you do the same. Give me your life."

He pointed his sword out. "Don't make this hard, Kyle. Give me your life and I'll leave the others alone. I'll even heal them. Don't make me kill your friends."

 

[katalynn]

There wasn't much I was doing to help Skyler, saw the tears streaming down her cheeks. I knew she wasn't deeply in his trance just her body, saw that she was fighting hard. Heard Avrices' words, taunting Kyle, not Jas, but the person behind the monk. I did at least have my daggers with me, one of them being the one that Jas gave me. Took both out from the fore arm bracers I had them hidden in. Very slowly, slow enough to not make a sound, blending myself into the night with rogue like stealth. Avrices' focus was purely on Jas, taunting him with everything he had, including me, it wasn't right.

Saw Seth and Soliel get back up, but I paid no mind to them. My foucus was on Avrice pure and simple. Cat like stance for the perfect moment, everything seemed to still it's self around me as I put every thought, every emotion, all my focus onto Avrice. It was so controlled, like a cat hunting it's prey.

Like a panther in the night, I got close enough behind him as he spoke. He was so into MY Jas that he didn't hear me, the wind blowing my scent away from him. One movement from behind I jumped on him, wrapping my legs tightly around him to support myself of his struggling. With both daggers, whether or not I can use the power in them I did not care, for when they peirce deep into his throat it would not matter. And that is exactly where they both landed. Both sides of his thick neck, peircing the veins deep within. Whispered into his ear even with his struggles for air;

"You were not all that .......I never once said I enjoyed every moment of it either......"

I stayed on his back hopeing the one blade will poison his blood, as the other ignites it. Either way I will not let go till he was down or till he kills me. Whichever came first.

 

[NyghtRayne]

Skyler

She watched as Avrice called Seth and Soliel back into the fray. She cringed inwardly at his comment about her being under his control, she was fighting it and could feel the control holding her in place slipping away.

She watched as Kryss went after Avrice and jumped on him. She felt the spell weaken as Avrice focused on Jasleth, and she figured Kyle was Jasleth’s real name. She watched helplessly as Kryss, drove her daggers deep into Avrice’s neck, she screamed as the pain was thrown into her and she collapsed.

Avrice continued to fight against Jasleth even with Kryss attached to his back. He seemed to not even notice her there. Even though the blood drained from the wounds on his neck.

 

[Tantrikenetic]

Dominic

My eyes widened as I realized what that spell he had on Skyler did. Oh God....

"KRYSS!" I yelled to the dancer. "Stop! Stop hurting Avrice! He can channel his pain into the undead. And Skyler is a VAMPIRE!" Avrice had Skyler acting like a shield. And he was going to kill her.

 

[katalynn]

Kryss ~

Heard everyone screaming around me, Skyler screaming in sheer pain, Dom telling me to stop. I didn't really hear what he was saying. But I reluctantly stopped, puling the daggers out so Avrice wouldn't be able to use them against us. Landed on the ground and ran towards Dom.

"Well shit, now what.... I was about ready to snap his neck. Ripping his damn head off."

"I didn't..... I didn't know I'm sorry... I didn't want to hurt her."

Sat there next to Dom, feeling that helplessness again.

 

[Xenocide_613]

Thalryn

Thalryn’s mind was filled with nightmares of the undead. Of necromancers pulling out his skeleton, bone by bone. He screamed in agony, in fear.

Then he felt a presence, and his dreams stopped altogether. Everything in his mind seemed to emanate soft green light.

Suddenly his eyes fluttered open to see Seth reattach his head. He felt a burning hot sensation on his left ring finger, and grimaced as he remembered where he was. He twisted the ring, releasing its magic of regeneration as he got to his feet. He winced as his left hand gripped the pommel of his blade. The crescent moon had scarred over, but it was still fairly tender.

The Bladesinger gritted his teeth and pulled both blades, twirling them around in a circle simultaneously to test the grip. Thalryn surveyed the battle and saw Kryss crouched low over Dominic, who was somehow missing leg bones. Skyler was still frozen in place, and Jasleth was doing his best with Avrice. Soliel was retrieving arrows from her fallen quiver, and Seth bent low and picked up his sword and dagger. Thalryn mentally recalled his throwing axe and stowed it on his belt.

He closed his eyes, turning inward and searching his mind for spell energy. He’d used up most of his power in his will battle with Avrice, but he still retained one spell. Haste.

The elf opened his eyes as Soliel picked up the last arrow and notched it in her bow. Thalryn began so sing a slow melody, waving his swords to the beat, and began a great accelerando, picking up the rhythm of the melody to reflect the nature of the spell. His tenor voice hit the climax of the spell and he started moving unnaturally fast.

The zombie archer took a bead on Jasleth as he turned his back to her. Bow string pulled back and the arrow was released straight for the monk’s back.

The elf was blur, easily intercepting the arrow’s path and the arrow was batted away.

 

[Armphid]

Jasleth

If not for the weapons and the deadly intent on two faces, it may have looked as though the three men were performing some sort of complex dance. Jas was pulling out every trick he knew, ducking, rolling, weaving, as Seth's broadsword and Avrice's boneblade swung in hungrily for his blood.

"I'm not the smartest one, no...but I'm smart enough not to trust you." "Or to let the fact that you know Kyle distract me." He felt Seth rising behind him, and vaulted back, Avrice's stab piercing the undead knight, his blade sticking. Jas grabbed Seth's broad shoulders and threw himself backwards, launching both his opponents throught he air to crash down in a cart a dozen feet away. "We'll never give in to you." It gave him a few moments...hopefully that would be enough.

"Kryss, thanks for the assist, but let me fight him." "I need you and Dom to snap Skyler out of it." Kyle looked at the two of them. "I want you to see if the connection goes both ways, strike her and see if it effects him." "Dominic, Oracle magic is mind magic...Skyler is both living and dead, thus she has a will." "If you can use your power to either bolster her will, or try and usurp it yourself, you might break the spell."

Avrice's mocking voice called his attention back to the fight. "Don't bother!" "She's mine, just like your pretty little dancer." "All your friends will be mine, forever!" "You've doomed them!" Laughing, the black robed swordsman charged in again, "No power you have is stronger than mine!"

Avrice slashed high, forcing the agile monk to leap backwards. Sensing a threat from the left, Jas dove forward just as Seth's sword came in from the side, cutting deeply into the wall the monk had come up against. Avrice's low slash tore a line ont he pavement as Jas rolled toward him. Popping up, Jas grabbed the hem of his robe, leaping over the cursing man and pulling the heavy cloth up over his head.

"We'll see about that." Jas leaped again, landing on a nearby low roof. "Sorry Skyler...but this is over." Jas set himself, lifting his arms up over his head, hands together. "Let's see how you like my Ultimate Technique!" Blue-white energy began to gather in Jas's hands as he channeled his ki, simultaneously pulling in power from the living things around him. The sphere of power grew larger and brighter, the blazing light washing all color away. Avrice struggled to free himself below, his cursing muffled. "Just a little longer...come on...now!"

"SOUL CANNOOON!" Jas brought his hands down, aimed squarely at Avrice as he pulled the robe down out of his face, his look a mix of anger, fear, and joy.

"Fool!" "You'll kill the vampire yourself!"

Kyle smirked. "FIRE!" The sphere burst into an incandescent beam, large enough to engulf a man entirely. The blost of power raced unerringly to its target, missing Avrice by inches, blasting Seth as the undead knight tried in vain to dodge. Seth screamed, a scream that went beyond sound as the torrent of power burned away at his body and dark soul. For a moment, his form could be seen inside the mass of energy, before it was swept away as though it were a thin film of dust.

The beam faded to nothing, the dark tones of night rushing in once again. Where Seth had been, there was only a smoking crater. Kyle laughed, though his breathing was heavy. "Looks like we bluffed you." "Weren't you saying something about Seth being yours forever?" "Funny...he doesn't seem to be around anywhere." He laughed again, mocking and dismissive, hoping to spark the necromancer's ego. "Just like I thought...you're all talk." "Come on.....take the bait." "Lose your focus..."

 

[NyghtRayne]

Avrice/ Skyler

Avrice glared at Jas for taking out Seth. "All talk huh? We shall see Kyle.." He turned and brought his hand up towards Skyler drawing her near to him. He pulled her to him and lowered his voice. "Kill him and I free you and heal your friend there. Now go."

Skyler turned towards Jasleth, and drew her katana and dagger. As she advanced he could see her fangs extend as well. She moved extremely light on her feet and quicker than he would have expected.

She began to run, picking up speed as she charged him, the leap to the low roof was easy for her. She came at Jasleth quickly, swinging the Katana, and using the dagger to parry his attacks.

 

[Armphid]

Jasleth

Kyle's eyes narrowed as Skyler advanced. He hadn't anticipated this...though he should have. "You just can't do anything yourself, can you Avrice?" "You're so weak it's sickening." Though his words were bold, he felt a knot in his stomach as the vampire advanced, fangs bared, katana and dagger already in motion.

She seemed almost to blur as she dashed in, katana slashing up and head height before dipping low to cut out his feet. Kyle dove forward, moving inside the arc of her blade, but forced to roll away by the dagger before he could counter attack. He half rose before the lightning fast assassin was on him again, leaping in with an overhead strike. Jas rolled under her, kicking up on his shoulders and swinging his foot upward under her swing, catching her in the midsection and slamming her hard to the ground. He pushed off the ground with her arms, launching himself out of range of her blades.

She was on him faster than he expected, just as he was rising to his feet. Kyle did not manage to twist out of the way fo her blade completely, the slender katana blade opening a brilliant red line across his muscular chest. He managed to slap away her follow-up dagger stab, slamming his shoulder into her to drive her back, then bringing his left hand up in a powerful uppercut that sent her tumbling to the ground ten feet away.

Kyle took a few steps back, testing the wond with his right hand...not too deep...but it would bleed, the fresh blood only driving her on. Probably would leave a scar as well...but only if he lived through the fight. Skyler had gotten back to her feet, hissing as she shook her head in an attempt to clear the stars that danced in her eyes from the impact. The companions looked into one another'e eyes, circling...waiting for the other to move.

 

[Xenocide_613]

Thalryn

Thalryn stalked in at Soliel, lashing out and easily deflecting the oncoming arrows she fired off, trying to keep the elf at bay. Long swords flashed in the torchlight, weaving about defensively as the elf kept himself between the archer and his friends.

Arrow after arrow streaked by and was deflected as Thalryn slowly gained on the undead archer. He somersaulted high into the hair, landing just in front of the archer.

“Now rest.” he growled as he stepped inside the swing of Soliel’s bow. He crossed his blades, easily catching and stopping the blow. He then reversed direction and slashed the bow string. Soliel shrieked as she pulled her dagger, but she couldn’t touch the speed of the enchanted elf. Twin swords drew line after line of congealed blood as the zombie archer tried unsuccessfully to parry with the dagger and bow.

Thalryn focused on his blades for a moment, and they each began emitting soft light, Seldarine, blue, and Entropy, green. Each blade flared as it contacted the undead archer’s skin. The enchantments in the blades were beginning to show effect. Seldarine was ensorcelled to slow whomever it struck, and Entropy drained the energy of whomever it struck.

Together, the blades wore down even the strongest opponent.

Soliel used every move she could think of to escape, but the elf was just too fast. Seldarine and Entropy continuously caught up to the retreating archer, and she could never hope to deflect the flurry of blows he rained down.

Then he trapped her against a wall, with no place left to run. She parried high, but took a vicious cut to the thigh, then brought her bow across for a swing, but Seldarine was already up and knocked the swing high.

Soliel took blow after blow, managing to parry all too few of the elf’s tormenting slashes and thrusts. “This ends NOW!” he growled ferally, double thrusting deep into the archer’s chest.

Thalryn released his grip on the long swords and pulled the axe, which flared to life in his grip. He hacked at her head and the hand axe lodged into her forehead with a sickening thud. He yanked on the axe, trying to dislodge it, but it was securely wedged into her skull. Frustrated, he released the axe and pulled out both swords, then came across simultaneously with both blades at her neck, decapitating the archer, who’s head was beginning to melt from the fire that burned within the axe.

Thalryn kicked over the freshly unanimated corpse, then sheathed both blades. He bent down and grabbed the axe handle and Soliel’s head came with it. Blood dripped out from the neck as he slammed the axe against the wall. The skull cracked as the axe blade cut through, splitting the severed head in two.

Flame engulfed the axe as Thalryn hacked off the archer’s wrists and knees. She would need awhile to put herself back together, if it came to that.

 

[Tantrikenetic]

Dominic

I watched helplessly alongside Kryss as Skyler fought Jas. My breathing was shallow and I found it hard to swallow.

"Skyler...Skyler..." I repeated to myself. Avrice was going to have Skyler killed. I could feel the anger rise up inside of me. Black liquid began to pour out of the holes in my legs and wrap around the lower half of my body. I didn't notice, as my eyes were concentrated on Jas and Skyler. The liquid was fusing with my skin and building onto my legs.

"Skyler..." I mutteres. The liquid continued to contaminate my body.

 

[katalynn]

Kryss ~

I hadn't even notice Doms' legs, I was far to stunned by Skyler fighting Jas... I knew this was going to happen sooner or later, stood up and started dancing and chanting. Least I could do was root Sky, Pray that I can mez or stun Avrice. None of which would hurt Skyler.

The desperation that I had built up inside me kept me going, running three spells for I was also putting energy into Jas, giving him more Stamina and health to keep going. I had blocked everything out of my mind cept for rooting Skyler for her protection, Jas's health and stamina.. And something, anything to at least mezmorize or stun Avrice, it was my only real option at this point.

 

[NyghtRayne]

Skyler

She knew fighting Jasleth like this was wrong, but she couldn't stop herself not as long as the spell still held. She had meant to get something to protect herself from undead control spells, but the items were expensive and hard to find.

She kept up her attacks even as he kicked her away she would leap to her feet and rush in once more. She knew deep inside Avrice was lying he would just as soon kill them all, then let any of them live. She didn't know his reasons for this.

Jasleth's last attack had been a good one, knocked her back and stunned her abit. They circled like two animals gauging each other for an opening. It was then that she heard Dominic's voice, calling her name. She glanced his way losing eye contact with Jasleth.

 

[Armphid]

Jasleth

Jas waited for Skyler to attack, wine red eyes intense, as Kyle rolled over strategies in the back of his head. Suddenly his eyes widened, flicking briefly to a nearby house, severely damamged from being clipped by the monk's Soul Cannon. 'That's it!" "We can end this wihtout killing her!" Kyle laughed, "Then Avrice will have to fight us by himself." "Give me control..."

He blinked, and Kyle stood then in the cold square, the giant tree casting its shadow over all of them. He felt refreshed somehow, his strength returning. He glanced back to see Kryss dancing, her voice rising and falling in a soft chant. "Thanks, Kryss..." he whispered. Then Dominic called Skyler's name, and the vampiric beauty looked away. "Now!"

Kyle charged with all the speed he could muster, before jumping into a leaping kick at the momentarily distracted assassin. Skyler turned her head back just in time to to see the blow coming, but far too late to avoid it. He struck her just above the curve of her bosom, sending her skidding back, nearly dropping her weapons. He struck again as he touched down, driving an elbow up into her stomach, blasting the breath from her and lifting her off the ground. The dagger stabbed out, gouging into his left arm as he spun into a backfist, the force of the blow hurtling her into the ruins of the house. Even before she had landed, Jas channeled his ki into his right fist, slamming it against the ground, "Earth Slash!" A crimson wave of power burst from him, the cobbled street exploding as it raced toward not Skyler, but the remaining supports of the house she was in.

He saw her touch down lightly, and begin to sprint out even as the structure collapsed around her. The house fell, sending a blast of dust laden wind into the square, causing Kyle to avert his eyes. When he looked up, he was Skyler trying to pull herself free of the wreckage. It had been close...she was almost free, only her legs pinned by the tumbled ruin. Kyle smiled, "Sorry Skyler, but even your vampire strength won't get you out of that anytime soon." "It's preferable to our fighting any longer."

With that, he turned to face Avrice, who had been sneaking up behind him. The necromancer froze, then rose to his full height, holding the bone blade in front of him. "You're all alone now." "No Seth, Soliel has been put to rest, and you can't use Skyler against us now." Kyle settled into his ready stance, a grim smirk on his face. "You have to fight your own battle now." He felt his rage surge again, the smirk breaking down into a snarl. "We'll settle this for good."

A flicker of motion caught his eye over Avrice's shoulder, and he caught sight of the blackness that was slowly creeping up Dominic. "Holy-, Dominic!" He started to move forward, only to dance back from a vicious slash of the ivory sword. Growling he lashed out witha sidekick that Avrice narrowly avoided, "Damn you!" "Get out of my way!"

 

[Tantrikenetic]

Avrice

Avrice slashed outward with his sword. "No, Kyle. We will not settle this now." he smiled. "It would seem your friend is in dire need of some help. He doesn't even seem to notice. I suggest you go calm him down before he hurts himself more than he already has." Another sword slash. "Help him or keep fighting me." Avrice shrugged. "It's your choice."

Dominic's eyes were dancing with fear and anger. "Skyler!" He yelled to the wreckage, not able to see any movement from under the pile of debris. Skyler was struggling on the other side and Dom could not see that. "SKYLER!" The black liquid began to boil and bubble on his legs and cover his lower legs fully.

"Will you go to him Kyle? What is most important to you?" Avrice asked.

 

[NyghtRayne]

Skyler

She had seen the blackness surrounding Dom's lower half and legs, but hadn't been able to say anything before Jasleth had launched into another attack. He hit hard and fast, she was only able to stab him in the arm, before he through her into a building. She regained her feet, but not quick enough as the building collapsed on her, pinning her under the debris.

She struggled to get free of the debris, she was held too good. She heard Dominic yelling her name, he must think her dead. She continued to struggle, she hated that she had attacked Jasleth. She was still fighting the control of the spell as she tried to free herself.

She felt the spell's control slipping, and figured that it must have a timed duration. All she had to do was wait and the spell would release Avrice's hold on her. She didn't have time to wait, Dominic was in trouble, something was wrong.

She closed her eyes and concentrated on Dominic, he was all she fought for now. She knew Avrice would kill all of them, she fought hard to get free of the debris that was pinning her legs. She felt a strange wrenching feeling as the spell finally released it's hold on her.

Now she knew she had to get free and help her friends, she could think clearer now. She wasn't focused on killing Jasleth, she on getting free and getting to Dominic. She stopped her struggling a moment and then it came to her...how to gain her freedom.

She concentrated and shifted to her ferret form, slipped down through the rubble and made her way out of it. She bounded around the crumbled building and ran for all she was worth towards Dominic.

"Dominic...." She saw Avrice still close and wondered what he was going to do now that he was truly alone, with no control over even her. She didn't stop though, kept running to Dominic. She saw the blackness seeming to writhe an boil around him, but headed directly to him anyway. She leapt into his arms when she was close enough.

 

[Tantrikenetic]

Dominic

"AVRICE!" I screamed, my eyes glazing over. "You son of a bitch!" I yelled. The black liquid was coating my entire lower half of my legs and getting worse.

Suddenly I saw Jas running toward me. And then, out of the corner of my eyes, I saw a ferret run toward me. I recognized the animal...it was Skyler.

"Skyler?" I asked out loud, my anger subsiding. The ferret jumped up into my arms and I caught her, cradling her to my chest. Jas arrived by me shortly afterward, askign if I was okay.

From the distance, Avrice laughed. "It takes a lot of heart to survive something like this. All five of you possess more power than I thought. I must admit defeat; you have been the superior warriors. For now." He pulled his cloak up. "I'm afraid I must depart for now. You won, so I will restore your bones to you, Dominic." With that, the bone sword disappeared. I gasped as I felt my bones work back into my legs. "However I left both you and the dancer with something. Yours is more apparent; hers, more subtle. As for you, Kyle, we will meet again. I do hope you manage to survive until then."

With that his hands began to glow and he sunk into the ground, leaving dead bodies lying all over the field. When he had dissapeared completely, I managed to exhale. I hugged Skyler close. The black liquid dissapeared from my legs, but an intricate black web was seared into my legs, looking like a maze of dark veins.

Damn... Slip whistled, looking out from my backpack. Is that the Blight?

Yeah...it's the Blight. I responded. But I didn't want to be bothered by it right now. Plenty of time to think about it later. I just held Skyler tight. Jas, Kryss, and Thal were by my side. I just closed my eyes and tried to pretend we weren't in a field of death.