King let himself plop into his chair unbelieving and satisfied that his seconds plan had been foiled by his unknowing foresight in keeping tabs on his daughter. How else did he know where to send his letter. And it was his very contract that had kept her alive when she should be dead with Gerwulf receiving his due reward. He felt another coughing fit coming. This time King was ready for it. Holding his blood-stained handkerchief to his mouth, he let loose another set of coughs. This time, he felt woozier then normal. He began to see colors before him and before collapsing, he threw a hand out before him to catch himself as his personal healer rushed to his side. King felt life energy flow into very being. It brought him back to barley functional, but not completely. He would have been dead already if not for the dirt he had on the Healer Association's magistrate, the filthy parasite, but knowing who people did business with had its benefits. He turned once more to his crystal mirror and changed the view to High Lord Gwenith. He may be a crime lord, but even he had a facade to maintain, and it was high time he dealt with Gerwulf's blunder.
Tam was being released from his torment and cleared for duty. He had been having these blackouts for a while now, but was afraid he would lose his post if he said anything. He loved being a guard. It brought him a sense of fulfillment. “Am I going crazy?” Tam murmured to himself. It was then that a hollow voice answered. “No.” Tam gave a startled yelp. Looking around, he saw that he was a lone, and it was then that Tam started to understand. “Yo-You are not real.” Tam stammered. Yet, deep down he knew it was. “You have no power over me.” The hollow voice laughed a viscous and cruel laugh. “I assure you. I am very real.” As if to emphasize the point, Tam felt his body make its way to the mirror. He tried to resist, but to avail. He somehow felt the voice delight in his horror-stricken visage as Tam saw his own eyes burning like hot coals. “Am I possessed, but how?” Tam thought with panic. “Yes. You are mine now.” The voice said to Tam with delight. “I have plans for you still, and you have not been idle during your blackouts. I can assure you of that.” Tam screamed. He felt his body go ridged and lock up. It was at that very moment the demon master took complete control. “Are you alright in there?” Asked a nurse. Tam's horror magnified when words that were spoken by his body but not by him escaped his lips. “Nothing to worry about. Just stubbed my toe.”
Grisre plopped onto the bed after giving the egg over to the care of an ancient relic given to her by lord Gwenith. Of course, her royal advisor railed against the idea. Something about it being a national secret, and began having a fatter cow when it was then proclaimed that Grisre, was to be given access to Coran's forbidden knowledge. This prompted the minor nobility to become jealous of her growing status in the high lord’s court. This led to an assassination attempt which Ross ended very swiftly, then with some effort, dragged the assassin's head to the door and started meowing angrily until the door opened. The guard on duty looked down at Ross then at the head, then went wide eyed, and raised the alarm. Long story short, Medieval politics suck.
Lord Gwenith, who status gave her the privilege of bowing to no other being but the the King, gave a slight bow in apology to Ross and Grisre. “This should have never happened in my home. The high lord started. “I will find who is responsible, and there will be recompense.” Ross caught the last part. She said recompense, not justice. It did Danny no good if she died and it would weigh heavily on his conscience if death was. He was a military man who believed in his cores tenants The ones in particular were Integrity first, and honor your allies. If death was the solution, then how was that honoring your allies. That's before getting into integrity, which even earth’s best debate team couldn't defend. “It is quite alright High Lord.” Grisre said not sure how to react. She began nervously fidgeting a bit and stepped on Ross's tail bringing him back to the situation with a loud howl slipping past his jowls. The two women laughed. Grisre noticed him glaring at her. “You should be more careful under people’s feet.” She reminded. This also broke the tension. Over his hurt pride, Ross realized what the High lord was doing. She was trying to keep Grisre from losing faith in her ability to protect her and this countries interests. If he understood Lord Gwenith's machinations, the party was a show of strength that the lower lords were meant to rally behind. With Ross's newly gained ability Mind link, he communicated this to Grisre.
Mind Link- Creates a mental link with one or X creatures for communication by the mind for a range of X*10Ft were X = skill level.
With Understanding she gave the High lord what she was after. After all, they were making progress. Despite the attempt on her life, they were safer now than they were before the palace. Not only that, but the 2 were making progress in their goals. Grisre was now a lvl-8 apprentice. She could now speed up the growth of beasts as well as bond them to others and not just to herself. This was good news for Coran, because now they were able to hatch all the Wyvern egg that were kept in stasis, and the three that were close to maturity could be aged by a factor of X to finish their growth cycle, up their loyalty count by a little, and bind them to new riders that pass the choosing. This was where a group of riders were given the chance to meet there would be companions, and it was also were the Wyvern in return, decided the rider’s worthiness to ride it. After it chose its rider, then the binding happened, but with a beast tamer, the binding took place on a much deeper level. Both the rider and the Wyvern become one on a spiritual level. Ross on the other hand, had been stunted until he evolved. When Gwenith left, he looked at his character sheet.
Name: Ross Reynolds Race: Divine Beast/Human Level: 5-Evolution Available (Levels on hold)
Mana: 140/140 Regen from Stamina
Stamina: 170/170 Regen +1.5
Skills--
Abilities--
Spells--
His skills and spells were now Apprentice rank, and his cat-based abilities notwithstanding, found that he couldn't progress them passed Apprentice Lvl-9 or gain additional levels. Although, Ross suspected that might have something to do with evolution. He found this to be anomalous and not consistent with Danny's evolution. Number one, his Feline Grace went from Lvl-50 Master to Lvl-300 Master, then the evolution inconsistency. He seemed to be able to choose when he evolved, were Danny's evolution seemed to initiate on its own. This wasn't hard to figure out after Grisre recounted the event upon Ross's request. Even more confusing, was the fact that he had the choice of forsaking or embracing his cat form.
Ross Glanced at his choices one more time before shutting his character sheet.
- Elemental Fighter- You lose your bestial form in favor of your human one to channel the elemental forces for more powerful augmented attacks.
- Blood Raged- You choose between your humanity and your more bestial half. Human (Blood Rager) Blood is the essence in which you thrive, forsaking the beast within for a more vamperic way of life for the potential mastery of blood essence abilities. Beast (Blood Beast) You choose the beast within, forsaking your humanity. Blood is the essence in which you thrive, augmenting your beast abilities and attacks with blood draining and boosting effects.
- Mana Beast- You choose between your humanity and your current state forsaking your humanity. You are the mana. As a beast of mana you will gain affinity with all elements. As you grow, and prove yourself, you may even control the very mana itself.
- Bestial Berserker- You choose between both your humanity and your current state to whom you've become. You have become a shifter capable of shifting your body to either state or a hybrid of the two to augment your abilities and or enhance or disguise yourself for any task at hand.
- Divine Retributionist- You lose your bestial form in favor of your human one to channel The ladies vengeance, giving you the angelic warrior form. Blood is no longer the power that drives your lust for battle. The near cosmic power that drives the lady does, and gives you the power to vanquish your foes and deliver retribution to the wronged. Replaces blood rage with Holy Retribution Rage. Replaces Steel claws with Holy Slash, Replaces Bestial defense with Shield of Faith.
After closing his character sheet, Ross jumped, letting out a yelp as he focused on a mass of darkness that tried forming up in front of him. He felt himself lose brief control over his animal mind as he scrambled up Grisre's back. Grisre yelped in pain grasping a hold of Ross, and with practiced hands, carefully tossed him onto away. “What are you doing? You. You. Crazy cat.” Having noticed the laughing Shadow Stelt, Grisre gave a sigh as she took a new blouse from her reluctant maid. “Good to see you up and around.” Grisre said with a frown. “Now. Turn around.”
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Grisre heard some commotion outside the door followed by her personal guard's knock and hesitant entrance. “Pardon the intrusion Ma Lady. There was a letter left for you by this trespasser. Something about the captive felt wrong. She looked at Ross, then at the newly recovered Shadow Stelt. Both creatures looked on edge, and ready to fight. Wearily, Grisre reached out to the paper in the guards outstretched hand. Before opening the paper, she felt Ross connect with her mind. “Something's off about the guard and his captive.” “Do you sense anything from the paper?” Grisre thought back. The cat shook its heads. So, she opened it.
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Lady Gris,
It has been a long time, and there is still much I have yet to teach you. Meet me at the
peeking nail.
Master Timdel
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In her shock, she dropped the note and fell to her knees. Grisre could not believe it. Her master had found her after all this time. When her village was attacked, she had thought him slaughtered along with the rest of her village. Come to think of it. If the attack had never come, she might have already been a Journeymen, and working with monsters. “Are you alright?” Her guard asked concerned, but not getting closure in fear that his captive would try something that would place her in further harm. Grisre put up a hand. “I am alright.” she breathed “Just overcome with happiness.” tears began to stream down her face. Seeing that there was no immediate danger to his charge, the guard took his prisoner to face charges of trespassing, but before they were out the door Grisre could swear she saw the trespasser smile.
Lord Gwenith was headed to her personnel counsel chamber to update King Arista on her progress with the nobles. Upon entering, she implemented the usual precautions to block scrying and eavesdroppers. It was not a good week, or a good 6 months for that matter. That was not entirely true. Actually, it was Lord Becket that was the issue. His damnable fixation on the beast tamers cat, and by extension the tamer herself was just unrelenting. If not for her late husband and his devotion to Yaway and his teachings of love and kindness to others, she would have offed the little fucker. She was never the ever-flowing font of forgiveness that her husband was. A rift opened up inside the conference room, startling the High Lord. The King herself stepped through with a very upset looking Karber on the other side. “Well met Lord Gwenith.” Said the King before she turned back to the portal and spoke to the upset calamity. “Next time, do not eat livestock you do not own. Let alone, the owner of said livestock, even if they just died.” This took Gwenith from startled to hidden fits of giggling. Served that handsome dragon right. She did not bow as this was behind closed doors. So. They could dispose of decorum and act on friendship. “Well, this is a welcome surprise.” Said the High Lord. “What brings you here on a personal visit.” The two briefly hugged. “Some bad things, good things, and to check up on our divine beasts.” She said turning into a celestial white cat with eyes as green as emeralds. “It is sooooooooo nice to be myself.” The cat purred.
Lord Gwenith had no issues understanding the cat let alone speaking to it, because the two were linked at the soul. Not like a slave bond or a standard bonding. This was one willingly forged by two friends. Once the banter between the two was over, the official meeting began. “The feast involving the beast tamer was a success. All the smaller lords and ladies, and even the guilds have fallen into line. They believe that by doing so, you will share that power with them.” Said Arista. “Gwen, that look means trouble. You actually plan to horde this power?” Gwen slumped in her chair as the wait of her station showed. “Lord Becket has tried assassinating the beast tamer 5 times now. He claims to have nothing to do with it, but his obsession tells me otherwise.” Arista looked at her soul friend and placed a paw on her hand. “You are doing great. At least you do not have to keep an ownery high dragon in check.” Gwen chuckled at the memory of Karber's angry expression. “Anyway, what is the bad news, and the good news?” Gwen Finally asked feeling reinvigorated by the support. “Your partially right. Lord Beckett is not an ally. He is readying for war and in a month’s time will march on your territories.” Arista said. “That is not the bad news.” Gwen was not sure how this was not bad news, but she patiently waited. “The bad news is that Head monk Voe has started a hunt for the holy artifact.” Gwen frowned. “That has been lost for thousands of years. What makes him so sure it is here?” “He can feel its presents again.” Arista said. “He is the oldest of the ancients. The Good news is, is that I have convinced him to bring a small group with him.” Arista jumped into an ornate chair and took her humanoid form. She pulled out a vile with old looking beastkin inside. She slid it over to Gwen. “Whats this?” Gwen asked. “How are the divine beasts doing?” Arista asked instead of answered. “Still the same.”Gwen said and tried to pivot the focus of the conversation. “The Tamer is progressing, but not as fast as I would like. She needs a master, and I am afraid she is the only one of her kind that is left.” Gwen stated factually. To her surprise, Arista landed Gwen with a bombshell. “Actually, that is not true. She is the second remaining. That vial contains her teacher within; I can see your surprise. Imagine my surprise when Karber brings me Master Timdel who had come to me seeking his apprentice so he could take her on a sacred pilgrimage.” With her fingers, Gwen plucked the stopper. As if an instant teleport spell had been activated, the once small and inactive Master Timdel was now standing in front of High Lord Gwenith and King Arista Horvel. He bowed deeply and with reverence to the king, but wheeled around on the high lord and asked. “Where is my learner?”
The sun had set in the City of Coran. Grisre was excited to be reunited with her master. Ross could tell, but something was off. In the time that he and Grisre had known one another she had never mentioned her master. She never talked much of her past before her enslavement, which meant that her old teacher had no idea that she was a lady. Whats more, this was likely a trap to lure them from the safety of the palace. It was a similar tactic used by the Pinac Pirates of Saturn. Lure the security away from a convoy and steal the freighters by taking out the reactor and harpoon the ships with tow cables. They then repurposed those ships and took the Pluto Habitat. Its occupation didn't last long. A remote signal was sent sending the habitat into lock down where Ross and his forces swept the pirates from the station. “So, how can you be sure this isn't a trap?” Ross asked. The Shadow Stelt burbled his agreement. “It has to be him. I knew he would survive and come looking for me. Besides, that is his hand writing.” “What about your title. How would he know your nobility?” Ross asked, seeing the weakness in his argument. “He probably heard it somewhere in the city. It is not a closely guarded secret.” In a desperate attempt Ross suggested. “Let's take the letter to the High lord. Maybe she can...” Before Ross could finish, and the over protective shadow could make his rebuttals known, Grisre cut them short. “She will not let us leave. I am going to see my master...” Ross cut in. “You are risking Danny, and I won't allow it.” He would have killed her right then and there his emotional state be dammed, but as it was, he could not. After she had explained her imperfect bond with Dan, he had no idea if it would make things worse, but Ross was not going to risk it. Instead, he made a show of force that even he knew was futile. With a frown she grabbed the egg, from its cradle, and a spell later, spider climbed down the wall into town. “We need to follow her.” The Stelt gurgled. Ross had no choice but to agree.
Tam watched helplessly as the demon master worked on the owner of the peeking nail. He could feel it using his strength for its own ends. Eventually it stopped and began using its own to complete the task. Not out of concern for him. It just simply needed him, and once it was done with Tam, it would just consume him. The owner was stirring with power. Power that was infused to turn him into a meat puppet. Then shackles of darkness chained Tam to the floor, and at that moment it chose to leave him and possessed its new victim. Staring at Tam with those familiar eyes of burning coal, he heard it speak to him through his new host. “If your good, maybe I will just leave you broken and not hollow.” Some time passed. And there were new voices just above him. Followed by the sounds of fighting.
It wasn't difficult to escape the palace. Despite Ross's refusal to help, Grisre had done enough exploration, and had found several secret passages. Palaces were typically designed as a much bigger fortress to keep others out not keep people in after all. The trio arrived at the Peeking nail 30 min later. Grisre had thrown caution into the wind with egg in hand, while Ross and the Shadow stelt were driven by it. The place looked no different than any other high-end establishment in the city with the only exception being that it was an INN noted for its VIP areas that were currently inhabited by the city’s wealthy and powerful. Grisre walked in and was greeted at the door. She was directed to a man behind the counter who wave her over. The two creatures went into stealth.
Stealth - Your ability to become one with your surroundings. Skills Level determines effectiveness. Can be overcome by tremor sense and blind sight.
Like before, Ross got that same off feeling, and felt himself bristle. Somehow it felt more dangerous. A realization hit him. This was the same creature that was present when the letter was delivered. It was a trap after all. To his horror, Grisre obliviously waked into the back room with the man expecting to find her old master. The Shadow Stelt, compelled to protect Danny's egg bolted towards the door immediately followed by Ross. However, Ross was almost a hair too late. Getting his tail caught in the door was a nightmare he'd experienced once, and vowed never to again.
Grisre looked about the back room only to find it empty. Ross was right. She fell into a trap hook, line, and sinker. Desperate, Grisre looked around for anyone that could help, but the only help she saw was non exsistant. “Where is Master Timdel?” She said using bluster to hide her fear. The inn keeper inhaled through his nose and let out a sigh of ecstasy. “Yes. You cannot hide your fear from me. Not even the great Master Timdel.” He just cackled his evil laugh, and motioned to a distant corner. What Grisre saw, was an old Beast Kin shivering and stained in his own urine. Was it a trick of the mind, or was he really there? She was sure the corner was empty a moment ago, but having come to a decision, moved between the demon master and the beastkin, coming to her master's defense. The inn keeper took advantage of Grisre's distracted movement as his hands shot out to grab the egg. He let out a howl of pain as his hands made contact, and began to burn over a sigil that was placed on the egg by Karber. Grisre turned and jumped away as the inn keepers flesh burned away to reveal the Demon Master beneath his ruined fleshy disguise. She looked to her cowering master for support only to find him vanishing.
Ross Saw the Demon Masters true face twist into a rage. “THAT EGG BELONGS TO ME,” It shouted. A Red semi translucent energy pulsed from his body covering the room. “and I will see that it leaves with me.” Its voice signifying its desire for the very thing it was so fervently denied for so long. Ross felt a bit of his life energy drain. His catlike muscles bulged and become stream lined. His fur took on an armor like quality not to different then that evil mages mage armor, but instead of an actual armor it coated each strand of fur, and all Ross could see was red. He lunged at the Demon Master's throat, claws shining a deep scarlet due to his Blood Rage. “Now Grisre.” Ross mentally shot out after forming his Mind Link. Grisre capitalizing on the distraction and her experience fighting with the battle master, fired a set of choreographed and over charged Magic missiles that slammed into their foe's back. They ripped through like a shotgun blast, sending bits of flesh onto the opposite wall. That is when Ross made contact with his target. Rending its very flesh from its body. The Demon master ripped the frenzied cat from his throat with little regard to his own health, and threw Ross at Grisre. The Demon Master followed up his attack by forming a black ball of magic into his hand. It was so dark that it looked like a hole in the fabric of space and time, and launched it, hitting Ross as he made contact with the beast tamer. It felt like he was being torn apart from the inside out and being hit by a bus all at the same time. Grisre fared slightly better. She cast a quick healing spell on Ross and tossed him in a safer direction. It was then that the Shadow Stelt made its presents known by launching a shadow spike into their foe. It impacted the Demon Master in the stomach and exited through the back, and like before, more flesh and viscera was ejected from the creature. Ross charged blood infused mana into claws, letting them loose on the very creature that was after Danny. The Demon master put his arms together and formed a shield that took the attack without a scratch. By this point in the fight, much of the Demon Master's flesh was covering the room, every piece undulating and coalescing and taking various shapes on the ground in what looked to be a single layer octogram with the egg in the center. Grisre must have lost track of the egg during the skirmish. She and Ross charged their foe only to be abruptly stopped at the edge by a magical barrier. What they had not noticed was a shadowy blob sink into Ross's Shadow and appear out of the Demon Master's shadow while it started monologing. “I win.” It rasped. The Demon Master placed its hand on the octogram, and it began to glow a sickly and pestilent green, and in response the ward placed on the egg lit up once more. It was then that the Stelt spread itself over the Demon Master like an all-consuming shadow, launching Shadow spike after shadow spike into it.
Master Timdel was conversing with High Lord Gwenith. “She has progressed that much? She is a natural.” Lord Gwenith was about to speak when a magical pressure began to radiate. Lord Gwenith, fearing the worst had happened, had ordered Coran into a state of war thinking that High Lord Becket had launched a surprise attack. “I will check on my student.” The Master said. He rushed down the halls in the form of a Primal Jungle cat. He found that it was capable of high speeds and maneuverability. When he arrived at her room, he noticed it empty with a note on the bed. Transforming back, he read it. He shacked with rage. Someone was about to take his student away again, but not this time. Oh no. He would not allow it. He activated his arcane sight to locate the source of the disturbance. Once he had, he teleported ready for a possible fight. Very few things were willing to attack a beast tamer. They lived in harmony with nature. No. This was unnatural. He needed to hurry.
Grisre and Ross stood at the barriers edge helpless. Unable to help Danny. The shadow Stelt had fought hard, but unlike before, it was at full power thanks to it being night, and it pushed the Demon master to its limit. Unfortunately, it lay there motionless and defeated. Her heart shattered when the high dragons ward was destroyed. She could feel Danny's anguish. He was hurt. His life force fading. She began praying for some kind of miracle. Anything, and then it happened, her old master appeared. This broke the Demon Masters concentration. Sensing his feast might be denied yet again, howled in rage. “More interruptions, and by you no less.” The demon master knowing it could not finish its feast maneuvered its flesh to alter the feasting ritual into a curse, knowing time was of the essence if he was to eat all the power that lay within the egg. If he could not finish it here, then he would just have to make it so he could later. “Timdel. I had hoped to never meet you again.” The demon Master said in hopes of delay, because the longer it took Timdel to act, the deeper his curse rotted itself. Timdel looked at the battered Grisre, the motionless Shadow Stelt, and Ross, then to the egg being cursed. His eyes went wide, and he thrust a hand to the ground, and muttered a quick incantation. Trees burst out of the ground, breaking the ritual circle. The magic feedback caused the Demon Master to flinch in pain. “I will see you again, and when I do, I will finish my ascension.” As Master Timdel broke the barrier with his staff, the Demon Master dissolved into smoke.
Ross and Grisre Began to run to the egg, but the old beastkin stopped them. “Unless you wish to become infected, let the plants do their work.” That put an immediate stop to the recklessness before it started. When the old Master indicated it was safe, he parted the trees and picked up the egg and examined it. He placed one hand below and one hand on top of it. Grisre would have normally attacked and retrieved the egg, but did not. If her master wanted her to be patient, then it was for a good reason. The pair made their way over to the shadow that lay motionless. It began to dissolve into black vapor. Grisre began to cry for the creature. It was beyond her capability to save.