Night of the Raven Shade (FINISHED)

[Zolanius Thyre]

Night begins to settle on the river as the sun sets over the majestic blue waters that the river was known for. The moon was already up and casting a brilliant light into the river, almost giving it an eerie yet sparkling glow. Just next to the river was a small fire surrounded by three tents. Some human merchants had just made camp and were telling stories of riches, jokes, and general gossip. Yes, they had been making good time, and everything was going according to schedule. But they weren't alone.

In the distance, a black figure began to creep towards them, slowly. The moon was barely able to expose the figure. It had a hood, and from behind the hood came an other-worldly set of glowing orbs for eyes, and a white protrusion in the shape of a beak. When he had gotten to the camp, the humans just became aware of his presence. They jumped up with defensive stances and daggers drawn. "Who... What are you!?" Shouted one of the merchants. "Are you a bandit?" Questioned another.

But the figure stayed silent, staring them down while sizing them up. A crooked, hollowed laughter subtly sounded from behind the hood as he shifted his body. In the light of the fire was exposed a large scythe. The humans began to back away cautiously, all but one. The foolish one was frightened, and attempted to deal the first blow in petty selfdefense. The shrouded creature simply side-stepped do dodge. The figure was now surrounded, and had his chance. With a single swing, he took out two of them, the one who attacked and a second one. They fell to the ground with bleeding wounds. It was so quick, the last human was at a loss for words.

He turned tail and tried to run. But try as he might, the monster caught up. It had sprouted long, black wings and taken flight, only to land in front of the fleeing human. The wings folded inward as the human fell backwards in fear. He was trying to back away when the fiend lifted his scythe and swung it down with force. The merchant screamed for his life... and it was spared.

The scythe had missed, the blade in the ground. The monster pointed an arm in the direction of the castle, in a way that says, "Flee now, pathetic human, and tell the world what you just saw." The merchant ran for his life, having dropped his dagger, to tell of when he saw what the world would come to know as The Raven Shade.

[Kulau]

Kulau had been out visiting one of his brothers on patrol to deliver a message from his father. It was late so Kulau knew the dangers, but Zora's River was usually pretty quiet.

Then he heard screaming, and what sounded like a fight while he was swimming back up.

Looking up from the river he saw a silhouette of a winged man standing over another silhouette of what appeared do be a very frightened man running away. Kulau stepped out of the water and toward the silhouette, feeling the need to protect his homeland. The patrols weren't around right now, so it was all down to him. He readied his fins and closed the distance, walking briskly but not running just yet.

"What's going on here? Who are you?" He was going to allow the man to explain himself before making any accusations, although his tone was implying one. However, often the situation was very different from how it appears, and this may very well be the case.

[Zolanius Thyre]

Zolanius stares at the Zora with his glowing eyes, tilting his head in examination. He wasn't expecting an interruption, but another kill is good on him. Or at least a good scare. When he questioned the situation, the creature pointed towards the campsite, inviting him to examine the remains of the camp. And in a hollow voice, he speaks aloud.
[glow=purple,2,300]"I give you this chance to flee, Zora... Or you may suffer the same fate."[/glow]

[Kulau]

Kulau had a hard time believing his own ears. Was he...admitting to his actions? Getting a glimpse of the recent vacated campsite as he paced around, he saw something he refused to believe.

Dead humans. Simple merchants camping on the banks of the river. And they were slaughtered. This could not be allowed to stand.

Turning to the winged monster, he stood as tall as he could and scowled, though in the dark it may have been difficult to see.

"I give you one chance to surrender. You have committed murder on the coastline of the Zora homeland. Such an offense cannot go unpunished. You will be brought before her majesty, Queen Rutela and answer for your crimes here." Knowing that the man would not cooperate, since they never did, he assumed a battle-ready stance, intending to engage in combat. Hopefully it would not be long before a patrol passed through here.

[Zolanius Thyre]

Zolanius took a relaxed stance, almost as if he didn't care if he was going to be attacked. He knew the type. Honorable to a fault, these diplomatic sorts were. Almost pointless to fight, really.

[glow=purple,2,300]"Silly mortal... Are you not afraid? Are you not curious? You petty creatures live such a miserable life... It's really embarrassing to watch."[/glow] He spoke in stereo, like there were two voices coming from this other-worldly figure. Hollow, tainted, and it carried a tone of malevolence. [glow=purple,2,300]"You may try to strike me down but the damage has been done. Blood now marks the current of your proud society, and I couldn't be more satisfied. But I wonder... Do you bleed like them? Or does something like you even bleed? I'd very much like to find out..."[/glow]

He glided his finger over the scythe blade and collected blood on his hand. And he flicked it into the water, baiting him to make a mistake. It would be his own undoing. As he mentioned, the damage was done. There was really no reason to be there, but this might turn out to be fun.

[Kulau]

Kulau stood there as the threats didn't ring with Kulau. Flicking blood into the river was a desecration, of course, but Kulau was not about to make the first move. It was too predictable. Besides, the longer he waited the more likely a warrior patrol would come down the river and find them, shifting the odds in favor of Kulau and his people.

He was reminded of the black knight, a shadow puppet to that mysterious woman who defiled the lake. The parallels were striking. The double voice piqued his curiosity. It would be unwise to engage this man in solo combat, not while he had wings.

"What do you hope to gain by killing? Are you simply trying to revel in the slaughter of the innocent?" Was somebody, anybody even that evil. Some were after power, some for revenge. It was rare to find someone who killed so nonchalantly. "Or are you some otherworldly creature? A demon? A poe? There had to be reason that Kulau wasn't grasping.

[Zolanius Thyre]

[glow=purple,2,300]"Hehe... You talk as though "other-worldly" entities are allowed to kill without reasons? Ha! I thank you for that justification, my conscience feels so much better."[/glow] He switched hands with his scythe and slowly walked towards the Zora, slowly. Despite the small campfire, a chill would gather in the air from Skeith's influence, the spirit within the monster. The way he walked so nonchalantly, it was as if he wasn't expecting a fight. [glow=purple,2,300]"I kill for a higher order, the bigger picture... Filth like those humans taint the world with their greed and evil. Is this what the Goddesses wanted? To have the world they worked so hard to build and maintain rotting away under the poison that is mortal life? No, I don't kill for pleasure... That is just part of the benefits. So I ask you...[/glow]

He prepared a battle stance, the scythe blade behind him and the sword end pointed slightly upward, towards the Zora. [glow=purple,2,300]"Are you going to fight the will of a higher power? Or will your bleeding passion force you to upset the balance?"[/glow]

[Kulau]

Kulau prepared for an attack as Zolanius approached. Something was wrong with this man, he seemed demonized, or maybe he was just really creepy. Although, his earlier encounter with Veran made him believe otherwise.

"I don't know if you are insane or possessed, but you cannot be allowed to taint the ground with anymore blood. However, I also believe that the body that stands in front of me is not the one who should be blamed for these actions. I would hate to have to bring harm to a host when the parasite is the culprit." He kept his blades up, but did not strike. He had already taken offensive action against a host once, and still regretted the action. He also kept his eyes toward the shadows, knowing that at any moment his own could pop up much like last time.

[Zolanius Thyre]

[glow=purple,2,300]"I'm afraid to tell you that this parasite was the greatest thing that's come into my life..."[/glow]

This mortal didn't hear a thing he said. Pity. It was time to make an example of this one. Zolanius couldn't help but notice that he was wary of his own shadow. And the fight hadn't even gotten started yet. Zolanius decided to perform a sneak attack. With his telekinesis, a flaming piece of cinder sprung from the campfire to burn and distract Kulau as Zolanius had swung his scythe behind Kulau's feet, and pulled back in an attempt to trip him up and damage the legs.

[Kulau]

So it would appear the battle had begun. And not particularly well for Kulau.

The distraction from the burning cinders wasn't what bothered Kulau during this exchange. He was just simply lost in his own thoughts and had trouble focusing. He manged to get away from most of the damage the scythe would do, but took a couple of cuts on his legs and still ended up on the ground. It seemed that any attempt to resolve this peacefully was over.

Kulau wasn't going to get up right away. He kept himself prone for now, anticipating the next attack from the possessed oocca. There was nothing Kulau could think to say at this point that would help the situation, so the attacks would have to suffice.

[Zolanius Thyre]

With the Zora on the ground, there was an advantage. Zolanius lept into the air and landed just above Kulau with the scythe in the air. He was already going for the killing blow.

[glow=purple,2,300]"Now, time to die in your sacred waters... A fine honor."[/glow]

He swung the scythe downward in a sweeping motion, aiming for the neck. Pity that such a valiant being would meet his end so soon...

[Kulau]

Kulau was anticipating one with a killing penchant would go for a killing blow like this. As he landed, a fog quickly crept in from the lake, one created by Kulau to obscure the battlefield. Kulau quickly slashed at Zola's legs. From there, he made his way up and behind Zolanius.

"I will not die by your hands, fiend." Kulau said from behind the possessed oocca. He quickly charged where Zola was, slashing across where Zola's back was before. He wasn't aiming to kill, only injure and incapacitate. He intended to bring him to justive and have him questioned.

[Zolanius Thyre]

Fog? Clever... As Zolanius stepped back from the pain in his legs, he heard a voice. But not Kulau's voice. No, Skeith made a hurried command. Move, damn you! Zolanius summoned some magic, Will o' Wisps. They flew around him to force Kulau back, for he risks being burned. The slashes connected either way, and Zolanius darted away in pain and took a defensive stance.

"You dare strike m-[glow=purple,2,300]Hehe... Nice shot... Even good souls like yours has to resort to shady tactics. Well done..."[/glow]

[Kulau]

Kulau knew as the fog dissipated that this man was more than just a flying scythe-wielder. As he connected, wisps appeared and singed Kulau's skin, causing him to take a step back and reset his more defensive stance.

"Let him go. He has done nothing to deserve this." Kulau knew he was going to disadvantage himself by not being willing to kill. But he couldn't kill who he saw to be an innocent. It wouldn't help root out the source of the problem, which was the demon controlling him.

Slowly Kulau took steps toward the water, hoping Zola would pursue.

[Zolanius Thyre]

[glow=purple,2,300]Hmhmm... Why do you even care?"[/glow]

The cloaked figure held out his left arm which appeared to be covered by something metallic, but the light of the moon can only reveal so much. From his gauntlet fired five needles with a subtle whistle of tiny blades cutting through the air. After, a small box fell and made small metallic noises as the magazine impacted the ground.

[Kulau]

"I try to avoid harming the innocent.

As the needles fired, Kulau did his best to get out of the way. However, while he could easily dodge 1, 5 wasn't nearly as easy. He dodged 3, but one ended up piercing his blade while the other embedded itself in his chest. Nowhere vital, but it hurt like no other.

"Gah!" he exclaimed, ripping the first needle out of his blade. The other one was still in his chest as he staggered back, trying his best to remain stable. He wasn't a natural fighter, and claiming diplomatic immunity now seemed to be an unwise decision. Part of him started to accept that he wasn't going to win this fight, but he still had some strength left, strength he would make use of.

[Zolanius Thyre]

[glow=purple,2,300]"You know nothing of us..."[/glow]

He flapped his wings and took flight, flying in circles like a vulture, the glow of his eyes fixed on Kulau like a hawk. How to strike next...

[glow=purple,2,300]"I give you one last chance to run away. Return to your safe haven and I promise you I will not follow. Stand and fight, and I will paint the waters with the ink of your blood!"[/glow] He followed his threat with an evil chuckle and prepared his scythe.

[Kulau]

Kulau had not accomplished what he wished to accomplish. He had made a couple of mistakes during the battle that cost him dearly. Now he was facing down a vulturous oocca while bleeding out of his bladed fin. This was not going to end well for Kulau. He knew what he had to do, he had to take his description of this dark oocca to higher powers.

"I encourage you to follow. That way you can feel the might of a true Zora warrior, instead of a diplomat like myself." He jumped into the water and activated his water cloak, making him invisible as he swam upstream towards the domain, needle still in his hand and the other still embedded in his chest.

[Zolanius Thyre]

[glow=purple,2,300]That's right... Run! Flee to your queen and tell her The Raven Shade is out for blood! The reckoning is upon thee![/glow]

It wouldn't be smart nor practical to follow under hostility. Numbers weren't that important anyways. He got the message across. He flew and landed in the campsite and smiled from behind the mask. He layer his scythe down and moved the bodies to collect blood for a crooked act. He used it as ink to paint a sort of rune in the ground, a line looping to create a strange X with what looks like a sinister pair of wings sprouting from the center. He was now known by the Zora...

He couldn't be happier.~

He unfolded his wings once more and took flight with scythe in hand, and left behind an echoing laughter.

[Kulau]

Kulau returned to Zora's Domain. A needle in his chest, he was going to get looked at by his brothers. This attack on a Zora, and a Zora diplomat at that, was going to create some drama once everything settled down. He'd need to file a report and probably go see Ryst, the Oocca Lord.

EXIT[/i][/u]