Celeben sat upon a dock in a small village, along with him was a fox anthro who he had helped do odd jobs for the village. As travelers they were of no worth to the village, just temporary tools. He never learned the fox's real name, he only knows him by his alias Blaze.
Celeben stood up and stretched, then that migraine pulsated, that horrible migraine that warns Celeben Grimoire is going to speak to him. "I haven't had the soul of an anthro in a long time, bring it to me now." Grimoire's voice rings through Celeben's head then slowly fades along with the migraine.
Disappointed, hoping that he could've met a friend he knew at one point this was going to happen. Celeben pretends to slip and falls off the dock. He reaches out to Blaze coincidentally dragging him in too. There underwater Celeben snaps Blaze's neck and surfaces watching his soul go into his necklace. Celeben climbs back onto the dock and walks away like nothing happened.
Yet he couldn't just walk away. A massive man, clad in steel was stood infront of him as Celeben crawled out. A grey tattered cape. His arms folded. His face hidden by a steel mask. Several streaks of crimson blood decorated the armor. The man was surrounded by an aura of entropy. A practicioner of darker arts. Such as Celeben. The man took a step back, merely looking at Celeben.
"Intruiging.." The man's voice sounded deep, cold. And filled with some kind of darker, yet powerful authority. "Yet quick to betray.." He added, quirking his eyebrow behind the mask.
"Who...who are y-" Celeben stops short in his sentence grasping his head in pain.
"Tread carefully vessel this being is no mere mortal...it is closer to what I am than to a being of flesh and has the strength to even kill me."
The migraine fades leaving Celeben trembling. That was the first time ever that he heard fear in Grimoire's voice. He's always feared Grimoire, but now there's someone right in front of him who stronger.
"You needn't fear me. Yet." The heretic king declared. "You have a gift.. Bestowed upon you by none but the lady of grey herself." He stepped forward, the steel armor sheening with a dark green energy. "Kneel." Was what he stated. The aura of pure entropy surrounding him only intensifying. "State your name." It wasn't a request. They way he said it. It was a command. Filled with incredible amounts of authority. No was not an answer.
A very intruiging character. Limadan saw his trembling. So the man immediatly recognised Limadan as a force dtronger than him. It was wise. Yet unwise to show the fear.
Celeben immediately knelt before him. "My name is Celeben Lavan, I am a traveling rune maker and have explored many ruins for if you seek anything from the past I will most likely know which ruin holds it and the truth of its affect."
"A runescribe? Most intruiging. And said soulless husk sinking to the bottom of the docks? Is this through one of your runes?" A slow huff resounded from Limadan. "This village soon will be razed to the ground. Follow me if you wish. Or die as a fool who did not show gratitude. The choice is yours. Submit to Harmaa and the lady of grey or perish." The heretic king turned around. Soon, one of the houses caught fire. Lighting up as a beacon in the middle of the small coastal village. Others soon followed. Loud cries and pleas heard. Screams of fear and pain as his spectral minions set the houses on fire and killed anyone who stood in the way of their attrition.
The heretic king took several steps over the docks. Turning around to see if Celeben had decided. To join or to perish in the flames of his heresy.
There really wasn't much of a choice for him, from being controlled by Grimoire for so long hes become numb to death. Deep down he hoped that this being could kill Grimoire, but then he'd just go from one sadistic master to another.
Celeben slowly stands. "I killed him with my hands, I have become very adept in stealth killing. My runes are normally used for summons and defense. I can make attack runes though, if you'd like I'll be your personal runescribe."
"Come, brother." Limadan said, his voice growing slightly lighter in sound. It seemed even the hulking menace was able to feel emotions that resembled some form of joy. He held his hand out, a gesture the king only extended to those worthy of his time. Worthy of his attention and even worthy of his respect. "The lady of grey awaits." A house crashed down behind him, yet he seemed unphased. Tested by the fires of war time and time again.
Celeben reached out and shook his hand. "Lead and I'll follow." Just then a swarm of souls from the dead villagers started gathering within Celeben's necklace, feeling Grimoire's power increase.
He noticed the sudden influx of souls being gathered, pulling the man closer, grabbing his face and looking at the necklace for a brief second. "Hmm." He merely mused, before letting go of Celeben. It seemed that either this necklace was cursed. Or it was used as a catalyst to gather the souls. An intruiging little trinket.
He nodded slowly, letting go of his hand and turning around to walk away, through the blazing village.
Celeben followed Limaden cringing with every cluster of souls he took in. "So may I ask you my lord, what is the name you go by?"
"Limadan of Harmaa. The Heretic King." He looked back at Celeben. Noting the amulet was constantly absorbing souls. It would rather be a weakness to him. This man would absorb souls faster that he would. "Can you control that magick?" Limadan asked, a woman unning up to the two and collapsing at Limadan's feet with hysterical crying.
He looked at Celeben, kicking the woman off of him with the steel boot. Breaking her nose. "End her." He stated as he stepped over the sobbing woman.
"Not quite." Celeben responds while taking out a rune and summoning his rope dart. "I usually kill people one at a time so the souls don't enter all at once like this." He steps back and looks the woman in the eyes at he whips the top dart into her throat.
He pulls it out watching a fountain of blood pour out of her jugulars until her eyes glaze over. "Sorry, nothing personal." He says while stashing his rune and catching up with Limaden.
"Hm. Then we shall force it into submission." He merely stated, matter of factly. "I am not killing.. I am merely setting an exemple. The world shall know our name. Fear Harmaa once more." He said, hearing a cry of fear and pain, followed by a splurt of blood. Confirming the kill.
He glanced to his side, seeing Celeben at his side once more. "Finished?"
Now trailing right behind, Celeben responds. "Yes master Limaden the deed is done." The w floats into his necklace, feeling relived that it wasn't mixed with a cluster. "So master Limaden where are we heading."
"Where?" He chuckled slowly. "We're wandering. Seeking people that wish for the teachings of Harmaa." He said as he walked away from the razing village. "We will find others. After that, we'll be able to worry about a home."
"I normally sleep in inns or ruins. If you don't mind I would like to do some research in ruins that bared followers of Harmaa. I have only heard that word a few times in my studies and would like to know more about it."
"And soon. You will sleep upon the carcasses of your foes." He replied with a slow chuckle. "And ask your questions. You will swear an oath to the lady of grey when the time is right."
Celeben fidgets awkwardly at that first comment and he senses the mixed emotions Grimoire is sending about Limaden. "Well I do suppose you are an quite erudite source on this subject. So could you please explain to me what is the exact definition of Harmaa and who is the lady of grey."
"The teachings of Harmaa presented to us by the lady of grey.." He glanced over his shoulder. "Your necklace is such a gift of her." He let out a slow sigh, trudging onwards. "These are clear. Attain power at any cost to serve her. Serve none else. And cut down any opposition in your way." He let out a slow, amused chuckle. "The lady of grey is a greater diety. Only seeking to feed on souls of the damned. She barely meddles in any of our affairs. Yet, the mistress accepts all souls gifted to her."
Celeben suddenly experiences an epiphany. "Then that means...The lady of gray and Grimoire are similar beings...which means Limaden is just a vessel...just like me" Celeben mutters to himself. He looks up to Limaden. "Just one more inquiry for now. Has the lady of gray ever been seen? And does she ever speak to you?"
He turned around to the murmur. He had heard that. "So.. This is another being that controls this?" He asked, stepping forward. "And no.. I am no vessel to the lady of grey.. Though I am her primary agent.." He nodded slowly. "Very infrequently.. Only those deservant have seen her."
He chuckled darkly. "I for one, saw her during my rebirth.. After I killed my predecessor.."
All the color drains from Celeben's face once he realizes that Limaden heard him. "U-uh yes there is, that is who owns my necklace. They also demand much more for if I disobey them I will explode." Celeben hopes revealing this information won't kill him, but he also hope that if Limaden was truly reborn, which would fill in some piecing pieces if he was. Then he could possibly be reborn without the curse.
"I see." He said, the glove around his left arm loosenint and dropping to the floor. Revealing a completrly black and corrupted hand. Green cracks in it. Sharp fingerd that resepbled claws more than anything. And so you are subjugated by this creature. You have to dominate it to unlock your full power," He said, before turning around and grabbing Celeben's face with the corrupted hand.
"You have to give an exemple of whom is the strongest." He said, Grimoire would feel Limadan's full power and potential. A power that dwarfed the sentient curse, able to crush the being's power underfoot. "And that is me!"
"Gaaaah!!" Celeben screams like a banshee as he ascends upwards and breaks Limaden's grip. His coat slips off and his wrapping unfurl revealing glowing runes covering every inch of skin.
Eyes now glowing a murky purple, Celeben speaks with a much different voice. "Fool! You gave me power, you cannot take my vessel away!" Grimoire demonstrates this by combusting the ground beneath him.
Limadan stepped back, snarling slowly. "So you decided to show your nature. I am not interedted in your vessel.." Limaean grinned underneath his mask, the flames licking at his feet. Yet, he didn't seem to mind. The green runes on his armor radiating brightly and warding the fire off. "I am interested in you. Created by the lady of grey."
He folded his arms. "All I ask is your loyality. You have seen my power and currently, it dwarfs yours."
"Know your place agent I wold rank higher than you if I still affiliated with her." Grimoire slowly floats down until his feet land amongst unscorched lands. Not wanting to admit that his power isn't strong enough to defeat he decides to negotiate.
"I cannot hold this form for much longer, but I will align with you if you show me your worth. There are three enemies I want eliminated. Morgaul a beast that lurks under the murky seas of the Serendipity coast, Ninring an elder dragon in the Thunderblacks, and Issomir an ettin demi-god in the tundra. You are the closest to Morgaul so I want it dead first. Do we have a deal?"
A dry huff resounded form this so called agent. Followed by a slow chuckle that transitioned into a manical laughter. "Agent?! Higher?! I am the Vanguard! Under my banner, the army of grey gathers!" His voice sounded coated in anger, green chains bursting from the corrupted left hand, slowly swaying and defying gravity.
"You are nothing! You do not allow to command me. This negotiation went as far as me offering to not take your power and being right now!" The green, ethereal chains seemed to grow thicker and longer. "So, I ask again. Do I have your loyality? Are you willing to honor your creator's way and follow the Vanguard?"
Grimoire crosses his arms. "I pledge my full allegiance only if you kills those monsters. They're targets for your master too, so it's a win win scenario, only a fool would turn it down."
The Heretic King merely shook his head. "My mistress would ask this of me. And not send an infidel to tell me." Yet he smirked underneath his mask. "However. I and I alone will kill these creatures and reap their souls for myself and for the lady of grey."
Grimoire gives a small smirk. "Then we are rivals in the hunt. Once all three souls are reaped the loser shall be cursed with whatever the winner pleases. We cannot attack each other, but civilians are fair play." Grimoire chuckles "Civilians are so fair play."
Limadan merely snarled in response. "What are the terms of victory or defeat?"
Gromoire sighs. "I already explained this, but then again a brute must listen twice. Whoever is the victor can curse the other with whatever they please. Whoever is defeated must bare that curse."
He conjures a contract and quill. "So do we have a deal?"
"If you weren't the self-centered sack of shit you are, you would have understood my question." Limadan merely sighed, not even going to the extent or trouble of explaining the question. It was simple. There were three souls. Was it the one who got all three? The most souls? The first soul?
Green chains shot from the ground, circling around Grimoire and aiming to pull him down to the ground. "I have no time for weaklings such as you or your vessel," he sighed slowly, "you have lost my interest. Celeben. I advice you to kill yourself as soon as you can. This powerless filth will try and occupy your mind." He merely said as he turned around, the chains slowly dissipating again. Limadan merely walked away.
Grimoire only chuckled. "Tsk tsk, almighty hand of the lady in gray. It looks like this deal is going no where and my time is up." Celeben's eyes returned to normal and he collapses on his knees. Faintly looking up he sees Limaden walking way. "Wait!"
"Consider yourself lucky time has ran out." He merely answered, trudging onwards.
Yet Celeben's plea made him stop in his tracks. "Do you think you can subjugate him?" His question was simple. Yes would allow Limadan to have a powerful ally at his side. No would mean eliminiation and a less powerful ghastly addition to his army.
Celeben clenched his fists feeling the searing pain of his runes. Gulping before answering he says. "I can subjugate him with enough willpower." This was a shot in the dark. Celeben had no idea if he could but dying from that would certainly be a lot less likely then dying from saying no to Limaden.
"Good. Rise." He merely said, before walking onwards. "In time, we shall see if your words are true. If not, you will become part of my spectral army." He stated rather bluntly.
Celeben slowly stands nodding. He runs up to Limaden seeming to be back to square one with him. "So I acknowledge your intention is to spread the word of the lady in gray, but may I inquire that we should have distinct areas to works towards. We will discover higher masses with a plan."
"Hm. Do share your plans." He looked back at Celeben as he trudged onwards, a sickening aura of entropy still surrounding the enourmous man.
"Well the most logical coarse of action will to herd a mass in one space. The largest population in this area is Cerenis, so what if we were trap the residents inside the port town. No escape, and we can slaughter the biggest maritime town of Serendipity."
Celeben was disgusted by his plan, but he knew it was him or them. He currently didn't have any friends so the loss would still be saddening, but it wouldn't affect him as much. "The only problem is how we'd trap them...I can make sealing runes to block off the town, but that will consume time...do you have anything more proficient in mind?"
"No. It would cause unnescessary attention. The risk is too great." He sighed slowly. "We would have an entire army send marching into our bacls. Thus this is not an option."
Celeben pondered this, finding it interesting that Limaden has his limits. Calculating another idea he then responds. "Well how about a variant of poisonous gas. We could shroud the place and no one will know it's us."
"We should not seek to kill with out reason." He sighed slowly. "Harmaa needs more strength. More followerd. Destroying a city now would be counterproductive."
A look of shock paints over his face. His expression then fades back to normal as he exhales a sigh of relief. "Well that notion was unexpected, I am used to Grimoire's bloodlust. So shall we take a more missionary route then?"
"For now. We have to focus on finding a place we can return to. Harmaa is growing larger. We need to construct our church." He merely replied. "Bloodlust can solve a lot of problems. But it is foolish to be led by it."
Unintentionally Celeben's face lights up. The gears really started to turn in his head, because he for once wasn't doing anything destructive. "I know exactly where we can build it. If my memory is correct there should be an abandoned settlement north of here."
"Lead the way. It will suffice as a temporary base." He said with a nod.
A grin plasters on his face. "Wonderful, I am elated that we have concluded a set plan." Celeben starts heading towards the direction of the ruins while keeping a wary eye on Limaden. He still didn't feel safe around him, but is glad to have him as an ally, even if it ends up to be temporary.
Words. So much fancy words for no reason whatsoever. It seemed this man was more of a talker than a fighter. A tactician, rather than a warrior. It was surprising. And it was not a bad thing at all.
The journey to the abandoned settlement was for the most part uneventful. It wasn't until homes were in view, when an eerie aura falls upon them. "Do you sense that Limaden? This magnitude of sorrow wasn't irradiating on my last venture here."
Celeben shifts uneasily. He tries pulling from his memory any evidence that could shine a light on this. The only strange part he could remember was that it seemed that there was no sign of struggling in the settlement, like they all just disappeared.
"Hm. It is trivial." He merely murmured. The aura of sorrow Celeben talked about was a mere faint whisp in comparison to the aura of dread that surrounded the bloodrager. "To me. We shall uncover the source." He said as he stepped into the courtyard.
Following Limaden dutifully, Celeben nods. "Based on my previous venture, the locations that will likely withhold the maximum about of clues are the tavern, the mayor's home, and the church."
Stepping next to Limaden, he looks up to him. "So, where shall we begin?"
"I.. Hate churches of other religions.. We'll check there first." Limadan muttered as he adjusted the sheath of the greatsword on his back, walking over the desolate courtyard, his dark eyes scanning around for any potential threat.
"Ah, alright then. Pleasant to know that I have not dedicated myself to a church." Celeben clears his throat. "I mean besides the ones for The Lady in Gray of course."
Celeben heads to the seemingly normal church, expecting Limaden to follow. As he nears closer and closer to the church, the dark energy seemed to get stronger and stronger. Upon reaching the church, Celeben's head throbbed from the shadowy aura.
Creaking the door open, he peers in. What lays upon his vision is a basic Connlaothian church interior. "Hmm interesting, I must have forgotten to note that these townsfolk may have had roots to Connlaoth." Celeben mumbles.
Limadan chuckled dryly at the remark. Humorous to his knowledge. He felt the aura thickening, grunting slowly under his breath. Whatever was in there wouldn't outdo him. The door creaked open and Limadan's dreadful aura pressed down on whatever living thing near. Twicefold that of the other aura. It would force anyone normal to their knees. "Pay tribute." Was what he said as he walked in. "For I am the apex."
The whole church began shaking, Celeben clasps his head in agony as Grimoire contacts him. "Are you trying to kill me? This is a church to Tenebris, a goddess of shadows. Direct her power to Limaden, remember if I loose my life, you're going down with me.
Grimoire's voice fades as a collection of darkness forms into a feminine figure. With a body to the presence the shaking halts to a stop. "Who disturbs my slumber with infidel blood?" She pauses for a moment then laughs. "An agent of that farce Lady in Gray and Grimoire's latest vessel...how cute."
Limadan didn't seem any kind of impressed. "A [i[farce[/i]?" His eyes narrowed behind his mask and he started to grin. "A farce?!" A deep and bellowing laughter rose from him. "You know her name. So you know her power. She claims this wretched place."
With a slow sheen, he pulled the greatsword from his back. "You will become a part of my army." His voice was dripping with anticipation.
Analyzing the location of a possible clash of deities, Celeben sparks a plan, that won't kill him, and can assure a victory for Limaden. Reaching into his rune bag, Celeben takes a handful of blank runes, and hastily begins inscribing barrier symbols on them.
"Limaden sir, not that I doubt your power at all, but this being is not it's corporeal form. Her power is radiating through this church, if I were to seal that power with these ruins, that will trap her, and force her to show her true form and power. Do I have permission to proceed with this plan?"
Limadan snarled slowly. "Step back. Be ready to protect yourself." Etheral chains shot up from the ground, wrapping around the figure and pulling her down to the floor. "My spectral army.. Is called spectral for a reason. You cannot tear out a soul with corporeal chains."