Post by joshua on Nov 16, 2018 23:36:17 GMT -8
Joshua found himself sat in the tower his mind chaotic and his laughter more maniacal then ever. " Tonight my children, tonight your parents shall be free and you along with them, tonight I finally fulfil my purpose, my reason for being " he would walk up the spiral stair case and check each soul shard in turn, making sure everything was perfect there would be only one chance to get it right, one chance to make him the spectre of death and plague his father had designed him to be, and after making sure all the children were alive and that the vortex was at full power and simply set on the altar of bone he had created and would wait.
Monet Vargo
had spent the day preparing herself for their plans this evening. Proper attire was worn, her hair was put back in a braid, her tools her maintenanced, and she had made sure to get plenty of rest.
Mordred Vargo
was reading in his study. He knew his sister and brother were preparing. He wanted to assure he had complete recall of all the nuances both overt and subtle the ritual would require.
Joshua
Joshua would finally allow his mind to calm, the time was upon him and after this night there would be no going back for him, he looked up and admired the structure he had created and all it little subtlety's, Derpbert was curled up in the fire place and the children could tell something bad was headed their way as Joshua's usual insane and twisted demeanour had changed to one of focus and maturity. " So then this is what it has come to, the plans put in motion many years ago by our father coming to conclusion at the hands of my brother, how strangely fate weaves it's path through our lives " he couldn't help but laugh.
Monet Vargo
joined Mordred not long after she was finished with her preparations. There was no reason to verbalize that she was ready and interrupt his own reading. Staying next to him, she simply leaned against the chair and once the time was right, she would depart with him to visit Joshua.
Mordred Vargo
would gather the six crystals that would act as a phylactery making sure they did not touch each other. He would reread a final passage and then close his eyes and still his mind. He would need utmost concentration and Monet's presence to complete the six degree of separation ritual. His father notes were incomplete but he was able to piece together the how to for the final four degrees. He would ask Monet then, "are you ready beloved? Do you have your blades?"
Monet Vargo
nods to him, patting the satchel at her side where things were tucked away to stay sanitized.
Mordred Vargo
moved in unison with Monet down into their father's lab. He set the crystals in certain places, then asked Monet, "your favorite blade...may I have it please."
Monet Vargo
held her hand out and her Darkling blade appeared into the air with a swirl of darkness. It was in pristine conditions since she hadn't used it recently. Handing it over to Mordred, she nodded to him. Her favorite blade had always been the one that Laelia gifted her, with the matching set of armor, back when she was Queen of Blackthorn. It enhanced Monet's magic when channeled through it.
Mordred Vargo
asked his twin between a stolen kiss, "You do know what I plan to do with this don't you?"
Monet Vargo
shook her head slightly, a smirk at the kiss. "I do not, but you asked for my favorite. Should I get my second favorite instead?"
Mordred Vargo
would pause, "explain to me the arcane properties if any of this blade..."He would turn it over in his hands examining it.
Monet Vargo
nodded and went on to explain it the way Laelia had told her, as well as her own experiences using it. "It taps into my magic, primarily my manipulation of darkness. I haven't tested it with blood magic or my elemental power. Once it taps into it, the power is amplified so long as I'm still channeling that magic into the blade. Where as I might cast a shadow circle around myself ordinarily... Darkling would let me extend that shadow to about the size of the arena instead."
Mordred Vargo
would nod..."we will need your second favorite then." He sat the darkling blade aside.
Monet Vargo
nodded and like before, the second blade came into her hands. It was her first blade she had ever used. It took many lives, but had no magical properties to it. It was a black blade like Darkling, with an obsidian handle. "This was my primarily blade before gifted Darkling. I retired it after, but kept it for the memories of my kills and how it protected me when I was alone."
Mordred Vargo
would again only nod, "good, this one is more suitable." He set the blade beside the crystals and then would embrace Monet. "I will require you to strike the final blow to Joshua with this blade. Are you capable of doing so with no remorse?"
JoshuaToday
Joshua as he sat on the altar would begin to hear voices, cold and calculated those of his father. ~ You will not be loved Joshua, you will not be taught or cared for you are no more then a weapon to be used by your brother as he see's fit, that is your purpose, that is your reason for being no more no less do you understand?~ Joshua's eye's flung open and he nodded. " Yes father I understand " the voices returned. ~ Your mother has left you, as has your other brother Tristan, and now you are banished from these lands if you return I will kill you ~ Joshua began laughing insanely as an aura began to form around his body but it was not like his brothers this was different and as it spread out the children in the cages would begin to argue and shout as their emotions began to run wild.
Monet Vargo
nodded again, glancing at the blade. "I hesitated with the Simulacrum because it reminded me of father. I do not wish to cause issues with this ritual, I have resolved myself in this and know that Joshua does it of his own free will which helps."
Mordred Vargo
would nod again, "good." His answers and mannerism was short and directed as he was preserving every ounce of energy for the ritual that lay ahead of them.
Joshua
The vortex had by now risen to it's highest point in preparation for the ritual, it was more of a defence mechanism for if his new form was uncontrollable, the soul shards were now humming in anticipation and by now the aura within the tower was almost palpable to the point that if anyone entered uninvited or unprotected they would instantly lose their minds from the sheer onslaught of emotion they would be subjected to, the only thing protecting the children from ripping each other apart were wards Joshua had put in place upon completion of the tower.
Mordred Vargo
_explained the ritual to Monet as they made their way to Joshua's tower. "The ritual is called the six degree's of separation. Used to craft six phylactery's for one lich. Allowing the lich to have in essence six times to die fully. What must be done is that the major artery in each arm and each leg will be severed. His head will be cut free and his torso finally split in half. You will have to swing your blade with enough force to chop his torso in half with one blow. Once his body has been dismembered, the six soul crystals will be placed. Two in the arms, two in the legs allowing him control over his body. The one that should go to the head will be mine...I'll explain later. The torso shard will be implanted in your sword, allowing it sentience. He WILL beg for us to stop but do not, ignore all cries and pleads if not done in an exact and precise manner we could loose our little brother...but if done properly he will grow in power. You will have a sentient blade and the final shard, will be guarded in the most inaccessible place...my own skull. Still your will to the rampant emotions in his tower. They no longer hold sway over me but you are still mortal...be prepared."
Monet Vargo
listened carefully and nodded, putting each instruction to memory and glancing at the tower as she let out a long, deep breath. "I shall do my best, for Joshua's sake. He says he doesn't trust us and yet... he allows this..." she smiled a little bit to herself and followed Mordred to the tower. Even just getting close and not yet inside had her feeling the wave of emotion and the sound.
Joshua
Joshua was by now pacing around the tower, the voices had turned from a cold scolding to taunting and mocking but not from Camien but this time from unkown sources most likely his own inner doubts. ~ This won't work you're too weak, he's right you will die and they will just laugh and leave you like they did before ~ Joshua was clawing at his face at this point peeling skin from muscle and then he just stopped and laughed. " Well then if I die I die but at least I will know they accepted me and they will know that by allowing this they had my undying trust from the very beginning "
Mordred Vargo
entered Joshua's tower with Monet and paused. There was a throbbing sound in his ears, he would bellow his little brother's name, "JOSHUA" For a brief instance the throbbing would subside as if he had caused the wailing children to hush at the sound of his voice. The six soul crystals kept each in a separate belt pouch would begin to hum and reverberate with a dark energy.
Monet Vargo
winced at the noise and then a thought came to her. She gave herself a mild case of swimmers ear... not enough to be painful, or throw off her balance... but enough to reduce the noise and not block it completely so she could still clearly hear her brothers.
Joshua
Joshua fell silent and turned to face the entrance to the main room. " In here " was all he said as he took one last deep breath and gave his tower one final look before the ritual would begin, he enjoyed pain and suffering but to have ones very soul ripped apart was a pain more then even he would able to withstand and yet he knew he must, he had a sick will to see just how much he could endure.
Mordred Vargo
turned to Monet, "ladies first..." He would follow her into where Joshua had hailed them. He kept his focus and would have a dispassionate air about himself. "We are ready when you are litle brother...i warn you though...this is something you cannot come back from. You will be a stranger in strange lands when you finally awaken. Your body will be broken and your very soul split six ways, four of which you control, another portion of it belongs to Monet and I. Swear to US...this is your desire...."
Monet Vargo
had placed a dampening spell around the tower before they entered. Any sound would not escape, and any magic that tried to push past would be weakened and alert them to the invasion. Then she walked up to the top of the tower and looked at Joshua with calmness, reassuring him she was here with him and they cared. It might have been unnecessary, but she still did it.
JoshuaToday
Joshua looked to his brother and then to his sister and bowed his head. " I swear to you both this is my desire, this is my purpose, my flesh will be the canvas your will and Monet's weapons the brushes, you the shield me the sword as agreed brother " he turned and walked to the bone altar and lay still atop it, but he would turn his head and wink to them both. " I trust should things go wrong you have a backup plan on how to contain things? "
Mordred Vargo
"I am the most prepared being in all of Tyran little brother." He would set a basin under Joshua, four to be exact. One under each arm and each leg, then bind his little brother. "Monet, stand at his head, so I may see you all the while. You are my focal point. No matter what you feel never let me loose sight of your eyes, least I loose our brother's soul." He reached then for her second favorite blade.
Monet Vargo
moved around to Joshua's head and reached down to draw her finger along his cheek a moment, then she steeled herself and looked up and at her twin. He would be her only visual focus. Already though, she was beginning to feel an onslaught of voices and emotions washing over her. Yet she didn't tremble, or whimper or doubt. Her family needed her right now, if necessary, she could break down later.
Joshua
Joshua grinned and couldn't help but smile even at a time like this his wit never faltered. " Well look at this all three of us together some quality bonding time at last " then he fell silent and fixed his eyes on Monet and smiled. " They aren't real sister it's just the tower, it's how I designed it, to drag up suppressed emotion and memories, drive them down and see to it that I do not give in, even if I am crying and begging never stop, never falter "
Monet Vargo
had also now gone to her night form... full purple hair, and deeper purple eyes.
nodded to Joshua's instruction, similiar to Mordred's before.
nodded to Joshua's instruction, similiar to Mordred's before.
Mordred Vargo
would bow his head and begin the initial phase of the ritual. His voice a whisper as he chanted in a foul and blasphemous dead language. Joshua would feel a slight twinge at the very core of his being. The twinge would grow into a throbbing pain that radiated throughout his body. He would feel a torrent of both emotional and physical pain as his soul wanted to cast off it's flesh and be free. Mordred clenched his fist and a shattering sound would echo through the tower. Joshua would feel himself go numb and his body grow cold as Mordred broke his soul apart. He would then act swiftly. He would tie specific knots in a predetermined length of twine about each of his brother's extremities and then one around his neck and chest. Joshua would experience his body going into shock as it would spasm beyond his control....
Joshua
Joshua felt his whole body go numb and then violent spasms rocked his entire body, convulsing so violently it almost broke bones but the restraints kept him in place his mind however was fully intact in in it he was screaming and crying but at the same time laughing, froth began to form at his mouth and pain flooded every cell in his body followed by a torrent of emotions the likes of which even he was not prepared for.
Monet Vargo
turned Joshua's head so that he wouldn't choke on the fluid coming from his mouth and continue to stay within view of Mordred to help him keep focus as the dark magic ritual grew more powerful. She had taken note of where the sword was and the blades at her hip incase they would be needed, looking almost like a statue. Only Mordred would probably notice the tiniest bit of straining tremble in her, but since he was focused it would probably not be seen.
Mordred Vargo
collected the sword Monet had deemed right for the ritual and placed it on Joshua's chest. It would seem to glow with a purple hue. He would place the four soul crystals in the basin's under Joshua. Then with a brutal yet highly precise manner hack off his little brother's left arm, then the right, followed by his left leg then the right. The blood would gush from his body and cascade down into the basin'sunder him drenching the soul shards in his blood. Mordred never stopped chanting. His voice no longer a whisper but growing louder with each limb severed. Yes he was hacking his little brother apart while Monet watched. When the pain would seem unbearable for Joshua and his body and mind wanted to send him into eternal slumber he would hear Mordred's voice, chanting, calling the shattered parts of his soul from the beyond back to him, to hear and heed his call. A necromancer paramount it took even Mordred though to the limit of his power to gather the soul essence and begin to fuse it into the various crystals. It was the blood, the mass quantity of it that made him have to focus even more, he looked at Monet and took strength from her resolve. Each shard would begin to take on the same purple hue as the sword. Mordred paused before the final two degrees of separation would be made. "Monet!" His voice was inhuman and laced with Arcane power, "your stroke follows mine...neat and full....it must be..." He moved to joshua's head and kissed his brother's now ashen forehead...Then with one clean and furious blow he hacked his brother's head from his torso..."MONET...STRIKE NOW!" he handed her the sword while holding Joshua's head over his body. Oddly Joshua would still be able to make visual recognition of what was taking place, but feel pain no longer.
Joshua
Joshua was beyond the boundaries of pain and emotion now, his life, his will, his very existence was now entirely in the hands of his brother and sister, if they succeeded he would be their instrument of death and chaos, if they failed I terrible curse would be unleashed, but he knew they would not fail, too much had happened, too much had been planned and plotted for it to fail and it was with his own sick will that he knew he would survive this, but what would be left?, we he even be himself after this.
Monet Vargo
watched the scene before her; the gore didn't phase her, but everything all together felt nearly overwhelming. Mordred's focus helped keep hers though, and it was for Joshua's sake to do this right that helped push her forehead instead of freezing. Stepping aside when Mordred moved to the head of the body, she nodded and moved to the side, her hands lingering over the sword until Mordred instructed it was time. Then and only then did she take up the sword in both hands instead of one and raise it directly over her head, positioning her legs and hips to provide her the utmost strength in the swing, and down came the sword with every ounce of power she had to cut his torso in half. A pain shot through her arms and down her back at the force, making her grunt as the blood sprayed up and over her as well as everything else around them. Unlike the head, arms and legs, the torso had no real directed area for the blood to go and the pressure caused it to spray.
Mordred Vargo
thrust a shard into the heart of Joshua's body as it spasmed in it's last throes of life. The shard meant for his head Mordred placed it in the now decapitated head's mouth. Joshua's body lay split apart. For a second there was an absolute stillness in the tower. KAL DUN AHKA SEAR!" Mordred spat and then every one of the children would drop dead, instantly, their youthful life essence torn from their bodies. Again a pale purple glow would encompass now Joshua's body. Mordred placed the head back into position but removed the heart, took Monet's sword and would stab it through. The body that had been hacked apart began to stitch itself back together. Mordred focused on Monet as such a powerful incantation had begun to drain and weaken him. They were almost done....
Monet Vargo
was careful to keep a close eye on Mordred as he worked, remember the last two times they did similar rituals to this and how it had affected him. Waiting patiently now for the ritual to come close to its conclusion, she took it all in and committed it into her knowledge.
Joshua
Joshua even though he was in various pieces could feel life or something akin to it returning to his mutilated form, his heart the sword but he felt something else, there was a darkness forming in the top of the tower, the blood vortex had risen to the very highest part of the room while they were focusing on the ritual Joshua had lost control over it and it was now mixing with his twisted will.
Mordred Vargo
would notice the heart turn to dust and the shard would embed in the hilt of Monet's sword. Degree one complete. Mordred moved swiftly as the body would stitch together and insert a shard into Joshua's left arm, followed by the right. A shard into his left leg followed by the right. Degrees two three four and five now complete. Just before the head would again attach itself Mordred removed the shard in Joshua's mouth and placed it against his own forehead and grimaced in pain as it would sink itself into his skull. Mordred staggered back from the pain but again looked to Monet and completed the sixth and final degree. He could feel the pulse from the shard as it radiated with a portion of his little brother's soul. The shards when the body was whole again would flare with a deep purple light and then reduce in power, pulsing like a heartbeat. Mordred waved for a moment and gripped the tables edge that held the reformed body of their brother...
Joshua
Joshua lay there motionless and silent, not breathing or moving at all, his mind however was a maelstrom of emotion and pain, the Vortex above them began to gather speed and a wind would begin to rip through the tower sending notes and books flying round them followed by a low rumble as the very tower itself would begin to shake.
Monet Vargo
reached out and took the sword, shoving it into its sheath then took both her brother's hands to hold them to her. Luckily Joshua was still restrained to the table, Mordred had a hold of the edge, so she anchored the three of them in place and called out to Lyf. Their sister could come and help with Joshua's mind... Mordred would be too weakened now and had to concentrate on the last of the ritual's magic. Lyf had the best chance here to quiet the chaos; where the twins destroyed, Lyf created. Meeting in the middle here for Joshua was crucial. ~Lyf, come to me... quickly, or you may lose all three of your siblings tonight. Joshua's mind is in chaos, I need you to calm it. Otherwise his tower will self-destruct and take us all with it. HURRY!~ she didn't know where Lyf was, but she believed in her sister.
Mordred Vargo
was pale his features gaunt and physically he was weak as if he had not fed in day's. He needed to concentrate and assure his brother would take the first steps and open his eyes. Then and only then would the ritual be done and he would be reborn as a lich.
Joshua
Joshuas eyes shot open but they were now devoid of colour and they were just simply pure white, his body would begin to spasm again and from above them voices would start to ring out those of the parents trapped within the walls calling Joshua up to the vortex and then a scream came from the boy, so loud and and raw that anyone with uncovered ears would almost be deafened by it to the point it would cause physical pain.
Monet Vargo
may have been deafened if she hadn't water guarded her ears earlier, and still found it painful because her senses were heightened now. Mordred looked like he could pass out at any moment too. As soon as she knew he no longer needed to concentrate, she would let him feed from her. First though, was Joshua. He was... alive... in a sense, but out of control. It would come down to Lyf now. Monet didn't let go of her brother's hands.
Lyf
Lyf was in her own tower she hated the thought of going into josh's tower she accepted him did she like him, No but her sister. Her sister had called for her and so she would immediately arrive. She took in a quick access of the situations and the ritual being performed. They needed order to the chaos. And so that is what she offers stretch out her hands and with ease. She took each one of her pointer finger and put them on each side of joshuas temple where she would enter his mind softly at first she wouldn't forced into it unless necessary. They wouldn't call on her unless they needed order to chaos..life to death. Sanity to madness. She was created out of love and life a d so offered them counterparts to enhance the family.
Mordred Vargo
was weakened and the scream drove him to his knees. He still managed to clutch Monet's hand though. Nothing could ever make him loose their grip on each other. Weak as he was he attempted to call a spell of silence into the room but it fizzled. Mordred drug himself back to a standing position and with ragged tired words stated, "Monet, help...me focus...." He placed his forehead against her own and drew from her protections so he would not end up deaf, but as far as containing Joshua at the current he was unable.
Joshua
Lyf would be met by hate, pure unbridled hate the likes of which she would never have felt before, but not just hate she would be assaulted from all sides by every emotion a being would be capable of feeling like a storm inside Joshuas mind and a fight was occurring, there was a scared little boy, discarded by his father begging for death and then a twisted will scratching and clawing for survival, the straps holding him down would begin to stretch and one by one snap.
Monet Vargo
gave no hesitation to shielding Mordred's ears now with her magic; the only reason of not doing so before as she didn't want her magic to interfere with the ritual. Magic was finicky like that. "Listen to my voice, you will hear it clearly through the water... focus on me, and when you feel calm, you can focus again on what is outside of us. Lyf is here, she's helping Joshua now. You did well Mordred, now its in those two's hands..." she said to her twin, calming him and bringing him back into the world that was just the two of them despite the utter chaos around them. Then she glanced over at Lyf and did the same protection to her, dampening her hearing with water in her ears.
Mordred Vargo
forgot everything and everyone and again was lost to the world outside of Monet. The ringing in his ears stopped. He felt a sense of strength flow from her and he clutched her to him greedy and protectively. The madness of the room and the swirling energies continued about them but in that instance when the twins become one nothing else mattered or seemed to be able to affect them. Now he relied upon her strength, his arcane reserves depleted for a time after completing the ritual.
Lyf
Lyf would grab his head obvious force was needed. The amount of emotion shocked her but she held steadfastly. Her thumbs pressing into the bone just right above his eyes her pointer finger on his temples and the rest wrapped around his bead moving as best she could without disturbing the ritual. Soon her magic tendrils would attempt to force themselves inside his head. She refused to let go everything going into the concentration of this mins calming spell was the reason she performed the stupid magical tricks over and over. To build up her endurance her concentration her ability. She could then use this against larger more difficult spells " your mind is one and calm it will be connected protected and and let it be free. " she then would try to manipulate his emotions to calm him enough for the end of the ritual "
Joshua
The screams turned to roars of pure anger, hatred and agony the flesh on his bones would begin to turn to dust and blow away as the howling wind within the room intensified strange bone like spikes would begin to mould themselves to Joshua's arms and the last strap would break just as a calm came over his mind and the screaming stopped, his body again fell still and his eyes would return to their normal hue and then laughter, twisted and manic laughter almost hysterical, he tried to sit up but there was no energy to fuel his muscles, he tired to talk but found that it was now audible speech instead it would be a mental communication without even needing to use his blood bond in their head it would sound whispered and venomous. ~ Am I alive?, am I what I was promised? ~
Monet Vargo
nodded to Lyf as the chaos calmed just in time and then looked to Joshua, but still held Mordred close to her even if he turned toward Joshua. Monet felt a pulse now at her hip, where the sword was. "Its done, welcome back to us Joshua..." she offered a little smile to her sister and held Mordred up with her own strength, letting him lean on her. His voice in her mind though did send a shiver down her spine.
Joshua
He turned his head all the bones creaking and cracking. " Joshua?, is that who I am? " he looked to Modred and then to Lyf. " You are..... Family yes, you changed me yes, made me better yes "
He turned his head all the bones creaking and cracking. " Joshua?, is that who I am? " he looked to Modred and then to Lyf. " You are..... Family yes, you changed me yes, made me better yes "
Mordred Vargo
pulled slightly away from Monet and addressed his brother, "I never fail my family...." He leaned on Monet and drapped his hands about her hips. "It is done." He was confident but the fatigue sounded in his voice.
Joshua
Sharply turned his attention to Mordred. " Yes it is..... Done, but now what?, a weapon yes, a sword yes " he was floating above the ground the clothes he was wearing tattered and ripped were like a fog enveloping his form as he moved round the room passing close by them each in turn. " Family yes?, Unbound Unbroken yes? "
Lyf
She pulled back as soon as she could see everything calmed she looked over at her siblings and nodded. She without thinking about it would begin to transfer her energy which seemed endless to them. If they would choose to accept it.
Monet Vargo
would normally reject her sister's energy, but for now accepted it because she knew she'd need the extra strength later when she had Mordred feed from her. Joshua's form triggered a memory in Monet of their parents, and she shivered as the emotions were threatening to overwhelm her now that the ritual had ended and her strength wasn't needed to be focused. "Thank you Lyf," she said to her sister and then watched Joshua carefully. He hadn't directed his questions to her, so she let Mordred answer.
Mordred Vargo
would wave a dismissive hand, "you decide little brother." He looked about the room at his siblings, his vision wavered and he collapsed against Monet. He was proud of them all. Joshua had transformed, Monet had kept them focused and Lyf assured the completion of all things that night. Twisted as they were this family always seemed to be there for each other at the most tumultuous moments.
Joshua
Joshua swept right up to his brother almost nose to nose and for a brief moment the face they had all first seen him with reformed and there was that sick twisted smile. " My family, My blood, you have all helped me fulfil my purpose and now I will bring ruin to anyone who seeks to break us and end our family "
Monet Vargo
smiled at their lich brother and nodded. "We should all recover now, you included Joshua. I'm not certain what your nourishment is now as a lich... but I'm certain we'll have a source of it. Lyf, you did well and save us all. Mordred... you never fail us," she kissed him then, and would let shadows begin to wash over them to take them home.
Joshua
Joshua's new form of nourishment would be the very emotions of the beings he used to hunt and drain of life, with this new form of feeding he could keep his victims alive far longer and get much more use out of them it was why he infused the parents of the now deceased children into the very walls of the tower as their now endless grief would serve as an almost limitless supply of power too him along with the very tower itself, but there would be a price for his actions there today and only time would tell on what it could be.
Mordred Vargo
righted himself, "rest brother...physically the shards are still in an infant stage. The power and portions of your soul could be disruptive to the crystalline structures if you try and exert too much of your new ability." He turned to each of them..."I need to feed." He said nothing else and he and Monet would vanish amid a knot of darkness.(edited)
Lyf
Would listen to them and then look at her brother. The tower emotion was too much for her she nodded to josua and her siblings respectfully " if need me i am always here " she then took her leave
