VR III: DiE: here we go again...

[*Kain*]

Noah walked into the castle, leading Talione and Nell to the war room, a few steps in he noticed someone had stopped walking with them, he stopped and turned about. He saw Talione at the door. Talione if you wish to wait so be it. Mordraken knows the way, have him bring you there. Noah turned back to Nell, shall we continue? Noah asked her, he then looked down the hall and noticed the servants were eyeing them rather pecularly. Noah didn't understand.

...

I really should let them know about me, let them have one more worry on their mind. Maybe I'll just play with the prince some more. The watcher made some motions with his hands.

...

Noah saw the servants eyes flash, and then they came at him faster than normal, it seemed they were gliding above the ground. Noah sheilded his face as one came to him, with a claw coming down on the prince. Nell was confused, Noah had made this sudden movement without warning, and where his sleeve was, a claw mark protruded. Then another across the prince's chest. Noah fell backwards screaming in pain. Talione turned to see what was going on when he saw Noah on the floor and claw marks appearing every few moments.

[Dengar Arcus]

Magnus led Dengar to the gates. Just when Magnus turned back towards the castle, Dengar felt something.

"Something's wrong!"

Dengar quickly ran towards the source of the disturbance, and found the people he talked to earlier, and the prince lying down on the floor getting claw marks all over...

"The hell?"

[Nell]

Nell had followed Noah along the corridor heading towards the war room when all of a sudden, Noah seemed to be having some kind of fit. It was as if he was trying to protect himself from an invisible assailant, but Nell could see no one there, no one attacking.

"Noah! What's wrong?" She gave a short scream as rips and tears appeared on his body and he fell to the ground. What kind of evil was this? She rushed forward. Were his nightmares manifesting themselves as real? Not thinking about what she was doing, she threw herself down beside Noah and covered his body with hers, holding him tightly in her arms.

[Talione]

What do you think? Besides the little matter of sneaking up behind you and having a story full of holes, he seems to be willing to fight, something we seem to be severly lacking in this city. Talione looked up as Magnus spoke, face still troubled.I'm not really sure. It isn't as if we couldn't use the help, because the gods know we need all the help we can get! I guess I will just have to trust Noah's judgement on this one. Shaking his head, Talione followed after Nell and the prince. They had not gone far, and he caught up to them soon enough.

As he walked, a noise distracted him, and when he turned back to Noah, the young man had fallen to the floor screaming. The prince seemed to be trying to fight off invisible attackers, and indeed, even as Talione watched, rents were appearing in Noah's clothing. Sorcery? Damn! Before he could react, Nell had thrown herself upon the prince, trying to shield him with her own body. Her action sent a sudden jolt of fear through Talione. He looked around wildly, searching for a threat. I don't know how to fight sorcery! Magnus! He roared, hoping the other hunter could help. Even as he spoke, Dengar came running down the hall.

[Mordraken]

Magnus followed Talione to the War Room, but along the way it seemed that Noah was being viciously torn at by unseen foes. Talione screamed Magnus's name in panic, to which Magnus replied, Talione! Cover your eyes and skin! The powerful warrior shielded himself, and Magnus quickly summoned a light spirit. He desperately reached into the point of light, and pleaded to it, Brighten and show Noah's invisible assaulters now! The small ball of light sat at it's same level of light, and Magnus commanded it again. Come on, I must help my friend!
"No. Cannot see"
Cannot see what?
"Mind. Noah. Hurt."
I don't understand!
"Magick. Fear. Manipulate." Suddenly, he had the edge of understanding what the little spirit was saying. He rushed over to the prince and knelt down to look at his cuts. They were long and deep, several on his chest and arms. They seemed to make some pattern. Talione! Help me get Noah to the Library fast! We have little time!

[*Kain*]

Nell threw herself upon Noah, as if to shelter him from the attacks. Alas it was to no avail. He was still tormented by the little beasts. In his tries to get away he knocked Nell off of him, and tried to get to his feet. Upon doing so Noah immediately fell back again. After more shredding and clawing it all stopped. Noah was still flailing but no longer screaming in pain. Then he came to a rest, out cold in the middle of the hallway. It seems the little show attracted some onlookers, as the servants stopped to watch in wonder. On of them instantly darted off, his direction was the royal court. When Noah stopped flailing he stopped moving period. His breath was short, it seemed he was barely holding onto his life, the thin strands of fate were readying to be plucked. The scratches that were upon his now bare chest bore a symbol, the symbol was archaic. It seemed to be saying something. Noah's last vision was Nell trying to protect him, other than that he seemed dead to the world. Mordraken then spoke up,Talione! Help me get Noah to the Library! Maybe Mordraken was interested to know about the symbol, maybe he was just trying to help Noah. Noah didn't resist anything, although he could hear voices around him, he could not see, he was in to much pain to care either way.

...

There that should let em know I am watching, and the poor little prince is in pain too. I am enjoying this game, this is the most fun I have had since before the others...

[Talione]

Kneeling by Noah's bloody form, Talione pressed scraps of the prince's torn clothing to the bleeding mark carved into the barely moving chest. He needs a healer, not a book. Does anyone know where the hospice is in this great pile of stones? He growled. I don't know what just happened, but I won't whoever did this win Afraid to move Noah, Talione grabbed a nearby servant who had been starring at the fallen prince. Get a bloody healer you fool! He sent the man off with a strong push and an even stronger glare. Talione looked from Magnus to Nell to Dengar. Do any of you know anything about healing? Even as he spoke, the scraps of shirt he held to the wound soaked through, and Talione could feel Noah's labored heartbeat. Don't you dare die, damn you!

[Nell]

Nell was on the ground. When Noah had knocked her away she had fallen hard against the stone wall of the corridor. Horrified by what was happening, she could only watch as Noah writhed with pain before falling unconscious. Immediately Magnus and Talione went into action to try to deal with the situation and save Noah, but Nell was frozen where she had fallen, her hands clapped tight over her mouth to stop the cry that wanted to be let loose. Talione's voice was rough as he demanded a healer and she gave a short violent shake of her head when he asked if she had skills in healing. In all the chaos, she saw the stranger from the courtyard standing nearby. Was this his work? Is he a sorcerer? Her eyes widened with this thought, mistrustful of the young man who had yet to prove he had come in good faith.

[Mordraken]

Talione, this is more than simple injury! Listen, if we are to help Noah, we must calm down and figure out what's happening exactly! Think a second: there is no one in this room who could see what was attacking him; there is now a symbol ripped into his chest. Not only is he being attacked from long range by some form of magick, it's meant to scare us into a frenzy. That's all I see before me, but with the information in the library, I'll be able to discern more. He put a hand on Talione's shoulder, and looked the larger man directly in the eye. We must work together, Talione. You have to trust me about this. This is what I know best. And we can't let whoever is doing this succeed at tearing us apart with fear. Please.

[Talione]

Talione looked at the hand on his shoulder, and forced down the sudden urge to bite it off at the wrist. Schooling his expression to calm despite the seething pit of rage inside him, the woodsman looked back up to Magnus. In a voice cold and dead, he spoke. Fine then, you goto your precious library. Yes, there was magic used, even a half-wit child would see that. If you think you can find out about this, then do so. BUT DO NOT EXPECT ME TO IDLY LET NOAH DIE WHILE I WAIT FOR YOUR PEARLS OF WISDOM. Then turning away from the daywalker, Talione pulled off his cloak, tightly wrapping it over the soaked pad covering the wound, and then around Noah's chest and back. The blood flow wouldn't kill the prince, but it wasn't helping either. The sight of his blood soaked hands nearly broke Talione's control. Where is that healer? He snarled, glaring about furiously.

[Dengar Arcus]

"Don't worry, he'll be okay."

He quickly noticed everybody staring at him.

"Well I'm sorry, I was surprised, too. I didn't realize before it was too late... Although the injury is real, it's not life threatening... I sense he's still in much pain, though.. Which means that something has been attacking his mind...

I recognize the symbol from somewhere, though... If I did my homework correctly... That symbol hasn't been carved, or written anywhere besides normal literature... In about a 100 years... It belonged to someone, but I don't exactly recall his name..."

[Nell]

She wanted to scream at them all. Crawling over to where Noah lay, wrapped in the cloak, she felt too completely her uselessness to help. Panic began to rise in her. Don't worry? He'll be okay? But he's dying... She shot a look of disgust at the stranger's detached and cold manner. His homework... ? What the hell ... Breathe, think, shut it down, shut it all down.

Nell shut her eyes tight and forced the fear, the panic, the emotion down. Trembling slightly, she opened her eyes and spoke.

Magnus, go to the library, find what you can, find what did this and why. Noah's life could depend on it. We.. It almost choked her to say this to the vampire, We need you to do this. Please. She looked over to the stranger whose name she did not know. I suggest you go with Magnus. You have knowledge that would aid us and the books may ... jog your memory. Finally she looked at Talione. Carry Noah to the nearest bed. I will see if the healer is coming.

For a moment no one moved. Keeping her voice calm but raising her tone slightly she added, Now.

[Mordraken]

Magnus raised an eyebrow. He was rather dissapointed how easily Talione became angered. But the eyebrow wasn't directed at Talione; it was at Nell. She seemed even more calm and collected than he was, a very admirable trait. He was donw the hallway even before she said "Now." When he got to the library, he pulled out every magick tome on the shelf, flipping through the pages, frantically looking for anything related to magickal writings, ordering Dengar to do the same. He went through many books before finally finding something. Magnus scanned the page as he rushed back to where Noah had been attacked, saying to the young warrior, Come on, I've found it. It was a Vampiric dialect. It meant "Madness", both as a signifier and a way of bestowing same. Whichever way it was used, much willpower is required to use it and not risk the user becoming mad. Whoever is doing this must just be playing with us, Magnus concluded, because anyone who could cast this could also smite him where he stands. Or any of us. He searched the book for anyway to help protect against this spell, but as he read on, hope for this became increasingly dim. He hoped against hope that there would be signifigant time between attacks to find some counter to the magick that was being used here.

[Talione]

Talione grinned tightly at Nell's orders, and Magnus' quick obedience of them. Gently picking Noah up, the big woodsman carried him to the nearest bed chamber. He laid the young man upon the bed and pulled the covers over him to try to ward off the cold that came with wounds. He looked over at Nell as she stood in the doorway watching for the healer to arrive. I hate waiting, to much time to think. Battle is far easier to deal with. You don't have time to think when you're fighting for your life. The anger had drained from him, leaving only worry. Sitting himself beside Noah, and resting a hand on the young man's chest, Talione steeled himself for the wait.

Only minutes later, he heard a voice at the door shouting. I am the healer, where is the Prince?

[Dengar Arcus]

Dengar did search through some books, but he didn't find much interesting. His mind was somewhere else.

"There's two easier ways to find out what the hell just happened... One is near impossible, because the one for me to ask is never around when I need him... The other..... Might be dangerous.. I'm gonna ask anyways.

Dengar went with Magnus to where the prince was resting.

"Yes, healing his wounds is a good thing to do, but these are nothing compared to what just happened to him mentally. He's going to recover from it any time soon... But there is a way I can help... Maybe even find out what the hell just happened, but.... Maybe I shouldn't.."

[Nell]

Nell watched the healer as he went about his business. Anxiety was etched into her young face as she hovered near the bed. She did not know if he was helping or harming by his acts, but she stayed out of the way. Every now and then she caught Talione's eye, glad that he was now calm, glad that he was there. The healer was applying some kind of poultice to the wounds but with his pursed lips and occasional hums and tuts, it did not inspire much confidence. When Magnus rushed into the room, reading as he hurriedly walked, her hopes were slightly raised.

Anything? Have you found something to help? It hurt her to speak to him, but the situation was desperate. She barely noticed the other young man who followed him at first, until he approached the bed and seemed to be mumbling something about helping but maybe not helping. Her suspicion of him was once again roused. After all he arrived just before the attack on Noah, and he seems to have knowledge of the cause. His offer to help could be a cover to do more harm.... The Castle Healer was frowning sternly at the man's remarks regarding Noah being about to recover. It was obvious that this was not the case and that Noah was still in danger. She wanted to put herself between Noah and the approaching man, but she knew she had nothing but her suspicions to doubt him. Feeling utterly powerless about the situation, she cast one last hopeless glance at Noah's pale face and went to stand outside the room.

[Mordraken]

Well, yes and no, Magnus started. She apparently thought it prudent to not disturb the healer as he went about his work, so they took their strained conversation outside. First off, we now know what exactly we're dealing with. The pattern of gashes on his chest makes out the old Vampiric rune Falghss-ik, which means "Madness". This text suggests that a mage must have enough willpower to resist such a spell in order to cast it, so that leads me to believe this must be a powerful sorcerer. Also one who is proficient with the working of cryptic, Vampiric runes that have been out of use for dozens of decades, which leads me to belive he or she is also a Vampire. There are two more things I can conclude, one bad, and one worse. He paused for dramatic effect, and said, The bad news is, there is no way to protect oneself, or so this book claims, against this kind of spell unless you see it coming. The worse news is, anyone powerful and sadistic enough to use these accused spells, there is a good chance this isn't the limit of their power, and that they will stirke again. He glanced into Noah's room. If any of what I've said is correct, this was just a warning, a mocking of our weakness, if you will. There is no doubt in my mind of another armyless assault in the near future...However, this is not to say life is hopeless. Next time, we will be aware. Magnus snapped closed the book. I will wait by Noah's bedside until he wakes. He walked into the room and sat down upon the bootbench at the end of the bed, watching as the healer went about his work.

[Dengar Arcus]

Dengar's mood changed from business-like to dead serious.

"Like I said, he will wake up soon... But.... If I can enter his mind... I might find out who or what did this... Problem is, I'd have to take him back tot he moment of the attack, and I don't know how re-living the experience would affect him.... Maybe there's another way..."

[Talione]

When the doctor entered, Talione moved to stand beside the door, so as to be out of the way. Noah hadn't seemed to get any worse, but he didn't seem to be getting any better either. When Magnus entered and told of what he had found, Talione simply nodded. It made sense after all. Who but a vampire would have any reason to attack Noah? For some reason, that question stuck with him. His mind turned it over and about, worrying at it like a dog with a meaty bone. The queen seems insane. Perhaps in madness she is lashing out at her family? No, she I doubt she would have access to someone powerful enough to do this. The noble the skin-shifter said hired him? Possible, it would take someone powerful to hire a vampire as an assasin. But if it is a renegade noble, then who, and why simply injure Noah, instead of killing him outright? Damn, none of this makes any sense! Talione continued trying to answer some of his many questions, mainly so he wouldn't worry about Noah.

He caught Dengar mumbling, and strained his ears to hear what the strange youth was saying. He still didn't fully trust the newcomer. Was in fact even more suspicious of him now than before. It could be just a coincidence that he mysteriously appears just before the attack, but it seems unlikely. Still, till he does something to warrent action, I will trust the princes' judgement of him. Looking away from the others, Talione clenched his fists, feeling Noah's congealing blood squish obscenely. Suddenly angry again, he went the pitcher of water that the doctor had brought, splashing some into the bowl on the bedside table, and began to scrub the crimson mess from his hands.

"Like I said, he will wake up soon... But.... If I can enter his mind... I might find out who or what did this... Problem is, I'd have to take him back tot he moment of the attack, and I don't know how re-living the experience would affect him.... Maybe there's another way..." Turning slowly towards Dengar, Talione gently pulled the glasses from his face. A kind of madness burned in the depths of those bloody orbs. I think, it would be best if you explained that. His voice was soft and cold, cutting through the silent room like an ill breeze. His wet hads clenched and unclenched at his sides, and whole bodie quivered with nearly uncontrollable rage.

[Nell]

Nell listened to Magnus's explanation of what had happened to Noah in silence. Her eyes were fixed upon him as the words whirled around her mind. She understood what he was saying but the danger of the situation, of what could happen in the future, was the main thing that stayed with her. Magnus left her outside the room and she leaned against the cold stone of the wall. She could hear the voices in the room, but had stopped listening. Instead the coldness of the wall sent shivers through her body and she gave into the physical sensation, letting it dominate her body and mind. The strain of the situation was too much to think about. Talione's voice, soft and cold floated out to her, but again she did not hear his words. She felt as though she would suffocate if another thing happened.

Suddenly she made a decision. Without looking back she walked down the corridor. At the corner she headed down the short staircase, moving with purpose. She did not stop until she reached the outside, where she had been training that morning. There she collected her longbow and a quiver of arrows. She slung them over her back, then picked up her staff. She did not hurry but instead she moved like one in a dream, each action measured and regular. She walked back into the castle and followed the passage that took her to the entrance.

Outside there were some town folk who were persisting with trying to be heard by the Royal Family, wanting their concerns to be answered. She walked passed them as if they did not exist. Into the town, it was only a short time before she stopped outside her tavern. The notice she had put up announcing its closure was still in place but it had been ripped in half, the flaps of paper blowing in the slight breeze. She blinked once, twice, then carried on walking. Whether she knew where she was going is debateable. If one were to ask her, no answer would have been given. Instead she would have looked through you as if you were a ghost.

As she approached the town forge, she saw a horse left unattended, its reins tied to a post. She paused. Her mouth tightened and her eyes narrowed. Then as if it were the most natural thing for her to do, she mounted the horse and rode it away, towards the city borders.

[Mordraken]

Magnus spoke to Dengar without looking up from Noah, as if scolding the boy for some infraction of ettiquette. Master Talione is right. You must cease with the cryptic nature of the things you mumble. Tell us every single detail of the powers you possess, leaving nothing out. Talione, Magnus turned his gaze on the albino hunter, would you mind bringing Nell into the room a moment? I'd hate for Dengar to have to repeat himself.

[Talione]

Magnus' manner was grating at Talione's control. He acted as though this were mearly some experiment, or maybe a simple piece of art he was interested in, as apposed to someone's life. Dengar's mysterious presence didn't help, either. Magnus was a vampire, and Dengar was a total unknown. Talione wasn't sure he could trust either of them alone with the prince, and that just made he temper worse. Life was far simpler before I met you. He thought as he looked down at Noah's pale face.

Talione, would you mind bringing Nell into the room a moment? I'd hate for Dengar to have to repeat himself. Talione answered with a stiff nod. He turned from the bed and went to the door. Looking outside the room, Talione found Nell gone. Where did she go? He would have gone to find the young woman, but his suspicions about Magnus and Dengar still burned at the front of his thoughts. She is a strong woman. She can take care of herself. Returning to the room, Talione looked at Magnus with flinty red eyes. She's gone. Was all he said, then leaned back against the wall, making it obvious by his posture that he wasn't leaving again. I know where my duty lies.

[Mordraken]

Magnus again raised an eyebrow. You seem less bothered by that than I would have thought. He shrugged. Doesn't really matter. But all that we can do now is to let Noah's wounds heal. I will keep vigil over him until he awakens. Stay if you want, leave if you want, either way is fine. He attempted to sound concerned and remove any shred of condescending in his voice. Magnus flipped the tome back open, and began to read more into the intricacies of rune magick.

[Dengar Arcus]

Dengar had known about their suspicions of him, it's not easy to not notice. Their minds were like billboards. Yet he was determined to find out the cause of this thing. He didn't care about their opinions about him, he knew they wouldn't attack him if they weren't too damn sure that he was the enemy. He noticed something about the symbol very familiar to him.. Suddenly it came.

"No... Forget it, it's too dangerous. Forget I said anything. And Unliving One, it would be unwise for you to be at his side when he wakes up, best let his friend do that. He needs it. If you will excuse me, there is some matters I need to get into. I need no help, I can do fine on my own."

Dengar left the room, expecting Talione and Magnus sorting everything out in the meantime. After fifteen minutes or so, he returned with a book on an incident 100 years ago. He semi-triumfantly opened up a page, which had a picture of exactly the same symbol that has been carved into Noahs flesh.

"This the symbol you're looking for? According to this book, it's associated with a demon whose name is never mentioned. It appears that some 100 years ago, the demon was vanquished by somebody by the name of Kain..... I don't know if this is the same person or not, but from what we saw, this entity is very powerful and is just playing with us. What's more, we can't hide anything from him, I bet he is watching us right now... I would throw up a barrier where his eyes can not see, but I'm not strong enough for that, I'm sorry, it's going to be difficult to be plotting anything against him. Also... It explains why this entity is after Noah..."

Dengar looked at the men in the room, to see how they would respond.

[Talione]

Talione listened to Dengar spoke of the nameless demon, and the pieces he had be metally shuffling began to fall into place. Some at least. The discovery that they not only were they facing a vampiric invasion, but also the mechanations of an ancient demon, left him nearly numb. He could feel his expression blanking, and forced himself to a fragile calm. I know vampires, I know how to fight them, how to kill them. But I know nothing of demons. Looking up at Magnus, Talione came to a decision.I don't like what you are, and I don't like the way you tend to act, but we are on the same side. This little pissing contest we seem to be in isn't helping anyone. Like you said, we have to work together, now more then ever if Dengar is right. So let's call a truce. You put away your arrogance, I'll put away my anger, and we do what needs to be done. Agreed? He didn't offer his hand. He couldn't quite force himself to touch the vampire. Instead he looked Magnus in the eyes, trying to convey his sincerity, and perhaps a silent appology.