Forbidding Hills, A land of Death. Entrance of the Lady of Death (Semi-Open)

[SelenaNichole]

~*~ Sephrenia, Lady of Death ~*~

What is life without breath? What is love without mortality? What is death in life? Questions…so many questions…and in the end, a simple knife to the throat could put a stop to any question. Death comes regardless of how long it must wait. Well, for some, but not for Sephrenia. She was already dead, and had been dead for quite some time. It had been easy travels for the Lady of Death. Those who got in the die, just died, and those who saw her coming fled. This was the way when people realized they faced a Lich. A being of the highest rank of Undead. The very aura around Sephrenia was strong enough to induce terror in humans while defiling any piece of land she walked on. Her presence uttered death, and because of that, no wild creature dared to attack her. Plants curled away from her as she drew near, and the ground itself she walked on grew lifeless and turned black. Such was the fate of those who dare touch a being of death incarnate.

Sephrenia was given a great gift from death. She was given a power of vengeance, where she could sit back and watch as her minions would destroy everything her enemies loved and held dear to them. The wind churned and howled in pain as it passed by Sephrenia’s face. Her body moved effortlessly through the forest as she set her eyes upon a section of Terrenus where she had heard some interesting rumors. She had found out that a battle of over fifteen thousand soldiers took place and they all died. It was also said that they were risen by a powerful necromancer and used to attack a Drow stronghold. Of course, people only thought it was myth, but Sephrenia knew better. Most fables were true, and most were very interesting.

Sephrenia only walked on, with her followers walking behind her. A group of fifteen people followed behind Sephrenia. Ten of them had just returned for the lands of Palgard, and they did not bring good news. Their failure to assassinate their target brought only death upon them, and not only that, but undeath upon them. They comprised of one lich, two vampires mages, three human mages and nine Terrenus warriors. Sephrenia was very interesting in the lich that she had dominated. When it came to undead, your rank among your kind was very important. When two of an undead nature met of the same rank, it then fell to who had the most power. Sephrenia won that without a challenge. The Lich knew she was stronger, and instead of dying, he choice to aid her cause without question. Sephrenia enjoyed that feeling, to be served without question. Questions got people killed, well…not so much killed around Sephrenia, for she would merely raise those who she killed. No one was allowed to rest upon their death. No one…..

Sephrenia would be heading to the land in Terrenus called the Forbidding Hills, where the legendary Necropolis laid.

[SelenaNichole]

~*~ Lady of Death ~*~

So it seemed that the rumors were true. A large black stronghold was see in the distance, while everything else was a barren waste. Sephrenia could not sense any dead nearby, which immediately put her in a very sour mood. Her aura of death seemed to increase, and it did so with such a notice that her own Lich follower seemed to back away from Sephrenia. Still, that did not put Sephrenia in a good mood at all. She did not care if the undead was afraid of her death aura, it was the fact that all that was to be raised where missing. Such nonsense! This necromancer lord was truly a work of art. Fifteen thousand bodies, and not one to spare. It was ridiculous!

Sephrenia moved forward regardless, her black hues raging with anger as the very wasteland around her, was left with scorching black residue. Sephrenia began looking around, trying to feel out any hint of death, but not nothing. Instead, she found life, and that in itself brought curiosity. Sephrenia walked casually over where a large rock was mounted into the ground. It seemed as if it had fallen from the sky only to be sentence to an eternity of boredom in the wastes. Behind the rock, Sephrenia saw the source of life that she sensed. A battered old woman crouched down, her hands drawing symbols with in the confines of the sand. She spoke to herself, mimicked herself, and even chastised herself for being wrong. Sephrenia could sense a repressed magic about the woman, and with that she was even more intrigued.

"You are here....No I am here, no you. You are here, and I am here, and then I am gone. Then you are here." The elder woman spoke in haste, her face covered in dirt and sod. It had been some time since she had taken a shower, perhaps months. Her hair, was long and black, fried from the sun light, and nappy from un bathed and poorly kept. Her cloths were that of rags, barely covering her skeleton of a body. Her skin could be seen as fair once, if it wasn't covered in three inches of dirt. The smell of the old woman, seemed to direct itself into the fact that she may have soiled herself during her travels.

One would feel pity upon looking at a woman like this, and naturally would grant the woman death, but Sephrenia was not that one. "You hold an uncanny amount of magic in your body woman. Why is that?"

"Magic...? Magick? Magi? Magice? I used to study Magic. I used to study Magick....in Gen...genesairn...IN Gene....I Used to STUDY MAGIC!" The old woman screamed as she looked up then down, then sideways, prodding at the ground again.

Sephrenia watched the symbols and once she realized what they were Sephenia smiled darkly. "So, a conjurer, a woman of worth to me. Is Conjuration all you know?" Sephrenia asked softly, bending down closer to the crazed woman. Her aura of death reached out, turning the ground to black, and as it touched the old woman's skin, slowly a dark shadow began to creep over the woman.

"No! No no nononononononon! No no ! I summon him! I summon him, and fought him!, Prince of Darkness!, Horned Devil, LIES LIES LIES! I lost...I lost!."

Sephrenia smiled then, as she looked at her followers. They held a confused look on their faces, and Sephrenia at that moment felt ashamed. Not one of them was smart enough to figure it out. So Sephrenia asked one more question with two answers. "What is your Names?"

The woman's body froze, her eyes staring wildly at Sephrenia as if she was the essence of all that was evil. Slowly a couple cracks were heard as her spine began to contort, her voice dropping low and very dangerous!

"THIS IS my body! And I will not leave! I am that which you should not ask. I am a Demon of another plane, and this wretch is my life!"

Sephrenia gave a wicked smile as she clasped her hands together. Her smile faded as her voice asked again. "I care not of you Demon. I ask for you Names!" Her voice shook the ground in which she stood, which caused the demon to violently fall back, forcing the old woman to retch all over the place. Her voice changed to that of a small child.

"Me? My name? Well I am simple. Merely a woman. MErely a woman of non nobl----"

"Your Names!" Sephrenia demanded again, this time, the elder woman retched nothing but blood, and fell onto the ground, as if a weight was set upon her body. She writhed in pain.

"I am Lisebelle! and I am.....Be'Lie! You cannot have my body. This is mine, All mine!" The elder woman screamed at the top of her lungs.

Sephrenia merely laughed, the first time in what seemed as ages. "Who ever said I wanted her body?" The question was asked in a way that the demon silenced the woman and the haggard old woman just stared, as if stunned and confused.

Darkness came in a matter of seconds, and Sephrenia jerked her hand out and struck the woman in the face. A seal, attached to Sephrenia's hand was imprinted in blood upon the woman's face. The wind howled in rage, as the haggard woman screamed, but with each scream, it was torn to pieces by the strength of the winds. Sephrenia merely smiled.

"I find not dead being, but a demon to serve my way. Not only that, a demon inside a powerful mage. Now this is a treat...wouldn't you say Lisebelle?"

The old woman continued to scream in agony, as the seal began to spread, lines of darkness began to etch over her skin, sealing the woman's fate.

"Shall we continue." Sephrenia spoke softly as she walked past the screaming woman, but with each step, the haggard woman seemed to be dragged by some unknown force. She would be a servant of Sephrenia, in life, and in death.

[SelenaNichole]

~*~ Lisebelle, The Haggard and Lady of Death ~*~

"Down...Down...To the Master's Pit, do we travel until we reach the end. And what will we do, when we stand before the Master himself. What will we do, when he casts us out? What will we do when he tries to kill us? What will we do when he wants us to serve him. Do we bend to his will? Yes Yes yes...." Lisebelle singed as she barely managed to stop herself from tripping. Her body began to fall, but in an ackward and rather quick movement, her right hand hit the ground, bouncing her body back up right.

"No NO No! We will not bend to his will. No we won't, because we are the leader, we are the best. We are the companions, and better than the rest!. La LA LA. TA TA TA! HA H--" Lisebelle's song was interrupted by a rather intensive fit of coughing.

The rest of the traveling group just looked at Lisebelle with disgust. She was the only one in the group that was alive, and by that factor, they so wanted to kill her. She was annoying, ugly, and beyond a doubt bat hell crazy. Lisebelle was crazy, and because of that, she did not care. She stared back at the Lich and the vampire and her eyes went wild.

"You can look, but you can't have this sweet stuff! You can look, but you will never gonna get it! Pigs! All Pigs. Filty MOngrel Pigs!" Lisebelle screamed at the top of her lungs. She turned around and ran forward. The Lich growled and the Vampire Mage hissed loudly.

"Stupid Bitch." The vampire commented as he began to make his way towards the haggard woman. Sephrenia merely turned her head and stared the vampire, which caused him to freeze.

"If any of you hurt her, you will regret it." She said nonchalantly as she stared at the black citadel before her. I suppose it is time for her to meet this necromancer. Would she ask him for his fealty for her? She was the reincarnate of death, the substance of darkness that never wilters and dies. She was the Lady of Death and very powerful. Some would see her as a goddess while others would see her as a testament of unholiness. Upon stepping up and climbing the stairs to the front gate, several guards blocked Sephrenia's path. She said nothing as she merely smiled.

Lisebelle screamed in the background. "Your Master, YOur Master master master master. We wish wish....huh...why are we here?" Her eyes looked completely lost as she stared at Sephrenia. The pitiful and hopeless look, caused Sephrenia to laugh. What a poor creature.

"I am Lady Sephrenia Nichole, Lich Queen, Shadow's Maiden, and Lady of Death. I wish to speak with your leader." Sephrenia said rather softly, as she moved forward not waiting for a response. The dead went to block her way, but as they moved closer to her skin, their bodies seemed to shake as tremors took over their body. It was apparent that their control was being blocked. The King of this land held his dead, but the dead was Sephrenia's. So if a dead were to touch a Lich Queen, they would become hers. The fact that these dead got so close to Sephrenia without turning into a mindless critter for her army, showed the amount of power the king held. This pleased Sephrenia greatly. "Proceed." She said quietly, as she continued walking, allowing the ghouls to remain under the eternal influence of their master.

[King]

Admirable, but foolish.

Presuming that her self-proclaimed titles, or the prowess that she assumed came with them, would achieve her anything within the confines of the Black Citadel was the woman’s first mistake. Death is an ideal; it is a state of being in which one transcends time and space, and Arnim Tor was a testament to Alexander’s mastery of the concept. If she fancied herself some sort of queen over the aspect, then she undoubtedly gazed upon the administrations of the King.

Two ebony spears, each held firmly in the skeletal grasp of two undead positioned upon either side of the massive gates, crossed over each the other.

“You intrude on sacred grounds,” the first, fleshless abomination hissed from her left, his voice low, chilling, and hushed. The azure, ethereal flame that seethed within his exposed chest scaled out to his extremities, pouring from his mouth and empty eye sockets.

Whatever shaking she may or may not have witnessed was by no means a conflict of energies or control. Alexander’s will and domination over his subjects was absolute, more so within the boundaries of the ravaged hills; the land itself had been converted into a catalyst, a well of necromantic energies he freely feasted upon from his throne, buried deep within the hold of his ornate castle. These were the hallowed grounds of the scourge, where there was but one god capable of rattling the bones of the treacherous fiends that called this wasteland home.

Still, she was, to say the least, rather amusing.

Suddenly entranced by his master’s will, the second of the two undead shifted his eyeless gaze toward the woman’s entourage, his toothless, skeletal face clattering as he spoke. “They must stay – you may proceed,” While the two, nimble creatures before her may have not posed an immediate threat to either her or the group that clung to her heels, presuming all the inhabitants of the black citadel to be as feeble and meek would have been yet another grave mistake, "such is the word of my master."

One of the two slabs that defined the inhumanly tall gates slowly began to churn, groaning at the hinges and shaking the earth as it slid. The aperture that it formed was thin and narrow, yet wide enough for the woman to comfortably fit in. The moment that she had, the gate would close once again, just as slowly as it had opened.

Come, a voice echoed from deep within the castle, carried on the fell winds of an unnatural breeze.

[SelenaNichole]

~*~ Sephrenia, Lich Queen Part One ~*~

So Strong...

She could feel it, the energy rising from the very ground. Sephrenia almost wanted to bite into it, and feast herself, but this was not her plain nor was it her land or kingdom. So had to be honest with herself, she cared very little for this wasteland. She had her own agenda, and it did not include this king's petty land. She had heard that this necromancer had built this land some time ago, but neither has left his citadel or expanded his era of mastery. That to Sephrenia, was unacceptable. What point was there to own your own kingdom, and turn everything to ash and death, and not expand your might. It showed folly in the eyes of Sephrenia, and she hoped she was not going to deal with an ageless crone of a man, who could not see past death anymore. Insanity was an illness for the living. For the Undead, it was a right.

Sephrenia stopped suddenly as she stared at the dark gates. "Remain here." She said simply, her voice edging upon caution for no one to question her. Her followers eyes completely widened as they were about to protest, however, Sephrenia continued forward. "I do not mind going alone at all."

Upon her stepping into the black catalyst of power, the gates would shut leaving Sephrenia alone, but not before Lisebelle slipped past it, following her mistress. This type of disobediance would never be tolented. Slipping a black gem into her hand, she threw it in front of Lisebelle and it exploded, sucking Lisebelle into the gem. The gem faded and appeared in Sephrenia's hand, in which got tucked away into her long black dress.

"Foolish mortal." Sephrenia merely said as she chuckled, continuing her walk.

Sephrenia knew she was there, but said nothing. The will of her power over her own undead, was beyond absolute. Her tyranny, her control, was beyond irreversible. However, Lisebelle was of the living, and because of that, her will had sometimes claimed it's own path. Perhaps this crazy follower might assist Sephrenia in later endeavors but as of right now she was merely a nuisance at best. It was no mistake however, that if Lisebelle would die, she would be raised as a lich. Her power was massive, and even Sephrenia could not argue that point. The problem however was to keep her mind focused and diligent.

Sephrenia stared at the skeletons and then at the ebony spear. They were indeed impressive. Perhaps maybe she would take one as a gift of sorts. Her steps were silent, and slowly Sephrenia willed her aura of decay and terror away muting their effect. Her long black dress dragged upon the floor as she reached the inner santums of the castle, in which Sephrenia knew lead to this Necromancer King. She could feel him, and feel his power. Several guards stood outside the last set of doors that Sephrenia had to past through. They blocked her way, but only for a moment, as the doors opened, leading into what Sephrenia was sure, was a well lavished and grand hall, fit for a King of Death's master. Sephrenia proceeded forward, without care as she moved across the hall.

As she decreased her distance from the throne, Sephrenia spoke softly, but with each breath that left her lips, the hall lid up with her voice. "Hail King Alexander, Master of the Land of Arnim Tor." Now the game had begin. Sephrenia had did her research. She knew very well who this man was, and how his kingdom came to be. He was a dangerous man, but indeed, so was Sephrenia.

She would wait with a fairly amused feeling in her heart.

[King]

The grand hall of the black citadel could be considered lavish, but only by those that could truly appreciate the emptiness and simplicity of its design. Spare for the single throne erected at the head of the room, situated upon a small fleet of steps, it was stripped bare of any furnishings. Like the rest of the castle, large, eerie obelisks scaled the length of either wall, protruding out in a variety of hooked curves and spikes; the room was windowless, illuminated solely by the whirling soulnado, which cast a pale, pulsing azure glow on all that surrounded it as it pierced through the ceiling and into the burning skies, situated at the foyer of the throne.

Through the transparent pillar of might she would see him - idle, silent, and still as death itself; there, settled upon a throne of ivory bone and twisted ebony steel, was the necromancer. The only sign that Alexander was awake, alive even, was the timid, icy flame that seethed from either of his eyes; as ethereal and evanescent as the smoke of a smoldering fire, it danced an endless dance about the black, ornate helm that decorated his porcelain face.

"Save your flattery." His voice was cold, metallic, and pure bass; it had an unnatural echo, booming throughout the Citadel's many corridors. "I am the King of nothing - a wasteland of fire, brimstone and death," a gauntlet-covered hand shifted, so that his iron fingers could wrap around the leather pommel of his runeblade, Torment. Each of the sigils etched into the blade's length flashed at the touch, clearly having longed for its masters embrace. "I need no hails from those that do not serve me."

Rather than stand to greet his company, so that this woman might be able to fully bask in the glory of his presence, Alexander remained seated. "Speak."

[SelenaNichole]

~*~ Sephrenia, Lich Queen ~*~

And there she stood, before the mighty Necromancer who single handedly subdued this land and made it his. She was impressed by his feat, but disappointed by his lack of personality. She had seen this before, many centuries ago. Kings rose above all, then fell into complacency only to lose what they created. Sephrenia needed an ally, once she had taken over her piece of Terrenus. What better ally than a powerful king who had already accomplished what Sephrenia will do? However, she needed this king to be vengeful and strong. To expand his might and his power and let it be known that the undead would have a place among the cities of Terrenus and not just sit back and watch with empty ambition and eyes.

Sephrenia waved her hand in front of her face, and a large black chair appeared before her, facing the king. She lifted her long black dress as she walked around it, sitting down before the king. His power was adequate and so she would play this game.

“You are correct. I should not flatter but yet I do. I should not hail you, but yet I do. Indulge me Alexander. Why haven’t you raised your hand of might and expanded your kingdom? Why haven’t you taken the north and made it your own? Why stop with just this?” Sephrenia said softly as she observed the great hall.

“It seems as if you are fine with just destroying this place, and making it your own. The underdark is yours…well at least the Drow city you destroyed and this wasteland. Yet the massive cities of Tia, Ignatz, Casper, and even the run down hole of Last Chance only speaks of you as a fable and nothing more. And yet here I am standing before you, your entity and much alive at that. So why. Are you tired Alexander of bringing death to this world?”

[King]

Why? It was a question that Alexander often found himself asking during his brief period as a living, breathing man. But now? Never. He had no use for the inquiry or self-doubt. Everything that he did was meticulously thought out and planned, and even if obscured on a greater scale, served a very distinct and explicit purpose to his scheme. The corruption of Arnim Tor spread much further than the desolate boundaries of the Forbidding Hills, and much deeper than the ruins of the Drow empire he'd so easily crushed beneath his heel. While such a change may not have been outwardly visible in the furthest reaches of the eastern coast, the plague that breathed life into his many monstrosities was furiously at work.

"You speak so much, yet know so little," he replied, his tone unwavering. In a gesture that mirrored her own, an iron have waved before him. The spiraling column of souls of between them twisted and contorted; faces of agony became distorted, shifting to a silhouette of the land. It was nothing more than a rough blueprint at first, but became refined and crisp with each passing second; soon, she would see the east coast in its entirety. "My shadow over this land has stretched further than any dare to imagine."

A soft red glow against the azure map marked Arnim Tor, while hundreds of smaller ones defined the countless hundreds he'd stationed along the coast. Tirelessly, they worked to harvest the land and uncover the remains of ancient beasts of lore; mercilessly, they slaughtered all that opposed their master's will, only raise them for an eternity of service in death. It was a process that had been steadily occurring for quite some time - the fact that she openly admitted that he, the necromancer of lore, was still nothing more than a mere myth on the tongues of men and women was quite pleasing. The less they knew, the better.

Now, if there was one thing that Alexander had learned in his afterlife, it was patience. The whole of Terrenus would not be so easily conquered. Many of the cities that she so carelessly listed were home to some of the most powerful entities in the land - simply storming their keep would prove to be a rather short, unfulfilled campaign. His immediate response was simple: "Patience."

"Sheer numbers mean nothing in the face of the power that is so freely wielded in these lands." With another wave, the map unraveled, and the soulnado once again resumed its ascent. "I approach the inevitable with no haste in my step - the future will come regardless. The hour of reckoning is nigh; the sun sets on Terrenus and its pitiful mortal existence. But, it does so with caution."

[SelenaNichole]

~*~ Sephrenia, Lich Queen ~*~

The sad part was that even in death, this thing before her was still a man. Did he really think that she was incapable of waging a silent war of deceit. His pride was apparent, but that did not bother Sephrenia. She had dealt with men and their pride before, and here she was, still among the world. She did concede that he held a good point. She was undead, and time meant nothing to her. Time was the essence and weakness for humans. However Sephrenia couldn’t help herself when she suddenly got a feeling that he was scared about something. It was always wise to be cautious about your plans but to be scared was a whole different animal. Perhaps there was powers in Valucre that this king couldn’t afford to match on his own, but taking forever with certain plans to come to fruition did not help. These beings of power almost never die and thus when he decides to wage war, he would have to face them sooner or later. The man’s thinking was flawed, and perhaps too cautious, but it was his kingdom and his plans. She would make no note of it out loud.

Sephrenia merely smiled as she leaned back in her chair, watching the spectacle the king made before her. She merely nodded at the end and returned his voice with grave silence. Sephrenia was already calculating her next move. She had much work to do, and it seems that this king’s plans were not likely coming to surface anytime soon, which was very inconvenient for Sephrenia. So the only thing left was to gain information.

“I do hope your endeavors work, no matter how long you strive for them.” She said simply as she stood up, from her chair, the black mist rose as the chair faded into oblivion.

“Beasts of ancient lore. Now that is a truly great subject. I am in need of a Dragon. I came here in the hopes to find out where one has died, and where I can obtain one, which is much easier than hunting one down and killing it, only to have it reborn.”

So this was the purpose of Sephrenia. Regardless of whether or not Alexander would help her, she still found Lisebelle in this land. A woman of no normal power, so indeed the trip was still useful to Sephrenia.

“I seek a rather vicious dragon, or the remains of one at least.” The request was simple, and Sephrenia merely wanted to know what the King would say to her. She already had his answer made out for her, but she merely wanted to ask anyways.

[King]

Arrogance. The woman was ripe with it, so much that even in her silence, as those condescending eyes gazed upon Alexander and all that he'd accomplished in such a short period of time, he could see it. In fact, the air was so thick with her haughty demeanor, it was almost palpable; every word she spoke was dripping with it, and every moment that she was allowed to defile the sanctity of the citadel's halls was a grotesque sacrilege. Fortunately, she knew when to hold her tongue; Alexander cared very little for the words of man, and even less for that of women. He suffered neither of them, regardless of whatever power, or footing, they so bravely presumed that they had.

Finished with the mockery of a meeting, Alexander waved the woman off. "You may find what you seek to the north, she-lich: a fresh carcass strewn and prepared for reanimation. I had planned on using the wyrm for my own ends," he paused, his eyes trailing off into the distance as he imagined the glorious winged creature in an undead state, "but I am a generous man to those that, perhaps in time, may prove to be of some value to me."

Shifting so that Torment could lay flat across his lap, Alexander's eyes closed. "It would behoove you to keep a keen ear to the winds. I'm sure that a woman of your talents will be. . . useful, if anything, in the weeks to come. Surely, the eagerness that warrants your haste will not have diminished by then?"

And then silence.

[SelenaNichole]

~*~ Sephrenia, Lich Queen ~*~

The meeting was odious at best. Her black hues focused on the Necromancer King and with that, she gave a rather lavish bow with a smile. Perhaps this king was beyond a man but as Sephrenia regained her stance she merely turned around and began walking towards the citadel. He would be an excellent ally hopefully in weeks to come rather than years. The king's generousity was indeed what Sephrenia had dreamed of. Her visions showed nothing but dead but with this came deceit. Was it on Sephrenia's part or Alexanders? There possibly couldn't be two rulers of Terrenus...unless he took Terrenus as King and she as queen. Now that was a vision, Sephrenia sitting next to a man. The thought merely made her chuckle.

"I thank you King Alexander. Your company has been most instructive. I shall be listening for your call Great King and I guarantee you, that I will answer to repay my debt." Sephrenia spoke quietly as she walked out of the grand hall. So her plans were set in motion. The king has notified her, of a Dragon, a dead dragon. Oh how she so wished for a Wyrm, but this would be no normal wyrm. It would be a king among Dragon, a wyrm infused and possessed by a queen.

The feeling was great, but still there was much to be done. The time it took traveling back to the main gates was much shorter than traveling to the opposite direction. Sephrenia thanked that, but as soon as the main gates opened, Sephrenia threw her black gem to the ground outside of the main gates. Upon it hitting the ground Lisebelle appeared from it, yawning and screaming.

"I do like your loyalty Lisebelle, but do not cross that with ignorance nor arrogance. You will obey me, or I will introduce you with more agony than a lifetime of death." Sephrenia looked back at the great citadel. She held a tad of respect for Alexander, but no more than necessary. She was sure he was already planning how to bend her to his will and use her, and in retrospect, she was already planning on how to mend this short alliance into her favor.

"How was the king Alexander?" Her counter Lich spoke, intrigued by the idea of a ageless Necromancer.

Sephrenia merely smiled. "He has given us everything we need." Sephrenia raised her hand. With that, a black cloud of smoke appeared and consumed Sephrenia and her party. The cloud lifted into the air and traveled north.

Dead would prevail.

[SelenaNichole]

~*~ Lich Queen ~*~

Several hours later Sephrenia released her cloud of mist, lowering herself and her party to the ground. They had traveled north, in search of the dead dragon's body. Soon it would be time for Sephrenia to show the land of Terrenus how great her power really was. She would show the world that she too could bring upon the abominations of death, and infuse it to her will. After doing that, she would wield this power and travel to the south, and stake her claim in a section of Terrenus. From there, she would spread, like a vile plague destined to rule. Such ambitions Sephrenia had, and she knew one day they would bloom to life, which was the only sense of living she enjoyed.

Lisebelle looked around, her gaze giving a look that stood in between concerned and serious. Sephrenia had felt odd since she landed as well. So did her minions. It felt as if a massive amount of power was near by. Sephrenia could only diffuse that this was the residue power of the dead dragon. It must have been great in it's life, so great that it fell. Arrogance was seen in many creatures, even ancient ones. They thought they were beyond death, beyond the hand of man or the powers that rested in Terrenus. Sephrenia herself, was guilty of such acts, and so what King Alexander. She knew him far better than he would suspect. He was like her, and she was like him. Both had an indomitable personality, and she knew both of them thought they were beyond such trivial facts like being destroyed or no longer existing.

Upon entered a northern cliff, Sephrenia stood before the bones of a great dragon. She felt that this dragon once thought he was beyond such things as well. It goes to show that no matter what you are, what substance you are made up, you have a weakness, and people will tend to always find what that weakness is and exploit it. Stood upon the large bone, Sephrenia merely looked back at her minions. She made a motion for the Lich and the vampire to take the two opposite sides of her, across from the dragon. She made a motion for three more of her mages to take up two different points, and she allowed Lisebelle to take her spot in the witch's pentagram. Being how Lisebelle was not in a full coherent mood, she nodded and only continued to show a deathly focus on her mission.

Of course, allowing the new comer to take Sephrenia's spot didn't bode well with Sephrenia's Minions, which included the lich.

"Why would she be sitting on the top of the power. I should be there if you are not!" The male lich growled as he went to move. His body froze, as Sephrenia merely stared at him, her cold black decaying eyes bore deep into the lich's soul.

"Lisebelle is different than you. She is stronger. Much stronger. This summoning, this reincarnation will cost us greatly, if she does not help." Of course Sephrenia did not need any help, but she would not risk using so much power when she was so close to King Alexander's fortress. so her minion's magic would do.

Darkness swirled around Sephrenia as she lifted her body off the ground. Taking a knife, Sephrenia slit her wrists, allowing her blood to pour from her body. It sizzled and burned as it fell onto the dragon's remains. Soon the blood began to react, forming a perfect circle around the dragon, connecting Sephrenia's five minions together. Lisebelle, started first, dropping to her knees, and began chanting. Though her chanting held not a touch of noise, the other four could feel her voice ringing in their minds. The air shimmered around them, as Sephrenia floated high acting like a pinnacle to their magic. Soon the rest followed....

"So it begins..."

[The Nightmare]

It is not sorrow or regret that maddens the beast which drove it to this notate of a rather imprudent tale, only the optimism of discovering a short-lived thought aloof from the infliction of thought which comes with the sweetness of vengeance. The beast had never sensed remorse for crimes and deeds which justice itself impelled it to do. It is only the condemnatory mystery. Far removed from all inhuman or thoughtless animalistic motive and explanation, that it had stumbled, in the deed of this plain feat of concordance and obedience, in the completion of the deformed justice whereof it thinks- is what has brought it to near insanity.

The purpose in the killing of its last master, though vital and unavoidable, was remotely mundane, it was not clever nor incredibly devious. Foolishly, the creature had trusted this master of pitiful wiles, trusting that after those years of long-suffering service their pact would be complete, and the beast would be liberated to its own devices. Instead forced once again to do the biding of one unworthy of its service, bound to the unknown echelon of his thanatonian spells and the un- known of its source of control, it could do nothing for its own reparation but suffer the fool, until death had it otherwise... luckily all warriors sooner or later fall to the blade of a more graciously gifted bearer.

This beast of the dead and dust, knew of all the evils in this world, none were unique in their desires or manipulations. In this case, the comprehension and smell of evil was intoxicating as it travelled in the air causing the hellish stallion to throw his head in appreciation of the knowing chaos and decadence. It had long missed those hostile serpents, in excelling perfumes. Ebony mane flowing in the wind, the sickly green flames of balefire licking along the edge of muzzles as it abruptly snorted, inhaling back the acerbic winds that carried its interest, a high-pitched whinnied nickering escaped from the decaying frost of its inhalation, heat hitting the coldness loitering on every claws of boiling storm causing a hissing resonance.

Every muscle and tendon compelling the beast of the lower regions to proceed, to gorge on the festering carcasses of war, that offered a wide banquet to creatures of nightmare’s tide, from it to crow, those that flew, scuttled, slithered and crept, all the visible and tangible horrors of this vile world. Ectoplasmic gaze, like moon-frozen to charnel rites lifted to observe the menacing formation appear across the sky, of carrion bird and black rolling clouds smothering the sunshine and azure blues. Rising above the horizon, taking away the beauty that lesser creatures sit and ponder or the artist and poet inscribes with ink upon the parchment page whereas it caused creatures like it to spit and scourge. Pure white eyes reflecting the turmoil of storm, drinking in the horror as a world fogged over with the scent of death and blood, lightening flashed, the distant war drum of thunder colliding against the elements, Leviathan dragged its chains.

Massive talons banging on the shadow side doors of the wraith-lands, demanding the iron doors to open, free the dark things from their dismal pits and hellish prisons. The element of air travelled this omen of promise to its animalistic senses, picking up the fall of another ancient and mighty creature, gripped in the massive onyx-dripping jaws of death but there was a presence there which provoked this beast’s curiosity and attentions. Death intrigued it the most of all senses, balsam and belladonna, but its primal drive was to find the one who had claimed its loyalty. What word or name was whispered in a tongue unknown, in crypts of some impenetrable world? Whose is the dark, dethroning secrecy that preened its need to seek?

Rotting flanks twitched, only its armour kept the majority of its decomposition covered from the eyes of man. Muscles tensing as once again he snorted, wraithlike fumes of frost forced from the passages of parched nostrils. Fetlock hooves pounding impatiently at the moist earth, poll twitching as ears moved abruptly as if hearing a voice travelling with the sinister winds. Length of tail swishing in the tangling blister of plagued winds, withers convulsing from anxiousness, the approaching storm grew louder, the rumbling clouds more menacing as they crossed the open plains. Fear is born in crypts below the nadir where life frets the cloth, and hath crawled from the wail-side, to await wings to lift it upward like a hellish worm.

With the evil that came, something else came with it, some eerie pulsating fog of creeping shadows, opaque. Another high pitched eerie whinny escaped clenched mortars. The fiend of necromancy lowered its head in sheer defiance, eyes burning with bleached conviction. Snorts pluming vines of frost and glowing plagued fire into the oncoming elements, the whirlwinds of darkness as spittle fired out from nostrils and another whinny escaped this one different, it was enough to shatter glass in an explosion of crystal and reflection, immusical. Flutes of devils in lascivious choir, bowing to some satanic majesty with thunderous domes above the necrotic obelisks, of towers of night and fire alternate.

It echoed throughout the region, calling forth all the spectral spirits that wandered throughout the lands, tormenting mortals, the forever hungry dead that found no rest and no peace. Rising high upon hooves, shanks straining from the weight shifting to hinds, full weight sustained to the back of his form then lunging into a powerful stride into the trembling gloom. Knee joints bent in the surge of its pace, hooves digging at the clashing elements though it rode upon the mists in ghostlike appearance, hoof slashing fiercely just before the power in his hocks leaping forward.To the ruin of all the wars of time, to plunge with clangor of timeless cataracts adown the gulfs eternal, to seek those familiar shades of wanton necrophile.

Head lowered so that the hook of its neck was pinned hard towards the instep of black crest and tarnished silver plates rusted with blood. Swiftness aimed against the wind and even though the lashes against wasp-like stings of little knives imbrued with the slobber of the basilisk, the mount welcomed the pain of it. Invisible whips slashing against the rotting pelt, dissolved in the chaos of natures rage, of the thunders rapture. A rampant monster roaring for its glut. Fiery crests of saffron-streaming behind the abysmal stallion with an animated fury, the ever-twisting, flame licking the heavens, sunken eyes roaming the starless fields of utter night and chaos. With all the speed of horror-changèd dreams, the beast would soon arrive at the destination of its, assumption.


{|Ooc: I am not sure if you mind that I actually post here, your thread inspired me is all. If you would it be removed, as I do not wish to interupt your story, I shall find no offense in the request and simply start a thread of my own.|}

[SelenaNichole]

… o O (I welcome any and all who would want to include me in their world of role play. I am honored to role play with you.)

~*~ Lisebelle, The Haggard’s True Power ~*~

The sky turned a pitch black, despite the fact that the power of the sun raged over the land. In truth there was very little the sun could do, but accept it’s inferiority to certain event. The clouds, the sun, the sky, the stars, they would watch and do nothing for events were happening that was beyond their control. Even the makers of the whole would dare not step in to block such a magic. Reincarnation, in itself was a magic forbidden by most, but there were more unforgivable magics than raising the dead. The spell that Lisebelle knew Sephrenia had in mind was from the realm of demons and darkness. It was a little bit conjuration, a little bit reincarnation, and a whole lot of sacrifice. The price…yes Lisebelle knew there would be a price. Would it be their lives? For Lisebelle the Haggard, she did not care, but for Be’Lie the demon, he watched in fear. He could do nothing but lend his mighty hand and power to Lisebelle in hopes that his female body would not be destroyed.

What Sephrenia sought to do, was an abomination. It was unforgivable, and yet to Be’Lie a king among demons, it was beautiful. It held a sense of evil that he had not seen in many centuries. He had never seen such a spell cast before, and that sense of unknowing made him tread carefully. Based upon Lisebelle’s chants, Be’lie realized that she was calling for the dead spirit of the dragon, to return to it’s bones where Sephrenia would enslave it. That was not all, for that was an example of simple reincarnation. What Sephrenia was commanding, was a spell that would not only raise this wyrm, but it would bring back its memories, and by Sephrenia’s blood it would infused both flesh, blood, bones, and memories back together, bringing upon a new form of reincarnation. A possessed rebirth, one that would allow a being to come back to life in servitude for another, and not only that, Sephrenia planned on binding a piece of her soul in this dragon, making him her seventh phylactery.

Lisebelle and Be’Lie had never seen a spell like this, but somehow she was chanting it, as if Sephrenia was instilling her knowledge inside of Lisebelle. Be’Lie wasn’t completely on board, and because of that, seemed to hold Lisebelle down, unfortunately, Lisebelle believed in her new mistress, and gave her all. It was a power that Be’Lie wasn’t expecting, and it stunned the demon inside of her.

The circle of magic, began to radiate, and then it happened…

Lisebelle stood up, her eyes blazing with a powerful red aura. Flames rose from every inch of the five points, and soon the circle itself exploded with power. The wave of magic, made all those bearing witness drop to their knees, and even the male Lich’s eyes widened as he gazed at Lisebelle. Her voice, still silent but chanting began to change the currents of magic around them. It took every inch of both the Lich’s and Vampire’s power to compete with the human female. The other three mages were close to passing out, but still they held their ground. The three of them connected their magic, and then they linked with the Lich and the Vampire, and with that the Lich invoked his magical right as a superior entity. The magic flourished and struck Lisebelle with it’s raw might, but instead of falling, Lisebelle’s form just absorbed it, her mind focusing upon one point, a pinnacle, and that was Sephrenia.

Be’Lie was confused. Why had he not been able to possessed this magic before Sephrenia came? Why had he not sensed this? Why couldn’t he control it. The answer was clear. This magic, was the power of the Human spirit. It was the power of mortality, a power that he could not understand. Although he sensed Lisebelle emitted a monstrosity of power, he could feel her life threads slowly cutting away. He had to intervene, or else his placement in this world would die.

And so Be’Lie did. His form reached out and took a hold of Lisebelle. At first he had a bit of a trouble handling the power, but as time went by, he slowly adapted to it’s intensity. Lisebelle’s body changed noticeably, as scaled skin replaced that of pale coldness. The silent of the voice no longer existed as his voice took over, a deep boom down, resided over the fields of Terrenus. He channeled the energy, and against his will redirected it to Sephrenia. Be’Lie only smiled, as he could feel the other points fighting against Lisebelle in terms of magical wills. If they wanted to try to kill Lisebelle through this spell, they would have a hell of a time doing it. Be’Lie returned their power in kind, summoning his own foul strength. Walls of flame burst in all direction, thirty feet high and in a three hundred and sixty degree manner. Sephrenia’s minions raced back to not get caught in the flames, but some were too slow.

~*~ Sephrenia, Lich Queen ~*~

Lisebelle was doing great, far better than what Sephrenia had expected, and this pleased her. It would seem the demon had taken over, and that is exactly what she wanted. Lisebelle’s true strength was in the demon, and Sephrenia knew the spell itself was be far to exhausting for any mortal soul. He would risk death if he did not take over, and so the trap was set and taken.

The energy that Sephrenia felt was wonderful. It was exhilarating and for a second, Sephrenia felt as if she was beyond that of a god. There, however, was no time for such thoughts. Sephrenia slowly began to churn her magic and that of the ritual into shape. The whole northern part of the Forbidding Hills were filled in black shadow. The wind’s churned as if suppressed. The very ground shook, and cracked, as if pressure was building up. The clouds began to swirl taking the darkness with it, and soon, everything felt as if a million tons of weight was set upon their shoulders. She felt a deep pressure in her body, and soon she noticed that her lich counterpart, and even that of Be’Lie fell to their knees from the power that was being mustered. Sephrenia than raised her hands, Dark tendrils shot out from her finger tips, reaching high into the sky. A portal opened above her form in a massive swirl of darkness combined with a small tinge of light….

“It is almost done…” Sephrenia whispered, as the very forces of nature seemed to rage uncontrollable. Deep booms, resonated through out the lands of Terrenus, causing whirlwinds, and earth quakes. The pressure was so immense that by standers, more of Sephrenia’s faithful, fell to the ground dead, their heads shattered from the pressure. ….

[SelenaNichole]

~*~ Be'Lie, Demon of Hell...The Gate of Hell ~*~

It wasn't until it was too late before Be'Lie realized what was going on. His newly acquired mistress was tampering with powers that was far beyond her rank, and knowledge. None of the other knew what was being done, except Lisebelle, but that was solely because Be'Lie resided in her. The sky only blackened and filled with ash. Five ebony points appeared above the ruins of the dragon, high above that of Sephrenia's floating form. The black swirl lifted into the hair, and soon, those points were connected forming a large black Gate. As the gate appeared, Be'Lie noticed Sephrenia pressing her hand against it.

"No! Mistress! Do noT do ----"

It was done, the black gate opened, and soon, the heat of fire raged forward from the sky, to strike the ground. The heat was so intensive, it melted parts of the dragon's bones, and charred the rest black as night. The fiery swirl of Hell raged with in the gate, as the impact was massive, breaking the spell and causing everyone, even Be'Lie to be flung to the ground. The demon used his might to protect Lisebelle's body, but he could not stop the body from skidding across the ground, twenty meters away. The Lich and Vampire were also thrown, as the three other mages were tossed against the side of a rock mount. Only Sephrenia stood, but her form was forced to land upon the ground. It would seem that even with her magic, she was no longer able to sustain herself in the air.

It was not The Gate of Hell, but it was A gate of hell, a portal to the lands where evil was in no lack of abundance. It frightened Be'Lie so much he forced Lisebelle to hide among the rock ruins around them. Sephrenia...was a mad woman!

~*~ Sephrenia Nichole...A Very Dangerous Bargain, A trick among ages ~*~

Her task was almost complete. It had been a long time since Sephrenia had seen the pits of Hell. It had been a long time since she had felt the fire and heat of the Devil's Realm. She pushed the door open, unlocking it with a incantation that was more ancient than anything. She was there to summon a demon of worth, a demon of power, and trap it.

A sinister smile came across Sephrenia's face, as she looked behind her. Her minions hid like whipped dogs, but still she could not blame them. Even Sephrenia tread lightly before the realm of Lucifer. Those this realm was not the only realm that wrecked havoc, for there were other evils in the world, such as old pagan gods, Old God and goddess from other religions and faiths. One just had to look for them, and sooner or later, they would find them. Sephrenia had once not believed in Lucifer before, but Eden housed both great evil and great light. The war of Heaven and Hell almost annihilated all, but that was because people were blinded by what both houses really meant. They thirsted for their blood, but had anyone ever managed to bargain with them? Had anyone ever managed to sit down and see what advantages could be gain for "Doing" their work for them?

"Be'Lie Come to me." Sephrenia's voice was dark and menacing, and the tone alone forced Lisebelle to stand next to her.

"You Hath no Idea what you have done Sephrenia! The gates of Hell are not meant to be open! Who knows what will come out of the fire!"

"Hush now Be'Lie. I know what lies in this fire. I know how deep the pits of Hell are. There was once a time where Hell rose up and sent their agents to destroy the world. They were so evil that even my elder sister stood up against them. They lost that war, and with great cost. The Dark Lady even fell before the hands of Hell. Christian Lore is lost upon this world, and that is not really so bad."

Lisebelle's face seemed confused as she stared at her mistress in disbelief. Be'Lie was confused, and by that he looked up, staring into the pits of Hell. He did not want to go back to it. Demons climbed out from Hell to get away from its agonies, and this woman opened it, to seek help from it's power? Truly the demon thought Sephrenia to be completely crazy! "The Dark Lady? The leader in Last Chance? She knows of hell?"

Sephrenia smiled wickedly. Normally she would have given Lisebelle a sarcastic look of reproach but she dared not remove her eyes from the gate. Sephrenia was strong indeed, but the realm of Lucifer, the realm of the Devil, held powers far greater than her.

"Yes, Natalia, though evil at heart, aided a demon in defeating Selena, and an angel. However, Lucifer was not a kind heart to anyone not able to be swayed to his service. Let's just say, he hates the Nichole Family, and wants us all dead. He betrayed Natalia, before she could betray him, and his servants attacked her, during a siege upon Hell. They fought, and to be honest, it was marvelous, the among of power they released upon Hell. In the end, Natalia fell, steam rising from her skin, as she fell upon the hard rock. There her soul was meant to stay, but Selena interfered and with her last might, took her sister and herself from the realm of Hell, to return back to Eden, then fled to Ayenee. Though, some say it was Lore, written only in the memories of my family, a time before several of my family, I say it was the truth, for I was there, watching in the shadows, walking in the pits of Hell, where no one could see me."

Sephrenia continued just as Lisebelle opened her mouth to speak. "I left before they managed to finally close the gates of hell, and that is where I learned the incantation to open the gate and close it. And so, here I stand."

Sephrenia's eyes began to darken as the blood circle faded from view. Soon after a crackle of lighting landed just before Sephrenia's feet.

"I summon thee, demon of Hell, to stand before me, so that we may chat for a bit. I summon thee, Duke of Hell, to come out of your palace of agony and pain, to stand before me, so that we may strike a bargain. Come...and Now!"

~*~ It comes...From the pit and Palace ~*~

"You...woman..."

"You...Have some nerves to call forth me, from the gate of Hell, you stupid wench. Slut! What right do you have to summon me!" A voice of pure darkness swirled across the ground in which Sephrenia stood. Her bones began to shake, as she watched as evil descended upon her. It was then that she realized that she may have summoned a demon that was far beyond her power. Just maybe...

"Speak before I rip out your eyes, and turn your bone and magic to dust!" This time the voice was merely a roar, a deep resonating roar that echoed through out the air.

Sephrenia's black eyes narrowed as she hardened herself and steeled her nerves. She noticed Be'Lie cringing with in Lisebelle's body, as Lisebelle herself dropped to her knee, face planted into the ground. Sephrenia however, would not be deterred from her path, and definitely not from her destiny.

"I come to make a bargain Demon." Her voice spoke with wavering confidence.

"A bargain? I do not deal with lesser beings. You know of who you speak to filth?"

"I care not of who you are, but what you can do for me." Sephrenia did speak the truth.

"I am Amdusias, A Great Duke of Hell! You will bow before me wench! I need to do nothing for you!"

The voice caused Sephrenia to drop to her knees, her hands planted upon the ground as she felt a pressure of ages upon her back. A Duke of Hell? This was what she could summon? It was dangerous, and she was walking on very thin ice. It was so dangerous, and it was so perfect.

Sephrenia's forced her body to rise from the ground, as she stared up at the giant demon, the very being that darkened the sky and hid the light. She gripped Lisebelle by the neck and jumped backwards, clearing a good twenty feet before landing upon the ground. The ground around Sephrenia rose upwards, as her magic began to swell.

"You silly demon. Have you been in Hell for so long that you have gotten sloppy? Close, for the way needs to be shut. Close, for the way needs to be sealed. Open when called, opened when summoned, and not before." The gate of hell closed upon Sephrenia's speaking the incantation, sealing off a way for the demon to go back home. However, if this worked, if this were to happen, Sephrenia would open the Gates of Hell permanently. That was the bargain There were other way, but way that took time. Sephrenia's voice was demeaning, and it mocked the demon. The tone even caused Be'Lie to run back and hide again amongst the ruins.

Amdusias did not appreciate being mocked either. He raged forward, the black smoke of his body threatened to consume the Lich Queen, until he stopped, his large eyes widened in shock. Sephrenia only smiled, revealing her blood circle in which the Duke stood in. The spell was known as the Devil's Trap. It is an intricate spell of Demonic Origin combined with Black Magic and of course her Blood Magic. It could seal a demon with in it's confines and strip it of it's power. Had Sephrenia summoned a King of Hell, the seal would have been immediately broken just by the sheer power of that demon. However the seal was efficient enough to deal with a Ranking of Demon such as this.

"You let me out now! I am going to rip your throat out! I am going to strip the decaying flesh off your bones and use them for tooth picks! I am ----"

"Shut the Hell up." Sephrenia interrupted the demon as she walked closer to him. "You...you serve the devil. I do not, but you will serve me now for my purposes? It is a will that have to spread my darkness. I believe your leader will allow me to do this."

"No...No he will not." Amdusias spoke as a smile appeared over his face.

"We shall see. I will continue this alone. Lisebelle, stand back." A chuckle left Sephrenia's face, as she began to speak in a lost language, known by few. The smirk upon the demon's face, soon became a distant memory. The bones of the Dragon, both white and charred, began to rise from the burnt ground. It flew around the demon, and with all his might, he tried to destroy it, only to fail.

"I shall make a bargain with you Sephrenia..I shall make a bargain with you now." The demon's voice spoke in a panic.

Sephrenia's mouth continued to chant, as another voice lifted into the air. "So sorry demon. You will become my servant, and with your servitude, I will accept this as a payment for your arrogance. Fool. A bargain? With a demon? I have no soul to offer, but you do..."

The ground split around Sephrenia and soon, blindness from the darkness came with out warning. Lisebelle and the other minions covered their eyes, concealing what was being done.

Sephrenia could see it. She needed not to see to know what was being done. The bones would meld into the demon's black skin, and transform it into a mindless creature of both demonic and undead origins. On top of that, the spirit of the old dragon, would infuse with the demons, combined both Flesh, Blood, and Bone together, to create a new kind of servant. A servant of Hell, A servant of Darkness, A Servant of the Undead...

But most importantly a servant of The Lich Queen.