The First Dark Congress

[dandan1350 479]

"I'm saddened, I was hoping such an event would play out similar to Sprats farewell.. Many of us capable to destroy each other but none willing as they respected the grounds they were summoned on. Gah."

 

His comments were idle to mainly to himself beneath his breath as the speeches persisted, beginning to pace round to where he might stand shoulder to Ser Rosencrantz and flank the Prophet without word further escaping him beside a bob of his head to the Ser cleric.

 

 

[Zarsies 6795]

After her watch drilling towards the absently murmured words of the towering man, the guttural gullet of the ghastly queen speaks openly and thus,

 

"̀Pr͝a̵y͏ t̢e҉ll, hơl͡y̵man, ͞m̕ight y͘o͟u ̨a̕t̴te͟mp̸t̨ ̕a͠ s̵eco̕nda͠ry̸ ͏p͜e͜r̕spec͘tive? T̡hin̛k̸;͘ ̸h̴ow̛ u͜nn͟a͠tu̕r͏a̷l ̛is͘ the uşa͜ģe ͡ǫf̨ ͘for̷c̷és ̴pr̢e̸s̶e͡nt ͜i͠n t͜h͢e ̡o̷r͟g̕an͠ic w҉or̷l̵d? Ne͜c̷r͜o͠m̵a͏n͡cy ͟harnes̡ses t͝he ͞a҉po̷the̶os͞i̷s̵ ̧o̶f ͢li̴fe ͢a͘nd̷ m̛a̕y s̢alvag͠e͘ th̀o̸s̵e ̨b̀r̶o͠u̵ght̛ onto ͠dea̷t̨h,͢ ̷a͝lbe҉it t̵h͘at̛ ̶i͢ś n̴òt ͜t͟o s͏ay͟ i͝t h͘as ̷n̷e͏ver͠ g͏òne͡ m͏isused ͘in͠ t̴h̡e past̶ oŗ c̢u͜r͜r̶e͡n̢t͜ly͢ ͜b́y ro͢u̡g̡ȩs҉.̧ ͡Blo̡od̕ magic҉ wi̧elds ͝b̀l͡ood ͢-- a҉n ͜open͢l͠y avai̸làb̡le ́re͜sǫurc͠e ͜óf͢ ͟wh̶i͡c͝h҉ ͡t̕he͏ Creato͡r̶ h̵a͞s̀ g̷rán͘ted̶ ̷us.͜ ͜How do t͜h͟èse ̕nob̴le a͠rts ̛insp͞ire a̶n̶ni̵hil͡ati͡on whe͡n held̸ uǹder̕ mo̢ḑe̡ra̵t͢i̵on? ͘W͞hy̧ ̨do̴ y̶ou͝ ̴thi̸nk͟ the Dar͏k͞ ̀is įn͞hęr͠e̷nt̷l̀y҉ not͡ ͞o͘f pur͜it̀ỳ? I̛ c͞arȩ ͏t͞o ̸co͞ntén͜d ͡f̨o̶r i̷t̕s ̸g̡r͘a͏nde̢ur."̢

 

She holds her black tongue for a moment before adding on in a quip,

 

"T̨h̶e ̷cr͝e͠at̕i҉on ̴o̴f ͡s̢pèctr̨al̸ ͟éntitįes̷ ́-̧- ph҉a̡n͠to͞m̶ś -͞-̀ is̸ a ̧na̵t͜u͜ra̴l o͏ne͟.͡ Th̵e̷y o͟ccur͝ i͢n͏de҉pȩnd̛ent͜ly a͞nd ̸h̶a͟ve̡ t͢hro͘u͜gh̡ǫut a͠ll͟ t͢ime͏.̢ A̡m ̧I ̨e̸vil f͜o͝r ̛s̷h́e̡phe҉rdi͢ng th̀em i̕n̡t͜o̕ org̕a̴ni̕z̸atioń, ̀gìv̡i̶n͏g ̸t͢h́e l͜ost a̧nd ̡woe͞be͞go͘ne purpos͜e?̴"̷

[dandan1350 479]

"I no longer speak the will of father nor deem his judgement on this realm. Any who use their arts against the descendants of the realm will face a calling from the clerics of Tahariae from what I am to understand. If they do not confront me or harm my brothers and sisters without proper reason then I will not aimlessly hunt them. I do not argue your points so I do not understand truly why I am being asked to be brought to the stage. 

 

I simply say, I hunt those who fall from their ranks. The ones you dub rogues."

 

Letting out a harsh, hacking cough before attempting to return to his normal demeanour of silent observation, his eyes locked on his contender.

[GDPR 014 48]

In ear-pitch, a helmeted, blue robed figure listens to the congress, arms crossed around an oaken stave. He needed no grand entry, or exaggerated speeches. At his sides were two large robed beings, with piercing yellow cracking the shadows of their hoods, trailing behind the listener, Dwarven sized robed beings stood watch of their master.

[youdude 104]

The elf known as Savet tried his best to hold his tongue, keep himself from adding anything to the banter occurring around him. It wasn't his place, nor did he want to expose his alignment too openly. But... Perhaps, this needed a slight nudge in the right direction. He reached into his coat anew, retrieving his flask for a encouraging gulp that lubricated his tongue back from it's somewhat dry state. And with that, he cleared his throat.
 

"We all know that the two sides will never get along. They are opposites in many ways, though most importantly; Opposites in their ideals and morals. Now, that's good 'n all, but I doubt wasting one's breath trying to explain why their side is right and the other is wrong, is... Worthwhile. So, I suggest that instead of provoking each other--" A daring glare was sent towards the Ghastly queen. "--Which, ma'am you've been quite clearly doing, let's focus on the issue brought up initially; the captivity of Elvira Mantisuku, otherwise known as the Arm."

[TeaLulu 1783]

With her quill shortly ending it's dance across the pages of her tome, the hooded receptionist by the door would lift her hand from her lap, depositing the owl lain there upon her desk. With the elderly messenger removed from her lap, she slid the tome to her lap, tilting it in the direction of the lady seated nearby. She gave a gentle tap upon the page with the tip of her quill, idly.

[Swgrclan 2682]

After allowing others to speak their piece, Vapor himself chimes in- his voice bearing a tone that demands attention. He addresses each point individually, and as thus;
 

1 hour ago, Lucius de Savoie said:

"I no longer speak the will of father nor deem his judgement on this realm. Any who use their arts against the descendants of the realm will face a calling from the clerics of Tahariae from what I am to understand. If they do not confront me or harm my brothers and sisters without proper reason then I will not aimlessly hunt them. I do not argue your points so I do not understand truly why I am being asked to be brought to the stage. 

 

I simply say, I hunt those who fall from their ranks. The ones you dub rogues."

 

Letting out a harsh, hacking cough before attempting to return to his normal demeanour of silent observation, his eyes locked on his contender.

"It seems the justification for your powers has gone from the goal of destroying all darkness, to monitoring it - a duty that is not your own, under the premise of your alignment. Man has the tools to rid of chaos-ridden shadows in this land, and for an outerworlder to impose it's view of purity upon remnant Man while using them as puppets to progress their goals, only acts as a means to disrupt of the already imbalanced equilibrium of the cosm. If you wish to hunt the agents of bedlam which has seeded themselves into this land and the ones beyond, do so in the name of Man, and with your mortal hands - not in the name of unnatural light, brought by that which has no jurisdiction in this mortal world."

 

2 hours ago, Zarsies said:

After her watch drilling towards the absently murmured words of the towering man, the guttural gullet of the ghastly queen speaks openly and thus,

 

"̀Pr͝a̵y͏ t̢e҉ll, hơl͡y̵man, ͞m̕ight y͘o͟u ̨a̕t̴te͟mp̸t̨ ̕a͠ s̵eco̕nda͠ry̸ ͏p͜e͜r̕spec͘tive? T̡hin̛k̸;͘ ̸h̴ow̛ u͜nn͟a͠tu̕r͏a̷l ̛is͘ the uşa͜ģe ͡ǫf̨ ͘for̷c̷és ̴pr̢e̸s̶e͡nt ͜i͠n t͜h͢e ̡o̷r͟g̕an͠ic w҉or̷l̵d? Ne͜c̷r͜o͠m̵a͏n͡cy ͟harnes̡ses t͝he ͞a҉po̷the̶os͞i̷s̵ ̧o̶f ͢li̴fe ͢a͘nd̷ m̛a̕y s̢alvag͠e͘ th̀o̸s̵e ̨b̀r̶o͠u̵ght̛ onto ͠dea̷t̨h,͢ ̷a͝lbe҉it t̵h͘at̛ ̶i͢ś n̴òt ͜t͟o s͏ay͟ i͝t h͘as ̷n̷e͏ver͠ g͏òne͡ m͏isused ͘in͠ t̴h̡e past̶ oŗ c̢u͜r͜r̶e͡n̢t͜ly͢ ͜b́y ro͢u̡g̡ȩs҉.̧ ͡Blo̡od̕ magic҉ wi̧elds ͝b̀l͡ood ͢-- a҉n ͜open͢l͠y avai̸làb̡le ́re͜sǫurc͠e ͜óf͢ ͟wh̶i͡c͝h҉ ͡t̕he͏ Creato͡r̶ h̵a͞s̀ g̷rán͘ted̶ ̷us.͜ ͜How do t͜h͟èse ̕nob̴le a͠rts ̛insp͞ire a̶n̶ni̵hil͡ati͡on whe͡n held̸ uǹder̕ mo̢ḑe̡ra̵t͢i̵on? ͘W͞hy̧ ̨do̴ y̶ou͝ ̴thi̸nk͟ the Dar͏k͞ ̀is įn͞hęr͠e̷nt̷l̀y҉ not͡ ͞o͘f pur͜it̀ỳ? I̛ c͞arȩ ͏t͞o ̸co͞ntén͜d ͡f̨o̶r i̷t̕s ̸g̡r͘a͏nde̢ur."̢

 

She holds her black tongue for a moment before adding on in a quip,

 

"T̨h̶e ̷cr͝e͠at̕i҉on ̴o̴f ͡s̢pèctr̨al̸ ͟éntitįes̷ ́-̧- ph҉a̡n͠to͞m̶ś -͞-̀ is̸ a ̧na̵t͜u͜ra̴l o͏ne͟.͡ Th̵e̷y o͟ccur͝ i͢n͏de҉pȩnd̛ent͜ly a͞nd ̸h̶a͟ve̡ t͢hro͘u͜gh̡ǫut a͠ll͟ t͢ime͏.̢ A̡m ̧I ̨e̸vil f͜o͝r ̛s̷h́e̡phe҉rdi͢ng th̀em i̕n̡t͜o̕ org̕a̴ni̕z̸atioń, ̀gìv̡i̶n͏g ̸t͢h́e l͜ost a̧nd ̡woe͞be͞go͘ne purpos͜e?̴"̷

 

"The ethereal one speaks clear truth. This is what the focus should be: control. The patrons of interluding Aengudaemonica are disillusioned by the concept that light may be brought to this material plane, and therefore destroy all dark, and thereafter return all purity to the realm of Man; but such a prospect is scattered and flawed. As we of Xion have uttered many times, both in yore and in the present, 'the brighter the light, the deeper the shadow'; it means, to undo the gloaming presences of this world is impossible, and should the day ever come which the dark will be torn away from the cycle of things, the world we stand amid now will no longer belong to Man, and the intentions of the Creator will be disregarded by His tumultuous children of light.

 

Therefore, all those who stand here, representing their invasive gods, must understand this clearly: the perceivedly abomidable shadows that the remnants of Man cast cannot be destroyed, only contained. For one-thousand and five hundred years, the mortal world has existed, and those who would become one with the dark, whether to become mindless beast or independent transcendent, have existed within it as mortality itself has. It is only when these beasts or transcendents of shadow become agents of havoc, akin to Iblees, that they may be truly and rightfully decimated: but this is the right of Man, not of Aenguls and Daemons. The Aenguls and Daemons themselves have brought sin by trespassing into a world they were instructed, by their very design, to keep away from, and therefore, they are responsible for the corruptions that come about in the world.

But as the graceful maiden claims, I too agree that the powers of the dark indeed have gone without control. But now we are here - we stand in the shadow of Xion, and carry the good book on a mission to pull over the mortal world a reign in which the darker higher powers are contained and rule themselves, away from Man and harmless to them.

But to hunt them - these Dreadknights, these Frostwitches, these Ghouls and these Wraiths, is futile, for the hunt will never end. Time stands as witness to this."

 

12 hours ago, Ventusyr said:

"I shall agree with you that death is natural, but when it is violently brought, when one Descendant seeks power over others, that is indeed evil. I fail to see how you can argue that murder and torture is beneficial to the progression of Man, and that taint, the substance that brings agony and death to Descendants afflicted with it and renders land disfigured and abhorrent, is a suitable tool to use for such."

 

The priest pauses for a moment, letting out a small exhale before continuing:

 

"The Vehement Lord came down to grant boons to the clerics because the world was filled with unnatural arts that were used to abuse the Descendants. I have seen the taint of Iblees and the taint of necromancers leave land in decaying rot, the very life of the plants warped, disfigured, and drained. My kin of the Druian can attest to this. I have seen the disgusting effects of Soul Puppetry. I have seen the gold poured in the eyes of mali'ame by Kalenz's aheral, and the earless Elvish corpses left by Orenian soldiers, and the dying soldiers left in Setherien's realm. Destruction of life and happiness is evil. It simply is. And the most effective tools for bringing about this evil, the most efficient of boons for those seeking to create as much chaos and destruction as possible, are the unholy arts that Tahariae, Blessed Be His Name, deems Impure.

 

"The Arch-Aengul's boons are not designed to purge those with ideological differences, but to purge those who would seek to utilize taint and the lives of others for personal power, who tamper with things that should not be tampered with to cause suffering to the Innocent. We do not care if you hate our Lord, and we do not care if you hate us. We do care if your hatred causes you to bring harm to those who wish to live left alone and in peace. We do care if you taint the realm and its people.

 

"Tahariae, Blessed Be His Name, seeks to bring the realm back to Purity, back to a time when there was no taint or evil in the world. Where none may fall to the sword, and none may fall to taint. I care not how difficult such a goal is to achieve; if I see injustice and suffering, it is my duty as not only a servant of the Lord of Purity, but as a fellow Descendant, to defend the victim, and to heal the suffering."

 

When the old, decrepit man speaks, Ashanaak turns to him, and his lips purse before shaking his head.

 

"I never once insinuated it was the easier path, but you took a route of corruption. Whatever effects came to you as a result of relying on such arts is only a testament to how unfit they are to be utilized by the sons and daughters of the Four, and how unnatural they are. I appreciate the assistance you lent in fighting the Dark One's forces, but such does not render your path the right path."

 

He glances to the side at Coltaine's sudden call, and here, the elf falls silent.

"If you claim your purpose is to shepherd Man back into a status of purity, then you must renounce your ways, and allow your Aengul-given responsibilities to become once more a mantle of Xion. Only the dark may control itself. The more you fight it, the greater the dark shall become, for the presence of your higher lords invokes retaliatory forces embedded into the very fabric of this world. You cannot be held responsible for controlling the dark of the world, only Man himself and the powers invested within his mortal being."

As his long speech concludes, he take a moment to rest his voice, before pulling from the nearby long-table a black tome identical to that of the book which the attendent Savet returned to him. Vapor of Apex raises the book over his head, and speaks in such a way to assure all may hear him.

"We are born by the Dark.
Made men by the Dark.
Undone by the Dark.

That is our adage, as mortal beings. That is the adage of every Wight, every Wraith, every mage and every knight. Every single individual that stands in this room follows this adage, whether they agree to or not; even when their souls are tricked by unbelonging deities who fear to stand beside Man in order to push their agendas upon him. Let not the transcendence of dark lords among the races of the dark fool you: we are all mortal, for we all have souls. Man has a right to become what he wishes to become, as long as his soul is still his own; and the only justification to hunt greater entities of the dark is if they stand openly as agents of chaos, within a limbo between light and dark; a limbo first born within the being of the Fallen One himself."

[Zarsies 6795]

3 hours ago, Lucius de Savoie said:

"I no longer speak the will of father nor deem his judgement on this realm. Any who use their arts against the descendants of the realm will face a calling from the clerics of Tahariae from what I am to understand. If they do not confront me or harm my brothers and sisters without proper reason then I will not aimlessly hunt them. I do not argue your points so I do not understand truly why I am being asked to be brought to the stage. 

 

I simply say, I hunt those who fall from their ranks. The ones you dub rogues."

 

Letting out a harsh, hacking cough before attempting to return to his normal demeanour of silent observation, his eyes locked on his contender.

 

 

 

[[Sorry, void that. The question was put to Ven, not you. ;-;]]

 

Kozilek, garbed in the body of a striking dame, leans over to peer down at the paper presented to her from the nearby receptionist. After a lingering of silence with her eyes locked onto that of the other woman's to which she deeply frowns moments later, the maiden slowly looks back out to the discussion crowd and calls back in her bizarre voice, opening firstly with,

 

"͢De͝ba͠t͏i̸ng ͘bŕing͡s ͞c̶onc̛l͢u̕si̴ons͟; tḩe͏ s̶ub͏p̴o̴e͢na͠ ҉of ̢f͢u̧ti͜l̵i͠t̸y̨ h̸as ̕n̡o pla͝c͘ȩ ҉h̡eré.̕"

 

She stares down Savet with a strange, motherly smile pulled onto her tight and angular face before continuing.

 

"W̡h́a̴t ͟of͡ ͠t̵ḩe̷ e̢ven̶ts̕ in̨ t̨h͡e ̢g͜ŗo̶ve͝ ҉at ̴t̶h̨e ͟e͘n͜d o̴f ́A͡th҉e̴ra,̷ ͞tha͟ţ ̛th͘e͜ ͟druids͞ ab͢ho̢r ̸t͢o̡ te̴ll ͏o̸f? Wh̡a͏t̴ of t̀h͜es̷é ̶P͡a̸t̵ro͟n͝s ̀an҉d ̨th͠e͘ir͏ ̢ąc̢ti̡o͟ns̢ i̛n th̴e ̨ev҉e͜nts ̡of ́'̵H̡a̛r̴ve̶s͞t̶i̧n̸g̶'̵?̧ ̧H̕o͡w ̀ma̧n͜y s̡e̢c̴ret͏s͞ do ̴yoų t̨hi̷nk͠ ̛h͠ol͜y ̵m̨en keep,̀ c͘om̢par҉ed tơ ́a͟nd ͏f͝ro̸m͝ mo҉r̷tal̀ ͡m͢en?̶"

 

[dandan1350 479]

((Why do you wish to hurt me, Zarzar? My mistake, the whole not using no names and using descriptions to mark whether they're talking to someone is confusing now me as you mentioned towering man. My bad, void my statement then.))

[youdude 104]

Savet flinched away from the smile offered, lips twisting into an unnerved frown. The motion was almost degrading, the kind you'd give to a youngling spouting nonsense you humor for the sake of childhood. He fiddled his thin fingers, uncorking his flask for another greedy, nerve-calming gulp; noting how the container is becoming dangerously light from it's emptiness. 
 

"Many, I'd reckon."  He muttered with a quiet scoff, before raising the flask once more, extending his tongue and shaking it's downwards-facing form, catching the last few drops. With his liquid encouragement now depleted, he'll have to rely on himself alone.

[Farryn 860]

3 hours ago, youdude said:

The elf known as Savet tried his best to hold his tongue, keep himself from adding anything to the banter occurring around him. It wasn't his place, nor did he want to expose his alignment too openly. But... Perhaps, this needed a slight nudge in the right direction. He reached into his coat anew, retrieving his flask for a encouraging gulp that lubricated his tongue back from it's somewhat dry state. And with that, he cleared his throat.
 

"We all know that the two sides will never get along. They are opposites in many ways, though most importantly; Opposites in their ideals and morals. Now, that's good 'n all, but I doubt wasting one's breath trying to explain why their side is right and the other is wrong, is... Worthwhile. So, I suggest that instead of provoking each other--" A daring glare was sent towards the Ghastly queen. "--Which, ma'am you've been quite clearly doing, let's focus on the issue brought up initially; the captivity of Elvira Mantisuku, otherwise known as the Arm."

 

"I agree with the man, I apologies for not knowing your name..." Elvira would finally pipe up, indicating to Savet with a indication from her armored hand. She would give a nervous flinch as all eyes turn to her. Truly, she never was one to speak in front of crowd like this but after a few years of doing so, she should be use to it. The cleric clears her throat, sitting up properly. Her hood now fully away from her head and resting on her shoulders.

"It is clear that we all have different views and ideologies, as well as grudges and hatred that may never cease. However, what should cease now is the continuous arguing, it simply won't help in what we all want to achieve... peace. I want peace as well, as much as you all do. This is why we are all here, light and dark alike, to talk peacefully... yet here we are, arguing and throwing around our views at others like children. So instead we should focus on other key issues, some that have been brought up by this, and attempt to negotate peacefully... or at least attempt to."

Elvira swallows nervously, glancing to her two bodyguards and hoping they would not throttle or gag her for this. Her eyes then met Gareth but she remained sat up straight. Why did she decided to speak up...? With a sharp exhale, she continued.

"As of now, I believe we should focus on one issue that has certainly been brought up... my captivity... something that I had no say or choice in, and I believe my captivity should cease now that talk of peace is coming... I spent a whole year in an enclosed location so that my captors could get the clerics out of the Caliphate, to gain a weapon... If they had come with these requests before they captured me, then perhaps things would have gone smoother. Yet, instead I remained in that cell and I waited for a final answer or verdict, when I will be free or not... they could have killed me but they didn't, they treated me well but even then, I simply wished to get free... as the isolation was practically killing me. I would be thankful if I can finally know when I will be free.. and I will be willing to answer any questions anyone has for me...."

Edited February 9, 2016 by Farryn

[youdude 104]

The platinum-haired elf, sat distanced from the group sighed a bit, the released breath sounding tired, displeased.. "The name's Savet, a traveler that's wandered and searched since the first great exodus; Holder if wisdom in mind, and liquor in bladder." It was only polite to introduce oneself once someone speaks about not knowing one's name, even if it could bring more trouble than it's worth. Though he didn't seem to have anything to add to the issue at hand, going quiet to allow those affiliated to discuss.

[Zarsies 6795]

Slick, drenched words spill from the restricted fountain of Kozilek.

"Pe̡ac͡e̸f̵u̧l t̡a̧lk i̛s ha͘d. ͜En͝d̴ y̨our̢ co̶rr͜ela̷ti̸ońs ҉wi͘t͝h ̢j͞uv́eni̧l͜es."͘

 

 

[TeaLulu 1783]

Shortly thereafter the transient by the door would clear her throat, glancing to Orithur with an apologetic look before speaking;

 

"Considering the Library is playing host to this affair, please allow me a moment to re-cap and attempt to re-direct the conversation in a productive manner."

"As everyone present should know, the individual known as Elvira has been held captive up to this point by some individual representing Xionist beliefs. Demands have been made of the Clerical Order of servants of Tahaerie in order to secure her release."

"Is there some portion of these demands the Clerical Order is unwilling or unable to meet in order to secure her release? Private disputes between specific members of this meeting are, I doubt, the only purpose for it being called, but if it is to be discussed it should be done in a fruitful manner of discourse, and not simply requests for her release. If the individual responsible does not wish to have it discussed during this discourse, I suggest informing the gentleman at the head of the table so that the meeting can move on, and that matter can be handled by the individuals involved. But I do not think it is the purpose for this meeting."

 

"The cause for the meeting, I believe, is to address the reasons behind why this woman found herself imprisoned. So as to prevent such violence and unfortunate squabbling from occuring again. Thus you address the illness itself, not simply try to salve the symptoms of it. What did the Clerical Order do to aggravate further the divide between these groups? What are some of the other Orders currently doing, or failing to do, which aggravates the divide between these supposed representatives of mortal men, and the representatives of the immortal? I believe the lady at the front of the table had such an aggravation to point out."

 

She gives a short glance around the room at those present, clearing her throat as she re-settles herself into her seat, once more setting the tip of her quill to parchment.

 

"Pardon the interruption. Do continue."

 

[dandan1350 479]

"The surrendering of Urthandl shall not be met, if I am correct in my most recent readings that was a made demand?"

 

He dragged his gaze down towards Ser Rosencrantz, then to the prophet ahead of him awaiting any words from them.