Death Comes to Life (PK)

[AgentofDeath13 456]

Death Comes to Life

13th of Malin’s Welcome. 116 SA

Spoiler

https://youtu.be/AtYavrsW1Mw

[!] The King of Thorns stands before the King under the mountain.

 

An empty, colorless, and stagnant void surrounded Acanthus as his last fleeting moments of pain ended. He rose from his position on the ground and looked about, seeing nothing with his wandering gaze. A single burning tree would reveal itself from shadows and stand alone in the middle of the distant horizon. Its trunk cracked and splintered as if lightning had cleaved down its center. While taking measured and steady paces the King would begin to walk forward over the seemingly endless abyss, the tree slowly approaching until it stood within a few meters of him. The only thing separating him from that ashen trunk was a river of blood that encircled it, its surface polished and unmoving as the ichor was frozen over. The King immediately knelt and took his crown of thorns, tossing it over onto the river’s surface, those aurum and arbor thorns leaving scratches upon the hardened blood. With a deep breath, he paced forward expecting to tread the path but was met with the shattering of glass as the river rose and swallowed him whole. He sinks like a stone and begins to drink the blood that he had spilled, the blood that had surrounded his roots as the tree was him. The air that left his lungs would rise in the form of bubbles; within them, the King could see the memories he had made along the way. The faces of all those he slayed lined the recollections as the ‘Ame drowned in their ichor. Brothers, enemies, lovers, and family all rushed into his lungs as he reached the bottom of the river and collided with the bones that rested beneath. His torment ended after accepting the sin that had piled up around him. 

 

The King of Thorns, a title bestowed upon Acanthus by the being he marked as his mortal enemy. A thorn designed to protect the rose that was Descendant-kind, the life druid, the whisper, the fourth high prince of Amaethea. All names, words that in death stood for nothing other than to reminisce over the kind of man he was, but he was barely a man at all. “You are but a child with a crown,'' a cold and ominous voice once told him, an irrefutable truth that even he could not deny with his best of intentions. The Daesmon lord was always conflicted, haunted by his past, and cursed to relive it at every moment. Every second spent alive was another he wished he had been dead. But it was his wish to die that gave him reason to live. He could not give himself the sweet release of death so he punished himself and worked himself down until he broke. 

 

His last few days upon the Almaris were bittersweet, a beautiful symphony of events that all lined up to finally give his life meaning just as he knew his death was coming, his end was nigh. The druid of life was a dealer of death and it was for his naivety and ignorance that he paid the price with his life. He wished for a world where the kin of the four brothers could stand united once more but it was a dream he would never see, for the last man he shared his vision with became his demise. 

 

---

 

 

1 Day Before his Death

 

A Prince of the Light and a Queen of the Dark found themselves at odds with their views on the fate of descendants. Within the billowing winds of the frigid northern tundra, Darkness offered Light the chance to view what could be, a glance of the fate meant to befall all descendant-kind. A ritual of salt and earth was performed in the shadows of a dimly lit cave on the edge of the world, a circle made to take man across time and space.

All was quiet for the moment before their canticles and prayers bore fruit. Their minds were assaulted by the passing wind and when they opened their eyes they found themselves on a plane of death. Pestilence, plagues, and puss all bubble around them in a ghoulish imitation of the balance, a world abandoned by the gods.

 

“And so you see half of what we wish to show you, a realm that once knew the light of the AenguDaemonica… Long abandoned by them..”

 

“A realm lost to darkness. This is but all the more reason that my work is important. Man already treads the path to find a fate like this, and I simply wish to save them from such.”

 

“A realm lost to darkness, yes. And you are correct, us descendants, those men and women of Mortality are headed towards a similar fate. Our cataclysmic end is not far off, and it is up to us to prevent such.”

 

“I am but a man, a Mali who makes many mistakes… I cannot pretend to know the will of my gods when I have not seen or spoken to them. I simply know that I have been entrusted with a mission to keep their favor. But we are failing…” 

 

And as time went on in those plagued lands their talks continued and their reasonings explained. A story that would be continued another time by those who knew, but by the end, they would understand each other but could not see eye to eye. Acanthus’s dream was now more obvious to him and his enemy, but that barrowlord offered him a smile as they made their way back to their home realm and departed on their separate ways.

 

---

 

 

The Day of his Death

 

With a rumble, the earth shook in front of Acanthus. Stone and pebbles clattered, falling into the undergrove. In front of the son of Amathea, archaid, red-scaled eyes burned with pastel-orange cracks. Serpentine slits gazed into the crack in the cave's stretch, burning with smoke and plumes, clogging the rooftop. 

 

Acanthus greeted the sleeping titan, yet it seemed only maddened by the food that was brought to its presence – a sustenance, one of unavailing titles that it did not care of. Its words, low and grizzly, caused the world to rumble with each spoken weight. 

 

“. . - you are man. .  a source of. . - nourishment. . “

 

“What. .  purpose . .- does food have . . - to be graced with. . “

“MY GREATNESS?”

 

Spoke the gargantuan beast, its scales rolling against the stone. Acanthus could feel his arm-hairs bristle and rise, out of intimidation, and fear. As an act of heroism, he attempted to bargain for the freedom of Amathea, in return for salvation. Yet, the King did not seem astounded. 

 

It was then - for a moment - the old prince recognized.

 

All hope was lost.

 

“. . - Gaze. .  into my eyes. . “

“- and reflect upon. .  your. . “

“DEATH!”

The eyes of the ancient king seemed almost abnormal, its slits gleaming with bulbous, red lights. Numerous cracks in the floors underneath grew with mystical runes carved of sanguine, bubbling. Soon enough, dragonsflame erupted within the cave's stretch and boiled his bones.

 

And in death, the old prince could only smile, before turning into ash.

 

 

Posthumous Letters

To Idril & Fëanor

Spoiler

Idril Lari’onn, I have always had faith that you have the best of intentions when it comes to our people. I plead that you continue your good works and become a symbol of what the good elf should be. We were both servants to the divine so show the west and the world what it means to have a Mandate of Heaven. Make Amaethea the beacon of the west, the symbol of hope for all of Mali kind as I had hoped it would become.

 

Fëanor, you above all were like a Maln to me, a stalwart pillar that never shook even under the greatest of uncertainties. I came to you with all that had plagued me, and every time you sat with me and showed me what it meant to be a man of faith, a man of light. We once sat and spoke about sacrifices and balance, and I know you mean well but all I can ask of you is that you visit your daughter. Please we men of responsibility have time after time sacrificed everything for duty, but I want you to be the best, so please do not make the same mistakes I did.

 

 

To Alatariel

Spoiler

Llir, I know we did not always see eye to eye but I always appreciated your lessons and scoldings. You helped guide me to become a warrior that I could be proud of, but I still lacked things as a man. If you can, please seek out my sons and assure them that they grow to become warriors for the light and what is right. I know you think that I was drawn to the dark, but I always remained stalwart in my beliefs. I always remained good-natured and did everything I could to be on your side. And with my death quickly approaching I want you to know that in this I did not fail. 

 

 

To Kosher

Spoiler

Maln the man who taught me the ways of war, I preach patience to you, and I hope there comes a day upon which your heart can find peace and forgive me for leaving you behind. You have always been one to jump on the quickest path to action but look at my example. All I did was rush and look where it got me.

 

 

To Evar’tir

Spoiler

Marmal’onn I’ll have missed our talks and wish I could have seen you one last time before I met my end. I always appreciated your curtness and the stories you would share when I would come over for a cup of tea. I wish you the best in your retirement and all I can ask is that if you see my sons, treat them as you did me. They could learn a thing or two from you.

 

 

To my family

Spoiler

Elliphas my beloved uncle, keep up the good work as you always have, and support my Maln in these moments of pain. He will need you to make it through these next few years. Aster my elder brother, you were always such a shut-in, worried about what to do and what comes next but I beg of you. Take the first step towards your dreams, it is better to act and ask for forgiveness than to stay stagnant and regret it later. Live and learn Mal’onn. Kaito, we may not be brothers by blood, but you will always be a Daesmon to me. The bonds of brotherhood one forged are thicker than those of blood and you are by all accounts my brother, stand tall and stand proud, you are a Daesmon.

 

 

To my sons

Spoiler

To Agis & his elder, I pray that you both grow up to be strong men. Warriors like me, but real men who can truly respect those you love. Swear yourselves to one and be better than I ever could. I once looked up to my predecessors and hoped to be like them, but I realized that is wrong. Don’t be like those from the past, be better. Live life to the fullest for we may be Mali, but our lives are fleeting. Centuries come and go, and empires rise and fall, but the moments gathered every day are the ones that make life truly worth living. I am sorry my sons but I leave to both of you my titles and holdings. If I was the King of Thorns then you are the Princes, the Ranger Protectors of Descendant-kind.

 

 

To the Druids

Spoiler

To my brothers and sisters, I hope that you realize the doom that you bring upon yourselves. The lull that we druii now find ourselves in has become the focus of the disdain that our deities have for us. Our inability to prevent shifts in the balance and blatant negligence of our responsibility has all but condemned us, and so I plead to all of you. Change your ways and uphold the promises you made when you took your blessing. We rise from the water with the ability to speak and listen to nature, but even with this great gift its pleas for help have fallen upon deaf ears. We are protectors of the balance, not restorers, so think about this when the next great threat arises. 

 

 

To Arcelia

Spoiler

Arcelia my dear, I know you hated it when I called you that, but you were the best thing that has happened to me since the time I spent with Carolina. You brought joy to my life and truly made me happy. I wished for so many things with you, and while I had to give up on some dreams for you, it was worth every sacrifice. I know things may not have worked out, but I had hoped they would, but now I am free and I head to the place where I can wait for you. I love you.

((OOC Note)):

Spoiler

Thank you to everyone whom I rpd with during the year that I had this character. He was one of the first characters I received on the server, and I've had him almost as long as I've been on LOTC itself. You all made his story enjoyable and an absolute thrill to be able to play out. Shoutouts to @Werew0lf & @ScreamingDingo, especially for giving him an amazing story and enemies. He died the way he lived, and I cannot have asked for a better way to play out. Love you all and take care of yourselves.

 

[xMuted 2459]

Sigrun Ireheart furiously slammed a fist into his desk as a few tears dripped down the dwarf's cheek. "Youh fookin' BASTARD, Acanthus! Yeh donnaeh get toh leaveh friends behoind loikeh tat youh fookin' knoife-eared cowardleh sack o' shoiteh!" The dwarf exclaimed from his office in Urguan before he calmed down and opened up a sacred bottle of whiskey in the man's honour. "Taeh amoont o' darkspawn weh wereh gonnaeh purgeh from thes world, an' yeh doh thes." He took a large chug of the whiskey before letting out an excruciating sigh.

[Pancho 2498]

Thud.

 

The War Prince fell to his knees as the paper fluttered from his grasp. He would clutch his chest, keeling over onto the ground as the door opened. The guard would go wide eyed, quickly shouting out to his fellow soldiers,

 

"Someone get a medic!" 

 

Guards flooded the room as Kosher writhed on the ground, flopping about as the quake of people crowded the Third Prince. Many would try to hold people back, but there were too many to hold them from the study of the Prince. 

 

"B.. st... od..."

 

"My lord?"

 

The Daesmon's eyes would spring open, his brows furrowing as his voice came in a low growl. His eyes would seem to be shining, such as from the last time they did back in a gatehouse in Elysium.

 

"Kill them all."

[Spoopy_Duck 1202]

Kaito was sat in the abandoned watch tower, a letter resting on a table that he had just set down. He reminisced over their final talk they had together. "I never felt we had that close of a bond but, I appreciate everything you ever did." he spoke to the open air, "I will try to be the person you seem to think that I was." he finished off his thought with a rather somber smile towards the ever lasting sun over Amathea.

[Kanapes 188]

Elliphas would read over the missive. A solemn expression falling over him "Damned idiot" he mutters as his eyes water, moving to step outside his hood draped over his head "I need to go find Kosher" he pauses momentarily before shouting "WHATEVER HAS DONE THIS, YOU WILL PAY!" he then dashes off 

[HogoBojo 3968]

Aster Daesmon would fall onto his hands and knees as he heard the news. “My beloved brother… I shall miss you more than you will ever know. May you rest in peace and be remembered always.” The Elf would start tearing up as he murmured to himself, thinking back to his various memories with Acanthus. 

[mkaxeman 1107]

R ?

[RMW01 208]

R

[JoshBright 2104]

They had met during the regin of his father, Kosher Daesmon, were Jarad would serve as the high Steward and overtime he would do the same under Acanthus. Getting to know the young mali'ame, watching him grow, seeing his goals, his vision and his hopes Jarad would aid the young prince however he could. However even during those moments he knew that Acanthus would never live to see his work completed...

 

 

Jarad would be in his lab working with his daughter @TeawithFrisket when a messager came in. Jarad would turn his head to face the man "What is it?" Jarad would ask, trying to stay focused upon his experiment. "Acanthus is dead your highness" the messager replied. In that moment Jarad would place his tools down, he expected this day to come sooner or later, Acanthus has never been destined for a long life and he knew it. Yet he did the cry, he did not weep, yes he was distort and upset, yet he forced hiself to hold firm. The room would be filled with a a deep silence. Eventually Jarad spoke up "Acanthus my llir, i shall pick up the piece you left behind and carry your hopes and dreams into a brighter future, this i sware to you." In that moment he vowed to make the world a better place, one step at a time, he would turn nothing into somthing so that Acanthus may smile from byond the grave. He would hand his tools over to ember before walking towards the enterence. "There is much work yet to be done."

[JJosey 1215]

R

[Milenkhov 4497]

Spoiler

wait, no wait wait wait let me tell you something, LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING!

 

[TeawithFrisket 2615]

Under the stairways of Helious near the clinic and following the lift down was the laboratory in which Ember and Her Father worked in. The duo were mastering their skills or coming up with new formulas. As the words were heard the room went silent as Edna and Leia II alongside ember looked to Jarad in solan e as her father left with the guards

 

      In his absance she proceeded

                To work

 

      “The work isn’t finished”          
 

[koanda 620]

Silence fell with the news of the Prince's death, an unfamiliar thing for this 'ame. Alyndra retreated to the shores that were once home where she settled in the sand to offer a last few words. "May you find peace, and all of the happiness you could not quite grasp here."

[Apotolofo 1413]

Hera rubbed the golden coin Acanthus had gifted her so long ago, a token of both friendship and protection. She closed her eyes, savoring the bitter pain of losing yet another friend. . . She sighs, standing from her seat and lighting a dark green candle, setting it upon her alter of the fallen. She uttered a silent prayer to the saints and aspects, before setting off to find those she was sure would require her comfort. 

[Diogen 3059]

Naele & Mèlawen received the news, in a far off, quiet place. 
"Gone too soon. He had potential."