The Dark Prevails [RP Retelling]

[ChainedDragons 1374]

Post's Musical Theme: 

 

[Please take note that these events have already taken place and only those present are aware of these events; thank you and enjoy your reading]

The Dark Prevails

 

---

Somewhere in the bowels of Aveos…

 

The Black Scribes words rumble, “Wandering huh?” His right hand began to blacken. His voice turned more hollow than it was before. “Have you been practicing like I told you to?” Thorim questioned, taking a step closer to the cell.

 

Hart whimpers, squishing himself into the corner of the cell whilst cradling his broken leg as best he could. His free hand slips into his pocket, gripping one of the many stones he carried. No. No. He didn’t want to die. 

 

Daffodil responds, “Yes of course. I think I’ve been connecting.” He stood on the outside of the cell, watching.

 

The Black Scribe, “Now try to imagine a flame when you are connected. Perhaps you will be able to manifest it?” [Conjure flame T1] Meanwhile he could replace the lock on the door and if need be, enter the cell with his undead knight. His hand was now fully dark as the aura of pure dead manifested from within him.

 

Hart pleaded, “P-please.. Don’t..” His grip on the rock tightens. He was going to throw it at any moment.

 

The armored knight stood in front of the child to land a sudden blow to his stomach as Hart threw the rock towards the dwarf. The rock bounced harmlessly off the bars, clattering to the floor. The necromancer drew closer. “If you leave this cell one more time I will take off your skin in strips.”

 

Hart was left gasping from the kick to his gut, his eyes bulging whilst he coughed. It hurt so much. He laid there, wheezing and whimpering, tears welling in his eyes. “P-please.. J..just let papa come here.. He’ll give you what you want..”

 

Daffodil, “What is the plan for the little guy? I don’t imagine prisoners live long here.”

 

The armored knight, Caelum “Shrike” Clodovicus remarks, “He’s the king of Petra’s brat, we’re ransoming the kid.”

 

Blackheart, the necromancer, places his conjuring hand on the child’s head, sending a surge of pain through them. Threads of abyssal power made his flesh burn horrifically as the threads slowly seeped into his entire being. The weaver broke the silence. “Mm. The ghoul who was on guard duty will be punished, just like you child.” He would reply to the two conversing ghouls.  “Should the King fail to pay in time, which draws near, the child will be used in a ritual.”

 

Daffodil snaps a boney finger, “I was right on the mark! Figured ransom was the reason.”

 

Hart’s shrill screams pierced the bowls of the cave as his little body writhed on the ground beneath the necromancer's hand. The pain was unlike anything he had ever felt.
“DADDY!!!!”

 

Caelum “Shrike” Clodovicus winced, his face in the form of a grimace beneath his helm. “Seven hells the kid has a pair of lungs.”

 

Hart’s eyes turn pale white as his vision fades, the elder necromancer being the last thing he would see. Thorim removed his hand as it returned to its old wrinkly pale skin tone. Leaving the blind and tired child in the cell, he closed the door behind him. “Ah, I’m done with this child. This should stop his adventures here, but if you see him outside - kill.”

 

Hart whimpers, blinking rapidly. No. He couldn’t see. HE COULDN’T SEE! He felt around. “P-please.. Please.. My dad..” He whispers, his whole being in pain from whatever magic was used on him.

 

Daffodil asks, “Do his folks know he is being ransomed?”
 

“He can’t answer the message- rats..doesn’t-” Hart muttered, slurring as he tried to speak too quickly.

 

The Black Scribe sneers, “They are searching the whole of Aveos for him. Little they know.. Hah!”

 

“Meet with them- meet.. Meet papa.. Please.” Hart mutters, pawing at his eyes like dirt was in them. He couldn’t see. He felt so.. Helpless.

 

The necromancer snarls, “Silence,” His voice booming. “Or do you want me to take your voice next?”

 

Hart falls quiet, trembling in the corner like a fawn born into the world. He covers his face, muffling what whimpers he made. 

 

Caelum “Shrike” Clodovicus suggests, “Though perhaps one of us should go out and have a wee chat… remind the Petrans they have a saint's hour or two remaining. Might make them stop searching and start paying…”

 

Daffodil nods along. “Not a bad idea, either of us could be brought back.”

 

The necromancer scoffs. “Believe me they know. Felix will be back soon to check his raven post. I think once they agree to the parley, one ghoul will ride to receive the payment. I will send the raven where the child will be waiting for them.”

 

Daffodil ponders for a moment before suggesting, “Could take his big toes.”

 

“We already took his eyes. As fun as that would be, hostage negotiation usually requires the hostage to be mostly intact…” Caelum pointed out. “We’re pushing it enough as it is…”

 

“The child is cursed. The sight might be brought back.” The Black scribe retorts with a wave of his hand. “Next time the curse will be far longer, and far more cruel.”

 

Caelum “Shrike” Clodovicus holds up a finger. “Keyword here is ‘might’... but then again he’s a prince. Papa’ll probably have a paladin type fix him right quick.”

 

Daffodil, “Being an heir, his parents ought to be able to pay for any sort of treatment.”

 

Thorim snaps, “The brat would be fine if he didn’t try to escape. Simple as that - royalty or not. We are all the same in death.”

 

Hart slowly began to feel his way around in the cell. Letting every grain of sand and dirt guide his fingers. Hart would crawl onto the nearby rock ledge, sitting upright as he began to listen intently, trying to zero in on the slightest of sounds. When hearing none but the voices of his captors working on fixing the door, he fumbled for a rock from his pocket, beginning to scrap something into the floor. He ran his fingers over the area feeling the markings made. He continues to scrap another symbol onto the floor, the lines forming a crude raven form. He may have not been able to see them but he could feel the lines.

 

Blackheart turns, laughing. “How is being blind child? Good? Let this be a lesson for you.”

 

Daffodil grumbles, “Eikit is really taking his time…”

 

Hart whispers, “P-papa will find me.” He runs his fingers over the raven scratching. Bring him luck. Tyr. Please.

 

Blackheart must have heard Hart as there was a response. “Bwah, I’m sure he will.” The necromancer turns his head towards Daffodil. “Shall we proceed then?” Thorim’s body was suddenly engulfed by a manifested purple aura.

 

Daffodil nods, giving his body a shake before a dull gray glow suffuses his own form. 

 

Hart heard the movement, tilting his head to the side. Something odd was in the air.. Like before. The child begins to crawl backward, muttering a prayer.. “Tyr, hear me, give me your strength - I need to get home. I need papa. He needs me.. I think.. Please. Send your raven, guide me.”

 

Thorim nods in response. “Good, I see you’ve been working hard. Now do what I told you to do before.” He raised his finger slightly, a small green flame appearing at its point. 

 

Suddenly there came an echoing shout from beyond their cave.
“HART?”

 

Hart sat up with a start, the necromancer and ghouls freezing in place. Daffodil lifts his palm before him, the dull gray glow wavering in his hand as he concentrates, his head only jerking towards the cell with the yell.

“DADDY!” Hart cried back, hoping his voice carried.

 

Again, there came the call. “HART?” It sounded like Mattae, his Auntie. Mattae Asadha.

 

Hart stands, despite his leg being broken, scrabbling at the walls of his cell.

 

“You missed it, someone said daddy!” A voice echoed [Rema]

 

“DADDY! I’M HERE!”

 

“HART!” Mattae’s voice echoed.

 

“DADDY!” The child stretched out the word as long as he could to guide those looking for him.

 

The armored ghoul sighed, shaking his head. “Well…shit…”

 

“AUNTIE! I’M HERE!”

 

“Cut the boy’s tongue Shrike, I will mold it back later.” Thorim hisses, clearly angered by the turn of events.

 

“NO NO NO NO NO!” The boy's shouts of fear increased, echoing through the cave.

 

Caelum “Shrike” Clodovicus, “Only blade I have is cursed boss. Let me just gag him.”

 

Hart turns into the corner of his cell, nails scraping the walls as he hopes to avoid the incoming pain. 

 

Daffodil snaps, “Shut it kid, I’m trying to focus here.” He grunts, brief embers flickering in his palm.

 

The black scribe nods. “Mmm very good.” This flame, Is just like any normal flame however in this state I cannot hurt anyone. Lest it can cauterize wounds. I’m not lending you my flesh for it, Dragur.”

 

“DAD!”

 

Caelum “Shrike” Clodovicus entered the cell and grabbed the kid by the throat with one hand. Shoving a wad of cloth into Hart’s mouth with the other. “Shut up already.”

 

The screams were cut off - muffled. Silenced. Hart swiped blindly, trying to hit whomever gagged him. He didn’t hit anything except the arms holding him by his throat. 

 

Shrike tied another scrap of cloth over the boy's mouth and around his head to secure the gag in place. The ghoul growls, “There, nice and quiet. Stop squirming kid, unless you’d rather I actually cut your tongue out?”

 

Hart stops moving, having worn himself out. The fact he had so much fight in him to begin with was a miracle. The boy lets out short small breaths through his nose, blind eyes staring aimlessly at Shrike. 

 

“Now, While I’m sure you could untie that gag yourself… if you do I will rip out your tongue, nod if you understand.” 

 

Hart nods slowly, his eyes darting around as if they were looking for anything to begin with.

 

Shrike, “Good. Sit tight, either your papa will pay up soon and you’ll be out of here or… well.” He lets out a nasty chuckle. “Well, you’ll just have to hope your papa’s smart.”

 

Thorim, “Master Felix will be here soon to decide your fate.”

 

Hast slumps into the corner, sitting in a position to hug his one good knee, the other leg splayed out before him. They were here. Papa was here. He was going to be okay. He just had to hold on. Thank you Tyr.

 

Eikit strode into the chamber, purpose in each footstep. “No letter. Clearly they do not care for the boy.”

 

Daffodil cackles, “PAHAHAHA!”

 

Eikit, “Bring him to me. I shall strip him to the bone and send his remains to the king.”

 

Thorim nods. “Well. Then gut this blind boy, I have already blinded him.”

 

Daffodil, “Round him up ghoul, please.”

 

Hart whimpers, slowly pulling the gag out of his mouth. “M-my father is here, speak to him- Please-”

 

Eikit sneers, “I said bring him to me.”

 

Shrike entered the cell once more, heaving the boy over his shoulder. “Bad luck kid, but maybe he’ll charge in at the last second…” The ghoul muttered under his breath, shaking his head.

 

The necromancer, Eikit, glared into the cell; black and green witch fire began to slowly collect around his hands as he called upon his inner strength of flesh manipulation.

 

Shrike, “Where to sir?” He asked, holding Hart.

 

Hart babbled, saying anything and everything to try and stall his impending demise. 

 

“Here shall do.” Eikit rasps, as he walks towards Hart, the black fire enveloping his hands completely. “On his knees.” The necromancer growls. “I am done playing games boy. Your father thinks me a fool? Thinks’ he can save you? He is wrong.”

 

“P-please just more time! PLEASE!” Hart begged as Shrike dropped the boy before Eikits feet, pressing a gauntlet-covered hand down on the boy - forcing him to his knees.

 

Daffodil chimed in, “Your bones in a burlap sack sounds like it would be an effective message.”

 

A ghastly hand reached down to Hart’s head, grasping it firmly. Suddenly the boy would feel his entire body ignite with fire as necromantic energies flowed into his body. His very flesh revolting- began to bubble and hiss. Began to steam like it was melting off. To those who watched, such a thing was happening before their very eyes. Slowly Hart’s skin began to sluff off like running water as necromantic magic rendered his flesh at the most extreme point under the clutch of this hateful man. 

 

“DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” A horrifying screech filled the cavern, the cave system. Such a horrid sound. The death of a child. Like a rabbit being snatched away by an eagle. Hart never stood a chance. 

 

The boy’s hair flaked off, his skin peeling away to muscles then bone. His eyes rolled out of his sockets and into the wet flesh puddle forming beneath him. What was worse, even without skin, as his organs rebelled and destroyed themselves, he didn’t die. He couldn’t die.

 

Daffodil cringes, “Ugh terribly unsightly.”

 

Finding no end to his misery, the child bid a final plea to who he thought was listening. “ALL FATHER! TAKE ME! PLEASE!” A sucking cry screeched, begging for mercy. But there was none.

 

Eikit would raise his head up and let out a horrible laugh as the boy's brain began to run out of his empty eye sockets. An arm fell, then a leg, then his ribs, his skeleton disassembling into  a clean bone pile of mush. Soon all that was left in the necromancer's hand was Hart’s skull, the soul forced to linger within Eikit’s grasp. “Take this pain to the next life.” The necromancer spoke, his voice being that of Harts’. Then the darkness came and Hart perished through a most cruel fate. All that was left of the boy was his stripped skeleton  and his heart, still beating through twisted magics.

 

---

A white raven takes flight...

~

ᚠᛟᛚᛚᛟᚹ ᚦᛖ ᚱᚨᚢᛖᚾ ᚺᚨᚱᛏ

ᛁᛏ ᛊᚺᚨᛚᛚ ᚾᛟᛏ ᛚᛖᛞ ᛁᛟᚢ ᚨᛊᛏᚱᚨᛁ

ᛏᚺᛖᚱᛖ ᛁᛊ ᛗᚢᚲᚺ ᚠᛟᚱ ᛁᛟᚢ ᛏᛟ ᛞᛟ

ᛚᛁᚢᛖ

~

---

A saint’s day later…

 

An unconscious small bundle is found lying on the floor of King Therins' castle. Small breaths made Hart’s chest rise and fall. He was alive, so willed the monks. But there is damage even they can’t undo. A jagged white scar upon his throat remains, a glaring sign of the damage forced upon his soul. Hart's journey has only just begun...

 

---

Cast
The Black Scribe/ Thorim/ Blackheart @Mestvin
Hart : Myself
Daffodil @HurferDurfer1

The armored knight/ Caelum “Shrike” Clodovicus : ______ (looking for name)

Felix/ Eikit @King_Kunuk

Auntie Mattae / Mattae @tilly

Rema : _____ (looking for name)
Thank you all for such amazing rp - I look forward to making more posts like this one to share our stories with the server <3