After the trial of combat came to a swift close, Kyoukimaru was left unsatisfied with himself. In truth, he hardly remembered much of the acts people mentioned and chuckled about, and it angered him. He was apparently skilled as a rogue, to be expected from his excellent training and swift overtaking of his own previous masters, but his traits were getting the better of him.
Kyou knew something was wrong with him, but couldn't put a green finger on what it was.. But perhaps this is what lead him here. These Grim, were very easily seen as an impressive lot. Almost Childishly, Kyou wanted to gain favor for himself.. But what he lacked, was the knowledge and memory as to how, and if his prior attempts were successful. His memories of the nights he'd been commanded to serve the Mandate were foggy. As soon as he found himself on the battlefield, his memory turned into that of a night of drinking. Piecing off and waking up somewhere he couldn't recall traversing to.
Reading the letter he received from Anaie as he removed ground human meat from his boots, Kyou sighed. He totally botched his initial meeting.. And again, he had no idea HOW. He had been on the road to his garrison, and only pulled off when he caught wind of a cowardly alliance dog hunting the weakened members of the horde training their skills in the frostfire wastes. His memory faded out after accepting the small detour. He awoke 3 days later in the middle of Duskwood hidden in a barrel. Around him lay a dead, burned, skinned, and butchered Alliance raiding party that before apparently wished to traverse to the dark portal to infiltrate Draenor. Again... HOW this happened, Kyou could barely understand.
But, to his surprise.. He was graced with another chance. Anaie summoned him once more, and eagerly Kyou traveled to her own private fortress. "Play it cool... Apologize. Accept the punishment you need. This is another rogue, most likely much better than you, Kyou.. Gotta find out how to close that gap." He thought to himself as he walked to the garrison hall, respectably removing his cloaking to show his submissive approach. He stopped and looked up. It was hard to catch at first, being the same color as the white sky above her.. But the image of a rogue clad in white leather awaited atop the spire roof of her own garrison.
"Havin trouble gettin up here, Supplicant?" Anaie asked, her voice strangely calm for this being Kyou's shameful make up to his botched meeting.
"Oh! Eh.. no, eh, one sec. I gotcha!" Kyou fumbled for words as he realized the invite was far more friendly than what he expected. Kyou quickly ducked down and leapt into the air. Now most goblins, if they were REAL goblins, had a rocket attachment to their belt. This gadget was useful for making jumps that not only a goblin's stubby legs couldn't imagine, but rather just about anyones! exhaust blasted strangely however from the bottoms of Kyou's boots as he leapt up and launched into the air! Possibly just a mod, commonplace for the tinker types. Kyou found himself sitting atop the Garrison looking over Frostfire next to the very rogue he was ordered to see.
"Ye finally made it. Good." He heard call from Anaie. Kyou immediately bowed in reflex.
"Yeah.. Bout dat. I got no real good reason, so I'll spare the excuses here. I apologize for my failure and accept full responsibility for-" Kyou began to babble before a large bear claw dismissed him. He at this time noticed the bestial weaponry Anaie wore upon her hands and immediately recalled the words Khorvis gave him about her. He took a mental note as she spoke.
"Nuff. Speak, supplicant. My time is short. What ave ye come te me for?" Anaie dismissed, looking to Kyou for an appropriate answer, sliding her hands to her side, where a satchel awaited at her belt. Kyou immediately stopped stammering and collected himself.
"I'm here to learn, from my sister of the blade. I wish to learn more of the Grim, and of the Mandate so I may better serve.." Kyou said in a militaristic manner. Upright, especially for a goblin, he looked to Anaie, who slid her hand away from the satchel at her side. She looked to him in almost a disappointed way.
"Ye speak in riddles, goblin. State your intentions clearly. I've no time for these games." Anaie fired back. seemingly annoyed by the roundabout of words Kyou used. Confused for a second, Kyou lost the military bearing he attempted to muster for his superior, and for once spoke from his heart.
"I wanna learn how I can benefit the Grim more.. I wanna learn how I can best serve the Mandate, and impress these guys.. I kinda enjoy being around um, so I wanna get in good graces. I know it sounds cheap, but I'm here to help better this world, and if there's more than slaying these alliance machines, let me at um!" Kyou responded with a good bit of fire in his voice, fel energy welling up around him as he mentioned the Alliance as "machines". Anaie looked at the youthful goblin, and spoke a simple answer. Simple, but still it had eluded Kyou amidst his own scattered thoughts.
"If ye be wantin te serve the Mandate the best ye can. Then do just that. Yer a blade, and if ye be true, then use yerself to cut. That IS the call of the Mandate. Peace, through Annihilation. Simple as that, Supplicant." She answered, looking around Kyou as the words hit him.
Kyou felt embarrassed a moment. Coming all this way to ask a question that after hearing the answer, sounded plain stupid. He looked to his own cleavers, both glowing red and dripping with enchanted blood eternally. Even his weaponry had been shouting this answer the entire time. These Fits of his, he always awoke someone bathed in the proof he served the Mandate to the best of his ability.
Behind enemy lines, hidden in the gore of their carcasses, bathed in the lumpsome of their very lifeblood! Kyou's very body willed for the Mandate before he even heard the name Grim. As if he was born to join, created, as he was, to serve the will of the Mandate. A purpose so powerful, even if he tried to escape it, the very gears of his chassis would drive him headlong into the midst of it!
He. Was. Built. For. This.
"I..... I see... It's simple as that.. I am a blade.... Here I've been asking myself the best function for me... Yet the answer was plain as day." Kyou sighed to himself sheepishly. Anaie looked to the goblin again. Kyou turned and stood returning the gaze. Fel fire welling up in his eyes as demonic energy wafted from his strange enigma of a body. "I am a blade.. My best function is just that. To Cut.... Thank you, Ma'am.." Kyou said, bowing once again. His pandaren background showing in his respects, despite being anything but. Anaie nodded, seeing the resolve for murder hardening in the youthful rogue. While it was obvious Kyoukimaru had much to learn yet, he was ready to throw himself down that road..
"Peace through Annihilation, Supplicant. Serve it well... Now go." Anaie commanded, seeing the fervor temper in Kyou's eyes. and with that order, Kyou bowed and stepped back, falling from the roof and into the shadows. Vanishing from sight as directed.
Kyou found himself the next morning awakening in Ashenvale, bathing in a Moonwell that had been tainted with gallons of Night Elf blood. While he again, had barely a clue HOW he got there from Draenor... He shrugged and kicked back as he came to, relaxing a bit. He caught notice at that time. Amidst his gear, he'd found himself upon a new pair of boots..
"Good to know my feet wont be smelling of meat anymore. Ahhhh..." He sighed as he took a mental note once more of exactly what he awoke to. It was actually kinda funny, to be completely honest..
Kyou's Trial of Resolve
Re: Kyou's Trial of Resolve
You've done well so far, Kyoukimaru. Your energy and enthusiasm is noted, but don't let it carry you away. I'm looking forward to the rest of your report. I'm glad you were able to learn from a fellow rogue what it means to be a blade for the Grim.
-
Kyoukimaru
- Lost
- Posts: 61
Re: Kyou's Trial of Resolve
Kyou approached Akorharil, remaining out of cloaking. The old orc warlock looked to the goblin as they met on the rugged terrain of the blasted lands. they stood at the camp from where they launched their defenses before the dark portal opened.
"Um... You're Akorharil right?...I was told to find ya.. and t that youd be able to lend me a hand.... Umm...sir?" Kyou spoke with a bit of a nervous tone leading. Akorharil looked upon Kyou curiously.
"Ah yes, you are Bloodstar's little goblin. I've heard much about you. Speak, supplicant, what brings you to me this day?" Akor replied as kyou nervously took out a small bottle of his cherry grog and took a swig. a curious action he'd been upkeeping was constantly drinking small amounts of alcohol when not in combat.. today was no exception.
"Well I'm here for two reasons really. I was sent to you for my trial of resolve.. but also in that they wanted me to um.. see if i can get a grip on my... talents.. you know?" Kyou asked again as he leaned against a rock. Akor waved his hand once more.
"I've heard much of your episodes from the others.. Speaking demonic, bursting into flames, killing frenzies, the works.. I honestly question why you were brought on being as dangerous as you can be. Do you have any memory of what you do during your little fits?" Akor asked while looking out to the destroyed and reddened Blasted Lands. Kyou shook his head. Akor sighed.
"Oh! But the guys have been tryin to help me out. Well... mostly.. Lilliana hasn't spoken much to me since that day she peered into my head. I think she saw some things she really didn't like.. But Malhavik also tried something. handed me this thing when I woke up. He said it was real interesting." Kyou explained as he rifled through his bag, eventually producing a greenish fel-looking crystal. throughout it, streams of black looking almost liquid-like ran through the stone. It almost resembled a fel crystal. Akor turned at the mention of Malhavik.
"Oh the chatterbox won't speak to you, eh? Thats impressive! But Malhavik taking interest... Do tell, he has proven his usefulness to me before." Akor said looking to the goblin curiously. He noticed the demonic energy radiating from Kyou since they met, but upon looking into the goblin's eyes, he noticed a flicker of felfire behind them. When the crystal was produced from the bag, he quickly took it from the goblin's hand. Akor looked deep into the crystal looking at the texture and hue. He noticed much about it from first glance, but as alnyone else would have seen, the crystal also began to react. The energy within it began trying to call out.. for a brief moment the image of a forsaken caster flashed across the side of the crystal. something was trying to communicate with him. Akor quickly drew a circle on the stony ground as he spoke.
"The essence of this fel crystal is tainted with something... I see the work of a pit lord, Annihilar.. But this essence is highly congealed.. There's much more at work here. At the heart, however.. Demons." Akor spoke as he drew a magical circle large enough to house a person. Kyou shrugged.
"I don't mean to doubt you, but I think just about everyone has guessed demons till now.." Kyou responded only to suddenly stop talking as he noticed a glare hitting him like zeppelin. Akor drew his circle and placed the crystal in the spot designated, Kyou looked at the magical whatnot and shrugged.
"It is to guard my mind from whatever may be lurking in yours, goblin. I will commune with this shard you gave me ad see what I can find." Akor stated as he sat down in the center of the circle. "See that I am not interrupted. And wait here."
Kyou saluted a moment then sat down, feeling a bit left out. This was after all a way of telling him not to get in the way. But he had no choice in the matter. Akor closed his eyes and focused, welling up his own energies. as he did, the crystal began to flare up in pulses. Seeing the energy reacting to him, he reached out and touched the crystal, establishing a link. His mind was taken to a separate place. a prison it seemed. Within the confides he noticed multiple cages. Six to be exact. within them lay they unconscious and ragged bodies of two trolls, an orc, a blood elf, and strangely... a human. The final character, awake as he was grabbed Akor's attention by speaking.
"If you have entered this place so easily and heard me, I can only assume it means my theory is proving correct.. The bond is weakening. As am I.." The undead priestly sort spoke, sitting in the cage he remained trapped within.
"Forsaken? I have seen my fair share of strange sightings, but for such a tiny little goblin to hold this many people within him.. I must say I am almost impressed..." Akor responded looking around. He noticed a large door far behind him. Locked as it was and heavily sealed, it bore no further thought at the moment as the forsaken priest spoke again.
"Warlock. I'll assume you're aware, you have accessed the heart of whosoever was used in the end as a prison for all of us. Pray tell me... It isn't a goblin, is it? Young and fiery?" The priest strangely asked. Akor nodded, forcing the forsaken to sigh almost painfully. "It is as I feared then... Megas was saved, but only to become the shell that held the rest of us in... So many questions to ask.. but not enough time." The priest said as he rattled his head, starting to ponder heavily.
"Megas? You mean Kyoukimaru? That is the goblin standing before me." Akor answered, and at this the priest looked up.
"Megas Manngear is the name of the only goblin close to us when we died. I cast a spell to protect him, hoping it'd at least spare the poor fool. This could be very bad if he has changed his name..." The priest retorted, pondering further.
Akor grunted and glared at the cryptic priest. "Explain, undead." He commanded. The forsaken looked up, and shook his head. Recalling the orc had no prior knowledge.
"Oh, that's right... Allow me to start at the beginning. The goblin I fear you see before you was known to us as Megas Manngear. We, under his command, were a rather potent mercenary corps. Mainly contracted to Horde missions, we were rather neutral in our cause. The goblin had a brother you see, and didn't wish to have to fight him since the business he held was on our alliance 'brothers' behalf..." The undead explained, Akor nodded and listened further as the priest told the tale. "But... We came across a mission we had no chance at winning. We were contracted to exterminate a group of demons that had taken up refuge in the nerub'ar kingdom and attempted to gain further power... What that power lying in northrend could be we had no idea at the time.. Our corps came upon the scene of an Ascended Pit Lord.. His name, Maelthezaar... And he was communing with a force we couldn't possibly gamble with... An Old God..." The priest said, his tone darkening to mention the old god.
Akor's eyes widened momentarily.. it explained the taint within the crystal.. but it meant much more if this was honestly locked away inside this little goblin of all things.
"We came upon it.. fusing together with this force of darkness.. The pit lord would be vulnerable only for a short time during the process I had figured. I was right.. Knowing doing nothing would most definitely guarantee the doom of most of Azeroth, we did what any sensible group of idiots would... We fought. The demon had many guards.. and we were not without strain fending the monsters off. but as we were about to reach the vulnerable cocoon of the monstrosity... the worst possible scenario hit.... That fool appeared..." The priest growled before pointing towards the human body by Akor. a paladin by the looks of it. The human looked powerful, but the state of unconsciousness seemed to fit it more. "That buffoon... he held a grudge against myself as well as Megas.. He took no care for the force we were trying to eradicate... and he attacked our weakened party.. between him and the remaining demons he now aided.... we stood no chance. We failed, orc.. Our party was slain, one by one.. and in the end, the pit lord ascended from his cocoon with the power of an old god.. or so, he began to do so... this is where even my memory gets a bit foggy.. Dying doesn't verily help.. I was drawing a few final breaths, and noticed the goblin still alive.. I poured what i could into a spell and tried to save Megas.. Soon after I woke up here.. all of us sealed in this prison.." The priest explained before raising his arms to 'admire' his change of scenery.
Akorharil looked around the room. he saw the party, as well as the human. but no more. "And the pit lord?" He asked. The priest pointed to the door.
"He is sealed away too.. most likely in the same state most of us are in. I'd say... partially digested." the priest responded. Akor tilted his head. "If my spell worked.. then Megas would have survived.. If he did something to lock us all in here, it must mean he succeeded in defeating the pit lord... well... in a sense. Its most likely only the dumb luck i knew this goblin for that had him come out of there alive... but that brings us to the current predicament.. you see the--" The priest explained before the ground shook the two of them. a muffled roar blasted from behind the sealed door. The priest looked surprised for a moment before speaking again.. "It appears he's waking up.. there isn't very much time left.. This goblin. he needs to finish this. I do not know what is stopping him from consuming us... but That is what needs to happen now." The priest said. Akor looked at the forsaken and nodded.
"And what of you? surely this will end you and your comrades." Akor responded. the priest chuckled.
"We died that day. Megas lived. if he somehow remembers me, ill leave it to you to tell him my debt has been repaid.. but that's beside the point. Right now. this goblin. pray tell.. is there anything strange happening with him?" The priest responded before asking. Akorharil chuckled at the question. Anything strange? Kyou? It was like asking if fire was still hot. Taking hint the priest continued. "As I feared.. Demonic interference is the first sign. next is most likely a state of confusion and memory loss.. the price of carrying more than one soul in a body. but has he any signs of an old god's power?" The priest asked before something thumped on the door behind them. the futile effort seemed more to attempt to show its presence, as whatever force still appeared sealed within the cell. At the question, akor shook his head.
"Not that I know of... but the demonic energy of this goblin is beyond most users of fel magic." He responded. the priest scratched his head and thought hard.
"This is rather dire.. The only thing that could halt the goblin from eating us as he should... Is if the original soul was no longer the one in charge of the body. If it isn't the pit lord, or an old god... and its none of us... Then perhaps... perhaps a split personality was formed.." The priest guessed. Akorharil glared at the forsaken.
"You are at the end of your wit, undead. Is it even possible for such?" He asked. the priest looked back up and shrugged.
"Considering he halfway ate six souls, a pit lord, and an old god, I would be much less surprised by that. But that being the case... You'll need a priest. one on the outside. I will have to bide my energy.. If you can find Megas within here... then the goblin can be saved.
"Would killing this nuisance solve the problem faster? This liability of old gods and pit lords seems to be much more a threat than some petty soul issue." Akor growled.. in truth it'd probably be a mercy. However the undead chuckled.
"It could.. but it'd much more likely just give the big guy an opening to take over and return. I'm sure you can guess what a fully reborn Ascended Pit Lord fused Old God would most likely do to Azeroth as a whole.. Needless to say, the planet would be better left intact and not driven mad by this force in my professional opinion.." The priest retorted. Akorharil sighed.
Again came a bashing at the door. the sounds of roaring and screaming rang out from behind it. The priest turned to it and then looked to the undead.
"Oh my.... It appears he's rather feisty... but moreso.. I hope you don't mind. I took a look outside. You may want to leave... now." The priest advised suddenly. Akor looked at him, half angry, half confused.
"What is happening?" He asked.
"Well it appears the goblin is gone... and there's a lot of dead bodies surrounding you in what appears to be a half built house... I'll assume weren't there before. that... and he's awake. he'll try to speak to you soon if you don't leave.." The priest answered before growling at what he heard.
"Little bastard.. I should have nailed his body to the ground! Tell me priest. what shall I do?" Akor asked before he turned and looked to the door.
"Bring him to a priest. soon. have them scour his mind. find the block. and eliminate it. It'll most likely kill us all.. but the pit lord will be included.. it may also ease his mind.. Mercy... I believe is the term." The priest explained before motioning for Akor to leave. Akorharil took the hint and began to sever the connection.
Feeling his body leave the mental prison he moved back to his own.. However a vision flashed into view for but a few moments. A fiery glare looked upon him. Eyes as black as night stared through him and a dark bellowing tone echoed the words into his very soul. "RELEASE.ME... MORTAL.. KILL HIM... RELEASE MY MADNESS." The voice bellowed before Akorharil severed the connection entirely and returned to his own body.
He awoke to see himself within his circle. But the circle he drew was the only familiar thing around. He was surrounded with the bodies of dead iron horde orcs, piled up like a small wall around him, each slaughtered and burned. Standing and stepping out from the corpse house. Akorharil saw a burnt trail leading to multiple craters. it looked like another war broke out. That when he heard a shaky voice call to him from behind the rocks.
"Y..y..You.. n.n-need to...to leave...si...s-s-sir.... please.... before....... before it c-comes b-b-b-back....." babbled a frightened goblin. behind him cowered half the camp. the warriors that protected the Blasted Lands looked out stricken to the core with fear. they were begging..
"This goblin is proving far more a chore than we originally bargained for....." Akorharil growled as he left. Kyou was nowhere in sight.. and if the undead's words were true.. Akor quickly jotted down a short letter commanding Kyou to see a priest.. should he be sane enough to understand it, he'd know enough.
"Um... You're Akorharil right?...I was told to find ya.. and t that youd be able to lend me a hand.... Umm...sir?" Kyou spoke with a bit of a nervous tone leading. Akorharil looked upon Kyou curiously.
"Ah yes, you are Bloodstar's little goblin. I've heard much about you. Speak, supplicant, what brings you to me this day?" Akor replied as kyou nervously took out a small bottle of his cherry grog and took a swig. a curious action he'd been upkeeping was constantly drinking small amounts of alcohol when not in combat.. today was no exception.
"Well I'm here for two reasons really. I was sent to you for my trial of resolve.. but also in that they wanted me to um.. see if i can get a grip on my... talents.. you know?" Kyou asked again as he leaned against a rock. Akor waved his hand once more.
"I've heard much of your episodes from the others.. Speaking demonic, bursting into flames, killing frenzies, the works.. I honestly question why you were brought on being as dangerous as you can be. Do you have any memory of what you do during your little fits?" Akor asked while looking out to the destroyed and reddened Blasted Lands. Kyou shook his head. Akor sighed.
"Oh! But the guys have been tryin to help me out. Well... mostly.. Lilliana hasn't spoken much to me since that day she peered into my head. I think she saw some things she really didn't like.. But Malhavik also tried something. handed me this thing when I woke up. He said it was real interesting." Kyou explained as he rifled through his bag, eventually producing a greenish fel-looking crystal. throughout it, streams of black looking almost liquid-like ran through the stone. It almost resembled a fel crystal. Akor turned at the mention of Malhavik.
"Oh the chatterbox won't speak to you, eh? Thats impressive! But Malhavik taking interest... Do tell, he has proven his usefulness to me before." Akor said looking to the goblin curiously. He noticed the demonic energy radiating from Kyou since they met, but upon looking into the goblin's eyes, he noticed a flicker of felfire behind them. When the crystal was produced from the bag, he quickly took it from the goblin's hand. Akor looked deep into the crystal looking at the texture and hue. He noticed much about it from first glance, but as alnyone else would have seen, the crystal also began to react. The energy within it began trying to call out.. for a brief moment the image of a forsaken caster flashed across the side of the crystal. something was trying to communicate with him. Akor quickly drew a circle on the stony ground as he spoke.
"The essence of this fel crystal is tainted with something... I see the work of a pit lord, Annihilar.. But this essence is highly congealed.. There's much more at work here. At the heart, however.. Demons." Akor spoke as he drew a magical circle large enough to house a person. Kyou shrugged.
"I don't mean to doubt you, but I think just about everyone has guessed demons till now.." Kyou responded only to suddenly stop talking as he noticed a glare hitting him like zeppelin. Akor drew his circle and placed the crystal in the spot designated, Kyou looked at the magical whatnot and shrugged.
"It is to guard my mind from whatever may be lurking in yours, goblin. I will commune with this shard you gave me ad see what I can find." Akor stated as he sat down in the center of the circle. "See that I am not interrupted. And wait here."
Kyou saluted a moment then sat down, feeling a bit left out. This was after all a way of telling him not to get in the way. But he had no choice in the matter. Akor closed his eyes and focused, welling up his own energies. as he did, the crystal began to flare up in pulses. Seeing the energy reacting to him, he reached out and touched the crystal, establishing a link. His mind was taken to a separate place. a prison it seemed. Within the confides he noticed multiple cages. Six to be exact. within them lay they unconscious and ragged bodies of two trolls, an orc, a blood elf, and strangely... a human. The final character, awake as he was grabbed Akor's attention by speaking.
"If you have entered this place so easily and heard me, I can only assume it means my theory is proving correct.. The bond is weakening. As am I.." The undead priestly sort spoke, sitting in the cage he remained trapped within.
"Forsaken? I have seen my fair share of strange sightings, but for such a tiny little goblin to hold this many people within him.. I must say I am almost impressed..." Akor responded looking around. He noticed a large door far behind him. Locked as it was and heavily sealed, it bore no further thought at the moment as the forsaken priest spoke again.
"Warlock. I'll assume you're aware, you have accessed the heart of whosoever was used in the end as a prison for all of us. Pray tell me... It isn't a goblin, is it? Young and fiery?" The priest strangely asked. Akor nodded, forcing the forsaken to sigh almost painfully. "It is as I feared then... Megas was saved, but only to become the shell that held the rest of us in... So many questions to ask.. but not enough time." The priest said as he rattled his head, starting to ponder heavily.
"Megas? You mean Kyoukimaru? That is the goblin standing before me." Akor answered, and at this the priest looked up.
"Megas Manngear is the name of the only goblin close to us when we died. I cast a spell to protect him, hoping it'd at least spare the poor fool. This could be very bad if he has changed his name..." The priest retorted, pondering further.
Akor grunted and glared at the cryptic priest. "Explain, undead." He commanded. The forsaken looked up, and shook his head. Recalling the orc had no prior knowledge.
"Oh, that's right... Allow me to start at the beginning. The goblin I fear you see before you was known to us as Megas Manngear. We, under his command, were a rather potent mercenary corps. Mainly contracted to Horde missions, we were rather neutral in our cause. The goblin had a brother you see, and didn't wish to have to fight him since the business he held was on our alliance 'brothers' behalf..." The undead explained, Akor nodded and listened further as the priest told the tale. "But... We came across a mission we had no chance at winning. We were contracted to exterminate a group of demons that had taken up refuge in the nerub'ar kingdom and attempted to gain further power... What that power lying in northrend could be we had no idea at the time.. Our corps came upon the scene of an Ascended Pit Lord.. His name, Maelthezaar... And he was communing with a force we couldn't possibly gamble with... An Old God..." The priest said, his tone darkening to mention the old god.
Akor's eyes widened momentarily.. it explained the taint within the crystal.. but it meant much more if this was honestly locked away inside this little goblin of all things.
"We came upon it.. fusing together with this force of darkness.. The pit lord would be vulnerable only for a short time during the process I had figured. I was right.. Knowing doing nothing would most definitely guarantee the doom of most of Azeroth, we did what any sensible group of idiots would... We fought. The demon had many guards.. and we were not without strain fending the monsters off. but as we were about to reach the vulnerable cocoon of the monstrosity... the worst possible scenario hit.... That fool appeared..." The priest growled before pointing towards the human body by Akor. a paladin by the looks of it. The human looked powerful, but the state of unconsciousness seemed to fit it more. "That buffoon... he held a grudge against myself as well as Megas.. He took no care for the force we were trying to eradicate... and he attacked our weakened party.. between him and the remaining demons he now aided.... we stood no chance. We failed, orc.. Our party was slain, one by one.. and in the end, the pit lord ascended from his cocoon with the power of an old god.. or so, he began to do so... this is where even my memory gets a bit foggy.. Dying doesn't verily help.. I was drawing a few final breaths, and noticed the goblin still alive.. I poured what i could into a spell and tried to save Megas.. Soon after I woke up here.. all of us sealed in this prison.." The priest explained before raising his arms to 'admire' his change of scenery.
Akorharil looked around the room. he saw the party, as well as the human. but no more. "And the pit lord?" He asked. The priest pointed to the door.
"He is sealed away too.. most likely in the same state most of us are in. I'd say... partially digested." the priest responded. Akor tilted his head. "If my spell worked.. then Megas would have survived.. If he did something to lock us all in here, it must mean he succeeded in defeating the pit lord... well... in a sense. Its most likely only the dumb luck i knew this goblin for that had him come out of there alive... but that brings us to the current predicament.. you see the--" The priest explained before the ground shook the two of them. a muffled roar blasted from behind the sealed door. The priest looked surprised for a moment before speaking again.. "It appears he's waking up.. there isn't very much time left.. This goblin. he needs to finish this. I do not know what is stopping him from consuming us... but That is what needs to happen now." The priest said. Akor looked at the forsaken and nodded.
"And what of you? surely this will end you and your comrades." Akor responded. the priest chuckled.
"We died that day. Megas lived. if he somehow remembers me, ill leave it to you to tell him my debt has been repaid.. but that's beside the point. Right now. this goblin. pray tell.. is there anything strange happening with him?" The priest responded before asking. Akorharil chuckled at the question. Anything strange? Kyou? It was like asking if fire was still hot. Taking hint the priest continued. "As I feared.. Demonic interference is the first sign. next is most likely a state of confusion and memory loss.. the price of carrying more than one soul in a body. but has he any signs of an old god's power?" The priest asked before something thumped on the door behind them. the futile effort seemed more to attempt to show its presence, as whatever force still appeared sealed within the cell. At the question, akor shook his head.
"Not that I know of... but the demonic energy of this goblin is beyond most users of fel magic." He responded. the priest scratched his head and thought hard.
"This is rather dire.. The only thing that could halt the goblin from eating us as he should... Is if the original soul was no longer the one in charge of the body. If it isn't the pit lord, or an old god... and its none of us... Then perhaps... perhaps a split personality was formed.." The priest guessed. Akorharil glared at the forsaken.
"You are at the end of your wit, undead. Is it even possible for such?" He asked. the priest looked back up and shrugged.
"Considering he halfway ate six souls, a pit lord, and an old god, I would be much less surprised by that. But that being the case... You'll need a priest. one on the outside. I will have to bide my energy.. If you can find Megas within here... then the goblin can be saved.
"Would killing this nuisance solve the problem faster? This liability of old gods and pit lords seems to be much more a threat than some petty soul issue." Akor growled.. in truth it'd probably be a mercy. However the undead chuckled.
"It could.. but it'd much more likely just give the big guy an opening to take over and return. I'm sure you can guess what a fully reborn Ascended Pit Lord fused Old God would most likely do to Azeroth as a whole.. Needless to say, the planet would be better left intact and not driven mad by this force in my professional opinion.." The priest retorted. Akorharil sighed.
Again came a bashing at the door. the sounds of roaring and screaming rang out from behind it. The priest turned to it and then looked to the undead.
"Oh my.... It appears he's rather feisty... but moreso.. I hope you don't mind. I took a look outside. You may want to leave... now." The priest advised suddenly. Akor looked at him, half angry, half confused.
"What is happening?" He asked.
"Well it appears the goblin is gone... and there's a lot of dead bodies surrounding you in what appears to be a half built house... I'll assume weren't there before. that... and he's awake. he'll try to speak to you soon if you don't leave.." The priest answered before growling at what he heard.
"Little bastard.. I should have nailed his body to the ground! Tell me priest. what shall I do?" Akor asked before he turned and looked to the door.
"Bring him to a priest. soon. have them scour his mind. find the block. and eliminate it. It'll most likely kill us all.. but the pit lord will be included.. it may also ease his mind.. Mercy... I believe is the term." The priest explained before motioning for Akor to leave. Akorharil took the hint and began to sever the connection.
Feeling his body leave the mental prison he moved back to his own.. However a vision flashed into view for but a few moments. A fiery glare looked upon him. Eyes as black as night stared through him and a dark bellowing tone echoed the words into his very soul. "RELEASE.ME... MORTAL.. KILL HIM... RELEASE MY MADNESS." The voice bellowed before Akorharil severed the connection entirely and returned to his own body.
He awoke to see himself within his circle. But the circle he drew was the only familiar thing around. He was surrounded with the bodies of dead iron horde orcs, piled up like a small wall around him, each slaughtered and burned. Standing and stepping out from the corpse house. Akorharil saw a burnt trail leading to multiple craters. it looked like another war broke out. That when he heard a shaky voice call to him from behind the rocks.
"Y..y..You.. n.n-need to...to leave...si...s-s-sir.... please.... before....... before it c-comes b-b-b-back....." babbled a frightened goblin. behind him cowered half the camp. the warriors that protected the Blasted Lands looked out stricken to the core with fear. they were begging..
"This goblin is proving far more a chore than we originally bargained for....." Akorharil growled as he left. Kyou was nowhere in sight.. and if the undead's words were true.. Akor quickly jotted down a short letter commanding Kyou to see a priest.. should he be sane enough to understand it, he'd know enough.
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Kyoukimaru
- Lost
- Posts: 61
Re: Kyou's Trial of Resolve
The meeting went roughly for Kyou.. While office hours were normally eay, Kyou found himself in almost a dazed trance attending. He was in pain and not fully himself..
After the last meeting he had, IT had begun speaking to him. at first it was nothing more than gibberish and whisperings... but the voice of the Old God soon grew stronger. Kyou had been through multiple days of torment, ridding him of sleep, tormenting his mind, and mostly, just attacking his senses. Worst of all, he was powerless to say anything about it. He'd run off in a frenzy, and his thoughts were barely his own.. he would not be surprised if they were ready to kill him.
But regardless of the voices in his head, the pain, the illness, or even the lack of straight thought, something urged him to appear.
It felt like a mistake. he was scowled at, insulted, and told to clean up his act, as if he was slacking on the job. his body was aching as Ruuki scolded him, though fully in her rights, to Kyou it felt unjust.. But he couldnt say why. The Lash was there, and though Ruuki understood Kyou's plight, Khorvis had already pondered out loud the ideal of killing the goblin. That, would in turn free the beast within. So Kyou rolled with it, his body bursting into flames and remaining engulfed as if possessed. Kyou remained silent, however his mind was boxing with him.
"Unworthy" "Monster!" "You've betrayed us." "You killed your own kind." "What Horde could accept you?", the whisperings echoed in his mind as Kyou tried to sit and relax himself.. However.. Sudden pain ripped into his mind! His skin felt as though it were doused with acid as Daxxum, seeing the flames, attempted to douse them with shamanistic healing rains! Kyou blasted out of the area, flames spouting from him, and out of reflex, shouted, his voice darkened and his eyes going pitch black.
"CURSE YOUR HEALING MAGIC, SHAMAN! KEEP IT AWAY FROM ME!" He spouted before realizing.
"Savior Ruuki, get your Supplicant under control!" Khorvis roared, seeing the upstart burst out against his own.
"Calm yourself, Kyou. The Grim will accept the crazed.. But NOT the out of control... Back in line!" Ruuki ordered.
"She's right." "You're awful." "Worthless!" "Monster!" "Just DIE, Beast!" the voices echoed.
Kyou stepped back to his ranks and waited, trying to keep himself calm.. as the meeting continued, his body kept acting up.. Even the small flesh creature that'd taken residence as his 'tongue' was going berserk. calming it by having Bjarnemon turn a nearby rat into a pig, Kyou let the creature launch from his mouth and stab into the critter. the polymorph spell didnt even fade.. The pig turned to stone, then crumbled into a pile of sand. The beast, quelled slightly by the feasting it had, was able to be sealed back up in Kyou's mask before the goblin returned to the ranks, a look from Ruuki confirmed his presence to still be discomforting.
"Tell me.. who could ever want a goblin as much a burden as you?" "You're alone..." again the voices echoed. Kyou sat again trying to calm himself.
It wasn't until the meeting had ended, Kyou walked back up to Ruuki. beckoning her to a nearby building. Kyou knew enough. the barrier was growing weak. The voices, the pain, the resistance to healing artes.. All of them were serious signs of the Old God surfacing. He did his best to hide it, the mask helped.. but he was beyond gone. the exhaustion of remaining awake for days on end, the aches. the injuries he'd recieved refusing to close. it was becoming too much, and all of it was covered up by his roguish armor. beneath the leather lay many cuts all refusing to close with time.
As he spoke to Ruuki, Kyou found himself begging to see a priest.. however they were all off and out of reach for the time, not even Lilliana had been around for him, which Kyou was almost able to count on normally. As he spoke, the voices continued to echo in his mind, biting at his thoughts and eventually welling up energy. Kyou was midsentence when he felt it. a surge of power that made his body convulse! as the goblin dropped to his knees and puked, the black tar that spewed out quickly infiltrated the ground! Bursting from the earth, a large tendril whipped and writhed about! Ruukie immediately drew weapon and readied to fight the beast, only to see it, tending to Kyou.. as if awaiting orders. Kyou gasped and tried to catch his breath as he heard Ruuki speak.
"Kyou... Calm down.. I have an idea, but I'll need you to first get ahold of yourself.." She said cautiously, minding the obvious power of the Old God beginning to manifest physical form from within her supplicant.
"Anything.... I'll do anything... just make it stop.." Kyou said breathlessly..
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Nearly an hour later, Kyou was in Warspear with Ruuki, the to walked into the tavern to see the usual crowd. Kyou looked forward to see the patron Ruuki had mentioned, and frowned as he looked upon a pandaren monk graciously tipping the bartender and acting playful.. However, despite doubts, Kyou was desperate, and a chance was better than what had been plaguing him.
To his surprise, the monk walked up to him, placed a hand on his shoulder and spoke.
"Come. Follow me." He said before leading Kyou out to a campfire. There he sat and nodded at the rogue before speaking again. "I am Sunderpalm, now tell me Kyou. What is it that 'ales' you?" Sunderpalm said before chuckling. while the pun would normally be appreciated, it flew straight over the pain addled goblin's head.
"In short? The only barrier keeping my mind out of the control of an Old God fused Demon is almost gone thanks to the multiple souls stuck in my body all clawing at it.." Kyou said bluntly. At that moment, the monk's looked shifted to a serious tone. Kyou sighed as he heard the voices continuing
"Die. Just die." "You will never be free." "Don't run.. accept your fate and ROT!" They continued, their usual babble of horrible intent. However, as Sunderpalm questioned Kyou and Ruuki about the known details, another voice suddenly spoke up in the back of Kyou's mind..
"Show him the crystal, Grandson." came a familiar voice, soon after answered by the ramblings of the prior voices trying to drown it out. but the message had gotten through. Kyou quickly reached into his bag and handed the crystal he'd found within it to Sunderpalm. The monk took the crystal and looked into it, his eyes immediately widening as the image of a pandaren looked back at him. At that moment something felt like it hit kyou in the base of the spine, a familiar tinge of pain and soon after a numbing sensation. Kyou's body suddenly relaxed, causing him to fall back and lay down, resting for once in what felt like ages.. his mind went black, but in his sleep something carried him into a dream. He awoke to see a familiar figure standing before an image of Sunderpalm.
"The problem here is very dire. The goblin that washed up on my shores, the one you speak to now, was not the original owner of this body, you see.." The Pandaren, Doctor Tou Raito, explained.
"Not the original owner? What became of them?" Sunderpalm asked.
"There was a battle, one that sealed the beast behind me into this mind like a prison. during that battle, the souls of many, like the corpses you see around you were slain and all sewn into this body like fabric... It took me death to realize it, and though I am ashamed I could not see it sooner, I know now and pass it on to you." Raito replied.
"The beast you mention. The barrier has been weakening. what has been causing this? These extra souls that have been captured?" Sunderpalm asked in turn.
Kyou looked around the room, taken aback by what he saw. the bodies that littered the floor, he could see the souls still inhabiting them, their essence being slowly drained and sent into the door. The door was being regularly attacked y the force behind it, a maddened Old God, desperately clawing at it's only way out..
"Yes.. But the original owner of this body is one of them. When these extra souls were pushed into this tiny body.. His mind couldn't handle it. The madness... I myself shudder at the thought. The amount of pain this much spiritual pressure would put upon anyone is great... but adding in the soul of the beast.. I was beside myself wondering how Kyou made it this far. It was in fact, this reason that now brings us to the situation.." Doctor Raito expressed.
"And that is?" Sunderpalm inquired once more, eying between Raito and the door.
"Kyoukimaru is a split personality created by the owner of this body, Megas Manngear... My grandson, is no more than a figment of imagination gone dominant.." Raito replied.
The words hit hard.. He was. Fake? He wasn't real? He'd asked about it, inquired before.. he had a hunch.. but it hadnt fully dawned on him until he heard it straight. He was... nothing more than an illusion?
"So creating Kyou bought him time.. but what of this Megas Manngear? He just pushed Kyou to the reins and made him control the body while he himself sat back and watched?" Sunder replied, sounding offended by the thought.
"Yes.. Megas created Kyou at first to deal with the pressure.. but between the strain and the powerful sources of Magic behind this goblin, Kyou grew stronger, dominant, eventually taking over the body by force and becoming hostile. That is where he ended my life." Raito said in a somber tone, his old eyes glancing past Sunderpalm striaght at kyou. Though Kyou was here only in a minor dreamstate, bodiless in his own mind, he felt Raito looking straight through him.. and it only added to the feeling of guilt.
"What must be done? How can this end for him?" Sunderpalm asked, and to that, Doctor Raito saighed.
"Megas Manngear can confront Kyou and regain control of his own body. In doing so, the goblin can easily consume the beast and free the souls of his companions, allowing them peace.. However... this would kill our Kyoukimaru, though he never truly existed in this body." Doctor Raito said in a sad tone, looking down, then back to the door.
"And what, just kill off the goblin we have as our ally? This Megas Manngear obviously gave up his body long ago, what right does he have to take it now?" Sunderpalm asked, offended by the thought.
"Because... If Kyou were to win the body as his own... If those two were to fight once and for all for control and Kyou came out on top, he would die swiftly. His soul wouldnt be able to hold the body together alone. it never has before... No.. Kyou would need to consume more than just the beast. Kyou would need to consume everyone. all of the souls he'd taken before, friends, family, everything. If he did that, he would have a chance at survival.. But in doing that, he'd be damning them all, myself included.. Personally I have no sway in there battle.. but regardless of outcome, I'd sooner die a thousand times then let this monster out. So.. Whatever the result be, we must first find means to reach it." Raito replied.
Sunderpalm nodded. "Tell me.. How can we force this confrontation?"
"You'll need a priest.. Someone alive who can scour this prison of a mind for Megas Manngear.. I can feel his presence, but I lack the strength to find him on my own.. You'll need a Warlock, someone to force Kyou's soul into here to meet with his body. And you'll need a strong warrior... someone to hold the body down, as it will most likely act up violently without control... The risk is astronomical.. But if a solution is reached quick enough, crisis will be averted.. I will stay here and mind the door.. Just tend to the goblin and help him. My power will remedy him.. but it will not last forever. His anguish for now, I can happily say, will be lifted." Doctor Raito explained before bowing to Sunderpalm and walking to the door.
Sunderpalm focused intently and left the image of Kyou's mind, returning to his own body and awakening.
"About time you woke up.. What word do you have?" Ruuki asked as she looked at Sunderpalm.
"There is much work to be done.. We'll need a powerful warrior, a priest, and a warlock to force the confrontation between Kyou.... and his body's original soul.. Megas Manngear.." Sunderpalm said before gently nudging Kyou's boot, rousing the goblin from his sudden slumber.
A flash of light sparked its way up Kyou's body, running along him. His anguished breathing, ragged body, and injured form suddenly healed, cuts closing and vanishing, bruises returning to normal, and best of all, reliving the massive pain thatd been his only company. Kyou found himself leaving his dream to awaken to this. And though he was happy he no longer felt the terrible pain as before, he was overcome with a hopeless feeling..
"I heard everything.... So it's true then... I'm just a split personality?" Kyou asked, his eyes looked down at the ground.
"Split.. what? What are you saying?" Ruuki asked.
"I met his teacher.. He explained it to me. Kyoukimaru was a split personality created by Megas Manngear. The original owner of the body couldn't handle the amount of voices and power Kyou now deals with." Sunderpalm answered.
"I'm not real... I'm just the biproduct of some crazy jerk's lack of potency." Kyou sighed, looking at his hands.
"You are what you make yourself to be. You are an ally to us, Kyou. This Megas Manngear means nothing to me." Ruuki replied adamantly to Kyou's hopeless words.
"But... I'm not real. I have never truly 'been'. I wasnt born, I had no family.. I was just created to buy this Megas some time. How can I just go and take everything away from the person who actually owned this body?" Kyou asked, his eyes almost watery at the thought.
"Better question. How could you give up and let someone take from you the bod you fought for and earned through willpower alone?" Sunderpalm asked, the words causing Kyou to look up, confused.
"What do you mean? He owns this body, not me." Kyou replied.
"I do not see him here. I see you, Kyou.You have taken this body here as your own. Megas has done nothing more than hide while you do all the work. Kyou, you can take YOUR body from him if you fight." Sunderpalm answered. Ruuki nodded. "We will find the means to put you two in a room together. Your wills shall decide who takes that body as theirs, not your pasts." Sunderpalm continued.
"This will you of the curse that has been plaguing you. Fight, Kyou. And you will have a chance to become your own person. I will not have my supplicant willingly give his work over to a lackluster goblin who has done nothing of value, after all.." Ruuki added. But the words reminded kyou of something that scared him.
"What will happen then? This curse has been what's given me my push. I dont even remember when I'm fighting at my best, I never have.. What if I dont ever recall it? If I win, what if it costs me the power I have now? I'd be cutting off my own arm... What use could The Grim have for a dull blade?" Kyou asked, looking at his own body again.
"I have doubts you will lose the skill you have naturally shown, Kyou.. But if that does happen, then as you are bound by The Grim, you will be sharpened as the blade you are. You belong with us, and there is no force that will change that short of death. And I will not allow you to choose that over your responsibility to our cause. So, you WILL be victorious, and we will sharpen you past the strengths you have even now. Understood?" Ruuki said in a powerful tone, looking to her Supplicant.
Kyou was nervous about it, still somber in thought. "If I take this body, it will mean killing many of our own that now lay as fodder within me. they could be freed otherwise.. would this not mean I was betraying our cause?" Kyou asked, only to be dismissed again.
"They have lived their lives and died in service of the Horde. Right now, the only one truly alive is you, Kyoukimaru. And you best keep it that way. My work here is done.. Ruuki, be sure to gather these folk and assist our friend. but to ease pain, take this until that time, Kyou." Sunderpalm said before handing a flask to Kyou. The liquid smelled alcoholic, but he took it, and drank.
"Just promise me this one thing, Ruuki.. If I dont make it in time, and this old god takes hold of this body, destroy it. I'd rather die than lose to some half dead demon. If I dont get to win, he sure as hell dont." Kyou said with a small fleck of confidence returning to his voice.
"I Promise, Kyou.. Now get some rest. You've earned it." Ruuki answered.
With that, Kyou stood and walked toward the flight master. he looked back to the two of them and nodded.
"Thanks.."
After the last meeting he had, IT had begun speaking to him. at first it was nothing more than gibberish and whisperings... but the voice of the Old God soon grew stronger. Kyou had been through multiple days of torment, ridding him of sleep, tormenting his mind, and mostly, just attacking his senses. Worst of all, he was powerless to say anything about it. He'd run off in a frenzy, and his thoughts were barely his own.. he would not be surprised if they were ready to kill him.
But regardless of the voices in his head, the pain, the illness, or even the lack of straight thought, something urged him to appear.
It felt like a mistake. he was scowled at, insulted, and told to clean up his act, as if he was slacking on the job. his body was aching as Ruuki scolded him, though fully in her rights, to Kyou it felt unjust.. But he couldnt say why. The Lash was there, and though Ruuki understood Kyou's plight, Khorvis had already pondered out loud the ideal of killing the goblin. That, would in turn free the beast within. So Kyou rolled with it, his body bursting into flames and remaining engulfed as if possessed. Kyou remained silent, however his mind was boxing with him.
"Unworthy" "Monster!" "You've betrayed us." "You killed your own kind." "What Horde could accept you?", the whisperings echoed in his mind as Kyou tried to sit and relax himself.. However.. Sudden pain ripped into his mind! His skin felt as though it were doused with acid as Daxxum, seeing the flames, attempted to douse them with shamanistic healing rains! Kyou blasted out of the area, flames spouting from him, and out of reflex, shouted, his voice darkened and his eyes going pitch black.
"CURSE YOUR HEALING MAGIC, SHAMAN! KEEP IT AWAY FROM ME!" He spouted before realizing.
"Savior Ruuki, get your Supplicant under control!" Khorvis roared, seeing the upstart burst out against his own.
"Calm yourself, Kyou. The Grim will accept the crazed.. But NOT the out of control... Back in line!" Ruuki ordered.
"She's right." "You're awful." "Worthless!" "Monster!" "Just DIE, Beast!" the voices echoed.
Kyou stepped back to his ranks and waited, trying to keep himself calm.. as the meeting continued, his body kept acting up.. Even the small flesh creature that'd taken residence as his 'tongue' was going berserk. calming it by having Bjarnemon turn a nearby rat into a pig, Kyou let the creature launch from his mouth and stab into the critter. the polymorph spell didnt even fade.. The pig turned to stone, then crumbled into a pile of sand. The beast, quelled slightly by the feasting it had, was able to be sealed back up in Kyou's mask before the goblin returned to the ranks, a look from Ruuki confirmed his presence to still be discomforting.
"Tell me.. who could ever want a goblin as much a burden as you?" "You're alone..." again the voices echoed. Kyou sat again trying to calm himself.
It wasn't until the meeting had ended, Kyou walked back up to Ruuki. beckoning her to a nearby building. Kyou knew enough. the barrier was growing weak. The voices, the pain, the resistance to healing artes.. All of them were serious signs of the Old God surfacing. He did his best to hide it, the mask helped.. but he was beyond gone. the exhaustion of remaining awake for days on end, the aches. the injuries he'd recieved refusing to close. it was becoming too much, and all of it was covered up by his roguish armor. beneath the leather lay many cuts all refusing to close with time.
As he spoke to Ruuki, Kyou found himself begging to see a priest.. however they were all off and out of reach for the time, not even Lilliana had been around for him, which Kyou was almost able to count on normally. As he spoke, the voices continued to echo in his mind, biting at his thoughts and eventually welling up energy. Kyou was midsentence when he felt it. a surge of power that made his body convulse! as the goblin dropped to his knees and puked, the black tar that spewed out quickly infiltrated the ground! Bursting from the earth, a large tendril whipped and writhed about! Ruukie immediately drew weapon and readied to fight the beast, only to see it, tending to Kyou.. as if awaiting orders. Kyou gasped and tried to catch his breath as he heard Ruuki speak.
"Kyou... Calm down.. I have an idea, but I'll need you to first get ahold of yourself.." She said cautiously, minding the obvious power of the Old God beginning to manifest physical form from within her supplicant.
"Anything.... I'll do anything... just make it stop.." Kyou said breathlessly..
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Nearly an hour later, Kyou was in Warspear with Ruuki, the to walked into the tavern to see the usual crowd. Kyou looked forward to see the patron Ruuki had mentioned, and frowned as he looked upon a pandaren monk graciously tipping the bartender and acting playful.. However, despite doubts, Kyou was desperate, and a chance was better than what had been plaguing him.
To his surprise, the monk walked up to him, placed a hand on his shoulder and spoke.
"Come. Follow me." He said before leading Kyou out to a campfire. There he sat and nodded at the rogue before speaking again. "I am Sunderpalm, now tell me Kyou. What is it that 'ales' you?" Sunderpalm said before chuckling. while the pun would normally be appreciated, it flew straight over the pain addled goblin's head.
"In short? The only barrier keeping my mind out of the control of an Old God fused Demon is almost gone thanks to the multiple souls stuck in my body all clawing at it.." Kyou said bluntly. At that moment, the monk's looked shifted to a serious tone. Kyou sighed as he heard the voices continuing
"Die. Just die." "You will never be free." "Don't run.. accept your fate and ROT!" They continued, their usual babble of horrible intent. However, as Sunderpalm questioned Kyou and Ruuki about the known details, another voice suddenly spoke up in the back of Kyou's mind..
"Show him the crystal, Grandson." came a familiar voice, soon after answered by the ramblings of the prior voices trying to drown it out. but the message had gotten through. Kyou quickly reached into his bag and handed the crystal he'd found within it to Sunderpalm. The monk took the crystal and looked into it, his eyes immediately widening as the image of a pandaren looked back at him. At that moment something felt like it hit kyou in the base of the spine, a familiar tinge of pain and soon after a numbing sensation. Kyou's body suddenly relaxed, causing him to fall back and lay down, resting for once in what felt like ages.. his mind went black, but in his sleep something carried him into a dream. He awoke to see a familiar figure standing before an image of Sunderpalm.
"The problem here is very dire. The goblin that washed up on my shores, the one you speak to now, was not the original owner of this body, you see.." The Pandaren, Doctor Tou Raito, explained.
"Not the original owner? What became of them?" Sunderpalm asked.
"There was a battle, one that sealed the beast behind me into this mind like a prison. during that battle, the souls of many, like the corpses you see around you were slain and all sewn into this body like fabric... It took me death to realize it, and though I am ashamed I could not see it sooner, I know now and pass it on to you." Raito replied.
"The beast you mention. The barrier has been weakening. what has been causing this? These extra souls that have been captured?" Sunderpalm asked in turn.
Kyou looked around the room, taken aback by what he saw. the bodies that littered the floor, he could see the souls still inhabiting them, their essence being slowly drained and sent into the door. The door was being regularly attacked y the force behind it, a maddened Old God, desperately clawing at it's only way out..
"Yes.. But the original owner of this body is one of them. When these extra souls were pushed into this tiny body.. His mind couldn't handle it. The madness... I myself shudder at the thought. The amount of pain this much spiritual pressure would put upon anyone is great... but adding in the soul of the beast.. I was beside myself wondering how Kyou made it this far. It was in fact, this reason that now brings us to the situation.." Doctor Raito expressed.
"And that is?" Sunderpalm inquired once more, eying between Raito and the door.
"Kyoukimaru is a split personality created by the owner of this body, Megas Manngear... My grandson, is no more than a figment of imagination gone dominant.." Raito replied.
The words hit hard.. He was. Fake? He wasn't real? He'd asked about it, inquired before.. he had a hunch.. but it hadnt fully dawned on him until he heard it straight. He was... nothing more than an illusion?
"So creating Kyou bought him time.. but what of this Megas Manngear? He just pushed Kyou to the reins and made him control the body while he himself sat back and watched?" Sunder replied, sounding offended by the thought.
"Yes.. Megas created Kyou at first to deal with the pressure.. but between the strain and the powerful sources of Magic behind this goblin, Kyou grew stronger, dominant, eventually taking over the body by force and becoming hostile. That is where he ended my life." Raito said in a somber tone, his old eyes glancing past Sunderpalm striaght at kyou. Though Kyou was here only in a minor dreamstate, bodiless in his own mind, he felt Raito looking straight through him.. and it only added to the feeling of guilt.
"What must be done? How can this end for him?" Sunderpalm asked, and to that, Doctor Raito saighed.
"Megas Manngear can confront Kyou and regain control of his own body. In doing so, the goblin can easily consume the beast and free the souls of his companions, allowing them peace.. However... this would kill our Kyoukimaru, though he never truly existed in this body." Doctor Raito said in a sad tone, looking down, then back to the door.
"And what, just kill off the goblin we have as our ally? This Megas Manngear obviously gave up his body long ago, what right does he have to take it now?" Sunderpalm asked, offended by the thought.
"Because... If Kyou were to win the body as his own... If those two were to fight once and for all for control and Kyou came out on top, he would die swiftly. His soul wouldnt be able to hold the body together alone. it never has before... No.. Kyou would need to consume more than just the beast. Kyou would need to consume everyone. all of the souls he'd taken before, friends, family, everything. If he did that, he would have a chance at survival.. But in doing that, he'd be damning them all, myself included.. Personally I have no sway in there battle.. but regardless of outcome, I'd sooner die a thousand times then let this monster out. So.. Whatever the result be, we must first find means to reach it." Raito replied.
Sunderpalm nodded. "Tell me.. How can we force this confrontation?"
"You'll need a priest.. Someone alive who can scour this prison of a mind for Megas Manngear.. I can feel his presence, but I lack the strength to find him on my own.. You'll need a Warlock, someone to force Kyou's soul into here to meet with his body. And you'll need a strong warrior... someone to hold the body down, as it will most likely act up violently without control... The risk is astronomical.. But if a solution is reached quick enough, crisis will be averted.. I will stay here and mind the door.. Just tend to the goblin and help him. My power will remedy him.. but it will not last forever. His anguish for now, I can happily say, will be lifted." Doctor Raito explained before bowing to Sunderpalm and walking to the door.
Sunderpalm focused intently and left the image of Kyou's mind, returning to his own body and awakening.
"About time you woke up.. What word do you have?" Ruuki asked as she looked at Sunderpalm.
"There is much work to be done.. We'll need a powerful warrior, a priest, and a warlock to force the confrontation between Kyou.... and his body's original soul.. Megas Manngear.." Sunderpalm said before gently nudging Kyou's boot, rousing the goblin from his sudden slumber.
A flash of light sparked its way up Kyou's body, running along him. His anguished breathing, ragged body, and injured form suddenly healed, cuts closing and vanishing, bruises returning to normal, and best of all, reliving the massive pain thatd been his only company. Kyou found himself leaving his dream to awaken to this. And though he was happy he no longer felt the terrible pain as before, he was overcome with a hopeless feeling..
"I heard everything.... So it's true then... I'm just a split personality?" Kyou asked, his eyes looked down at the ground.
"Split.. what? What are you saying?" Ruuki asked.
"I met his teacher.. He explained it to me. Kyoukimaru was a split personality created by Megas Manngear. The original owner of the body couldn't handle the amount of voices and power Kyou now deals with." Sunderpalm answered.
"I'm not real... I'm just the biproduct of some crazy jerk's lack of potency." Kyou sighed, looking at his hands.
"You are what you make yourself to be. You are an ally to us, Kyou. This Megas Manngear means nothing to me." Ruuki replied adamantly to Kyou's hopeless words.
"But... I'm not real. I have never truly 'been'. I wasnt born, I had no family.. I was just created to buy this Megas some time. How can I just go and take everything away from the person who actually owned this body?" Kyou asked, his eyes almost watery at the thought.
"Better question. How could you give up and let someone take from you the bod you fought for and earned through willpower alone?" Sunderpalm asked, the words causing Kyou to look up, confused.
"What do you mean? He owns this body, not me." Kyou replied.
"I do not see him here. I see you, Kyou.You have taken this body here as your own. Megas has done nothing more than hide while you do all the work. Kyou, you can take YOUR body from him if you fight." Sunderpalm answered. Ruuki nodded. "We will find the means to put you two in a room together. Your wills shall decide who takes that body as theirs, not your pasts." Sunderpalm continued.
"This will you of the curse that has been plaguing you. Fight, Kyou. And you will have a chance to become your own person. I will not have my supplicant willingly give his work over to a lackluster goblin who has done nothing of value, after all.." Ruuki added. But the words reminded kyou of something that scared him.
"What will happen then? This curse has been what's given me my push. I dont even remember when I'm fighting at my best, I never have.. What if I dont ever recall it? If I win, what if it costs me the power I have now? I'd be cutting off my own arm... What use could The Grim have for a dull blade?" Kyou asked, looking at his own body again.
"I have doubts you will lose the skill you have naturally shown, Kyou.. But if that does happen, then as you are bound by The Grim, you will be sharpened as the blade you are. You belong with us, and there is no force that will change that short of death. And I will not allow you to choose that over your responsibility to our cause. So, you WILL be victorious, and we will sharpen you past the strengths you have even now. Understood?" Ruuki said in a powerful tone, looking to her Supplicant.
Kyou was nervous about it, still somber in thought. "If I take this body, it will mean killing many of our own that now lay as fodder within me. they could be freed otherwise.. would this not mean I was betraying our cause?" Kyou asked, only to be dismissed again.
"They have lived their lives and died in service of the Horde. Right now, the only one truly alive is you, Kyoukimaru. And you best keep it that way. My work here is done.. Ruuki, be sure to gather these folk and assist our friend. but to ease pain, take this until that time, Kyou." Sunderpalm said before handing a flask to Kyou. The liquid smelled alcoholic, but he took it, and drank.
"Just promise me this one thing, Ruuki.. If I dont make it in time, and this old god takes hold of this body, destroy it. I'd rather die than lose to some half dead demon. If I dont get to win, he sure as hell dont." Kyou said with a small fleck of confidence returning to his voice.
"I Promise, Kyou.. Now get some rest. You've earned it." Ruuki answered.
With that, Kyou stood and walked toward the flight master. he looked back to the two of them and nodded.
"Thanks.."