Kyoukimaru - Stories of a Monster

[Kyoukimaru]

Kyoukimaru's Deeds upon entering The Grim were some to be noted. For a goblin to lose it's mind, burst into felfire, and with the skills of a talented rogue murder every living creature within range at a pace like his? Unheardof. Most goblins were cheap, greedy, and full of more witty banter or empty threats.. But Kyou... Kyou didn't rely much upon talk. Ever.

-Origin Summary-

At first it was because of his condition. A split personality that would take over and drive him into a frenzy. This would later be known through his trials as his true form. See, Kyoukimaru was not born. He had no mother or father, no family, not even a race. Kyou, was created. Created by an unfortunate goblin who'd been sealed with the souls of an army of demons, faceless ones, horde mercenaries, one stupid paladin, and something that should never have been. An Old God fused with a Pit Lord. The demon and monster had merged their souls perfectly and bound into one another in pursuit of power.. And by terrible circumstance, were then somehow sealed into a half dead goblin. How this happened? Cruel fate? Dumb luck? Who knows? But what came to be in this poor goblin's mind was a character resolute in their choices. someone quick, silent, strong, and beyond that, sworn to hate those like that damned paladin who'd ruined everything... Consumed by negative emotions, these forces coupled with the dormant power and literally created a soul capable of this. Birthing it and placing in control to overtake the anguished goblin, letting it sleep like the other souls now trapped in this body..

Kyoukimaru, named so by the Pandaren Priest Doctor Tou Raito, was adopted after being discovered on the shores of pandaria even before the landing of the Alliance and Horde forces. When met with his own kind... Kyou's new and questioning mind was drawn to the Horde by a familiar feeling. But when matched with members of the Alliance, Kyou's mind turned completely. His naturally happy and peppy personality flipped over and turned into burning rage and bloodlust incarnate! Kyou's deeds were marked, and eventually him and his adopted father were forced to leave.

However... Only Kyou made it out of Pandaria. His father... never seen again. The goblin was contracted into Garrosh's forces and soon after captured for Grand Homicide, Assault, Harassment, Destruction of Horde Property, Grand Theft Zeppelin, Destruction of said Zeppelin, Targeted Zeppelin to Zeppelin Crash, Attempted Murder of Warchief, Assault on Warchief, Harassment of Warchief, Grand Murder of Kor'kron Guard members, Prison break, Second Attempted Murder of Warchief, Blasphemy, Urination in Public, Urination on Warchief, Grave robbing, Demonic Influence, Arson, Demonic Arson, Third Attempted Murder of Warchief while Demon Possessed, Slander, and Public Nudity While Demon Possessed. However despite his crimes landing him on the chopping block, a Horde raid massacred their way through Orgrimmar before any harm met Kyou. In the confusion, the clever rogue vanished.


Kyoukimaru's inquisition was held sometime later at Warsong Hold. The rogue had found The Grim and sought entry. His unique condition became noticed easily, as Kyou, despite being a rogue, leaked demonic energy. His request was accepted and his trials commenced.

Trial of Combat: https://thegrim.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=9945

His trials of combat was nothing less than a theatre of death. Kyou decimated rank after rank of Alliance as demonic energy spewed from his maddened form! Those fighting alongside him took note of his distinct talent for killing and held his skills in high regard. It wasn't often a new recruit managed more kills than some of the grizzled veterans that fought beside the goblin that day..

Trial of Resolve: https://thegrim.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=9987

But after his combat prowess was proven, Kyou's condition showed its deficiencies. Memory Loss, Insanity, Bloodlust, they all came in demonic fits and left nothing to the goblin once he woke. His Questioning led him to seek out what was causing these issues and face them. His second trial hardened his resolve to become skilled moreso with his own body than further his training under the blade. But this led Kyou to see the truth. He was fabricated. His true soul roused and awoke, and the sleeping monsters within him began to stir. A time clock began to tick within the goblin. Plaguing him with illness, confusion, depression, and even more madness, Kyou's body was wearing down. It was thanks to the efforts of Grim members that Kyou gripped himself. Kyou was rememdied and hospitalized briefly as his decaying condition was worked slowly into a standstill. In this moment Kyou was able to figure out what to do.

Trial of Sacrifice: https://thegrim.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=10150

With a push from Ruuki, Kyou found himself looking to claim the body he was born in as his own. This meant, however, consuming the souls of former allies, family, enemies, innocents, women, children, demons, and Old Gods alike. Kyou's battle took place literally within his own soul. Pulling a team of priests and warlocks into his own soul, as well as Ruuki, his Inquisitor, they all nearly fell victim to a deadly trap set by Kyou's original soul.
But Kyou accepted his truest colors and conquered the fight. The nightmarish creatures that nearly awoke were consumed and assimilated into Kyou's soul, granting him power and control. With the form and madness of an Old God, Kyou tore his own mental scape asunder and reshaped it, sparing the lives of the Grim members trapped within him. All but Ruuki resigned after seeing this battle. The only one not paralyzed into pacifism by the insane battle, Ruuki accepted Kyou's victory. Though it meant the destruction of his original family, allies of the horde, innocents, and so many more, it also meant the domination of alliance, demons, and old gods alike... The very deed had the goblin risk his own life and soul to overtake a monster that would have surely wrought havoc to Azeroth, should it have been freed...

Kyoukimaru was reforged. His body still bursting with demonic energy and bloodlust incarnate, the monster was in full control of it. Kyou's intellect and banter became well known past this, and his talent with a blade had him renowned as truly an adept of his class. He dedicated himself to The Grim thenceforth. Destroying everything that dared step in the way of the Mandate. Kyoukimaru, a monster, soul eater, murderer, and crazed source of demonic energy, has been known for his extravagant character and maddened fighting tactics since then.

[Kyoukimaru]

[align=center]HOWEVER[/align]

Kyoukimaru's story had only begun. Since that day, Kyoukimaru continued to serve as a skilled fighter. His tactics became a regular routine, and his harassment became commonplace. The Grim members grew used to seeing the the goblin consume alliance members, body and soul. The grew used to seeing the goblin drenched head to toe in blood. They played jack-in-the-box styled games to guess when Kyou would awaken and subsequently burst from the chest of a previously living alliance captive.

~Continued Alliance Harassment~
Alliance Posters littered the streets from Stormwind to Stormshield demanding the head of a murderer none could ever manage to catch. A shapeshifter plagued the cities of the human king with death, arson, and the strange robberies of many cheeses. Guard's were left in shambles if they ever laid eyes on this monster. The ones unlucky enough to survive were hospitalized, soon to die after by their own hand. Whatever they'd seen had driven them mad. This creature, was Kyou. Though some Grim questioned his ability to do this, Ruuki would often intervene and demand a silence of the topic, ordering Kyou not to show a soul his "techniques".

~The Lion's Watch Incident~
The sight of Kyou burying skeleton after skeleton all in the same sickening mass grave became a regular routine, so common some would even miss it should they lose even the slightest bit of focus. To them, it was normal. A fighter who simply loved his job. Kyou's diet after all was nothing short of souls, alliance flesh, and alcohol. His shapeshifting abilities and demonic energy was something welcomed by his peers. Though at times it troubled the group mildly, recalling a raid on an alliance camp hardly any Grim could remember. Kyou had been put in charge of collecting water and from carrying the barrels from the river to camp, the monster's sweat had contaminated the supply. Unwittingly drank by multiple guild members, Kyou led multiple assaults with an alleged army of hulking felbeasts. Strangely, many complained of terrible hangovers after the small incident. Kyou was soon after prohibited from handling any and every food supply beyond his own, regarding safety to the bodies and beliefs of those amongst the Grim who did not wish to draw upon Fel or Old God magics.

[Kyoukimaru]

~Another Anomaly Appears~

Kyoukimaru had just returned from another "Tea Party" within the confides of Tanaan. As usual, he was drenched head to toe in blood and pulling a large wagon stacked high with various skeletons. The Zeppelin Pilots sighed relieved as their regular passenger departed again with another shipment of skeletons. Not a soul dared ask why, how, or when.. They weren't even in port before the goblin 'departed'. Kyou happily pushed the cart over the side of the zeppelin and dove after it seemingly at a specific location. The crew had seen this goblin do this weekly for months now. Hurl himself from the sky, burst into flames, and plummet to the hidden lake in a valley below as they crossed the Tirisfal Glades many times now. A fall alone that would have killed any mortal creature. But seeing this goblin do this as a routine? Not a soul would even bat an eye soon after, not wanting to even know how it was possible...

"OH CRAP HE JUMPED!" Screamed a new crew member as the usual shipment of alliance skeletons followed by the laughing goblin body of Kyoukimaru barreled over the side of the Zeppelin into the valley below. The rest of the crew shook in their boots and remained still.
"He'll be back again next week... Don't ask. Don't charge him, and don't make eye contact. Trust me, kid... There's some things we're just better off not knowin." Another crewmember said to console the panicked greenhorn.

Kyou's wagon of corpses was dumped into a lake hidden away in a valley just past the well trodden portions of the Tirisfal Glades. These chores were as previously stated weekly at times. and as usual Kyou found himself kicked back aftwerwards, laying next to a felflame campfire along the lake bed. Hundreds of skeletons had been dumped into this lake, broken to pieces upon impact with the water. Kyou would always singe the entire cargo mid flight and come crashing down as a green fireball. This weakened the bones considerably and also destroyed the cart, don't want to pollute. And strangely, the lake would always be clear of any remains shortly after. One could dive in half a days time past Kyou's corpse delivery and not a scrap would be found! Strange as it was, the most likely solution was the terrain underwater was so soft the bones would sink into the ground. It made sense to Kyou. After all, since he started his deliveries, the flora of the local area had increased around the lake.

By this time, flowers were very commonplace and almost a nuisance. Kyou found himself clearing the area before starting up his camp for the first time since he'd began these runs. And as the goblin kicked back to take a load off for a while, he calmly listened to the wind around him, meditating a while as not a soul was around for miles to go. Kyou honed in and focused as he meditated lakeside, listening to the area around and focusing on his own energies. Fel flames circled the rogue, calmly dancing as a small circle around him. His eyes were closed, but his mental eye was opening. This was something Kyou had only recently struck back up. Meditating was often too hard within the halls of the Grim. The scent of so much blood was like ringing a dinner bell, and the stories of fellow member's tales were like scandalous bedroom stories to the monster known as Kyou. These things would break his focus far too easily for him to achieve a perfect meditational trance. It took many weeks of practice, but now in his routine it was all coming to fruition as Kyou found his center and reeled in control of his superior powers. He levitated inches above ground as a ring of felfire danced calmly around him, and above his head an eye opened up. The first time since he'd claimed his new body Kyou was able to achieve his trance proved very different than before. His powers were active and under perfect manual operation, rather than sealed away and dormant. He was literally able to see through this demonic eye that opened in the airspace above his forehead, and all life around him would be revealed..

[Kyoukimaru]

But that's when he noticed it...

The lakebed, the area around him, and even under the waters of the vast body of water before him, life was flowing! Not plant life, like the flowers around him, but living, breathing, conscious life! Kyou immediately stood and his body struck a combat pose drawing his knives as his demonic eye scanned the area around him. Amongst the giant blip of life showing up in his vision like a mass heat signature, a small but much more focused ball of intense life energy was darting around just in front of him! Moving at an intense, erratic pace, the life signature was dancing around the waters of the lake, seemingly just below it. Whatever it was.. it was like a starved fish during feeding time, whipping around the area where Kyou's last bone shipment had crashed into the lake. Not sure what to do, Kyou found himself watching this spectacle for hours. His demonic eyes following the anomaly as it fed until it either filled up or emptied whatever supply Kyou had dumped.

During this time, however, Kyou's fel flames continued to burn around him, creating a decent sized camp area singed clear of all flora. After the strange signature of a creature finished it's underground feeding frenzy, it slunked around the side of the lake bed where Kyou had camped. Circling the goblin's area for nearly an hour, it seemed to be watching Kyou, just as Kyou was watching it.. Inching closer and closer, as if curious each round. Finally after an eon it seemed of fishing for this life signature, Kyou fund himself sitting in a small fel flamed scorched area with this high powered signature of life energy sitting just outside.

"Hello?" Kyou asked as he opened his eyes a moment to look around. No signs of it.. Clsoing his eyes once again he saw the creature still there.. below the ground just before him. No response came. Kyou opened his eyes again, now looking to see flowers once again beginning to grow in the area he had scorched. He lifted an eyebrow curiously and kept his knives drawn. Dropping his focus, the eye as well as nearly all of Kyou's flames suddenly faded away, and instantly, flowers sprouted from the recently burnt area around the rogue! Kyou found himself surrounded with flowers again, and though he couldnt see it, now he felt the presence of something dreadfully close. He tensed up, his body still covered in an aura of fel flames. Whatever it was seemed like a shark closing in... the silence of the beast almost maddening, and the tension and excitement was thick enough to pass off as a 3 course meal meant for a tauren.

"Show yourself, or I'm gonna SCORCH THIS LAKESIDE!" Kyou suddenly roared, his voice darkening like an Old God as his anger shown in it! And for a minute, he was answered with only silence, but then followed breathing. The ground beneath Kyou stirred with breath. the feeling of eyes on him had Kyou ready to fight, eager moreso to draw out the Unknown catfish of life energy that lurked just below. As he readied himself to burst with fel fire and strike first, Kyou found himself interrupted by a strange voice. It came specifically from a unique flower that sprouted just before him. The bud of the flower opened, and shifted to him. In a deep voice came the words..

"I am a Non-Combatant."

[Kyoukimaru]

With the sudden bellow of a voice, an earthy explosion followed right after as hundreds of bones erupted from the earth and shot straight at Kyou! Even as he vanished from sight, the skeletal roots shot to Kyou's body and quickly grasped him! Hundreds of hands grabbed at him, not a one causing any harm, however held strong enough to pin the rogue and lift the thrashing goblin into the air!

"THE FUCK ARE YOU?! OH IM GONNA STAB YOU! PUT ME DOWN YOU SON OF A--" Kyou roared before the creature's voice interrupted him again.

"Interjection: No harm is intended. I am a Non-Combatant." Came the almost robotic voice once again.

"I'LL SHOW YOU HARM! I'M GONNA TEAR YOU LIMB FROM LIMB, YOU UGLY LITTLE SHIT!" Kyou screamed as he began freeing himself from the many skeletal arms that hand him and seemed to be examining him!

"Reaction to Stimulus: Insult...... You have no mother. You are adopted, Kyoukimaru. I am a Non-Combatant." again sounded the voice. The accuracy of the statement was beyond anything a soul outside of the Grim would be alive enough to repeat. and for a moment after Kyou freed himself from the skeletal grip, Kyou paused to think.

"And how would whatever you are know this?" Kyou asked as he focused again, lighting the ground beneath his feet aflame again.

"We are the same. Fabricated. Your essence... not natural.. Similar... To Oriy..." Echoed the voice, still emitting from the flower sitting a foot or two in front of the goblin rogue. "Similar coin... Different Sides... Oriy, has watched Subject: Kyoukimaru...." continued the creature of flowers and bones.

"A while? Why wait till now to attack, eh?!" Kyou interrupted.

"Statement: False. I am a Non-Combatant. Subject: Kyoukimaru... Brings essence to Oriy.. No need to interact until now." retorted the creature.

"And why now, Huh?!" Kyou shouted. he waited a moment as whatever still hid before him paused..

"Answer: Because you are now aware. If not explained, Subject: Kyoukimaru will discontinue essence... Statement: I am a Non-Combatant." repeated the voice. Kyou got aggravated..

"WHY do you keep saying that.?!" Kyou snapped!

"Fact: Weapons drawn. Heart rates: 145, 167, 152, 163 for all four detected hearts. Subject, ready to attack on sight. Oriy... not combat ready.. need more essence." echoed again the mono-toned voice from the bud of a flower. Kyou sighed and slowly sheathed his blades, stepping back and calming down.

After a moment, the ground before the rogue stirred. Flowers rose from the earth a pale white color, almost the same as the skeletal limbs that had erupted previously. they formed around the flower that had been communicating with Kyou. the pale flowers bonded together and fattened forming a large blob of what looked like either spiderwebs of liquefied flesh... no... liquefied bone... The blob slowly formed up and shaped into a humanoid! Metal bits of armor and blackened bone surfaced and formed a suit around the body that developed just before the rogue's eyes.. after a minute, what appeared to be an undead human stood before Kyou.. His eyes were blue, but within them glowed a bright red pupil.. The helmet and armor looked draconic.. glowing a bloody color and spiraling off to look like bone matter and hammered on metal plates...

"Now that wasn't so hard, was it? It's often polite to thank the guy who feeds you. Stalking them isn't your best option.. it could get you pretty freakin' dead." Kyou sighed as he spoke to the creature. "So... you already know my name, now what's yours?"

[Kyoukimaru]

It had been an hour...

This strange aberration had been standing in front of Kyou for an HOUR. Every time Kyou would move, poof, the creature would immediately shoot underground and leave only a bone-like replica of a plant above ground in his place.. And.. In turn, that was the only time it would speak.

"I am a Non-Combatant." it repeated.

"I....KNOW...." Kyou groaned as he glared at the creature.. "Now come back out." Kyou said in a very forced gentle voice. After another minute, the creature would resurface, again taking form of what looked to be a mostly decayed undead. It stared at Kyou as the rogue held perfectly still, eyeing the creature head to toe. Aside from the awkward coloring and strange eyes, this Death Knight Replica looked very real. After a moment Kyou drew a breath and spoke again. "Now tel me your---OH FOR FEL'S SAKE!" He ended with a shout as the creature once again dove under ground! Kyou got frustrated once again by the creature, stood up and turned to leave. As soon as he did however it happened again. The creature launched a series of bone-like hands from the ground to grasp at the rogue's feet!

"Subject: Kyoukimaru must not retreat. Essence required. Must not lose source." The ground rumbled as a flower spoke to the now fuming rogue. Kyou turned around and burst into flames again as he shouted.

"THEN GET OUT OF THE GROUND AND TALK!" Kyou roared as his fel flames forced the hands to release his feet!

Once again silence hit... This would be the last time Kyou determined. his flames were in full force covering his body again and he was absolutely fed up... He waited, and after another minute the creature before him began surfacing.. slowly. Kyou made no attempts to move, towards or away from it. Trial and Error showed this earth loving monster was probably a reference point for the word Skittish in the Goblin Dictionary for Dimwits. Slowly the creature fully resurfaced, and still Kyou waited.... after what felt like eternity, the creature again spoke.

"Subject: Kyoukimaru. Request: State Name.... Counter-Request: If request answered... Please continue supply of essence" It spoke.... It literally tried to bargain.... With Kyou.... Fighting back the urge to immediately lunge at the creature, Kyou carefully spoke. He'd left his mouth open a bit for just the circumstance, and now ever so quietly spoke.

"So as long as you dont attack, bother, or talk to me, I'll keep dumping the bodies here.." Kyou cooed, the creature before him made no verbal response. However it looked pleased by Kyou's answer. It quivered violently for a couple seconds, making a series of clicking and rattling noises.

"Added question: If Subject: Kyoukimaru is ever in danger. Subject: Kyoukimaru will be protected by this organism... is this action still applicable?" The strange mass of bones replied. Kyou's eye twitched at the question.

"Protect me? From wha----OH BY THE OLD GOD'S WRATH!" Kyou scoffed and spoke until the creature took his lack of immobility as hostile movement and retreated once more. Kyou snapped. Again. "FINE FINE FINE! DO AS YOU PLEASE! YOU HAVE MY PERMISSION TO STAY LIKE THAT SO AS LONG AS YOU STAY AWAY!" Kyou howled at a plant that was now literally blowing in the wind of his breath! He then turned tail and began to leave. This time, instead of hands trying to grab his ankles again, a large flower instead shot up before him. the bud opened and spoke.

"Accepted. Organism Name: .......None...... Inefficient Creation led to no humanoid name provided.... Subject: Kyoukimaru may however refer to Callsign... Callsign granted by: Highlord Tirion Fordring... Callsign: Oriy......" Declared the creature through one of it's flowery means of communication. Kyou stopped a moment to hear the suddenly talkative character 'Oriy' out...

"Great. fantastic. Oriy. Name given to ya by that Fordring guy, eh? Pretty special.. Yeah do me a solid and don't speak to me again. I'll kill you next time you pull this crap." Kyou said in a tired voice, annoyed to the core...



It had been a long day...

[Kyoukimaru]

[align=center]A troublesome fight...[/align]


He'd given the ridiculous "Oriy" the slip, hopped a zeppelin and crossed the seas. Kyou was not in any mood to deal with social interactions right now. Stress and annoyanaces were eating away at what little supply of his patience he had left and he was absolutely dead tired of NOT killing things.

So. It was time to Kill Things!

"There he goes again... Leaping to his death..... He'll be back tomorrow most likely.." Sighed one of the experienced crewmembers as she watched Kyou launch off the side of the zeppelin and disappear into the sky below! Kyou plummeted again towards the ground and took the force as a boost to engage one of his many Goblin Gliders. turning his would be impact into full fledged travel, Kyou blasted north east of orgrimmar and swore the entire way down.

"First place I land better be full of elves... FIRST PLACE! I dont care if theyre druids, mages, or neutral in all places. FIRST PLACE BETTER BE FULL OF ELVES!" He growled as he navigated through the giant trees. And sure enough, off in the distance below, Kyou felt a presence of a large amount of people... a camp.

Abandoning his glider and sending it barrelling down ahead of him, Kyou plummeted to the ground, only to be caught by his own disgusting body launching thin tendrils from his arms and swinging him from the very branches of the trees he navigated through! One perk of being the spawn of an Old God was his unique form. Though it seemed to spread madness like a plague without any regards to friend or foe, it had its benefits. The unfortunate elves in the camp ahead were only warned as a glider crash landed into the center of their encampment... A nearby goblin shaman, obviously skilled in engineering quickly searched the site and called out to the many night elves and few tauren around him that there was no operator..

But Kyou wasnt noticing any of this as he launched his way through the dense forestry towards the camp. That both Horde and Alliance races were there.

"Goblin.. Tell us, what brought this glider here? If any further envoys are in danger it will benefit us both for our crews to work to assist you." A night elf druid offered the shaman as the little green chainmail clad creature still looked for evidence of any pilot. But he shook his head.

"No. We don't have any more envoys. we didn't wanna make any big moves. The tensions are high between our factions. I'm more neutral than most members of the Horde, so I've been careful to assure the elves here in Ashenvale we aren't all dedicated to war." The goblin replied. This was obviously a sensitive diplomatic situation.. A small group of Horde ambassadors attempting to bridge gaps between the Alliance.. Probably the worst place for this specific glider to crash land..

"BY ELUNE! IT'S AN ATTACK! THE REAR GUARD HAS BEEN DESTROYED!" Suddenly cried one of the guardsmen, and in that moment the camp went up in arms! The shaman was immediately grappled and arrested, not even resisting, but swearing up and down he had nothing to do with it. However the elves took no heed and prepared for combat.

"IT'S MY DAY OFF!" Kyou roared as his flame covered body literally blasted through elf after elf! His victims were either incinerated within seconds, or cut to pieces so swiftly it took as much time as the latter for their bodies to fall apart! The small camp was blindsided by the sudden seige and unable to respond with enough frontal force to even phase him. Kyou ripped and burned through elves one or two at a time at best, quickly limiting the camp's numbers!

"I DON'T CARE HOW, JUST GET OVER HERE! THE NEGOTIATIONS ARE SHOT AND IM IN DEEP TROUBLE IF THEY THINK WE HAD A PART IN THIS, BANJIN!" The goblin screamed into his hearthstone before he and multiple elves took shelter in a nearby dug out bunker! They hadnt even caught wind of what force was attacking them. Half the camp was still in question. Guards were dropping like flies in the chaos, and not a single person could keep an eye on the attacker long enough to let out a warning cry. Hundreds of elves were in attendance here, and already no less than 30 were presumed dead..

The others pulled back and set up a hastily readied defensive line as the sounds of fighting came closer. For a minute as the elves waited, the sounds halted... Everything seemed to stop. No guards were crying out, no clashing blades, no warcries... just footsteps. The remaining night elves readied their weapons in formation, preparing the few glaive launchers present to fire at will.. The footsteps trodded closer... after half a minute, over the hill the glow of fel flames revealed Kyoukimaru. He stood at the top of it and looked down at the remaining elven camp. His body covered in felfire, and both his blades as well as his eyes lit up with a blood red glow.

"GREETINGS EVERYONE! I HOPE YOU WEREN'T KEPT LONG! YOU SEE, IM GOING TO NEED SOME COMFORT FOOD!" Kyou bellowed as his darkened voice echoed menacingly through the elven ranks.

"FIRE EVERYTHING! KILL THE DEMON!" Howled one of the guard captains! And with it a hail of arrows and glaives blasted at Kyou! Kyou blasted upwards and dodged the rain of fire, shrugging off the few arrows that shot through him like they were nothing! His body seemed to repair almost instantly from the attacks as he landed and sped downhil at his attackers!

"AND NOTHIN SAYS LOVIN LIKE NIGHT ELF BUNS IN THE OVEN!" Kyou howled as he launched into the frontlines, cutting down the ranks and straight into one of the few glaive throwers remaining! He tore out and blasted into the next one, then after the final! Cutting down anyone who got within arms reach and burning anyone else! Screams and howling echoed throughout Ashenvale as the mad goblin decimated the night elf forces! Quickly the numbers of the guards remaining dwindled to a handful.. All huddled around the last bunker where the prisoner and leadership cowered.. Kyou stopped a moment as he eyed the last of his prey... Taking note of the goblin, he called out. "Shaman! Are you injured? Keep out of my flames, and I'll be sure to make sure you make it back safely! You're lucky I'm here after--" Kyou started before a surprising image rose up before him!

"YOU IMBECILE! PITIFUL GOBLIN, DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU HAVE DONE?! WE ORDERED NO ATTACK, THIS WAS A DIPLOMATIC MISSION TO QUELL THE ASHENVALE AGGRESSION! YOU'VE RUINED IT!" Roared the shaman as his body rapidly changed into a drake! Though the form didn't look fully natural, it was obvious draconic essence lay within the shaman before him... But Kyoukimaru's mind was elsewhere... at the word 'Diplomatic', his reassuring rescue call ceased...

"Oh? You're one of them? THEN I GUESS I'LL BE EATING A DRAGON TODAY TOO HUH?! STAND STILL AND DIE LIKE A---" Kyou started before the impact of a giant cannon blast interrupted him! An Iron Horde Cannonball... It landed just before him, and casued Kyou to step back.. A confused look filled the Goblin's face as he eyed the giant cannonball as one of the transport types. The reinforced door opened up and black smoke billowed out as something stepped out towards him.

"Rogue! Stand down now! These elves have done NOTHING to warrant these attacks!" Called out a strong orcish voice. Kyou laughed.

"I know that! I'm doing this because it's FUN! And last time I checked, I don't listen to YOU" Kyou retorted, not even caring who was standing before him and defying the order outright.

"Funny... Your fellow Grim scum just told me that.." The orc called out as he stepped from the cloud of smoke. He was tall, buff, and clad in bruiser like leather armor. Obviously a monk by his stance ad weaponry, the knuckle dusters in each fist. His hands lit up with chi-like energy and crackled every now and then as the orc glared at Kyou. The elves were now starting to orchestrate a full retreat...

"You're LATE, Banjin! Cover our escape and take that rogue with you!" The dragon roared as he now HELPED the elves by carrying wounded guards on his very back! Noticing this, Kyou's eyes burst with fel energy and he burst forward! However a sudden movment from the monk and a palm strike sent Kyou straight backwards! Rolling back up the hill and returning to his feet, Kyou eyed the monk again. Banjin, as he was called, had moved in a split second to intercept Kyou.. Obviously he wasnt a pushover..

"There's just so many traitors these days! Eh?! Why don't you go sleep with your elf women in their own little section of stormwind?! ASHENVALE IS MINE!" Kyou howled as he blasted back towards Banjin, who met his blades blow for blow in a series of blocks!

"Well, I'd be lying if I didn't mention the few I've had in my bed! But they're all names I'd prefer to keep to myself, as it's none of your business who I sleep with, you demonic little imp!" Banjin fired back as he somehow kept up with Kyou's ridiculous speed! His guarding was ridiculous, and Kyou couldn't get past the hulking orc without creating an opening Banjin surely would have exploited!

"So thats your fetish huh? Purple Skin? How bout those draenei, I can tell you how they taste, rather than how their insides feel if you like!" Kyou taunted as he furiously fought the monk! The orc glared and immediately spat an angry grunt!

"And you act like I have a problem?! These are living, breathing people, you monster!" Banjin growled as he swung into Kyou, only to see the rogue fade away and vanish!

"YOU'RE WIDE OPEN, ORC!" Kyou screamed as he launched out of the shadows dragging a cleaver across Banjin's side! Poison and blood immediately seeping from the wound! Banjin, however clapped his hands together, creating a blast of energy and knocked Kyou backwards! landing on his feet, Kyou looked back at the monk to see the injury gone!

"Bah. Call that poison? I'll give ya credit it's stronger than any other rogue Ive fought.. But you see, that just doesn't effect me, lad! You're gonna have te do better then those little butter knives!" Banjin howled as Kyou noticed this fact.. And strangely, with a glare, a light flashed from the orc's blue eyes, and Kyou immediately froze up!

"The... hell?!" Kyou groaned as his body seemed to be locked up! He couldn't move! His muscles were tense to the point of ripping as the monk appeared in front of him, his hands together charging a massive blast of Chi!

"Now... BURST!" Banjin roared as he thrust his hands forward for a devastating two part attack! A giant blast of Chi erupted from his palms and launched into Kyou's chest, and at the same time, another giant explosion of chi burst from him! The intense blast would have shredded a normal goblin's body outright, however Kyou was burned severely and launched back, sending him cratering into a giant tree trunk! He coughed up a small amount of black blood as he crash landed! The orc began to move towards him, however stopped as he heard Kyou speak!

"BAH! You think this is ALL I CAN DO?! Since you're nothing more than an alliance defector I don't have to hold back! Allow me to show you EXACTLY what you're messing with, Banjin!" Kyou roared, his voice darkened and unnatural. the Old God energy beginning to spew from him! He was going to release a safety or two and flaunt his real form to this orc... His body however... was only able to turn black and begin the transformation before a stupidly familiar glare hit him from the orc! Another paralyzing trick held Kyou for a few moments as Banjin picked up and sped towards him!

"Oh No you DON'T!" Banjin roared as he flew into the air and barreled at Kyou for a massive kick, chi taking the form of a dragon at the end of his giant orcish boot! But before Kyou could feel the impact, another voice overwhelmed the scene.

"ATTENTION SUBJECT: BANJIN. I AM A NON-COMBATANT." The horribly familiar voice of Oriy rang out as from the trunk of the tree Kyou was cratered into, a mass entanglement of bone-like planted erupted forth! Amongst them, flowers, grass, branches, and other natural flora grew within an instant as if Cenarius itself was standing here! The mess of bone-like branches as well as natural plants wrapped a large barrier around Kyou and an explosion confirmed it blocking Banjin's kick!

"What the?!---Wait-....No NO NO NO WAIT NO LET GO OF ME! GET OFF STOP IT! NO GET AWAY ORIY! OFF DOWN! NO!! BAD STOP IIIIIIT!!!! Kyou howled futilely as his body was enveloped in a bone-like cocoon and dragged into the tree! he couldn't move from the paralyzing glare, and he was suddenly being dragged at an immense speed underground and away!

Banjin landed from the block only to hear Kyou's angered cries fade away as fast as the plants and bones did on the trunk of the halfway broken tree. He growled as he looked around... But the rogue was gone...

"Bastard ran off on me..." Banjin scowled as he turned away to assist the last of the elves...

-------------------------Later, In Orgrimmar----------------------------

"GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH! GET UP HERE, ORIY! WHAT DID I TELL YOU?!" Kyou roared as he looked around the grounds of the valley of spirits! No response however... This made the freshly freed goblin even more furious as he knew it was listening. "ANSWER ME, ORIY!" Kyou roared as a few citizens scurried away from the goblin, most likely thinking he was drunk or insane...

"Conversation superfluous... Organism: Oriy, ordered to not speak... Silencing.." echoed from a freshly sprouted flower Kyou then turned to. This frustrated the goblin even more...

"SPEAK. NOW. ORIY. FORGET WHAT I SAID BEFORE! WHY DID YOU DO THAT?! I HAD THAT TRAITOR WHERE I WANTED HIM!" Kyou roared, causing the flower before him to blow in the wind.. But Oriy waited a moment to respond once again.

"Subject: Kyoukimaru... In danger. Organism: Oriy. Intercepted attack, ensured subject escape. Essence collected. Mission Complete." Oriy stated... and though it was cryptic at best, Kyou was getting used to translating.

"Grrrr........ You're insulting me, aren't you?!" Kyou growled as he glared at the flower, but again Oriy waited and responded like a slow machine.

"Insults superfluous, not intended. Subject safety primary objective..." Oriy replied.

"Then why did you not KILL HIM?" Kyou retorted, but immediately caught wind of what he figured this creature would reply with..

"I am a non-combatant. Combat effectiveness, inneficient. Require more essence." Oriy stated again...

Kyou groaned and sat down... His body had been working to self heal, but Oriy did have a point. Banjin was able to keep up with his offense and even push Kyou back... If the dragon had intervened to help, Kyou would have been forced to retreat regardless...

It had truly been a very, very long day...

[Lilliana]

((I am reading this!!!))

[Kyoukimaru]

Kyou spent the next month being pestered by Oriy, who'd worked its way into the Grim as his minion. Though it was ultimately a pest, it did bode useful in the deconstruction of bodies, a chore Kyou positively hated (past the flesh consuming part, that is)

However.. there were plenty more problems arising lately. One, was what felt like an illness creeping up on Kyou. He felt sickened, bloated, and tired far too often. His strength seemed diverted, especially after a kill. From this trouble, Kyou was pressed towards a standstill in his work, something he detested the very thought of.. But again Oriy came to Kyou, speaking of this issue bluntly. His cryptic words made sense, telling Kyou that this "illness" was an overflooding of life essence welling up within him, something he'd rob of any of his prey. To an unnatural being like himself, Kyou knew he had to retain his form.. His... normal body would not be well suited for this world.

But the solution wasn't easy.. Oriy began constructing shells of life supporting organisms for Kyou, bodies for him to use. Even after explaining it, Kyou wouldn't believe it possible. But, in order to dissolve his overwhelming energy, Kyou had to use it. and using it, meant creating life. This essence was a stripped and purified chunk of all the collective victims souls locked within kyou after being consumed. While this partially damned the victims, the life essence after a time would lose the energy of the person it was stolen from, filtered out by use. The remaining energy, pure and untainted was like a seed waiting to regrow. But it needed a body, a skilled necro-crafter able to make a body beyond undeath, grow a body without a soul to await an artificial one.

This process bore a striking resemblance to the way Kyoukimaru himself was born..


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The stench of burnt flesh swiftly filled the campsite after another failed experiment went awry. Kyou growled as he looked at the burnt pile of bodies, all never truly alive to begin with, then added one more now crispified orc to the refuse.

"Data collection near completion. Problem..... Rejection. Results... Hostile." Oriy stated as it worked furiously. multiple plantlike tendrils worked up over and just below the earth's surface to construct something. Aside from the terrible fleshy sounds and the burnt fleshy scent, the campsite was normal for what would seem a research party.

"It's no damned use! These bodies aren't going to work! and they burn up instantly, so I cant even push a bunch of this crap into um!" Kyou growled as he looked to the plant, just as it tore a freshly pieced together body up from the surface, another orc...

"Form, function, muscle compression, heat signature, brain construction... identical... this is an orc. Re-attempt." Oriy seemed to command. Before he could move the body to Kyou, the rogue grabbed the arm of the un-living orc husk and focused, immediately seeing it burst into flames and burn away!

"I'M TELLING YOU THESE BODIES AREN'T WORKING. Every time I touch one I can smell it. Humans, night elves, gnomes, you name it! It's like they're just dressed up as an orc!" Kyou growled, glaring at the plant-like Oriy a moment. Oriy stopped, thinking for a minute.

"...Correct." Oriy replied

"What? What's this about?" Kyou asked.

"Correct. Essence.. used to construct. Taken.. Strongest Alliance warriors..." Oriy replied.

"Come here, Oriy." Kyou suddenly commanded in a strangely gentle voice. As a result, Oriy himself broke up from just beneath Kyou's feet. The dragon bone headcase literally nailed and welded to his skeletal face bearing twin color eyes up at the goblin. Their deathly blue outer ring normal for a death knight, then a bloody burning red pupil. Despite the look, Kyou immediately lunged at Oriy and grappled the creature's head! The necro-crafter struggled to retreat, grappling Kyou with multiple tendrils and pulling him to pry off the rogue. But Kyou focused and burst once more into his usual green flames! The struggle ended swiftly after that, as both parties stopped.

Oriy was unscathed. Swiftly realizing this, the necro-crafter bega thinking as Kyou spoke.

"My flames won't kill fellow horde. only my enemy. You made these bodies out of my enemy. perhaps thats why their burning." Kyou suggested.

"Bodies... Incompatible... Essence... Incorrect..... Hypothesis... Alliance Essence.... Inefficient.... Error.....Error... Horde Essence... Unable to Harvest........Error...." Oriy began babbling as he broke away from Kyou's grip and retreated back underground. as if panicked, the earth began rumbling around Kyou as it seemed this Necro-crafter was locked in a fit! However a sudden burst from the ground caught the rogue's eye.

A new scent arose as the tendrils suddenly restarted again, working on something once more. Oriy's muffled voice began speaking in a gurgled tone.. and beyond the earthy sounds, flesh shaping, and sheer terrible pronunciation, Kyou could barely understand a thing.

"Constituting... Test... Subject..." Oriy mumbled after a minute. the plant worked swiftly to make whatever this thing was... and its haste showed. Kyou was presented with a small literal pile of flesh.. A fleshbeast, yet not alive. Kyou raised an eyebrow before Oriy spoke once more. "Body... test.... Horde Essence... used to create.." Oriy said before Kyou drew his blades!

"And WHERE did you get this?" Kyou growled, but Oriy answered swiftly and almost clearly.

"Blood Elf... mentally controlled... by human woman.. attempting to procreate.... abandoned war... Execution carried out by Grim... Superfluous information unneeded." Oriy described, watching as Kyou then put his blades away.. "Attempt... Test Hypothesis... On construct..." Oriy clicked, his own head protruding from the ground to watch.

"Excited, huh? this thing wont hold much I don't think... but okay... Last try and im just gonna go back to injuring myself. It's slower.. but it works." Kyou half groaned before focusing on the pile of flesh.



It Worked...


Energy drained out of Kyou and surged into the tiny body, jumping it immediately to life! The creature twitched violently for a minute springing up to its malformed height! The fleshbeast began immediately zipping around and making various sounds, none of them pleasant. Horde material was necessary to make a body... While this meant it was possible to forge a life form... the process meant taking just that.. a full circle. Mortality after all, was all about prices to pay...

[Kyoukimaru]

Though many experiments had failed and in turn revealed a way for Kyou to dump his excess energy... The method was impossible to depend on. To kill fellow members of the Horde... Not even his fire would harm them. Kyou was a monster... But never a traitor. His four hearts couldnt bare the thought of harming his own kind for his selfish sake.

He'd asked about jobs executing traitors.... But those were as rare as they come. And in turn, not a single call had been made. He was in agony, the pain of his body barely holding together was maddening, and as he continued to live, it only got worse. Every fiber of his physical body echoed excruciating pain, torturing his mind with horrible negativity. Kyou merely laid there, in the freezing winds of Frostfire Ridge, unable to decide whether to move, or just give up... He laid on top of one of the many rocky spires, undoubtedly next to a pit of lava. But upon this formation of stone, Kyou's mind shook with confusion, pain, and worst of all.. Depression.

His physical form was tearing apart, as he himself had absorbed too many souls for it to hold. While this didnt spell death for him, it mean his "Natural" form would become permanent... Something that couldn't happen... Old Gods, as he was fuzed with, leak powerful madness like a plague. Infecting all around them without discrimination and causing them to turn violent as they come.. If he were to lose his form to this, He'd never be able to approach The Grim again.


But there was no way for him to shed energy.. He used a tiny amount to heal himself, and the only other way was what Oriy taught him... to create. But, with his peculiar form, his body would burn off anything that wasnt a horde member through and through. It was hopeless.... He was going to lose his body and be forced to retreat into the ground.. To hide himself from the world he'd only begun to enjoy. But pride set in.. as he thought of running away and hiding.. The word coward echoed throughout his heart.

"We live Grim.... and we die Grim..." Kyou said almost mindlessly. His thoughts drifting as he looked over the side of the spire. He was at a loss for thoughts, his mind not right... Because after those simple words, Kyoukimaru rolled himself off...


A splatter hit the hot rocky surface below, next to a pool of lava the goblin's body was blasted apart by gravity. No chance at survival. But moments after, the pieces of Kyou's corpse, begun writhing.. Each piece lost it's stiffness and wriggled like a worm to move back together, the skeleton getting pushed into form first, followed by the flesh. After a few minutes, Kyou sat up. He looked around confused a moment before realizing it.

He couldn't stay dead...

[Kyoukimaru]

His hopelessness only flowered from the discovery. Whilst killing himself used much more energy than healing, it was still next to nothing... But seeing as it slowly but surely started to make the pain ease off, Kyou put himself to work.

He'd taken to the lava pits, throwing himself in to swiftly burn, only to find his "Roots" as he called them writhe out and reform him. He'd taken it on now as his job. If killing Horde was the only way to survive, he'd sooner take his own life a million times prior.. Now words like those were his reality. Kyoukimaru spent days, even weeks, hurtling himself to death and back in a near futile attempt to burn up energy without harming fellow horde.

He'd been at it a long time when a familiar face turned up.

Lilliana.. she was somehow able to find his remote spot. The priest spoke briefly with kyou... but he still wasn't all there. gripped by grief and guilt, the only thing that stuck into the goblin's mind was for people to stay away.

"The only other jerk with a solution is the flower thing.. he's been tracking you. Talk to him, this is all I can do to stay in this form. Now leave." Kyou growled, shooing Lilliana and Tahzani away.


Kyou was left to his self inflicted tale of misery.