Log View
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| Deryl Laklan | It is night in the forests in the south of the Hundred Kingdoms yet the silence is disturbed by work and construction. Villagers are setting up tents or building makeshift houses from the materials available to them. They are not natives here for they were from fallen Thorns. They are a far cry from the once prosperous city for they lack resources and the only remnants of their glory is the painted artwork in some of the cabins, for artisans with them created such works as remembrance for the city that was.
The populace became so superstitious about the undead commanded by the deathly anathema, that the village is surrounded by a line of salt although many doubt it will work. Yet they are under the care of a savior that united these refugees, but they fear him for reasons that is yet to be known The village is guarded by an assortment of men that look like bandits, while others even look like death cultists. However somethings wrong, for they seem to be "robotic" as if they are automata |
| Titan Breaker | Word travels in these lands. Rumor spreads and inquiring minds willing to brave the whispers of terrors and horrors turn their attention towards the source of these tales.
Having heard talk of this strange place and tehse odd happenings, Volken the Titan Breaker has turned his attention from Great Forks and travelling from there to Nexus...towards detouring through The Hundred Kingdoms to investigate. He has reasons to have a grudge against the dead, after all, and curiousity about refugees from Thorns has piqued his interest...as well as the potential that they may be under the control of a different tyrant all together. When he arrives to the edge of the village he notes the ring of salt and then moves to step past it to follow the road towards the village proper. His eyes narrow in mild confusion as he notes the almost....construct like behavior of the guards but he approaches nevertheless. His massive iron ball and chain are slung easily across his shoulders but he remains fairly neutral outwardly though he is indeed guarded as draws near. |
| Deryl Laklan | Even if the guards seem to be hiveminded, they see the giant with fear and one of them approaches a large tent in the center of the village. The guards are on a defensive stance yet they do not strike until this mysterious giant decides to cause trouble. Then someone from the tent slowly approaches and Volken seems to remember this person, although he was last seen with other mercenaries escorting a prince of the earth into a nearby port as Thorns fell....yet no ones knows their fate.
The man has short yet spiky dirty blonde hair and has a beard, wears a red bandana, a jacket with a gray shirt underneath and jeans. The giant remembers he's named Deryl however it seems that there is some changes that happened to him. His eyes now glow with a crystalline appearance while resembling that of serpents. Then, he seems to wield a blade made of shining diamonds that seems to burn with multicolored flames, but this is no ordinary blade but a daiklave "Who goes there....you. I remember you back from Thorns when it wasn't ruled over by a ghost king." |
| Titan Breaker | The Titan Breaker pauses, eyes narrowing under the shadows of wide hat and he frowns as his mind slowly searches his memories. Volken was not known for being particularly smart in manners of intellectual skill but he is still shrewd and cunning and to underestimate him by his slow manner of thinking is to invite calamity. However, it's clear that he needs a moment of reflection as the man draws nearer and he looks ove rhis unusual appearence.
Then it returns to him, hitting him suddenly. He does indeed remember this man. "You.." he rumbles slowly. "-You- are the..Diamond Devil Prince?" He seems clearly confused and remains on his guard, "...I had heard you had died. What has happened? Where are the refugees from Thorn?" |
| Deryl Laklan | "the refugees are safe on sound. I was planning to rescue some of those that are in the vicinity of Thorns but I still lack power to do so. I'm currently trying to help them as we lack resources to buy food and better construction material" He says with assurance to the giant that the refugees in the village are unharmed. "Ah Diamond Devil Prince, those deathknights sure love their pretentious long ass names. They named me that because I was like a pest to them" He then frowns when the giant mentioned he was thought dead.
"Im glad I'm still alive but I can't say the same to my fellow sellswords that followed the Cathak. We were betrayed, that ungrateful Cathak brat and his bodyguards abandoned us in the port while we were left to fend off the horde but they were too many. I was the only survivor" He says with guilt as he wishes they could have been saved "I managed to flee to some place....but it was a bordermarch if you notice I have these eyes. I also got something else from that Wyld tainted forest, but I'm not taking about the sword" |
| Titan Breaker | It's a string of information and Volken understands...most of it. The most important parts at least.
Particularly mention of being lost in THe Wyld. There's much he doesn't know but he knows that it can do things, twist people, gift and curse them... "You seem to still be sane.." he says matter of factly, "...Don't say too much else you frighten the ones in your care. Don't say something you may regret.." he warns. AFter all, he did not ask for details. Yet. The giant draws closer, setting his massive weapon down now with a rumble and shaking of the ground as it impacts there. "Thorns is long lost.." he notes, "GOing back there to fight The Deathlord and Deathknighs without help...probably unwise. Still..that they give -you- a nickname... You must have been great trouble for them..." His eyes drift to the bandits and their behavior but he says nothing to that yet. |
| Deryl Laklan | "You are right about that, since I still have yet to create alliances but" He then hesitates telling him something. "The reason I'm mostly sane is thanks to something I got in the Wyld. But I prefer to tell you about it in a more....private place." Deryl leads the giant into the village while people are baffled to see a giant here. Some are afraid, while some like the children are awed by his stature.
Thankfully the giant can fit inside the tent and without even a word, his guards leave the two of them alone. "Are you the type to prefer tea or liquor. I have some in my chest" He takes some from his chest as he opens it. |
| Titan Breaker | The gawks are something he is used to, along with the varied reactions. Even in Great Forks where, presumably, there is a counter part of his that is an Exigent of Strength...Volken was gawked at.
Here, he gives them only a slight glance, remaining stoic and bothered until inside the tent though he leaves his massive weapon outside of it for practicality reasons. "Liquor..." he answers eventually But he then presses the issue at hand, "What could THe Wyld 'give' you?" He looks over the tent, "..ANd why do those soldiers act so strange? NOt like the other villagers..." |
| Deryl Laklan | "Funny story about how I got liquor and some tea. There was a small town in the kingdoms here whose leader has been selling out refugees and some rebels against Thorns to the agents of the Mask Of Winters to seek out a reward from them. When I found out, I had to put him down while he was at his office. Thankfully the town has a better leader now and I got this as a reward, since its a town that produces such products" He says while pouring liquor into a glass with amusement and at the same time anger for such an avaricious person that sells out the living to the malevolent dead does not deserve to live.
"I see you noticed how my soldiers acted. It's thanks to a cursed power I wish I didn't touch. It all started when I came across opal bones of a warrior holding the blade I got. When I tried to get the swords from the skeletons hands, I was overwhelmed by something potent within those opal bones as they shattered. I felt I was possessed by a spirit as it tried enslaving me....but I managed to be strong enough and I inherited it's powers. Then the hungry ghost of that warrior appeared and claimed he was some sort of chosen." |
| Titan Breaker | "So what did you do?"
The question seems to be for both what he said to the ghost..and what he's done to these men. "You are angry about Thorns still.." he notes, "So am I. I was a slave there for many years but was also free for some years. Fear rules it now..." Volken eyes Deryl, eyes narrowing a touch before he finally adds, "There's much fear and hate in Creation.. Guiding how we use our...talents.." |
| Deryl Laklan | "The ghost wanted to be my teacher on how to use my power and other knowledges. He mentioned he was a scourge after the Shogunate's fall and enslaved people as his servants. He allied with other anathema besides him such as a Lunar, but he was betrayed for they were disgusted by his actions." He says with fear concerning with what he's become. "I abandoned him for I do not want to be like him. A monster that devours the will of others. He mocked me as I left, for he called me an Anathema-Among-Anathema for other chosen will distrust me and put me down."
He then shakes with uncertainty and self loathing. "I wandered the Scavenger Lands after I left and tried to suppress my hunger to devour the will of others....until I came across bandits that were extorting Thorns refugees. One by one, they were my thralls. Soon, evil men and those that supported the Mask Of Winters slowly became a part of my small but growing army as I only consumed the wills of those who did vile deeds." He then sheds a shining tear as he displays his sorrow. "But I'm afraid, as I fear my hunger may extend to those to whom I care for such as the refugees. Im even afraid to be their leader and I wonder if they fear me if they know how I control my soldiers. I fear I may slowly become like that hungry ghost when he was still alive" Deryl falls to a depressed state, as he wonders if he's no better than a deathknight of fallen Thorns. |
| Titan Breaker | "Why do so many of you wish to burden me with your troubles..."
Volken rests both of his huge hands onto his waist now as he eyes Deryl. His expression is stoic, seemingly unsympathetic. "I did not ask you to tell me of your self loathing. What am I to do with this? Newly encountered after many years when I know you by reputationa nd name only to now see this and yet despite your words...beyond this very tent I see men who have already fallen prey to your actions. You fear but what can I do? Do you ask to be killed?" His enormous hands begin slipping towards the smashfists hanging inside the depths of his massive jacket. As he moves he pulls his jacket back, revealing the armored harness he wears, framing his enormous physique and seemingly enlarging him further as its' revealed in its orichalcum glory. "Is that it? DO you seek death?" His smash fists slide into palce on his enormous hands now as he pulls them free, snapping the chains holding them like twine. "Well?" |
| Deryl Laklan | As Volken reveals his golden panoply, he does not scream out for his men or command them to come inside. He does not blame him for his aggression. "Even if I don't, what am I supposed to do? These men were threats to the people of Creation and if I let them go, they will continue doing their evil ways." He sighs as admittedly he finds his words flimsy at best. "I'm not asking you to kill me but if you still want to, I should not be surprised since I deserved it. But I wish there is another way, a way where I'm free from this foul hunger"
Deryl sees it as impossible much less know about the nature of his exalted state. "I want to use my power for good, but how? The best I could do is prevent the ones I enslaved from harming others. The other thing I could do is heal others, but such ability is corrupted for It may control them" |
| Titan Breaker | "If you would not die then live."
Pretty..straight forward at first but then Volken continues. "Don't wallow in your self loathing and self pity... searching for someone to have sympathy for you. I don't understnad your power or situation. I do not like the idea of enslaving anyone. I was a slave once. Now you enslave these men because they've done wrong? I've killed bandits... THe results of their own doing and fate giving them a bad hand. I wonder though if sapping their will is worse...." Volken presses a hand to his enormous chest, "I am chosen of The Sun." he says, "I don't understand everything it means but The Sun told me to be great so ...I will be great and figure out ..how... I suggest you do the same.." |
| Deryl Laklan | He gives a nod of understanding to Volken and surprised he's a solar. "I don't know what sort of chosen I am but other people think I'm some sort of exigent. The only other things I know is the ghost referred to me as a Hearteater and whenever I use my essence too much, I am surrounded by an aurora borealis. The lights in the night sky such as the ones in the north. Maybe I am related to it like how you are related to the sun." He speculates but he's no scholar that has knowledge of the chosen.
"I'll try to live and find other ways to use my power. Admittedly my reasons for enslaving those who did wrong is morally gray, as I still need to sate this horrid hunger of mine" He then gets encouraged by Volken's words. "I don't know whose responsible for this cursed power I inherited, but I'll try to be better than my decadent predecessor" |
| Titan Breaker | "The Wyld Hunt and others may search you out if you make a habit of doing this and track you down. I was able to find this place by following those rumors. What if I was a Dragonblood?"
Volken considers him quietly after that and then pulls his jacket back around his form, seemingly deflating abit in aggressive posture and physique. The threat of violence seems to have passed but perhaps it was intended to 'wake' Deryl up so to speak and he never actually intended actual harm. "....Perhaps.." he says in answer to the speculation about his the lights of the north, "I am no scholar. I have met some. Maybe I will ask them.. However you shouldn't be so trusting. Perhaps you're simply desperate for allies but with you harboring refugees from Thorns, using the powers you have..I don't know. I'd be more cautious.." He then snorts softly, "I'm not the best example of being cautious myself but...still." |
| Deryl Laklan | Deryl Laklan says, "I only came here in the Hundred Kingdoms to stay away from Lookshy but I guess you do have a point. Many simply assume I am just a freedom fighter trying to liberate Thorns, thankfully. Even the refugees in this village think I am an exigent" Deryl sighs in relief as he was warned that even the obscurity of his kind will not save him from the Wyld Hunt. "So you may know others that may be knowledgeable about my kind? If they know, you can tell me when they give you the information"
"Admittedly I hope to find some allies since I'm helping the refugees and those that seek to retake Thorns. But of course I'm on the fence about it especially if they may know what sort of anathema I am" "Also I have a question for you, do you have a place to stay or are you simply wandering around?" " |
| Titan Breaker | "Liberate Thorns? Alone? It's the seat of the Mask of Winters now. Deathknights roam it. Great monsters plague the lands around it. Do you really intend to try and raise an army? Especially considering what you fear you may be?"
Volken considers that and then the rest of the words of Deryl before saying, "I was going to go to Nexus next. I've been...wandering...searching for some things of a personal nature. I have some....interest in some other happenings in these lands but I was trying to not get too locked down. Why?" He knows why. He eyes Deryl for a few seconds longer and then says simply, "I will stay for some time here if that's what you're asking. We can talk more about Thorns..." |
| Deryl Laklan | "Well one of the freedom fighters trying to liberate Thorns. I heard from rumors there are others out there but we aren't exactly a united front. Others want to take Thorns for the Realm, some want to take it for Lookshy's sake and for others like me, I want Thorns to be independent from either powers. I've lost trust in the Great Houses after they just treated me and my fellow sellswords as disposable" Exalted or not, Deryl harbors enmity against the Scarlet Dynasty especially the Cathak brat he mentioned a while ago.
"I do not want to do it alone of course but they may fear me if they know too much about my nature. I need to find ways to mask my true nature and maybe try to find out more about the exigents so I can disguise as one." He says but understands Volken has other places to go. "I see, you can also stay here in case you run into any trouble as well and sure, we shall discuss Thorns in another time" |