Archangel Doll Ethreal Breaker

Archangel
(Kain)

Kain stared mutely at the sight before him. There, not too far in front of him, was a makeshift wall of flowing, yellow-gold tendrils, all blazing with vibrant light. They shifted slightly, as if noticing him, and a deep, warm chuckle sounded across the room.

"What manner of being are you?" Kain asked darkly, his grip tightening on the Reaver.

"One of the most pathetic, I fear," a noble, reverberating voice answered him. "But I can help you."

Kain sneered. "I do believe I have had enough 'help' from all the oracles and elder gods."

"Oh, of course. But then again, what choice do you have?" it murmured out gently. Kain's eyes narrowed. "I will tell you my biased version of the world, and you can analyze and reconstruct it as you like. I believe you have just recently discovered the Hylden are not your enemy?" Kain frowned, but nodded slowly. "No… indeed, they were once the protagonists of this dark tale. The vampires worshiped the Elder God that you saw down there- that horrid soul-feeding squid. Oh, I'm sure you've heard the lines. The same lines the Seraphan themselves have spit out, as Mobius- and therefore the Seraphan- worshiped the same squid. "The wheel must turn,." I believe is the favorite quote. The Hylden resisted because they refused to worship this entity. For that, they were banished to their dreaded realm, and there they slowly collapsed into madness and hatred." Kain grimaced in distaste. The Hylden were his enemies by blood and tradition. He had fought valiantly (Or perhaps zealously) against them before. But this all rang true in the vampires ears. "The one enemy you fight is the Elder God. Do not forget that. There might be entities of evil or good scattered throughout this world, but the Elder God is the enemy of everything."

"And why is that?"

"Because the Elder God is the essence of Fate. If he dies, history stops repeating itself. The world does not end, but goes on and on for all eternity." Kain's eyes flew open wide. "I see I have caught your attention. I hope not to disappoint you."

"Why should I believe this is true?"

"If you find another way, some other path, by all means, take it." Kain's eyes narrowed. "Isn't it ironic Kain? The pillars were petty and trivial. They were created to bind the Hylden, the ones who stood against Fate, to a realm of demonic corruption. There were vampire guardians assigned to watch over them to make sure the Hylden did not break free.The vampires, in their zeal, fell easily to Fate's whims. The Hylden, defeated and helpless, fell as well. The pillars fell to corruption, the world become a host of death and misery, feeding the Elder God. One way, you could die, and make the world a human world. A world filled with souls ripe for the picking until the Elder God decided to restart the world all over again, and begin all the wars again, all the death. Another way, you lived, and the very earth itself would scream under the touch of the destroyed pillars, giving up all its essence and power to the Elder God. Shortly after, either way, would be a cataclysm… an apocalypse… And the world would begin anew." The figure chuckled lightly. "You are a being born to be guardian of the pillar of balance. Such a trivial position. To keep the Hylden locked away. Yet you are the savior of this world. What is to happen to you? As long as you live, the pillars remain corrupted… do they not?" Kain fell silent. "As long as you live, the pillars rot, and they rot the world alongside them. You have defied the Elder God and weakened the Hylden bonds… But as long as the pillars tear apart the land, you have won nothing. The Pillar's are of the Elder's design, laid down by his servants- the ancient vampires. They imprison the essence of this world, and tie it to the very lies and evils of his reign."

"What point are you trying to make?"

"Something must be done to set the essence of each pillar free. They must no longer be contained in petty shells used to bind the Hylden to the earth, must no longer be trapped by the Elder God. Every essence of power must be set free, back into the world, so that it would be as if the pillars were pure and new. No guardians."

"That would free the Hylden."

"Yes. But it would also free this world."

"What about the pillar of balance?"

"That one's essence has been gone a long, long time. The Reaver was purified by its essence, and in turn, Raziel purified you. Balance is free- it is manifested in you. You are now its tool to destroy Fate and to free the other essences." Kain fell silent, staring at the mass of tendrils.

"And if I decline?"

"Always, you must know your options," The creature said with a laugh. "If you decline, then your coin will have reached its edge onto to be shaken by a minute tremor… and fall…"

"… What is it you think I should do, now?"

"Free the essence of Nature."

"Why that one?"

"Because it has picked a being to manifest in as well." Kain snorted.

"I work better alone."

"Who's to say the being will like you, either? But it is necessary. This being will wield a blade necessary in complimenting the Reaver's powers of paradox."

"And how do I free the essence?"

"For that, you must traverse the labyrinth of puzzles and mazes that the ancient inhabitants of Nosgoth seemed to have picked as the best way to keep people from ancient artifacts." Kain laughed darkly, despite himself.

"And what, pray tell, am I looking for?"

"A blade. Striking the pillar of nature with it will free the essence of nature. You will recognize it when you see it or… shall I say… the Reaver shall recognize it."

"Where do I look?"

"The forest. Go directly north of these ruins. You should stumble upon a rather expansive cave, characterized by a waterfall. There, you will find the blade." Kain fell silent, regarding the being with some suspicion.

"The Elder God concealed itself from Mobius long enough. What are you that you hide your own inner appearance?" The creature laughed again.

"If you insist… But I am pitiful to look upon, trapped here as I am until my task is complete and I release myself with death…" The tendrils pulled to the side, revealed a being at least 9 feet in height, dressed in elaborate golden armor. The tendrils were wings that fluttered at the beings sides. It was bound to a pillar of magical ruins by chains, and was hanging limply in them. Its head was covered by a golden hood, the depths shielded by blackness. "Though I fear I cannot show you my face. It is the way of my people." Kain stared at the being. It was almost… Seraphan… It radiated divine light, a brilliantly glowing bluish sword still held in one chained hand. It was most certainly of angelic decent…

"And what power do you serve?" he asked wearily.

"Let us simply say… I serve this world… I serve… the idea of 'good'. The god I recognize with condones all measures of mercy, love, and selfless honor- to all beings. Hylden… Vampire… Human… But most of all, it believes in free choice… in the lack of oppression by Fate. And that is why I am here- to liberate this world- to give it free will once again. Perhaps then, someone will discover the old god… Perhaps one day, peace might again stretch throughout the land. But for now, this goal satisfies me. Do not free all the pillars just yet. The Hylden are too volatile, to angry and impatient to free yet. They will ruin everything if set loose too soon.

You're task is to find the nature blade, unless, of course, you find a better lead then mine to follow." The tendrils drifted back into place. "Fyw will lead you, if you chose to follow." The wisp fluttered in front of Kain, pantomiming a bow, and then zipped back toward the entrance. Kain eyed the mass of tendrils distrustfully for a moment and then stepped forward, lifting a clawed hand to one. It shrunk back for a moment and then relaxed, letting him touch it. The texture was that of feathers. The vampire tyrant snorted, walking back toward the portal, his face dark and brooding. Serious thinking. Long, serious thinking.

Doll
(Mobius, Page)

Mobius paused, looking down at one of the vendor shops. The vendor was a little old wrinkled lady who was currently turned away from him. Propped up in neat little bunches over her stall were dolls of every shape kind and color. Dolls with white hair, gray hair, black hair, red hair, brown hair, blonde hair, white skin, yellow skin, brown skin, red skin, and eyes of every imaginable color. He blinked and then reached forward, picking up a small doll, absently feeling its soft hair.

"Do... you like, lord Mobius?" came the woman's old quavering voice. He looked at her and then lifted his other hand, absently dropping a few copper pieces on her counter. He swiftly pocketed the doll and continued moving through the town. At last, he had been able to leave the enclosure of his private chambers. He had found a way to keep the child peaceful and quiet while he was gone-

Drugging her. Giving her a sleep potion would give him the hours necessary to return to the small child before she truly started panicking.

Mobius smiled lightly, kneeling down next to the couch before the drowsy girl. She gave a little pitiful cry and reached towards him. He moved his hand toward her, letting her tiny fingers twine around his. Then, after he was sure she was calm, he drew out the little doll, presenting her with it. She gave a coo of delight, taking it and hugging it tightly with her free hand. He smiled a little more, reaching forward with his empty hand and stroking her hair gently. He leaned forward, kissing her on the forehead, and then released her, standing up. She gave a little cry, watching him, but hugged her doll tightly and did not protest again. He smiled at her and then went to the Ice box pulling out some water. He heated it up over the fire, adding his herbs and slowly brewing the tea for his cough. After a moment he felt something latch around his leg and he looked down, smiling, to see the little girl with her arms wrapped around his leg, holding onto her doll.

She had strengthened in the time she had stayed with him, muscle and fat forming on her slender bones, and she could now crawl reasonably well. Then he looked back to his work. After a few minutes the tea was done and he tilted the kettle, pouring it into a cup for himself, coughing lightly as he did so. Then he lifted the cup to his lips, sipping it. The instant the soothing liquid and vapors coursed into his throat the cough stopped and he breathed in deeply. Then he knelt down on the knee she was not clinging to. He gently put the cup to her mouth, tipping it so she could drink the soothing concoction as well. Her nose wrinkled a bit at the taste and smell, but she drank it without fighting, apparently feeling the soothing touch beneath the rancid taste.

"Good girl," he said, patting her head gently. She reached her hands up quickly and grabbed onto his arm. He moved to stand up and she held on easily, weighing nearly nothing. He blinked looking at her. So thin, light of weight, and yet so strong. He shuddered, lowering his arm to set her down on the ground again. The vampyric strength and the unnatural litheness. He pried her gently from his arm and she came without qualm, not even holding on tightly. He calmed himself, his eyes closing, and then picked her up under the shoulders. He carried her over to her cradle and set her down in it. Instantly realizing that something was wrong, that he was bothered in some way, she let go of him and held her doll tightly, looking at him. A small smile crept back over his lips and he stroked her hair gently.

"Why can you make me smile so much… You of all things?" His smile faded a bit. No matter how much mirth she could give him she had the blood of a vampire. Was this the way all young vampire were? Was he merely falling to the whims of instinct and evolution? And where had such a young vampire come from? Who would raise a child so young from the dead? Vampires were sterile, so they could not have a child. The little girl giggled, exposing just the tips of her fangs. Mobius lifted his eyes and closed them, quivering. After a moment he looked back at her, surprised to see her covering her mouth with both hands. She understood… She understood what frightened him. But more amazing was the fact that she didn't want to show her fangs if they frightened him. She didn't want to scare him. The girl lowered her hands after a moment and pondered, looking at the doll that had already brought her so much comfort. Then she lifted it up with both hands toward him. He blinked and took it.

"What's wrong? You like it, do you not?" he asked her, pushing the thought of vampires back a bit. She pushed the doll to his shoulder, moving his fingers tighter around it and tilting its little head against him. He blinked and then understood. She… wanted to comfort him… Like it had brought comfort to her. He smiled softly again and nodded, squeezing the doll. Then he lowered it back to her and twined her little hand around it, leaning it against her in the same way. He turned, looking behind him for his staff and caught sight of the kettle that contained the consumption medicine. It would be ready for a second boiling in awhile. His heart fell heavily, staring at it a moment. "I will have to give you up soon," he murmured. "I will have to go to my fate." He wasn't sure who to leave her with. Wasn't sure what to do about her fangs or cough or amber eyes. He could abandon her. He didn't want to abandon her. But what more could he do? What home that a child could ever love… would not notice her to be a vampire? And why did he care if they killed her or not? He looked at her slowly. "Whoever it is… cling to them. Forget what's gone. Forget me. You do not understand how much I hate your kind…" She gave a little coo, tilting her head to the side, not understanding. She was so beautiful, so innocent. A vampire… but innocent. His heart sunk even more heavily, weighted down with sorrow. He liked her. He couldn't help it. He didn't want to give her up. She was his little…

Mobius blinked, realizing for the first time that he hadn't named the child. Then again, why should he? Why should he care? It wasn't his problem. It wasn't like she'd keep it very long. Wasn't like it mattered, or that she needed one. He had no reason to name her. He had more important things to think about. Yet still… He pondered a moment, watching her.

"Page," he finally murmured. "That's what I'll call you. Page." She gave a giggle, clinging to his hand as he stroked her cheek. He smiled more genuinely. "My little Page." Then he looked at the medicine kettle again. "For now, anyways." And as he said so, the greatest part of his vampire-target hatred admonished him for becoming so attached to one of the 'damned' as to name it.

Paradox demanded, and it broke down the opaque-eyed Time Guardian's defenses, one by one.

Ethreal Breaker
(Reaver)

I felt the presence of the strange being that shocked my lord Kain. It was… warming almost… And then we were through the portal. Instantaneously I felt the object I wanted again. So close! So very close. With a burst of effort, I jerked lightly in that direction. Kain blinked, but it seemed he needed time to indulge his own thoughts, for he headed that way. My anticipation grew as I felt the object nearing. So close… so close…

So deep in thought was Kain that he did not realize that he was vulnerable, caught between two high walls. With a shriek, something rushed forward, sword slicing down at my master. Kain was no fool, and he lifted my blade with grace, parrying the blow. At that joining, blade against blade, however, I felt time freeze.

This! This blade! I felt an entity on the other side, but unlike myself, it was complete, powerful, and strong. A presence leaked from that blade to mine, and I seized upon it, enthralled. Warmth flooded through me, and light, and I felt my old sentience and mind returning.

What are you? I asked of it.

We are Ethreal Breaker… It murmured back. One of us does not know this yet. She is filled with hate. She will learn. Bring Kain to us- Follow! I 'blinked' and then quivered inwardly as I felt the presence draw away from my blade.

No…

Follow! And then time sped up to normal, my blade used as a tool against the other blade. Never again did the presence leak to me, and the person that wielded it, whoever that person was, decided to back off upon finding Kain so ready. With a screech, it whipped its blade against Kain's. The pure force surprised him, pushing him backward a foot, and then the other person vanished…

But I felt the other entity, still. And I wanted nothing more then to find it again. My sentience had left again, leaving me a mournful shell of what I once was. I had needs. I needed blood and soul… and I needed to find that other entity, Ethreal Breaker.