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 Graceless Union: The Red Lady

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Poppy Bill

Poppy Bill


Posts : 461
Honor : 11373
Join date : 2010-07-29
Age : 31
Location : In the Soul Cairn, harvestin' souls.

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PostSubject: Graceless Union: The Red Lady   Graceless Union: The Red Lady I_icon_minitimeSat Oct 20, 2012 2:12 am

They dragged him from his cell, the child kicking and screaming the whole way. He had heard what happened to his cellmate. He knew it was about to happen to him.

"By Daeonil, shut up!" one of the men shouted, spinning around and slapping the child hard across the face. The boy immediately quieted, stifiling his sobs.

"Is the ritual prepared?" the other man asked.

"Almost. We've just finished moving the bodies out of the way. We've got a fresh sacrifice, ready to be sent to the Void." The man glanced back at the boy, grinning evilly. "Just give the word when you're ready to begin. She'll have to take notice this time."

The two men dragged the boy into the front of the warehouse, where an altar had been set up. Strange runes and symbols covered the walls, markings that the child had never seen before. The door at the far end of the warehouse swung open. He could hear another voice, screaming and crying.

"Please, god, just let me go!" she cried. "I-I'm no good to you! I've-" the woman entered a sudden coughing fit, spitting up small globules of blackened blood. Her handler, surprised, threw her to the ground. "I've got black blood..." she moaned. The boy covered his eyes. Her face! He could see every vein in her face, her neck, her arms! Each vein was an inky black, and they seemed to be all over her body. He didn't want to look. It's how his ma looked before...

A thin, robed man approached the altar, throwing his robes behind him, revealing his scarred body. "We call to you, Lady of Plots!" he cried, grabbing the dagger from his belt. "Mistress of Secrets! Matriarch of that which is not seen or known! Take this soul, and hear our cry!" A sudden shout erupted from the others as they shoved the woman forward.

"No..." she whispered, knowing her death was inevitable. "Please...what good am I to you?..."

The scarred man grabbed her by the hair and slowly but forcefully dragged the dagger across her throat, allowing her onyx blood to flow slowly from her neck to the altar. She gurgled, clawing at her throat, unable to make a final cry as her lifeblood spilled on her chest. The man dropped her on the altar, a cheer rising from the others. The boy quietly sang to himself, his eyes closed, his voice shaking. He could barely remember the words:

"Build th-that wall, build it strong, we'll be there bef-f-fore too long..."

The boy was yanked up to his feet by rough hands and shoved forward. He landed next to the dead woman's face, the look of panic still stamped on her face. He screamed. The roar of the killers drowned him out.

"We offer tribute, Mistress! A young, strong soul! Take him to the Void, receive our plea!"

A quake suddenly shook the building, tossing some of the worshippers aside. A voice, deadly but also beautiful, split the air.

"What is the meaning of this?!"

A glowing figure appeared out of the air. The killers dropped to their knees and bowed. The boy lifted his head and looked.

It was a woman. She appeared naked, but looked like she was made out of glass or crystal. Her "hair" was made of the same crystal, but seemed to float around her, almost as if the woman was under water. The boy could see the individual strands. Her eyes were pupiless, but the boy could tell, she was not blind. Her body glowed a soft red, which was oddly comforting despite the obvious threat this being posed.

The crystal woman glanced around the room, her eyes finally resting on the boy. "What is the meaning of this?!" she shouted again, causing the followers to tremble.

"Lady Hensa," the scarred man began. "We offer the child to gain your favor. We ask of you to bless us with your power, to give us-"

"Do I look like a whore to you?" Hensa shouted, cutting the man off.

"W-what?"

"My favor isn't something that is thrown around for such petty payment as these!" Hensa pointed to the corpse and the child. "You dare try to summon me with such inadequate payment and such a lackluster sacrifice?!" Hensa reached down and picked up the corpse by it's hair. "A virgin sacrifice, but spoiled by disease and death!"

"My lady, she was alive when we-"

"She was at death's door!" Hensa's voice shook the entire building. "Dying from illness! You might as well have slaughtered a sick cow in my name! And this one..." she dropped the corpse and looked to the boy, who was shaking in absolute fear now. She looked at him, seemingly into him for a few moments, before turning her attention back to her worshippers.

"A young, strong soul!" Hensa said in a mocking tone. "A child on the verge of tears, barely old enough to understand what I'm saying is not a young, strong soul! Fear coats this one like a shroud! And you DARE demand favors of me after presenting this?"

"My Lady-" the scarred man began.

Hensa raised her hand, a bright crimson light showering all in the building. The boy closed his eyes.

When he opened them, he gasped. Everyone in the room was gone. The only thing that remained of them were ashes. The boy looked to Hensa, who was now kneeling in front of him.

"You are young, but not strong." Hensa said. "As I have said, fear surrounds you." The Lady of Plots touched the boy's shoulder. She was surprisingly warm. "But...there is potential in you. An ability to dispel your fear. To grow strong." She leaned in closer. "To become my champion. What is your name?"

The boy could barely speak. "Q-Quinn. Of th-the Nocturne. Ma'am."

Hensa smirked, then placed a small red stone in Quinn's hand. "This is a part of me. Keep it on you always. And know, Quinn of the Nocturne, that I will always be watching you."
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Arata
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Creative
Arata


Posts : 428
Honor : 11212
Join date : 2010-08-11
Age : 28
Location : In your couch cushions.....hey, look! A quarter!

Graceless Union: The Red Lady Empty
PostSubject: Re: Graceless Union: The Red Lady   Graceless Union: The Red Lady I_icon_minitimeSun Oct 21, 2012 10:24 pm

Dude! Nice interpretation of our discussion yesterday! I think this would make for a really good side story! :D
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Poppy Bill

Poppy Bill


Posts : 461
Honor : 11373
Join date : 2010-07-29
Age : 31
Location : In the Soul Cairn, harvestin' souls.

Graceless Union: The Red Lady Empty
PostSubject: Chapter 1: The Black Mask   Graceless Union: The Red Lady I_icon_minitimeFri Nov 16, 2012 10:26 pm

The aristocrat stumbled through the allyway, cursing and muttering to himself. He glanced behind himself every so often. Of course, he never saw anything, but he could feel the other's presence. The Black Mask had that effect on his targets. The aristocrat hastened his pace, stumbling even more. "By Daeonil, why did it have to be tonight?" he slurred to himself. He had been so close to bedding the Lady Ashton, and had one too many glasses of brandy in the process of wooing her. It was only after he felt light-headed that he had spotted him. And there was no mistaking that black mask that he wore. He left the party in haste, nearly scared sober.

Nearly.

The aristocrat tripped over some refuse, falling to the ground. "Ah, damn it!" he muttered. "This was my best suit, too..."

“Don’t worry,” came the reply from behind. “I can think of at least one thing that suit will still be good for.”

The aristocrat slowly glanced over his shoulder. There the assassin stood, hood covering his eyes and half-mask covering the rest of his face.

“It is time.” The Black Mask said, slowly drawing his blade. “Are you ready to repay your debt to the Lady of Plots?”

“What are they paying you?” the nobleman asked, sliding his hand toward a stone. “I can double it! Triple it, even!”

“They?” The Black Mask echoed. “No, no party sends me, no rival nobleman. I was called upon by the Red Lady herself. The time of your repayment is at hand.”

The nobleman spun around, throwing the stone and dashing back on his feet. The assassin deflected the projectile with ease, grinning underneath his mask. He loved it when they ran.

The aristocrat rushed out of the alleyway and across the empty street. There was an old sewer grate not too far from here. If he could make it in there, well, then maybe he had a chance. He’d never survive in the open. He’d heard the stories. The assassin, the Black Mask, was something out of myth. There were many rumors: that he could turn into mist and slip under doors, or even become invisible. Some even believed that he had sold himself over to a Graceless Manika for unparalleled powers. The aristocrat had once scoffed at the stories. Now, he only hoped they weren’t true.

He ducked into another alleyway, sprinting as fast as his legs would carry him. He could see the sewer grate! Just a few more feet…

“Oh, sweet salvation!” the nobleman sighed, skidding to a halt. He grasped the grate and lifted as hard as he could, slowly but surely freeing the old iron grating. Once it was loose, he tossed it aside, laughing to himself. “Almost there.” He whispered. “Almost…”

“Indeed.” Came the voice from behind.

The nobleman spun around, terror stamped on his face. There stood the Black Mask, sword in hand.

“No…” the aristocrat whispered. “No, no, no! That’s impossible! I-I ran…you weren’t…”

“Honestly, what had you expected when you got down there?” the assassin asked, casually nodding to the sewer. “That you’d somehow elude me? I know those sewers…” he said, raising his left hand so the aristocrat could see the red gem embedded in it. “Like I know the back of my hand.”

At first, the aristocrat didn’t feel pain. He only felt the impact of the blade as it was driven deep into his belly. “Go to Her, now.” The assassin whispered. “She’s waiting for you in the Void.”

The Black Mask slid the nobleman off his blade, dropping the body into the sewer with a splash. “That went much more cleanly than I first expected.” The assassin muttered to himself. After replacing the grate, Quinn threw back his hood and took his mask off, sliding it into his coat pocket.

“An impressive kill, sir.” Abigail said, dropping from a nearby roof, landing deftly next to her superior.

“Finished early, did we?” Quinn asked, wrapping his arm around her as they walked out of the alley.

Abigail brushed her long, black hair out of her face. “The poison did its trick. Lord June died before he hit the ground.”

“And the payment?” Quinn asked.

As they walked by a small patrol of watch officers, Abigail gave a slight smile and nod. Once they were safely out of earshot, she continued. “Dead drop.” She answered. “Tomorrow, once his death has been confirmed. Lord June will appear to have drank himself to death, which will allow the ‘late’ Lady June to assume his place at the head of the house.”

Quinn smiled. “Do you suppose she married him just so she could kill him?” he chuckled to himself. “Sometimes I wonder about these nobles. Nothing ‘noble’ about them, it seems.”

The two continued their walk, making their way back to Rondo’s north district, the city’s haven for gambling, drinks and other sources of entertainment. The night was young and the sounds of cheers and boos could be heard from the bars and boxing pits, echoing in the streets.

Abigail moved closer to Quinn, putting an arm around him. “Must you speak with her tonight?” she asked, looking up at him.

Quinn chuckled. “She’s expecting me. It would be rude not to.”

Abigail frowned. “And here I thought I’d have you all to myself tonight…”

Quinn turned to her and pulled her close, kissing her. “I promise,” he said. “Once I’m done speaking to her,” he gave her another kiss. “I’ll be all yours.”

Abigail grinned, and then separated herself from her lover. “Don’t keep me waiting too long now…” As she walked back to their base, Quinn looked to his left hand, to the gem embedded in it.

“My Lady,” he whispered. “How may I serve you?”
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Arata
Creative
Creative
Arata


Posts : 428
Honor : 11212
Join date : 2010-08-11
Age : 28
Location : In your couch cushions.....hey, look! A quarter!

Graceless Union: The Red Lady Empty
PostSubject: Re: Graceless Union: The Red Lady   Graceless Union: The Red Lady I_icon_minitimeSat Nov 17, 2012 10:22 am

Whoa! Interesting turn out for the meek little boy in the prologue! Very cool! So this branch of the Nocturnes work out of Rondo, and Quinn is an assassin for Lady Hensa! Can't wait to see what else happens!
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PostSubject: Re: Graceless Union: The Red Lady   Graceless Union: The Red Lady I_icon_minitime

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