#if anyone wants to hear Amanis story PLEASE let me know

[sparkbugs]

OH MY GOD GUYS I GOT IN TOUCH WITH MY OLD DND GROUP AND WERE GONNA GO BACK AND CONTINUE THE STORYLINE OF MY TIEFLING AMANI IM SO FUCKING EXCITED AUGSJHSJSHSISBSKW

SHES GONNA MURDER PEOPLE AND CAUSE IRREPARABLE HARM TO THE ECOSYSTEM AND ITS GONNA BE AMAZING

[awesomerextyphoon]

Charred Briar Roses - 8

Showdown

Summary: Things finally come to a head for the princesses and Sophronius. Who will win? 

Pairing: Orc!Bucky x Black!Reader (Fem), Orc!Steve x Black!OFC, Orc!Sam x Black!OFC 

Rating: 18+ 

Word Count: 1,395

Warning: Depictions of Violence and Sexual Harassment 

Back to Masterlist

The portal took you and Bucky to Brista, the new Resistance HQ. Njideka became the new leader while Oluchi and Fairuza were in the infirmary (Fuck!). She tried to have you killed for being a dumbass back at Eckrednst, but Bucky stopped anyone who got too close.

“Look, I don’t care if you hate me, but we need to stop Sophronius before he gets the Nephrashim Crystal and cements his control over the continent.”

Njideka and some of the rebel sighed and groaned, “Fine. I’ll hear what you have in mind.”

----------

“Ya know, it’s a shame that you bitches are so willful,” Jeku, one of the demon princes head goons jeered, “There’s another bitch like you. Name’s Amani or some shit. Fucking hot with amazing tits and ass,” he roughly squeezed Fumnanya’s breasts, or what he could fit into his grimy hands, “Though she had nothing on you. I can’t wait until that smug bastard gets the crystal. The princes are going to fuck you up. Maybe, they’ll let me have a turn with ya. I’ll-” Jeku was stabbed repeatedly in the neck with a dagger that Ghada was able to swipe off him.

That was their life for lord knows how many days. If it wasn’t the fucking princes constantly groping them or Sophronius giving them the ‘kick the dog’ speech, it was their filthy goons constantly gloating about what they would do to them.

Well, not anymore.

“Let’s go.” Ghada panted as she and Fumnanya got themselves mostly covered and rushed for the exit.

Taking the back corridors they overheard the guards talking about, the sisters were able to locate where Sophronius was keeping the Fae. Fumnanya gasped at the what was before them. All of the Fae were imprisoned in energy drainers. Most of them were either completely gone or shells of their former selves. Luckily, some of the members of the Fae High Court and most of the children seemed like they would quickly recover.

Ghada tried to speak with some of the children in Fae in order to coax them while Fumnanya tried to figure out the mechanics of the energy drainers wishing their sister was with them when they heard a voice.

“There are two keys on opposite sides of the room. You will have to turn them at the same time for it to work. Please, save the children.” Titania pleaded.

“What about the others?” Fumnanya inquired.

“Leave us. We deserve out fat-”

“No! We’re going to get you out of here!” Ghada shouted as she and Fumnanya ran to the keys.

They were almost at the keys when a guard spotted them. He was about to cut off Ghada’s arm when he got decapitated by an axe.

The executioner and his comrade removed their helmets to reveal Steve and Sam. They hugged, kissed and would’ve done more if not for the urgent state they were in.

“How did you get here? Not that I’m complaining.” Ghada wondered as she got the last of the Fae children out of the energy drainers.

“It’s a long story, but we’ll have to explain on the way. C’mon, your sister needs us.”

---------

Meanwhile, you were leading a covert ops team in the capital to destroy the crystal when a corrupted pixie bomb went off beside the group. Fortunately, no one had any major injuries.

“The bomb came from one of the towers,” Aleka, an ops member, whispered.

You gave one of the other members the go ahead to take them out and scan the surrounding area. The rest of you were able to traverse the capital via underground tunnels created with earth magic once you found the target house.  

The team was able to make it to right outside the first section when they were attacked by a group of demons each riding a mutated saber-tooth lion. You, Bucky and a few ops members were able to cut down a couple of them while the others built another path.

The palace grounds were eerily quite and pristine. It was exactly as you’ve left it, not a leaf out of place. You would’ve thought that Sophronius would at least burned the gardens in a fury liked he did that one time when you were nine.

The doors to the royal hall opened on their own to evince Sophronius lounging on the throne like hw owned the goddamned place.

“Well if it isn’t my dear niece. How are you?”

“Cut the shit Sophronius!”

Sophronius sighed and rubbed his forehead, “Fuck it. Lay down your weapons and come with me, dear niece. Let us end this ‘childish rebellion’, huh?”

“Fuck no,  you demon asswipe!” you shouted as you pulled out Waning Swan and the fighting commenced.

The skirmish didn’t last long and it looked like your side was winning when Sophronius caught you off guard and put you in a chokehold.

“Drop your weapons. Now!” Sophronius barked. Bucky and the other covert ops did, and the head goon motioned for the others to detain the rebels.

Sophronius nearly dragged you to the throne, lifted up the seat, and forced out your right hand. An indentation of the Nephrashim Royal Crest appeared and disappeared when you touched it. A circle appeared and sunk into the ground creating a staircase to the crystal’s location.

“Down we go.” Sophronius giddily stated as his company and you descended the steps.

The steps winded down for who knows how long. Once you finally reached the bottom, Sophronius forced you onto an ancient Nephrashim Group Hover Board. The hover board led you to a good sized pond. In the middle of it was a small island with the Nephrashim Crystal being held by a leafless tree’s intertwined branches.

Sophronius motioned for one of the goons to get into the water. One did and was immediately and painfully dissolved into foam. You turned your head away as he screamed from having insides and skin rapidly rotting and dissolving. You almost felt sorry for him.

A glowing orb came out of the water and stated that only those of the Nephrashim Royal Line may go past this point. Sophronius grabbed you and made his way to the island. As soon as you stepped onto land, the tree’s branches started to unfurl and inscriptions in Ancient Nephrashim Script appeared on the bark right below the crystal.

Your hand almost touched the crystal when Sophronius was shot with a blaster. You turned your head to find Fumnanya and Ghada running towards you.

“You’re alive!” Fumnanya exclaimed while pulling you in for a bone crushing hug.

“You’re not getting rid of me that easily,” you responded burying your head in her hair as to hide your tears.

Your moment of joy was cut short when Sophronius stabbed Fumnanya in the hip with a dagger.

“I will NOT be denied my path to glory by a bunch of stupid, spoiled little girls!”  he bellowed as he dragged Fumnanya to the crystal.

“We have to get him to touch the crystal! If he touches it then he will burn.” Ghada hissed.

Jackpot.

“I have a plan.”

Sophronius is close to realizing his delusions of grandeur when Ghada attacks him with a Cross Hock causing him to drop Fumnanya. He responded with a Front Parry and attempted a Roundhouse Kick but stopped it with a Leg Block and brought down with an Indian Death Lock.

Concurrently, you and Fumnanya darted over to the tree so that Fumnanya can decipher the instructions to safely remove the crystal.

With a sardonic grin, you strode up to Sophronius, “Since you wanted this so much, take it!”

The crystal phased into Sophronius’ skull and his whole body started to crystalize and crack. You and your sisters immediately fled the island and your group bolted towards the exit.

The whole capital was starting to crumble in multiple earthquakes and aftershocks.

Your group was about to swallowed up by a sudden tremor when a Nephrashim Army Arial Vessel came to their rescue, “Get In!” Karim ordered.

You watched in awe and horror as the capital, your former home, was utterly wrecked by the earthquakes and vanished in a blinding light.

----------

After the air vessel returned to Brista and everyone did the required assessments with the remaining members of the Resistance, one member - a boy no older than 12-  asked, “What now?”

Taglist: @giorno-plays-piano​ @lookiamtrying​ @retroxvailles​ @mcudarklibrary​ @hurricanerin​ @pseudonymphet​ @saiyanprincessswanie​ @chris-evans-indian-fanfic​ @rosalynshields​ @imdarkinme​ @macheregrace​ @buckysbunny​ @marvelfansworld​ @moonstruckbucky​

[caladhel-iarian]

Never Have I Ever...

Asked someone to marry you? — “That would require finding someone worthy of me.” [Innocent.]

Kissed one of your friends? —  “Kissing and telling is for giggling grade schoolers.” [Guilty.]

Danced on a table in a bar / tavern? —  “... Don’t ever become an archer, Dead Eye. I am not my brother.” [Innocent. But Lin is definitely guilty, much to cheering and jeering of his brothers.]

Ever told a lie? —  “Anyone who tells you they haven’t is trying to sell you something. At this point, I imagine you would probably buy it, too.” [Guilty. Although he’s probably the most honest of the triplets.]

Had feelings for someone you can’t have? —  “I get what I want. If I don’t have it, then I didn’t want it.” [Guilty then and guilty now. But he’ll never admit it to anyone. It’s less that he can’t have them and more that he won’t let himself have them.]

Ever kissed someone of the same sex? —  “I see your ears are for decoration only. Refer to your second question.” [Guilty.]

Kissed a picture? — “I am not thirteen.” [Guilty, guilty, guilty.]

Slept until 5pm? —  “Unless I am ill, I am always on time.” [Innocent. He takes his time seriously and heaven help you if he thinks you’re wasting it.]

Worked at a fast food chain / restaurant? —  “I prefer real food over cardboard.” [Innocent. He has expensive tastes. If you try to take him on a date to a chain joint, he’s likely to turn up his nose and drag you to one of his favourite places. And then do all the ordering and pay because he thinks you’re a tasteless pauper and he will teach you some class.]

Stolen something? —  “Children are remarkably sticky at all times. Five seconds from a thorough bath, they are sticky again.” [Guilty. Kids steal until they learn better. And sometimes even after. Does he steal now? No.]

Been fired from a job? —  “While there are certainly people foolish enough to fire someone like me, I am fortunate to have avoided working for any of them.” [Innocent. He��s a model employee. Minus his attitude. Don’t hire him for customer service unless you want to go out of business.]

Done something you regret? —  “I am doing so right now.” [Guilty. Oh how guilty. His regrets eat at him.]

Laughed until something you were drinking came out of your nose? —  “Do you know how expensive stain removal is? No, thank you.” [Innocent. Dhel is only demonstrative and exaggerated in his anger. But he’s real good at making his siblings laugh until stuff comes out of their nose.]

Caught a snowflake on your tongue? —  “Aside from the first snow of the year, yes. Every time.” [Guilty. He loves snow. It’s his favourite weather.]

Sat on a roof top? —  “Of course. My penthouses have rooftop gardens.” [Guilty. He likes taking his tea in the garden Bren grows atop their Silvermoon and Dalaran penthouses. It’s also his favourite place to grade papers, write lyrics, and read.]

Kissed someone you shouldn’t have? —  “You seem terribly concerned with my lips and what they do. Is someone upset because they aren’t receiving my kisses?” [Guilty. One thousand percent guilty. But he’ll never tell.]

Sang in the shower? —  “At Lin’s insistence. He says the bathroom has excellent acoustics and I am inclined to agree.” [Guilty. Although when he’s not working out lyrics while he showers, he just hums snatches of music.]

Been pushed into a body of water with all your clothes on? —  “... Do I really look like a person easily moved?” [Guilty, but that is thanks to his brothers. Otherwise, Dhel is a huge elf. Not easy to knock him off balance.]

Shaved your head? — “Absolutely not.” [Innocent. The lady/ladies he fancies have admitted to liking his hair far too much for him to ever even consider this.]

Made a boyfriend / girlfriend cry? —  “I have been told I am an onion.” [Guilty. Spend more than ten minutes in his company and his acid tongue will probably make you sniffle, if not outright tear up.]

Shot a gun? —  “In a manner of speaking.” [Innocent. His loved ones like to tell him that he has a mouth like a shotgun. But he doesn’t bother with actual firearms.]

Still loved someone you shouldn’t? —  “Do you have the attention span of a lightning bolt? You already asked something similar.” [Guilty. Always guilty. He’ll not tell who, though. And it is not an NPC or a background character I write for his stories.]

Have / had a tattoo? —  Dhel’s mouth says nothing; it doesn’t need to when his sour face says everything he thinks the interviewer needs to hear. Shirt sleeves rolled back, he holds out both arms for an inspection that reveals a wealth of tattoos painted across his skin in words, music, and scenery. [Guilty. From his jawline to his toes, the man is covered in ink, though much of it can only be seen when he is casting spells.]

Liked someone, but will never tell who? —  “... You must be an entire army. No single person is this foolish.” [Still guilty. Will still be guilty in the future. He’s pretty sure he’s already answered some variations on this question.]

Been too honest? —  “Some people have expressed this sentiment. Truthfully, I am surprised they had the wit to be wounded by my opinions. Or perhaps they were only disappointed by the fishing that day.” [Guilty. Dhel won’t hesitate to tell you exactly what he thinks about something and he refuses to sugarcoat most anything he says. Sadly, much of what he thinks tends to be insulting. Fishing for compliments won’t get you very far with him.]

Ruined a surprise? —  “No. That would be a waste of time and effort.” [Innocent. Dhel enjoys setting up unpleasant and often deadly surprises for people who cross him. People he likes usually wind up with useful gifts they were not expecting because he misdirected their attention. Just ask @eldya​.]

Been told that you’re beautiful by someone who totally meant what they said? —  “Yes.” [Guilty. And family doesn’t count for this one.]

Stalked someone? —  “While that would certainly be a role reversal, I am the one on the receiving end here.” [Technically guilty. Beware any gifts of jewelry he might give you; they’re pretty, sure, but they’re also likely to be scrying stones he can use to keep an eye on you.]

Thoughts about murder? —  “The more some people open their mouths, the more attractive the possibility becomes.” He shoots the interviewer a look filled with enough points to shame a pencil factory. [Guilty. Oh god, is he guilty.]

How about mass murder? —  “Extinctions are necessary on occasion.” [Guilty. Just look for the remains of some Amani villages in Eversong.]

Cheated on someone? —   “No. I was named appropriately.” [Innocent. Caladhel means “faith eternal.” If you have his attention, then you are the only lover who exists for him until the relationship ends. It may come as a surprise given their careers and temperaments, but he and his brothers are extremely loyal.]

Gotten so angry that you cried? —  “Anger is better spent implementing solutions. Tears are wasteful.” [Innocent. He rarely cries and that only when he is completely overwhelmed by grief.]

Tried to stay away from someone for their own good? —  “No. It is not my duty to slap adult hands away from the stove.” [Innocent. Babysitting adults is an extremely rare occurrence for him.]

Thoughts about suicide? — “If you’ve never considered your own death, then any time a thought crosses your mind, it must be a long and lonely journey.” [Guilty. Dhel believes every living person has considered this topic at least once in their lives.]

Had a girlfriend / boyfriend? —  “I was a teenager once.” [Guilty. Although still on the aloof side, Dhel was a much warmer boy before he went into apprenticeship in Dalaran.]

Gotten totally drunk during a holiday? —  “Lin drinks enough for the three of us.” [Innocent. Dhel isn’t big on alcohol. He drinks it on occasion, but his vice is painkillers.]

Tagged by: @bluexepher​ - Thank you very much for the tag and for thinking of this jerk. I really appreciate it!

Tagging: @eldya​ @kolabooc​ @safrona-shadowsun​ @sanasunbringer​ @loveherdekay​ @snowfallen-nymph​ @veleanthe​ @valishoneybee​ @the-wandering-orchid​ @alastar-wyatt​ @waroftwowolves​ @susan-gampre​ and anyone else who wants to do this thing. If you do it, please tag me so I will be sure to see it.

[the-house-of-the-nine]

In Depths Below: Epilogue, Part 2

[ OOC Disclaimer ]  | Over the last year HoTN has put together this story ‘In Depths Below’ it began with Lazarius being taken from Kun-Lai Summit, and the chase to get him back from the Hunters hired by Magister Dawnseeker was unveiled.  Every member eliminated a certain threat, the Order banded together to orchestrate the take down,  and accomplished their mission they’d set out to do.  The events here are what happened during.  This is Lazarius’ side, where he was; and what he’d done.  And just how he and a certain new savior became bonded.  Id like to give a tremendous thanks to @zandalaridruidofgonk for the help in putting this together and making it happen.   And thank you to everyone who has offered support and kind words over the last year.  Without further delay, the conclusion of our 2nd fictional collaboration.  In Depths Below. |

[ L.K ]     She did need him to rest. She needed him to take his time healing and the best thing she could give him at this point was sleep. She had dressed the open wounds which were no doubt a result of hitting coral on the way into the shore, punch marks and bruises around the swollen eye socket and jawline were likely to his encounter with the hunters. But rest would do wonders.

Throughout the night she could hear the sound of his mumbling and sounds gurgling as he slumbered. Lazarius was by no means, a Sindorei. Nor was he Ren’dorei. Those elves were nothing but a flavor of the month in his eyes, pathetic and weak. No Lazarius was something far different. Having entered into a pact with N’Zoth at only the age of a child.

There were many things about him that this troll would never learn, lest they bond. But through that whole night, Jursol could hear the sound of the Shath’yar on his tongue. Sounds that often could never be made out by common speakers. The man was mysterious indeed.

But that would be their night. His tossing and turning, her keeping an eye on him as she tried to rest. Her raptor keeping its eye on him.

The Morning had come. . .

The troll was no fool, and Lazarius was laying on his side facing the wall. He was breathing softly and trying to collect his thoughts, trying to remember where he was. Grass walls, soft bed made of leaves...sticks...the smell of mojo...voodoo or was that hoodoo? He was silent and still.

If Jursol was anything like the proud huntress she seemed she would have never let her eyes move from the man, or had the raptor watching him. He could just sense he was not alone at all. There would be two options here. Move and risk being eaten, or remain still. He opted for the later.

It was hard for him to change tongues, but the Nine did have many different races among them. Trolls were not uncommon. And Lazarius was a brilliant man, where they were and how they were traveling it had to be a Zandalar island.

Plus the smell. This was a troll hut. He would try his best to offer a bit of respect but remained facing the wall hoping to hear an answer. His Zandalari was broken at best but a few trolls had helped him to at least speak broken words.

“ Speak orchish? Common tongue?”. He waited in silence looking away in hopes of a positive answer.

[ J ]     The morning was silent for the most part as Jursol finishes a drink for the elf. She seemed to have managed to get some sleep when the white feathers raptor was on guard duty. It was full of herbs and nutrients he’d need to get his strength back. It’s oddly smell fairly good and sweet. The sound of the elf speaking as best he could in Zandalari caught her attention.

“Ah you be awake!” She said laughing. “I do be speaking common and orcish my friend. You be safe here to take time to rest and heal. A little break from what seems to be a crazy life you be liven. My name be Jursol, the little one is Jimba, and the larger white one outside is Mawa.”

Reaching to grab a cup as she poured the liquid into it.

“Dis be a drink made to help get your strength back. Full of nutrition you need and herbs.”  Making her way to be bedside as she held the drink out to him. Once he got a good look at her he’d notice three small tribal scaring marks on each cheek, golden orange warpaint on her nose, and under her eyes, golden gauges in her ears, as well as small tusk hanging like an earring.

As she smiled it was clear she also had fangs to go with her clawed hands. Somehow she seemed none threatening to him despite all this. Her cloths were made of feathers, leather, cloth, and some beads. Her dark teal hair had leather wraps, feathers and beads as well. Seemed she had a theme going with things.

“Think you can be taking small sip of dis? A robe is here for when you be able to safely put it on.” A smile remained on her face as she urged him to move and face her to sip of the drink.

[ L.K ]     Slow and steady, the man would turn on his shoulder as he began to face the sound of the female troll. Now he was no stranger to the hatred of the Amani and his people. He was also no stranger to the Zandalari and how badly they were treated during the mission in Pandaria. Still they are seen as a bit of a danger. But that was not his fear, his fear was that of being eaten. Or worse sacrificed to some...loa that he was unsure of.

“ Jursol....”. Lazarius said softly as he rolled to face her. At this point she could see the black eyes of the man even more clearly now. He was sure a strange one.

“Lazarius Kashebahl...were you the one to pull me from the shore...”. He was struggling but it would seem that he was nursing more of a fatigue than anything else.

The offer of the drink didn’t make him mad or weird but he would have to decline for a moment.

“If it is all the same to you...I will mend quicker if left to my own device...by tomorrow morning I will be out of your hair.”.

He would finally scoot to the edge of the bed and lower his legs to the floor. He sat there, shameless to whether she cared or not in his nudity. He wasn’t really concerned. But he did peer back at her with a glance.

“Were there any other people on the beach? Anywhere at all, any survivors?”

[ J ]     Jursol seemed pleased to see he was stronger then expected as she pulled a small chair over. She seemed none offended by him declining the drink.

“You be much stronger then others who have seen such injuries. I could swear you were healing over night somehow.”

Setting the drink down on a nearby table as the small raptor leaped into her arms.

“Ah yes it be me who moved you from the beach. I did not see signs of others at the time, but it’s possible some may have washed up elsewhere. The tides here be strange some days. Once you be stronger I can be taking you back to help look for others. If you be wanting to that is.”

A deeper tone yet somehow soothing was how she spoke. Her clawed hand petting the little raptor in her lap.

“You be safe here while you rest. We not be letting harm come to you so easy. I be guessing you be a user of void like some other little elf I be knowing. The veins of yours remind me of hers.”

[ L.K ]     Lazarius would sit there for a moment as he began to think about what she was saying. From the sound of it the rest of them were dead. That was all he needed to know.

“Can you take me back there later this afternoon? I will be fine...I also need a smithy...”.

The chained gauntlets on his hands still covered him. He was unable to use his hands.

“Unless you think you can get these off without severing my hands.”. The Inquisitor would calmly begin to compose himself as he thought more and more how fortune he was to have landed here, to have been rescued like this. Trolls were not always the most hospitable caretakers. Not like dwarfs and gnomes.

At the mention of her knowing another elf like him he coughed out a laugh. Seemed his lungs were still sore from the amount of water he inhaled and spat up.

“You would not be wrong, I am actually regenerating as we speak. Hence why I say this and trust me when I do...you have and will not ever meet a being like me.”.

Lazarius turned around and went to go reach for his robe and was reminded of his shacked hands. She could see four black beak like probes poking out from his shoulder blades about middle of his back and around where his kidneys would be. They appeared to be bone like and black. Had she just missed them before or...was he actually regenerating?

“I need to get back to that beach... and I need you to help me kill anyone who may have washed ashore. They are dangerous men.”

[ J ]     Jursol looked at the chained gauntlets on his hands as she tapped her chin. She pondered if a strong enough acid could eat though then, or if she needed something more. Hearing him laugh she to begin to laugh some as well.

“They be elf like . . . well not be exactly like you, but does have dark veins. Yours be different though, as if your connection is far deeper.”

Looking at his body, and how it seemed to be regenerating already in a way she’d never seen before, she leaned in just a bit looking closer.

“You be regenerating better then any troll I ever be knowing! I have never seen anything like dis before! Truly fascinating.”

[ L.K ]     When she mentioned his regeneration he would make a remark toward her. “It is a cursed blessing....”

[ J ]     “Hmm. . .dat be a common ting. . .now. . .chains be a problem we must deal with. If dis does not work I will be needing some help.” Turning to face he elf with a smile as she moved back his way.

[ L.K ]     Lazarius would keep quiet and the troll went on speaking about others she knew and things she had seen. He was clear now that this must be Zandalari lands or at least somewhere near by if she knew of the elves and other races.

The man shifted his weight and looked up at the much taller being.

“ A parasitic entity has fused with my genetics...my blood; if you can actually still call it that, is a viscous black ichor which reacts to the void. It is currently repairing the damages to the host...being me.”

[ J ]     Jursol listened carefully to him as he spoke about the entity that had fused with him. Thinking it sounded much like a parasite that slowly takes over the host body. Knowing others would have died from such a thing it only raised her curiosity more.

“Dat be. . .ah not so common ting. . .” she smirked

This was no elf anymore when it comes down to it, and she being inquisitive wanted to know more. However trust must be gained not rushed. Plus he seemed fascinating so that was a pro.

[ L.K ]      The elf held his hands outward for the troll so she could apply the acid. He watched with the black galactic orbs sunken in his head, peering and waiting for a change once she did.

[ J ]     As she spoke she made her way to the table grabbing a small vial. The liquid was a neon green color and had a pungent odor.

“Lucky for you though,  I be knowing a smith if need be. He can be getting any chains off anyone. I be using his help when hunters attack the animals on the preserve.”

Slowly she tried a small amount of the liquid on the chains, watching for any reaction at all. She did not wish to use to much if it was useless on those chains.

“Let’s be seeing if dis works. Once they be removed my raptor friend and I will gladly help you deal with any others.”

[ L.K ]      “Very well. . . let us see. . .”

While he waited to see if there was going to be a change in the material or not, his black eyes scanned over the surface hoping to see any fluctuation in its continuity.

“ More...” he reacted and asked for, hoping it would fix the problem.

“ More....”. he commanded again as the molten iron of the chains and gauntlets began to sizzle.  

[ J ]       Watching carefully as the acid seemed to having no reaction as she almost sighed. His voice however asking her to pour more stopped her.

His demands seemed to make her more determined to make it work. Pouring more and more at his command. A sizzle! Her eyes grows wide as she saw this may work with help.

[ L.K ]       “Let me try and generate a bit of reverse combustion from the other side...”. The shadows around the room and the group of beings and raptors would suddenly begin to quiver. He was unable to do very much with his hands covered, it was how he worked through the void.

[ J ]       “Yes! Do whatever you be able to help. Dis acid alone won’t do it, but with help....” She stopped speaking as she noticed her larger raptor shaking, the small one rushing beneath her feet frightened of something she could not see.

[ L.K ]       The air grew cold and silent. There was this stagnant, horrific sense of dread that seemed to emanate from within him as he channeled his power. On his lips she could hear the faintest sound of his words, he was whispering and speaking a Shath’yar the prayer and incantation to summon his energy from within. Clearly this was not anything respectively normal.

[ J ]       A feeling of dread hit her as she felt her body getting chills. No stranger to darker magic but this was far from what she was used to. It fascinated her even more. The feeling only got stronger as she shivered.

[ L.K ]       “More!” he yelled as the glowing cannon shaped gloves protecting his hands began to sizzle from her acid and vibrate from his power.

[ J ]       Gaining her composure hearing him wanting her to pour more acid. Her hands steadied her hands before pouring more of the acid onto the gauntlets. She could not understand his words outside of ‘more’, but knew they were important to what he was doing.

[ L.K ]       The gauntlets appeared to be phasing in and out of existence at this point, so much gravitational weight being channeled within the glove that they were quaking and moving at a rapid speed like they were accelerating in place.

[ J ]       As the gauntlets began to phase in and out of existence, her face took on a true look of awe. Nothing like this has been seen by her before, and she’s lived a good long time by now.

[ L.K ]       Lazarius was dripping a black liquid from his nostril and from both eyes it would run like mascara. It was clearly taxing on him to try and put this much effort in his already weakened state.

[ J ]       His screams and painful old gods words were growing more intense and louder but he would not give in, perhaps it was inspiring and caused her all the more reason to pour the liquid and keep helping him seeing he was not giving up despite the pain.

Her eyes looked to his face for a split second to notice him bleeding from his eyes and nose. This truly was powerful magic, dangerous magic. Something one should not only respect, but also fear. Her focus returned swiftly to pouring more acid. His screams caused her raptors, and some animals outside to react with fear.

[ L.K ]       But then in a flash of energy and purple smoke the gloves would pop and be sent rifling through the side of her hut wall into the jungle, screaming like a gnomish firework as it barreled deeper and deeper into the brush.

Lazarius’ hands were obliterated and badly burned of flesh.  The tissue was separated from bone and visceral ends of what were once his fingers dripped with the black venomous substance. The amount of damage that had been caused would not fully go into his examination and thought process until much later.  But the right hand was missing its pinky finger, and half of the ring.  His left was completely gone save for his thumb and index finger.  The damage was extreme.  

His voice cracked and he cheered a mixture of triumph and pain, the adrenaline from having survived the blast only lasted briefly before feinting and falling back onto the cot from exhaustion.  He lay there, chest rising and falling as he tried to recoup from the activity. He was smiling and laughing as he peered up at the ceiling of the hut.  

“Success...” he said softly to himself and her. The grin spoke more than he ever could.

[ J ]       Within seconds she was temporary blinded by the flash caused by the energy and purple smoke. A pop sound was heard right before the sound of wood breaking, and the gauntlets screaming as they flew deep into the jungle.

Jursol’s sight returned to normal as she looked at his bloodied remains of his hands. It was truly something that was ripped straight out of a nightmare but she had a hunch this was something he’d accounted for.   And normally she worried more over this, but she had seen first hand his regeneration abilities. She decided to aid the best she could by wrapping some fresh cloth around them for the time being, and as he seemed thrilled to be free, she laughed with him.

“You be like nothing I have ever seen before. What you did be something truly amazing. Power like that not be something one messes with lightly. I be impressed with the control you have over it.”

Looking at the home in the side of the hut as she shook her head.

“Lucky it be small enough. Easy to fix.” As she looked down at him resting she felt the little raptor nudge her leg. A clawed hand moving to comfort the little one.

“Once you feel rested we can be going to check for others”

[ L.K ]     The time spent between the two of them here in this interaction may have been sparse and brief but what was being reflected as a very keen bit of information that the two of them could clearly start dissecting. He was very much an alpha. A leader. It must have been clear by the way he spoke, how he acted and what he was doing through the entire ordeal that she must have picked up on it.

She on the other hand, well she struck him as a free thinker. She acted on her own, lived on her own, but saw potential when possibilities that would produce correct results surfaced. She was someone he could have expected to never find. These gifted individuals were scarce to say the least.

"I do whole heatedly apologize for the damage to your home Miss Jursol. It is never my intention to walk in to another persons residence and destroy it like this. But I do greatly appreciate your cooperation under these circumstances."

[ J ]       Jursol really was always one to follow her own path. A free thinker and one to act on her own, she also knew there are times to also listen and follow others. It helped that she was so curious to learn new things.

[ L.K ]     Lazarius did appreciate her tender care to wrap the hands with a soft linen bandage. He was recovering slowly this time. Activities like this such as void bending and gravitational collapses always drained him.  And as was previously indicated by the shipwreck and near death; he was no where near one hundred percent.

As he leaned back up into a sitting position, Lazarius would let his legs support the weight of his elbows as he hunched over.  Black eyes would scan over the damage on the floor once more.  Blood and tissue was slowly being disolved by the parasite, slithering its way back toward him if it were able.  There on the floor in the remains of his fingers were the tragic end of his rings.  The saronite stones, and beautiful black diamonds, and his razored claw.  He sighed.

"Truth be told, I feel like you're someone I can honestly say isn't going to run straight into the arms of the Magistrate in Quel'thalas to let them know I am."

[ J ]       “Ah now I not be turning you into anyone. I myself not be exactly welcome along my own due to what I do. Most be thinking my work be primitive for a Zandalari to be doing. I guess it not be helping I be leaving before years ago. Zul was not to be trusted. I be warning about him but none listened. Leaving be my only chance to survive. I lived among the trolls you know of for a time. Learned about Hoodoo and little blood magic.”

Sighing as she sat on a chair near him as her little raptor leaped onto her lap.  Without any hesitation she would lean forward and collect the various rings and items that he’d lost.  She wouldn’t say anything, and had hoped that he knew she was only going to hold them to make sure he didn’t lose them.

“Zandalari not be accepting of blood magic or hoodoo. Some even be trying to make me leave my home here. I be thinking it be best to do so. My raptors and I be able to live anywhere we be together.”

[ L.K ]     He paused as he watched her do so, he hadn’t said anything.  In fact it was a smile that graced his lips as he watched and listened to her explain her situation here on the island.  He tried to find the words to help, they wouldn't come.  Instead he would steer them back toward what she’d just witnessed, something that would correctly classify himself.

"I appreciate how you can clearly see I am not simply an amateur when it comes to my talents."

[ J ]       Hearing him speak of a chance for her to learn more about him a smile crossed her face.  She would notice how he appreciated the gesture of her taking care of his things; and thusly would be sure she would not lose them.

“Ah learning more about you be something I’d enjoy. You be so different it raises my curiosity. I no be worried about payment for damage. Seeing you use such magic be worth the price.”

[ L.K ]     As he inhaled and exhaled slowly, the elf would glance upward to the very tall female.  She did seem to see the blessing behind the curse.

"Maybe sometime I will be fortunate enough to tell you a little bit about what I am . . .and what I do."

Again he would let out a slow breath as he recovered. The host was allowing himself time to regenerate but she was able to see how taxing it was. Lazarius brought the back of his clothed hand to his nose and slowly wiped it across his nostril clearing away the ichor.

"I feel like all this time has been spent trying to help me. . . your hospitality is exceptional, perhaps there is something I can do in offering to repay you?"

He offered her a toothy, charming grin sheltered with a hint of pain.  

"I'm not handy in the least, so repairing that hole. . .may be out of the question. But I don't think I would be able to leave without offering something in return."

[ J ]       Hearing him apologize for the damage caused her to give a deep sounding soft laugh.

“The damage not be much trouble. Freeing you of those things be the goal no matter the risk.”

Walking over to our up a large bit of foliage to cover the hole for the time being, she saw her white raptor friend standing calmly watching the brush move. Leaping for a small animal as it chopped down to enjoy a snack. Jursol laughed seeing this before turning her attention back to the elf.

[ L.K ]     “So. . . you were saying you do know a bit about blood magic? Fantastic...”. He said as he let out a coughing chuckle. She had brought it up,

It was clear by the way his skin was crawling that whatever organisms were at work here,were diligently trying to mend the body of its host. Lazarius appeared to be in a state of recovery by the grimace and shifting contortions of his facial features.

“Our current Magus is. . .was a powerful blood mage...” - He suddenly hitched those words in his throat when he realized that he hadn't meant to say anything of the Nine, or the order. And hadn’t even bothered yet. Perhaps he should reel back on his words, protect his image and leave this troll oblivious to what he actually knew.

Then again. She did dabble. She was aware and in exile. Perhaps this was an opportunity to bridge a gap between their cultures. Meaning just as the Horde and Zandalari were mutually entering an agreement, it seemed these two wicked wayward souls were on the outside looking in. -

“Jursol...let me ask you something.”.

He had been trying to get himself together all this time. Putting whatever he could onto his person. Pity though, his hands and forearms were going to need to be wrapped like this for the time being.

“Your little family here, you..your raptors, these are the things that you would die to protect? Yes? Your freedom...your sovereignty?”. Lazarius slowly stood from the cot and stretched. He looked almost...normal? Like this was all leading to him being fully restored and it had.

“How far would you go to ensure that no one robbed you of your way of life and freedom to practice your Magic’s? Freedom to be yourself and freedom from this political nightmare of war and malarkey? I myself will not be a tool used by the leaders of the Horde or Alliance to fight a war they think will somehow change something. I myself...will watch the world burn, and protect the freedom that my people have sought...”.

To be Continued in. . . “In Depths Below: Epilogue, Part 3″