Kaeden's deal with the devil

It was not like Nathan. He seemed panicked almost, frightenned. He barely thought the word let alone speak it out loud. If he had not sworn to obey the Seeker of Truth he would have never left. It simply made the urgency of this mission all the greater. It was simple enough go talk to Mallory, just closing a loose end really.

The Seeker really did not have time for all of this, the golem research turned out to be a much greater mystery than even the gods thought at first, one that he could barely accomplish if all his attention was on it. Yet here they were going all over the world on something completely unrelated -- Darkness.

He drank some tea while he waited for her to come down. The tea was good, must have been fresh berr...

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Kaeden woke up in chains suspended in the air. He was in pegasus form again it seemed and his wings had been broken, at least they felt broken. Whatever was in the tea must have still been in his system because his vision was not straight or clear. A voice said, "Why did you come?"

He couldn't find the person in his mind to talk back. So he tried to polymorph human but the pain and confusion in his head prevented him. Something hot and sharp stabbed his left quarter. I am being tortured. Mallory must be in deep. No, I shouldn't draw conclusions to quickly. Nathan always said evidence first then theory otherwise you only find the evidence you need for your theroy and ignore everything else. "I do not enjoy repeating myself, why did the seeker send you?"

Malekite rules the Empire now through a puppet priest perhaps that is it, doesn't want Paladins coming in to ruin what it took him so long to do. Pain again. It did not matter who they were, we was not going to talk under torture. He would pray perhaps and angel would hear and at least let Nathan know to fight the good fight with out him.

"Bring out the orphans." what? Then there was screaming. "One down 3 more to go...before the next batch you want to talk horseman?"

Kaeden could not let them suffer, he could give some kind of answer, maybe it would even help him figure out what was going on. He summoned all of his will power and forced his head clear. He tried to find and establish a telepathic link with the closest being he could find.

He got it, the minds touched but only for a moment, in touching the mind he seems to crack open an egg full of only filth and pain. There was power too, power unlike anything his mind had touched. An empty void filled with sorrow hurt and rage. An unknown feeling of fear touched Kaeden's heart if for but just a moment and his mind covered itself from such a presence.

There were two more screams. "Bring me the next lot." Silence, "Worm bring them to me."

Then another voice, "I have this." followed by an explosion it rocked the room and left Kaeden out cold again.

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He woke up, this time in human form. He was walking somewhere and being dressed. "Ok I think he's up now," A voice said then another voice said to him in a tone of military command, "Good, When you speak to the listener keep your eyes to the ground. You will show proper respect for the Emperor, may he live forever. He did save your life after all."

Kaeden's vision began to clear as trumpets and heralds announced his arrival in full courtly ceremony. Across the Marble floor or the Imperial Throne room sitting on the Crystal Throne was a bald man with a black cape that looked like mid night embracing all but his out stretched left arm which held and was supported by a twisted staff of metal. The top of which was a raven claw grasping a red orb. Kaeden was still bound he realized as he was forced into a kneeling position.

Courtly ritual continued, "Divine listener, he who speaks for the eternal emperor - may he live forever in glory and blood - we present the pegasus Kaeden to meet your cold loving embrace."

Kaeden then realized he was alone on before the dais on the red and gold carpet. "Why have you brought me here?" He said between broken teeth.

"You are distraught, so I will forgive your sin of speaking to me before I speak to you. Never can it be said that the Listener is not merciful. But you will be silent until commanded. Though it may not seem like it servent of a paladin, we have the same enemy."

"There are few worse than you. My enemy is the shadow wherever it finds itself, and that will never change."

"Do not bring trial to my patience, this enemy is more than shadow it is Darkness."

Kaeden was speechless as he looked up into the bald mans eyes. The listener continued, "My Lord Emperor may he live forever, serves the Great All Receiver lord of the Dead. Un-death is a blasphemy to him. The Lord Darkness has too long evaded the cold embrace he deserves. He has also recently stolen something from us of the highest value. And has dared to attack the death eaters the the anti-life equation. Oh yes horseman we know of the anti-life. It was our Lord Emperor, may he live forever, that heard of its rumors and sent his lovely dark angels into this world to find it. The quest caused even the most wonderfully brutal and cold to fall. His sins can no longer be over looked for as you would be well to remember, our patience is not eternal. We wish to stop his anti-life, and end the stain he brings upon this world by existing here. Are our goals not the same?"

"We may have the same enemy but our goals will never be united. I can tell the Seeker of what you speak but I will promise no more."

"I'm afraid your precious seeker has fallen to his temptress."

"We saved him."

"Once yes, but she visits him again. Do not think any of your actions escape my Lord emperor, may he live forever,'s view."

"I will never join you."

"You paladins and your holy wars. Lock him in the dungeon until changes his mind." Using the clawed staff to raise Kaeden's chin he says, "I offered you a chance to be my friend, why must you always chose to be my enemy. If he wins it will be because of you and for no other reason."

A man possessed

The sunset bringing with it the usual hordes of undead. Yet this night was different the hordes emerged organized and driven. Not the aimless shambling corpses the Draconian army had grown use to fighting but ranks of warriors who pushed with zeal.

Despite their organization and their zeal they could not approach General Maximus's army. The priest had been careful and thorough in sanctifying the ground the General captured. The creatures could no more step onto temple ground then they could approach their once protected tower. General Maximus however was under no such restrictions. He ordered catapults be filled with bags of water and that the water be blessed and made holy. Then he sent out gallons and gallons of holy rain upon the creatures causing them to melt and sizzle. The whole while he drank his ale and casually laughed, until the water supply began to run so low the could not keep firing and supply the troops with water. "Enough of this anyway, tell the mages to prepare their destruction magic and give them a volley." He ordered. In a rare move one of his officers spoke up, "The mages have no spells left my lord. These battles have severely taxed them, they have been casting from spell book and accidents are starting to happen. You said once we took the tower we would establish a forward base of operations, secure it and rest a day until the mages and priests could come out full force."

The general look at him with more than disdain, "What gutless terd wandered into my army? Get him out of here." The officers hesitated for just a moment, "What? is that what you all think? For days we march through just mopping up broken bones and crying ghosts and now that they are ready to fight you want to take a day off. Maybe head to the tavern and find yourself a cheap woman. Disgusting. They are finally ready to fight, with or with out you, so am I."

Grabbing his two handed blade he called FURY he marched to the very edge of the camp looking down at the line which had become visible in the sand. On his side the ground was brown and packed on theirs was a thick loose gray ash as if it had fallen from the Ho Shan volcano back home. He looked up from the line and saw hundreds if not thousands of dead bastards waiting to die again at his hand. Flesh falling and decaying off bones that were frail and cracking. He drew his sword and front kicked one in the chest shattering the ribcage causing it to fall. Then he lept into the horde swinging and killing everything that was dumb enough to move.

"Protect the General!" Came the order from behind him and he was aware that men and goblins raced to his aid from the rear. He had no need of them. The fools would stay there and let glory pass them by. He only needed Aries and FURY, if his army wanted to come let them grow some guts and follow. For hours he fought embraced by the Ecstasy of death and destruction. Killing almost a dozen with every swing. Ghosts, zombies, wight, wraiths all tasted his blade and met their end. Between his wounds and the hours of fighting his arms and legs began to slow under the weight of his armor. He realized his swings and kill rate was slowing. They had not been hitting him so he cleared a small area and then cut loose the leather straps that held his armor in place. He was able to move free again like he had earlier with the armor before the fatigue set in.

A 9 foot skeleton approached and the others cleared a path for it. good. He thought as he ran toward the beast. He dodged one, two then three spears. It was the fire which spewed from his mouth that he could not dodge. He could feel his flesh baked and smell his own cooking flesh. He almost thought he heard the skeleton laughing, not for long. He ran up a small rock formation which made a ramp and lept at the creature severing its head from his spine in one clean cleave. He landed hard and rolled into a group of disembodied forms of mist. Trusting his FURY he gave several swirl attacks releasing every oath and curse he new under his breath.

He had lost track of how many more died before he finally faded to black. Out of healing potions and his blood wetting the ashy ground he saw the sun just start to crest on the eastern horizon before his muscles, despite his will, refused to hold him up any longer.

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He awoke with something around his wrist and two people near him. Spitting forth a vile oath he demanded their names. "We are but pedals of a great flower. Here to rescue you my General." Lotus Assassins he thought as his wrist irons were picked and unlocked. "How deep are we?" He asked them, "We are on the southern edge of the valley the army is a full days march north of us still. You are lucky they did not kill you my lord. We should be leaving."

"NO" he ordered as he wrapped the chains which had held him to the wall around his arm, "I'm alive because whatever leadership they have wanted to deal with me himself, even the dead must have their ego." Using his massive legs he ripped the chain from the wall. It could make a good flail. "I'll find him and make him regret not killing me. Help me or go home I don't care."

One of the lotus pushed open the rusted gate which made the cell door, "Our daggers are yours to command."

Using his chain flail as his only weapon he and the two lotus crawled through the catacombs breaking to dust skeleton after skeleton after skeleton. They continued, Maximus would not leave until he had killed everyone here and taken the compound for himself.

They were stopped by a ghost which seemed to wear a red cloak and have glowing green eyes beneath its cowl. "I will always love Tatyana." It said holding a medium sized sapphire. "Then I'll find your little whore and kill her too." Maximus responded with out hesitation and charged. With in about 3 feet of the ghost Maximus dropped to his knees and the ghost vanished dropping the sapphire to the ground. The greedy lotus picked it up while the other checked on the general.

The general spoke, "Must have scared him off. Lets just get out of here. I'm sure the army needs me."

The obedient lotus did as commanded and the General returned to his besieged tower.

What would Nathan do?

Nathan was glad to see kaeden, as there was so much happening and the stakes so high he almost always felt overwhelmed. Yet, with his faithful companion and friend by his side he felt strength beyond his own. They tried to meet often so as to best determine how to move everything forward.

Nathan summarized the teams positions, "jillians team has a lot of talent and are very valuable its almost a waste we have to use them chasing that staff, but at least it keeps darkness focussed on that instead of moving forward whatever other plot he has. They are strong and capable we don't need to check on them too often. Lana and team in jong Guo have made a good lead. Seems like about a decade ago someone called the spider broke into yavins tower and stole documents related to the original lantern. We have takeshi infiltrating the underworld there to try and track the papers down. I value her skills but get a bad feeling. You may want to talk to keahala and instruct her to remind our spy of the acceptable methods we use.
I am busy here, as a group of merchants and lords want to take advantage of the golems as a labor force since the economy is nearly crippled by the crusade. They are trying to establish a barter but the golems want nothing. I need to stay here and observe.
I do regret that we haven't been able to go talk to mallory yet like nial said. Too many crisis all at once. I'm sending you there now. Talk to her make sure she is ok and give her an amulet to guard her dreams."

Nathan could smell something sweet and inviting. His insides began to yearn and heart pound with excitement. "Kaeden you have to leave now." He said as he frantically began looking for a rag or strip of cloth. He gave up and began tearing his robe. Kaeden answered,"my Lord?"

"Don't question me its not safe to be here. Carry out my orders ill contact you when its safe. Go find Morgan or mallory or whatever her name is.". He was almost sure he was sending him away to save him and not just trying to keep her attention for himself. The horse hesitated so Nathan barked the order again this time fumbling blind with cloth over his eyes trying to find and draw his seeker sword.
They can only come in if they are invited.

The horse obeyed and left. Nathan rethought the sword, no need to be brutally agressibe perhaps she found him because she changed. He heard the door splinter open and shatter. Then a honey dipped voice which seemed born on harp strings asked, "aren't you going to invite me in?"

Kingdoms

This is a reference post to list the major kingdoms in the world.

Crystal Empire:

Symbol a Flying griffon

Largest political entity on the planet, rules landmass larger than the sum of all earth's lands.

Ruled by an Empress may she live forever, the eldest female of the silvermoon family. who is currently in exile while her brother Malekite has claimed the throne even beyond the grave.

Primarily elven

Friends with Geneva and allies

Neutral to Dragon

Dragon:

Symbol a flying Black Dragon

Single city state of over a million people.

Ruled by a council or High Lords. Currently Lord Reyes is High Lord.

Friends to no one.

Enemies with Geneva

Geneva

Symbol a curled Gold Dragon

Ruled by a Council which until recently was headed by the Keeper of the Seals. Sworn protetors of the light.

Numerous countries have joined Geneva by petition requesting to be a part of it. Included, Enron, Old Human empire, Talyun, Dwarven Clans.

Friends of Cyrstal Empire and Grey Havens

Slight enemy of Draconia

Enemy of Dragon

Draconia

Symbol a gold dragon in flight

Ruled by king Polaridin Te Al Mordin, who is often away so the ruling instead falls to a viceroy.

Currently attempting to civilive the unclaimed area known as the wilds supported heavily by Dragon.

Friends, Dragon Crystal Empire

Enemies Hyrule sort of Geneva

Hyrule

Symbol Shield with virtues

Ancient Elven kingdom ruled by a Crimson Monarch who is suppose to examplify the sacred virtues. Only small legends and few pockets of the society remain. Conflict brewing because they claim the same land as Draconia.

Friends: none

Enemies: Draconia

Grey Havens

Symbol Grey Dragon in flight

Large land populated by Dragons and elves they created to serve them. For countless centuries they were ruled by the Greyfoot elves whose line has nearly ended. Currently ruled by a Cyrodil Prince who married into the royal family Dante Skyrim. Once part of Geneva but have declared independence.

Friends: Geneva

Enemies: None

Cyrodil

A land that is slightly out of phase with the rest of the world. Recently it came into phase and relationships with other nations were openned only to see the kingdom dissapear again.

Ruled by a high council

JOng Guo

Symbol a steel gauntlent holding a dagger.

A now drow kingdom when the surface land was ravaged by war and left behind by the cyrstal empire the Drow claimed it their own.

Ruled by an Absolute Empress

Friends: none

Enemies: Geneva, Seanchan

Summeria, Assyria, and babylon

Small kingdoms on the north end of the known world of small populations with little to know economic magical or strategic importance

Isle of the Winds

Symbol an island with a castle tower floating above three large waves.

Not a country but a floating island a religious center for the world. Warded from all evil all good gods have a presence here. Serves to protect the seals. Ruled by the keeper of the seals Atrayu. Until just recently it rested in teh heart of Geneva. Now it floats alone over the ocean.

What about Undeath?

The Lumani would not accept the death of their goddess and had traced the horn here to Reddas. These fools fought though they could not succeed. He was touched by the one winged angel. And the one winged would not claim him so long as he was faithful. He could not die and these Lumanai fought him anyway.

They had scattered and Kadaj pursued with the horn strapped to his back he lept up the wall into a second story window of the tavern. He was running through to get to the roof when he noticed the man in white cloak and cowl sitting in the room staring into the small fireplace as if waiting for him.

He spoke the soft confident voice of someone who had nothing to fear, "Give me the horn deatheater." It was an order. How dare he.

"You know not to who you speak worm. I am a deatheater among the highest tier of the Emperor, may he live forever, ranks. You Lumani can not win."

"I am not Lumani."

"Then who are you?"

"I am the only thing that matters. The only think eternal. Even the brightest fire fades to ash. As your life will expire."

"I am immune to death." Kadaj charged the man but was surprised to see him stand and effortlessly catch him by the throat. The cloak and cowl dropped to the floor exposing radiating omega symbols from his eyes.

"But are you immune to undeath?"

Two other figures came from the shadows and sunk their sharp teeth into his neck. He noticed the cold before the pain, then the numbness. He then could only sense words, "Loneliness, alienation..." Then the One Winged angel ended his life and spared him the Darkness.

The horn belonged to them now.

Maximum Maximus

Maximus forced his steel boot down hard. The metal crushed against a skull seeming to gasp for breath on the ground. The crunch was solid and satisfying. He looked down at one of the many to fall before him for just a moment and continued forward.

He loved this assignment. His whole career he had been an alpha wolf in a cage. Now, here, with no command, no control and no end to enemies he could fight. He was a fighter and he would be one until death claimed him on the field. He had envisioned his campaign into the graveyard as the campaign that may finally claim him, but it was a fight he thirsted for. It was unwinnable just like how it was impossible to take land from Geneva. Ha he scoffed in his head, cowards spend time thinking about what can't be done, Heroes do it.

This campaign was almost giving him what he hoped for true hundreds of his men were dead and thousands of undead lay destroyed beside them. And it almost did not happen. The regent considered the graveyard unwinable. It got worse after the scouts never returned. But when the mist left and the some scouts did return he learned of armies of undead lined up for days. He learned of horrors and nightmares made real walking the land. Such evil would never rest in one place, or so Maximus convinced the regent, eventually they would come for Draconia. Draconia's only hope was in preemptive strike. So here he was basking in Aries glory.

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Arianna climbned the tower to the Crimson Prince's chamber. Not waiting for the attendant he stormed in. "My lord, this invader flies a banner of Dragons' they must be here to enslave us and undo what the deliver has done. Please call to your men we will follow you. He have to meet him."

The Crimson prince only slowly looked back from staring out the hole in his wall. A long pause filled the air -- long enough Arianna thought the Crimson Prince may not have heard him. Just before he could speak the Crimson Prince answered but upon hearing it Arianna wished he would have never spoke. The Crimson Prince said, "Let them come. She filled us with Joy and when she returned all was whole and right again. She has left yet a second time. It is better to be destroyed than to live with her memory."

Arrianna wished he would not have spoke because his words were so true that robbed him of his desire to fight back.

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Meeting with his senior staff in a forward operating base of the camp, General Maximus Testostourus evaluates his men and enemies.

"There are lots of them but they are disorganized rabble. No equipment no strategy, no guts, half they time they start fighting each other. Logar must have been more than a fool to be chased out of here. It will take us a few days to purge the lands but this is not a contest." He said disappointed more than disgusted.

A Colonel responded, "I believe we'll find more resistance toward the center of the valley. According to reports and confirmed by the one called scout, there is a tower southwest of here houses a spirit that is suppose to be a leader of somesort. A prince that once led these people."

"If that is where Resistance will be that is where we will crush it. Though I don't think we can rely on the goblins for more than bait, they get so scared of the dead they become even less organized than the rabble."

"I have an idea of how to effectively use them General. Though it assumes you don't need any of them to survive and requires you to authorize large purchases of Whale oil."

"Done."

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He marched the men hard and marched himself harder. Until just before nightfall he could see the rumored tower.

As the sun set hordes of undead began clawing their way out of their shallow graves.

The priests of Aries has concrated and cleansed the land behind them so Maximus would not be caught by surprise. "LET THEM COME!" He said as officers began the quick and effective work of forming the men into legion ranks and shield walls. "Protect the archers." And the battle began.

The fight was against massive odds. The undead outnumbered them 3 to 1. Though they had no command or control and Maximus's men killed them in a 10 to 1 ratio. Inch by bloodly inch they crawled to the tower over the bones of vanquished enemies. Despite the carnage around him the General began to grow bored. Atop his horse he rested next to the decaying statue of some maiden. The now familiar ancient elven ruins carved into it claiming devotion to some long gone goddess. "Where is your goddess now?" He called out into the night and with a powerful kick caused the statue to topple over and shatter. Laughing he turns, "Proceed lets wrap this up. Mage take me back, Colonel you have 30 minutes."

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The crimson prince watched out of his tower as the army struggled to reach him. He felt the relief of oblivion calling for him. Only nothingness could replace what Tatyana had left him with. He found himself wishing he men could die faster. perhaps I should present myself to this Dragonsworn. He would kill me quickly and I could forget. As he digested the thought and prepared to descend from the safety of his tower he thought it ironic that the Dragonsworn leader stood next to the statue of Black Velvet. One who destroyed his heart and body and the other who could finally destroy his soul. Then the man kicked her over.

How dare he? The dragonsworn upstart had defiled this monument to Tatyana long enough. HIs men and himself he cared nothing for but this place was built in tribute to her, all he had was her memory and no fire of hell would consume it. Her honor had been tarnished, this man would pay for what he and the breathers had done. To disrespect Velvet -- there was no higher crime. "Captain, sound the trumpet."

A long cold hollow horn blared through the pitch night. To it answered a second horn then a third. The skeletons and ghosts began to form ranks of phalanx. Herald of skeletal warrior spoke in their deep cavern voices, "For the memory of Black Velvet, We will always love tatyana." The undead moaned their reply and responding to the orders took a hard stand. The legion pushed against the phalanx bone wall to no avail. Moving as one solid unit the skeletons pushed back creating holes in the formation.

The soldiers tried to fight back but their opponents moved with out fear and with out hesitation. As one the swarmed a fallen comrade served as a distraction to land a killing blow. A fear as thick as fog rose up among the steel skinned breathers until their leaders called for them to retreat.

They all did falling back in organized fashion with haste. All except large groups of goblins and orcs who seemed to be bloated and heavy. They could only slide along the ground though the fear on their faces said they wished they could flee. As the skelton's tore into them the goblins exploded as is their bodies had struggled to with hold a great pressure. They found little blood but instead some other liquid which sprang out and coated them. It did not matter only avenging Tatyana matterred so they pressed forward.

The arrows flew straight and true hitting their marks, the goblins bloated with injected whale oil. These goblins now scatterred by their attempts to flee into the skeleton ranks and man having been shredded by the attackers erupted into flame destroying the nearby skeletons and knocking back the rest. The pristine formations were broken and fire as it seemed reigned from the sky and devoured the ground.

A teleport gate opened up just beyond the west edge of the undead ranks and with full charge speed General Maximus and Calvary charged into the fire rain of death.

Upon his stead Maximus swung his sword with furry and anger. A blessed son of Aries he crushed his enemies beneath hoof and blade. When it was clear the enemy was broken and defeated. He stood at the foot of the tower and called out to his mages, "Take it down"

They began casting stone to mud at its base. He orderred a halt, "No, They have to remember it. Make it loud." The mages switched to fireballs and lighting bolts shredding the tower in a shower of stone and heat.

As the son rose General Maximus made his command tent on the same foundation stones where the tower once stood. As the men hoisted the large Gold Dragon banner of Draconia high into the air the wind caused it to ripple and wave a symbol to glory.

He was victorious, unchallenged, unbeatable!

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Watching from the south the Crimson Prince lamented that he had waited so long to confront this Dragonsworn. He still hoped this conflict would bring his own end, but he now also lived fueled once again by his love for Tatyana. The breathers would pay for their disrespect.

Why?

Tatyana strode through the corridors with Tyros quick on her heels. She listened to him step softly behind her both comforted and annoyed by his presence. Annoyed because he was always there hoping for some scrap of attention or affection she would give, as if she could love a monster like him. Comforted because he always protected her and made her feel safe, even, if it were possible, when she spoke to her husband. She swept her cape back to reveal her bare shoulders exposed by the tight black corset with gold trim and laces. She hoped her appearance was enough to draw his gaze from the fire to look upon her.

A raise of his index finger on his left hand was all that indicated he acknowledged their presence, and a sign she should approach. Gracefully she glided to his side and to her dismay he stood turning from the fire to glare at her. The firelight illuminated only half of his face and his eyes shot like arrows of ice through her. They did not always look upon her so, often it was with burning lust. The type of lust she could use to control all other men, but that was only because she could refuse them and drive them to her bidding-- there was no refusing Derrick. He owned her through and through. Though in that passion and lust there was never affection, she often wondered if he was even still capable or if relationships had only became a means to manipulate others to his will. If that were true she could only pity him.

"The staff will soon be mine, with or with out if my opportunity comes too close. I can not risk your new lover interfering. Make sure he is occupied. I task you with this, my strongest and most capable because it must be done. You have stood by my side long enough, I need not explain to you the results of failure."

He moved to return to his chair and she did something which would have killed anyone else. "Why, my Lord?" The question stunned him so much he did not immediately respond. She spoke quickly as if her life depended on it because it did. "Why execute your plan? I know your goal but why pursue it? When you have it what is left to gain? Butcher the whole world and be king of a graveyard? Do you feel when you have usurped the will of all living you will then find joy?" She was foolish to question him or speak out of turn, but Nathan had stood against him and prevailed, the same Nathan who loved her even more than Lana. Not for thousands of years had she felt the need to look out for anyone but Nathan had showed her a small truth in asking her the same question. Why do you do what you do? She could not answer it, she had hoped Derrick's answer would have meaning for her to.

In slow cold hard words he clearly spoke, "Joy? I have no use for it nor desire to pursue it. Only mortals need such emotion. I am beyond immortal, I am eternal. The first of our kind, its creature, its god. And as such I have seen men born live fight and die for nothing, gaining nothing and leaving nothing. In just our time together we saw kingdoms rise and fall. I have witnessed entire empires have been swallowed by the sea (*see fall of Kale), monuments built over generations crumble and burn to dust (*see Khan's destruction of Tower of Babel), lands and realms erased reborn and destroyed (*see Cyrodil history), even men become gods and gods die (*see the slaying of Sabel), things that are forever become broken like Red Prison Doors and the Black Raven splintering under the control of a fox. All of this has taught me one solid undeniable truth, a truth that must be exercised. In all of creation there is but one thing meant to be eternal."

He left the word hanging in the air like a morning fog that could not be swept away. With fear delicately lining each word, she asked, "What is that, my lord?".

He turned to her, a whisper escaping as the shadows on his face grew and stretched.

"Darkness."