Are you afraid of the Darksoul? [Part 2]

[i_pee_fire]

[[OOC: This right here is required reading if you're going to tag. OOC organization is hereFor too long the firstborn son of Satan's demonic soul had been trapped, denied his rightful control over Daimon's body. Now, thanks to Mei-Xing, he was finally free. The next course of action was obvious- he would have to take control of one of the beings on

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[curiousredsoul]

Celena was quick to take wing after the news over the comms, a malicious spirit on the loose. If there was anything she could do to help she would do it. Taking note of all others had said in response to the message she dove into the city. Her eyes aglow as she scanned the city with her True sight.

Not long after she'd set to wing she spotted the two on ground level, recognizing the familiar elven wizard Aibghalien as well as the other, draconian if she recalled correctly, Kang. Sweeping once overhead before she swooped around one of the buildings and came to land a distance behind Kang. Even as she landed she could see something different about Aibghalien, as if there were two presences within his form rather than the one as she viewed the world through her Sight.

"Aibghalien, Councilor Kang," She called out in greetings as she padded up beside the Draconian Councilor, she hid any sign of concern from her features though the briefest look to Kang and he would hear her voice in his head my appologies Councilor Kang for the intrusion, be careful, he does not look himself.

[for_magic]

Oh, to the mundane senses, the weapon born across his back ought to have simply been a staff such as the wizard carried typically. But he dispelled that notion by producing it with a grin, revealing the three tines on its end that promised so much grief.

"My lady Celena," he said, with a wicked grin. "And Kang! Superlative! A magnificent ophidian concordance unparalleled in chronology! Seeking my facilitation.

"At last! At last! Opportunity inevitably presents itself, manipulable prostitute that it is. I regret only my inability to fully demonstrate the exquisite heights of thaumaturgical puissance. Celena, my dear, I beseech but a moment of your time for a demonstration of the virtue of magical enlightenment."

He spun lightly, snapping out a finger towards Kang with a wild grin. "Disintegrate!" But no beam of sickly green light flew forth. "Or perhaps not. Fortunate, no? Your abandoned sorcerous gifts haven't the strength to abjure any effect stronger than a mewling kitten! What esteem you are held in I'll never understand."

He lifted his eyebrows in Celena's direction with a smile, and said in a voice that was almost a purr, "Have I ever mentioned the depths of my gratitude for your appreciation of the arcane?"

[governorkang]

At Celena's message, Kang cursed in an impressive mix of languages, one hand straying to the spell components at his waist even though he knew he really didn't stand much of a chance against someone as powerful as Aibghalien. He might be able to get a lucky spell in, though, enough to get close to the elf and knock him unconscious.

...oh shit. Fortunately, the Disintegrate spell either fizzled, or the darksoul had tried to cast one that hadn't been memorized the night before; being a wizard was both a blessing and a curse. And was he... hitting on the dragon? "Magic isn't everything. I've got other skills to make up for it."

He reached into one of the pouches, took hold of a piece of copper wire, and whispered the words to Message, "Celena, how fast are you?"

[curiousredsoul]

Celena took note of that trident that wicked grin, mixed with Kang's rather colorful and multilingual cursing it was quite clear where the 'malicious spirit' had taken hold. Anger rose at the fact that it had taken hold of one a new found friend.

That anger was quickly squelched before it reached her face however as she kept her features calm, her mind processing every detail in rapid-fire as the other spoke. What did the spirit intend, how was it controlling Aibghalien, was it using his memories and his thoughts or merely the spirits own?

A ripple of light flowed over her markings as he spoke, ready to react in an instant if the possessed Aibghalien attempted to cast a spell at either Kang or herself. Stepping forward past Kang, moving gracefully to put herself between the two, moving as if to approach.

"Oh Indeed? I do so greatly appreciate the arcane, though do you really think such a proper demonstration?" She would reply in an almost returned purr playing to the Dark-Soul for the moment, not letting it bait her. Pushing aside thoughts that pressed at hand, were these Aibghalien's thoughts or the Dark-soul's?

"I am fast of mind and wing, what did you have in mind?"

[for_magic]

"Of course magic is everything," Aibghalien retorted with a laugh. "Its presence here proves that! Posited and proved: the thaumaturgical energy field which makes basic manipulation of reality possible is omnipresent! Definitionally therefore it is inherent in existince! Posited further: the anthrophic principle mandates that existence be compatible with the consciousness that observes it. Ergo, the presence of an omnipresent arcane energy feel is necessary for conscious thought!"

Pleased with himself, Aibghalien spun the trident lightly in one hand, then abruptly snapped a a hand out. "Prismatic Spray -- no, no, just manipulating your expectations again." Another laugh, before he turned his attention to Celena with such a wicked, broad smile.

"Oh, my dear lady, I would be happy to give you a demonstration of any number of skills I possess. Can I not enjoy this for a moment, before we enjoy... other things? After all, I didn't study the art of sorcery for a reason, you know."

He gestured almost absently with the trident, invoking a veritable torrent of its hellish fire sidelong, letting it pour over the stoic face of a nearby building till stone glowed and metal ran.

"It would have been too easy to learn!"

[governorkang]

"I've got a spell that can make you even faster," Kang said, holding back a snort and cursing his not ever learning Dispel Magic (even though it'd do him absolutely no good against Aibghalien). "Though, we might not need it if he doesn't shut up. Can you keep him distracted?"

He slowly shifted his weight, getting an idea, "I don't think killing me will really impress the lady, Aibghalien. After all, I am just a weak sorceror. You could crush me as easily as you would a bug, and not even break a sweat."

[curiousredsoul]

Celena did not even flinch when Aibghalien snapped out his hand, another trick to play with their minds. Yet she continued to play along with his boasts and apparent desire to impress her? Something she pushed aside in her mind for the moment, focusing on the task at hand and Kang's words. "That could prove quite useful..I will endeavor to keep him talking,"

"It would be but a pleasure to have you demonstrate any of your no doubt numerous skills," Celena would reply smoothly taking another step forward unflinching as he poured out that fire over the nearby building, taking a small glance back to Kang as he spoke.

"Impressive, though indeed, to truly show your skill would it not suit to demonstrate your no doubt sizeable skills against one far more capable?" she commented smoothly playing on from Kang's words, hoping to keep his attentions on her.

[for_magic]

"You're suggesting yourself," the elf said, grin frozen on his face.

Then it vanished, replaced by rage. "Suggesting yourself! Is this the inference you wish, the implication I should understand? That you believe yourself so superior that I should find myself so drawn into magical conflict with you that I would have no time or ability to notice whatever dastardly scheme Kang is cooking up? Another denigration! Another insult! And from you, Celena? That hurts."

At least, for the moment, he had stopped spewing soulfire all about.

[governorkang]

...fuck.

Thinking fast, Kang laughed, though his scales clicked a bit to even say it, "But I'm just a sorceror. If I had any real intelligence, I would have become a wizard instead. Do you really think someone like me would be able to come up with a scheme that'd work against you?"

He added, "And, you insult the lady, putting words in her mouth. There are other powerful magic users on the ship; she may have meant one of them."

[curiousredsoul]

She rose her eyeridges as if in surprise to his accusations, thinking quickly even as Kang spoke. She shook her head as if in good humor.

"You misunderstand me, I intend no insult to your unparalleled abilities, no, I could not match you in direct conflict, my own skills are far from the superiority of your own," She dipped her head.

"Indeed, there are others aboard this ship, others far more powerful than I, though I have little doubt none are as powerful as yourself, Aibghalien," She continued smoothly as she took a few graceful steps toward him.

"Be ready if things do not go well,"

[for_magic]

The elf stared, from draconian to dragon and back again, then sighed, slumping slightly.

"The very vitae of divinity flows through me, granting me insight and clarity of thought. Through countless struggle and effort against foes of unimaginable power, I became the wizard I am today! In short... what could possibly compel you to believe this transparent deception had any hope of success?"

Even possessed by the darksoul, Aibghalien still had his cross-class ranks in Sense Motive.

"Is this all the respect I command? Such a paltry effort a child could detect it? I comprehend now that I have underestimated your depths of mutual contempt!"

However, the darksoul had clearly made his tendency to monologue even worse.

[governorkang]

"What is it with wizards and their inability to shut up?" Kang groused. As advantageous as it was at the moment, it was still extremely annoying.

[curiousredsoul]

"That I have no idea, not that it doesn't prove interesting at times to let them," She replied in turn to Kang, though her frustration threatened to well up she forced it down keeping that cool outer appearance. Indeed even within she had no contempt for the wizard, the spirit that had taken him over perhaps though.

Celena padded in a slow circle gracefully around the possessed Aibghalien, "We have no contempt for you, Aibghalien, and indeed I hold you in respect," She spoke softly, sincerely, she told the truth after all, referring to Aibghalien himself not to the spirit possessing him. That spell may come in handy, a slow sigh slipped from her lips as she shook her head.

"It is clear though that you are not feeling yourself today, Aibghalien," She would comment clearly even as a ripple of energy flowed through her markings, near instantly mist seemingly began to form in the streets around them.

[for_magic]

"An interesting choice of tactics," the elf observed with a smile. "But I'm afraid this technique has..."

He paused, savoring the moment, even as he began to unleash soulfire in swaths to burn off the fog.

"...mist its mark!"

[governorkang]

...and bad puns. Great. Kang quickly cast Haste took the chance to cast Invisibility on himself so that he could sneak closer, moving as quietly as he could. "Celena, try to keep his attention on you. I don't think he's got access to a lot of his spells right now; Disintegrate fizzled, and he's using the trident instead."

[curiousredsoul]

"Oh? Or has it..?" She replied with a raised eyeridge, let him think on that for a brief second even as she felt Kang's spell take hold on her. Her markings flaring to life as she took advantage of the greater speed he had granted her.

Even despite the soulfire the mist appeared to only grow thicker from his assault of it, the mist being infact not mist at all, but the illusion of mist near indistinguishable from actual mist. Noted, I shall keep him busy

She wasted no time though as she circled him rapidly, markings and even her eyes flaring brighter as copy after copy stepped forth from her form until she seemingly stood in front of him once more, each copy lifelike in near all aspects, even through magic it would be near impossible to determine the true Celena. The mist drifting in until it there was but a circle of clear air around possessed wizard, the fog partially obscuring the illusions as the red glow from each of their respective markings shone through the fog as well as eight pairs of glowing red eyes peered in from the mist.