Private Thread: Dark Secrets and retribution

[KrazRussian]

ooc: This is a private thread between myself and Lorindellia. enjoy reading at your leisure though.

ic:

Call me the Dark Knight. My true name is no concern for the common man. It is known only to myself, my closest companion, and my mortal enemy. The common man onthe streets in the kingdom of Tazirh-Ra, my former home, would tell you otherwise. To them, I am the Vilest of Knights. I am the nemesis of civilized society. I am humanity's greatest burden. Call me what you wish, it matters not. I am a Knight, and I have a destiny.

It all dates back to my childhood. I was fortunate enough to be brought into the world of royalty. My father was part of the king's Tribunal of Justice; the highest ranking Knights of the kingdom. I had been fortunate enough to grow up in luxury. I had proper schooling, and studied with the finest field instructors in the lands.

I excelled above most in arms training. I constantly overheard my instructors raving about me to my father. They praized my talents and gifts, yes. They always said I was unique though. It was something I had felt too. It was a feeling deep inside of me. Every so often, I could feel it rize, and every time I felt like I was losing some control over myself. Neither I, nor they could figure out what it was about me; but I was different from every other warrior that I had trained or dealt with.

Life was indeed good for me. BUt that would soon come to an end. One of the members of the Paladin TRibunal was the king's son, sir Lucan. My father was always suspicious of him. He was unlike the other paladins. He was greedy, he hungered for his father's status. However, he knew that my father held seniority over him, and power. So, as the king aged, the son realized that my father would put up a serious opposition to him becoming king (something that my father never wanted to do).

As time progressed; my father would tell me that Lucan became more and more deranged. However, one day, everything changed. The king was murdered by an unknown assassin; but my father knew it was Lucan. This was apparently a part of his plan. No one knew who the murderer was though; and a new king would be appointed shortly.

One peaceful evening, at the pre-eve of the announcement, everyone was asleep in our estate. THen, the unthinkable happend. I was only 16 at the time, that was many years ago, but I can remember it like it was yesterday.

I was awoken with a loud snarl; and a viscious grab. A powerful Soldier; I could not tell who; grabbed me and pulled me out of my bed. He placed one hand around my neck; threatening to kill me if I should scream; and lead me to our banquet hall.

My entire family was there, as were our most loyal servants (the others I found out had been killed earlier); being guarded by 5 other soldiers. i was lead into the opposite corner and watch the bloodbath. THe soldier that had escorted me and moved away, replaced by another. Then, I figured out who he was. He was Sir Munden; Sir Lucan's right-hand man.

I was forced to watch as his blade tore fiendishly through my loved ones. My father, my mother, my older sister, and my loyal servants, all slain in cold blood. As he finished with them, he proceeded in my direction. All the while, something had been brewing inside of me. It was that deep feeling; the one I could never understand. But i could feel it rizing, taking slow control over me.

And then, I snapped. I could not tell why; but I barely felt human at the time. My mind was not functioning; clouded by thoughts of anger, vengeance, rage. As Munden drew closer, my mind told me only one thing; "kill, destroy."

With the back of my head, I delivered a powerful blow to the head of the soldier guarding me. While he was much more built than myself, we were of the same height. He was not wearing a helmet; only a cloth to sheath his head. The blow stunned him; and sent him falling to the ground; a brief lapse of counciousness filled his mind.

At the saem time, i moved behind him; with speed that i could not believe, and removed his sword. Then, without even a hesitation, I beheaded the bastard. I had never killed a man before; I always felt scared of doing so. However, at that moment; it felt like nothing to me; like it was just something that needed to be done.

Munden approached me and swung with his sword. It felt like he was in slow motion. I easily stepped aside and stabbed him with his commrade's blade, through one of the vulnerable points in his armor. He dropped to the ground onto his knees; clutching his stomach. Then, I landed a swift hick to his face and he kissed the ground.

I was driven by sheer rage. The other three soldiers approached me; but they were like nothing compared to me. THey could not even hope to stop me. I sliced through them like simple plants guarding a path in a forest. Each one I decapitated.

All that was left was Munden's right-hand man, I thought. He was a good swordsman; but no one could match me on this day. I drove my blade through his right lung; right below his heart. I thought that was the end. Thoughts of rage, bloodlust stil dominating my mind; I removed all of the man's clothing. Then; grabbing a lit torch from the nearby fireplace; I set the man on fire completely. I knew he was alive; because i could hear him scream as he burned.

Standing over the corpse with a sadistic smile, I suddenly felt a powerful slash across my back. Apparently, Munden himself was not dead. With his sword; he slashed my back; from shoulder to waist. That slash should have killed me. But, at the time, I could not feel any pain, any blood loss; only more rage.

I grabbed Munden from behind; and stabbed him in each of his shoulders; hittiinng bone and muscle; completely immoblizing his arms. I did the same to his legs, and he again dropped to the ground. But I would not merely kill him. I had a differnet plan for him. Stripping him of his clothing; with his dagger and my own; I skinned him alive. I made sure to skin his face carefully; leaving it in tact. As he lay on the ground; a mass of bleeding meat and bone; I placed the skin of his face next to the head. Then, taking a feather and his own blood; I left a note to Lucan next to his face. A simple message "You will regret this day Lucan."

Then, taking Lucan's armor, put it on, and left the palace. I made sure to keep one other item; my father's holy crest, the symbol of the King's Royal legions; an upside-down blade with a symbol of Marr embedded into the ball at the bottom of the handle.

I left the castle and ran to the woods. I did not know where i was running to, I just ran. Slowly, I felt my humanity return. My mind cleared; and I began to feel the pain from the slash. I slowed down and dropped to teh ground; gasping for air; loosing conciousness myself. THe last vision I could remmeber was of a figure cloaked in darkness approaching me.

I was awoken after what seemed like an eternity (although it had only been a day). By an aged old man. He seemed very strong; but he did not look like a mere warrior. He bore robes of sheer black; with a full hood, barely revealing his face.

He revealed to me that Lucan did indeed kill our holy King, Mithaniel. However, Lucan had proclaimed my father the murder of the king. Lucan told the people that he had my father slain in the name of his own. He was announced the new king; and had issued a reward for any information leading to the murderer of his right-hand man and his legionaires. Deep inside, I always felt he knew it was me who killed his men; but he never stated it.

Then, the man told me the truth about myself; the truth I was not supposed to hear. He told me of my gift; and what power I could wield. He told me that it was my duty to avenge the death of the king, and the murder of my father; it was to be my destiny. He explained that it would not be an easy task; but he would train me as best he could to prepare me for it.

He took me to his dungeon deep in the wilderness of the kingdom; in an area no one would dare to tread. There, I would livve and train as his apprentice. The man taught me much. He explained that my gift;, while powerful, would only be effective if I learned to channel it into my fighting ability. He taught me the most expert fighting techniques I had ever hoped to achieve. He even taught me the dark arts of necromancy; how to disease and weaken my enemies, how to drain them of their life-force and use this to feed my own.

Then, after years of gruelling training; my master had finally decided that i was ready. He presented my with my unholy steed, my battle attire; and bid me good luck and farewell. And so, I set off. I rode upon a powerful horse; black as night. My armor was much the same. I wore a full suit of black armor, made of a very light but strudy material, that remained ever polished even after much use; covered by a dark cloak. My weapon, which I named Gravelord's Bane; was an axe; but one like no other. The handle was made of a fine platinum, coverd with jewels, topped off with a figure of a skull. Along the sides of the handle ran two crescent blades; one smooth and fine; the other jagged. The weapon was large enough that it required two hands; but could be swung easily. It was suprizingly light for it's appearance. On my neck; I always wore my fathers holy symbol.

And so, my vengeance began. I would travel throughout the kingdom; searching for clues to where Lucan was (legend had it that he relocated shortly after becoming king). Often, I would encounter his legions. They would attempt to combat me each time. THey were well-trained; but they could do nothing against me. I would kill each patrol; whether 5 people or 25; without much problem. Each would lay dead in a brutal and boarish way; to make an example. At the end, I would always be-head the leader of the group; and leave his head next to his body; enscribed in the front with the symbol on my fathers amulet.

This is what earned me my reputation throughtout the kingdom. As I moved in stealth from town to town; I could hear the town cryer replaying horror stories of me to the village-folk. My people; my former fellow nationals lived in hatred, in fear of me. I did not know why, but this did not prove to be difficult for me to bear. I had learned to scorn the people of my kingdom. I did not hate them; but I did not love them as my countrymen. They once loved my father, they once loved me; but now they pledged their allegeance to Lucan, my sword foe. For this, I felt nothing toward them.

And so, we are at the present once again. I had finally determined the location of Lucan's estate. And, i had plotted my course of vengeance. I would not kill him yet, I would force him to suffer; like he did to me. I would strike at his family.

 

[Lorindellia]

It was the night before my 16th birthday. My coming of age. My beloved Father, King Lucan, was planning a huge banquet to celebrate my years.

I was a bit nervous, having spent most of my life alone with my father except for the tutors, and servants who bustled about our grand home all the time. Tomorow I would be meeting many types of people; including suitors who would vie for the chance to have my hand in marriage some day in the future. The idea of leaving my father to be with a strange man sent shudders down my spine and gave my stomach a churn. I never want to leave my father's side. I love him dearly, he is the only parent I have known.

When I was but a child we had several servants who had become wed in our home and had children. Both the mother and the father had helped to care for their children. One day I asked my father where my mother was. It was then that I found she was killed by a terrible man. The Dark Knight. A man with no face. Later that night, I awoke after experiencing the worst nightmare. A man with armour as black as pitch came to my balcony and entered my room; passing my maid servant who had fallen asleep on the job as she sat in the comfortable rocker. The Dark Knight had a black robe covering his face and back and it blew in the wind making him appear as is he were preturnatural... a vampire about to take flight... I was horrified.

In my dream he came to me as a child, and looked down upon me, and stroked my cheek. Then suddenly he parted my legs and carved, swiftly, and perfectly an inverted cross upon my inner thigh and left. I screamed in fright and pain - awakening my nursemaid. She came and covered me back up and comforted me until I stopped screaming, and then sent for some herbs to make me sleep....

That dream seemed so real that night. Yet the next day, as I was tending to myself, I felt a slight pain between my legs and took a look. There, carved into my inner thigh, was an inverted cross.

I immediately ran down to my father and showed him the marking and told him of my nightmare. He got a grave look on his face and immediately assigned several guards to guard my room at night. Yet this did nothing to ease my fears, and I have had troubled sleep ever since. Our alchemist is always ready with something to help me fall asleep every night....

And so tonight, I stand on my balcony, remembering in vivid detail that night. My hate of the Dark Night for stealing my mother from me, and my fear of him ever being in my presence again. This was a night that should have been very happy for me; and yet it was clouded with age old memories and a feeling of dread.

A knock on my door and the maidservant opened it to allow my father to enter. I ran into his arms, like I had not done since I was but a child. Still, after all these years, he was strong enough to lift me up and let me land about twenty kisses all over his face.

"My child, you are shivering, is there something wrong?" he asked?

"No father, I just have a chill from standing on the balcony watching the stars." I replied. Not wanting to alert him to my unwarranted feelings of doom and gloom.

"Ahh my sweet, you best stay away from the star gazing tonight, we do not want you to get sick before your guests arrive tomorow."

"Oh father, is it really necessary to have this party? Can we not just celebrate, as we used to, with you and I sitting by the fire and you telling me stories of your childhood with my Great Grandfather? Please father. I do not want all this... this attention. It makes me feel queer."

"What, my beautiful daughter not want attention? My sweet, I assure you that you are growing up now and you can not stay with me forever. We will always have each other, but you must marry one day, and how would you meet someone locked away here with only me and the servants? No, you will see. Once you get warmed with mutton you will begin to enjoy the party and the attention. For you are a beautiful young woman now."

Somehow, I did not think I would enjoy it, no matter what he said...

 

[KrazRussian]

The Dark Knight

From the distance, I watched. I watched as Lucan tended to his daughter. I observed him; his face, his eyes. I could tell he trully loved his daughter. "So the power-hungry fiend does have a heart." I thought to myself.

And then, I realized my plan of vengeance. I wold kill Lucan physically, yes. But first, I will kill him emotionally, mentally, psychologically. I would take from him the one he loves most; I will take his daughter from him. I would make him suffer at the thought of what I would do to her. That would be but a small part of the whole that would be my vengeance though. This part, this I would do tonight.

My first stop was the estate of one of the highest ranking officers of the King's coterie. You'd be suprized how the "brave" warriors of the noble legions squirm like dogs and squeal like cowards when they feel death eminent. I made quick work of the paladin and donned myself in his armor; leaving my own in a secret hiding spot in the estate.

That night, I traveled around the town near the King's estate, to where the noblemen gathered. From the information I gathered, it seemed that Lucan's daughter was to turn 16 the very next night. Herself and Lucan were to attend a very formal gathering in celebration of the joyous night, and to find a suitor for the girl. I would make sure that the princess never made it to her party.

After the gathering; I returned to gather my equipment from the noble's estate. I left the bloodied corpse of the paladin lying dead in his bed. By the time the townsfolk found out he was dead; my mission would have already been accomplished.

the next day, toward the waning hours before the party, I ventured back to the King's Castle. My approach would be one of stealth, for I wanted to be assured that Lucan never saw this coming. Therefore, instead of killing the guards physically, I would make them die slowly, unknowingly. I slipped into the winery and brewed the wine served to the servants and guards with a special-brewed serum. The serum would act as an anti-stimulant; causing the body to require sleep immediately. As the victim slept, the serum would travel through his blood and eating through his organs at a gradual rate. The effect would bring gradual pain to the victim; pain that would eventually be unbearable; waking the victim and leaving them gasping for air. Of course; by that time, the vial would have long severed their vocal chords; leaving them unable to cry out for help. Their last action would be to cough up their own blood and organs before their final curtain call.

Till nightfall I waited; and then returned to the castle to carry out the remainder of my plan. Sure enough, the plan worked as intended. As I approached her room; I saw the test subjects of my plan. Two of them were already dead; lying motionlessly in their own blood and mucus. The other two were lying sound asleep; but I could see their bodies twitching involuntarily. The door to the princess' chamber was left a crack open. This could not have gone any better.

As quietly as possible, I opened the door entirely. Quickly, I looked inside. Only a couple of feet from me, the princess stood in what looked to be her attire for the evening,, her back to me; putting on the finishing touches to her ensemble. Refraining myself from laughing in a maniacal manner, I quietly approached closer to her. I could tell she didn't even realize I was there; she seemed to be to deeply entranced in her own to notice me. Then, in my best possible immitation of her private guard, I called out "Pardon my intrusion Your Hindness, but there is a visitor outside that wishes to speak to you." My plan was about to unveil.

 

[Lorindellia]

"I will be with him in a moment" I absent mindedly uttered, as I turned to face the guard. A shadow of fear overcame me as I imagined I saw the Dark Knight of my childhood - right here at my chamber door. Impossible I thought to myself as I rubbed my eyes.

As I looked again I realized my worst fear had come true - it was that Vile man, the Dark Knight standing in front of me. Instinctively my hand went to the inverted cross permanently etched into my thigh so many years ago. No, no, no! This can not be happening!

As my mind wrapped around my current situation I began to notice details, the last thing I recall seeing was my trusted maid servand, seated in a chair behind this evil presence. Blood dripping down her chin and making it's way between her ample breasts. I knew she had died; and I knew I was the reason she was dead...

Just then he spoke, "Utter a sound and you shall join in the fate that many of your father's closest members have suffered."

At the sound of his voice, which was strangely calm, completely devoid of all emotion, I felt the world spin and my knees turn week, and I watched as the floor got closer and closer to my face.

 

[KrazRussian]

The Dark Knight

ooc: sorry about lack of responses recently. Had business to take care of.

ic: Right there, she passed out right in front of my. A pity really, I was really hoping for a little struggle to make this mission at least a little bit interesting. But, oh well, it's hard to argue with success.

I picked up the unconcious princess and placed her over my shoulder. I would be out and far from the castle before anyone realized what had happend. Right before exiting the room, I place her back on the floor, and grab another feather. Then, with the blood of the newly-dead princess' maid, I left Lucan another message.

"I warned you of this day to come. You and I both know what happend then. Of course, you actions came without consequence. Until now. Now, you will pay." Ending the letter with my trademark symbol; I picked up the princess and deserted the hollowed castle. I would not take her back to my home. No, this place would be special; a place whose significance only me nad Lucan trully know.

 

[Lorindellia]

As I became aware of my surroundings I realized that I was outside, in the chill of the night. Something I had never experienced before as my Father had forbidden my leaving the castle after dark...

A strange man was holding me in his arms, close to his chest. His black armor rough on my cheek. It was then I realized my predicament and I began to scream loudly for help. I bucked, and twisted and hit him and even tried to bite him; but it did no good.

Instead with every protest of my being he...