Zsarachnor, the Reborn, Returns for Revenge! (Part 1 of 3)

Ayukazi

--- Bloodloch: Standing before the ebon pylon of Bloodloch -----

Terrible pressure emanates forth from the depths of Azdun, spreading across Sapience.

Shadows roll off Ayuna's gown, rising above her to display a glowing insignia of crossed fists before dissipating.

Rhyot raises an eyebrow questioningly.

Zsarachnor, Reborn shouts, "Did you truly think you were so easily rid of me, usurper?"

Ayuna thinks: That's near the Lair...

Rhyot blinks.

Ayuna says to Rhyot, "You blinked."

Rhyot says to Ayuna, "Zsarachnor speaks. He was buried in Azdun."

Ayuna asks, "Why?"

Rhyot says, "A long, long time ago."

Ayuna inspects her surroundings and expresses her opinion with an unimpressed "tch."

Ayuna rushes off to the Azdun dungeon, Rhyot following shortly behind.

Ardent enters from the up, riding a giant, black-furred wolf. Rhyot arrives from the up. Ardent leaves to the west, riding a giant, black-furred wolf. Rhyot begins to follow Ayuna.

Seurimas arrives from the up. Seurimas leaves to the west. Vaeth is here. He is riding on a menacingly-armored stallion. He wields a long, dragon-crested tower shield in his left hand. A dark aura surrounds Qelres, bringing the smell of decay in from the south. Mjoll leaves to the east, followed by Ehtias. She is followed by a chestnut warhound, a chestnut warhound, a ghostly warhound, a hulking, black-haired boar, a mahogany warhound, a white warhound, and a white warhound.

Archelaus enters from the east, riding a gentle pony. He is followed by a green slime.

Rhyot says, "Shall I go search for him?"

(Carnifex): Tina says, "Found him."

Ayuna says to Rhyot, "Yes."

Qelres says, "The statuette?"

(Carnifex): Ayuna says, "Where?"

(Tells): Rhyot tells Ayuna, "Here."

Archelaus inclines his head politely to those around him.

As Ayuna touches an entwined venantium locket it begins to glow softly, and she feels a tugging at her soul.

(Carnifex): Tina says, "Right before the descent to the new village in Azdun."

Ayuna is pulled along by an entwined venantium locket, warping through space to meet with Rhyot.

--- The Azdun Dungeon: Collapsed stairway -----

A mhun worker sits on a block of stone here, enjoying his lunch. Wreathed in darkness with an elongated blade at his side, Zsarachnor stands here, wrapped in an aura of shadow and power.

A small wooden pyramid has been left here. There are 2 white warhounds here. A ghostly white warhound stands here, silently watching. There are 2 hulking, black-haired boars here. Ominiously silent, a mahogany warhound stands here, teeth bared. There are 2 chestnut warhounds here. Ehtias is here. He is riding on a midnight black stallion. He wields a bardiche in his hands. Rhyot is here. Lilein is here. She wields a rose relief buckler in her left hand. Tina is here, hidden. She is riding on a phoenix of corruption. She wields a skin bound codex of corrupt races in her left hand and a reinforced tower shield in her right. Mjoll is here. She wields a blackened warhammer in her hands. Azarae is here. Kanivara is here. She is riding on a hulking, black-haired boar. She wields a oversized carrot on a stick shaped warhammer in her hands.

Lilein deftly flips a rose relief buckler over her back, strapping it in place.

A dark aura surrounds Qelres, bringing the smell of decay in from the east.

Lilein pulls a gruesome crescent scythe from her weaponbelt fluidly. Lilein starts to wield a gruesome crescent scythe in her hands. Splitting open her palm, Lilein runs the blood along a gruesome crescent scythe. It quivers lightly in response.

Kanivara lets out a sharp whistle for Alystriin, a sadistic, jade tainted warhound to return to her side.

Zsarachnor, Reborn turns black eyes to those gathered here, his slow gait temporarily halted. "Have you come to witness?" he asks in a low, unconcerned voice.

Raynia arrives from the east. She is followed by Mortelle, a sable warhound, a insectoid amalgamation resembling a wyvern, a sable warhound, a sable warhound, and a thick-furred albino tiger.

Mjoll snorts arrogantly.

As Azarae wields a corrupted violet-eyed eldritch scythe, jade tendrils lash out to bind their hands and forearms.

Qelres draws a jaw bone dagger, the toothed blade an opulent, ominous glimmer in their hand.

Ehtias drops a tall, white cup.

Seurimas arrives from the east.

Rhyot says, "You were buried under a tomb you shouldn't have been able to climb out of."

Seurimas leaves to the east.

Ayuna gazes over the Reborn with slitted eyes. "This is not your domain."

Ardent pulls a throwing axe from his weaponbelt fluidly. Ardent starts to wield a throwing axe in his left hand.
Ardent pulls a throwing axe from his weaponbelt fluidly. Ardent starts to wield a throwing axe in his right hand.

"Yet climb I did," Zsarachnor, Reborn retorts. The temporary distraction forgotten, the vampire resumes his journey to the Black Keep.

Wreathed in shadows, Zsarachnor departs to the east.

Ardent leaves to the east, riding a giant, black-furred wolf. Rhyot leaves to the east.

Raynia blinks.

Stine's eyes flash with rage. Stine leaves to the east, riding a sleek, golden horse.

(Tells): Rhyot tells Ayuna, "Here."

(Order): Ayuna says, "Find him."

(Order): Qelres says, "He's here."

Ayuna is pulled along by an entwined venantium locket, warping through space to meet with Rhyot.

--- The Azdun Dungeon: A moss covered corridor -----

A spiked flail held within its grip, an arachnid Chiav guard monitors the area closely. Wreathed in darkness with an elongated blade at his side, Zsarachnor stands here, wrapped in an aura of shadow and power.

Rhyot is here. Lilein is here. She wields a gruesome crescent scythe in her hands. Qelres is here, giving off a truly ghastly stench. The Azudim wields a bejeweled jaw bone dagger in their left hand. Vaeth is here. He is riding on a menacingly-armored stallion. He wields a long, dragon-crested tower shield in his left hand.

Rhyot eyes Zsarachnor, Reborn, giving him the once over.

The arachnid Chiav guard catches Zsarachnor, Reborn's attention. "Pathetic," he sneers, raising a hand. The Chiav warps under the sudden pressure, blowing apart in a ruin of gore.

Zsarachnor, Reborn says, "This is what she has spent her time on? I will do her the favour of ending that miserable existence."

(Bloodloch): A humble bellman says, "The curse of dawn approaches."

A spiked flail held within its grip at a moss covered fountain, an arachnid Chiav guard monitors the area closely. Rhyot is here.

(Tells): Rhyot tells Ayuna, "I think he is headed towards the throne room?"

A monstrous spider is lurking here, its green eyes glowing with menace. A huge pulsating spider moves towards you, your death in its eyes. Ayuna heeds no mind to the attacks. The entourage chase through the Forest of Webs towards the entrance of the Black Keep.

Zsarachnor, Reborn pauses for a moment to run the Chiav patroller through with his blade, a smile appearing as he shears it in half.

(Order): Ayuna says, "On alert. He is close to Her Lair."

(Order): Malcanthet says, "Who is this?"

Wreathed in shadows, Zsarachnor departs to the north.

(Order): Ayuna says, "One who thinks he has claim to Her territory."

Tracking continues. Ayuna gives an icy hiss.

(Order): Malcanthet says, "Shall I call him mud?"

(Tells): Through the ether, Lilein utters to Ayuna, "Is there any particular reason we are not fighting him? We are charged with assisting the Black Keep as well, aren't we?"

This Chiav, Zsarachnor, Reborn simply punches in the face, the force blowing its head clear off.

(Tells): Rhyot tells Ayuna, "We might have to fight more than just Zsarachnor."

Ardent purses his lips pensively, gazing thoughtfully at some distant point.

A shallow rumble echoes through the air around you and a small piece of soil falls from above to the ground.

Wreathed in shadows, Zsarachnor departs to the west.

Silent and swift on its eight spider legs, a Chiav patroller strides in from the west.

Ardent leaves to the west, riding a giant, black-furred wolf.

(Tells): On a soft, clicking whisper, Ayuna hisses against Lilein's mind, "Those he killed are weak. It takes one hit for him to kill the Chiav. What will you do?"

Rhyot leaves to the west. Ayuna follows after her allies depart.

Wreathed in shadows, Zsarachnor departs to the northeast.

--- The Azdun Dungeon: Ledge next to a waterfall -----

A huge drawbridge spans the chasm. Dripping black ichor, a heaping skeleton of bone creates a construct from the earth here. Showing two crossed fists, a tattered, bloodstained flag has been raised here. Covered in streaks of blood, Draden's pet pigeon is here. Draden "the Mauler" Jibbs is here, every movement showcasing his roughshod demeanour. A small red slice of heart muscle lies here. An adorably decorative paper cup has been tossed aside as refuse here. Wreathed in darkness with an elongated blade at his side, Zsarachnor stands here, wrapped in an aura of shadow and power.

There are 2 white warhounds here. A ghostly white warhound stands here, silently watching. There are 2 hulking, black-haired boars here. Ominiously silent, a mahogany warhound stands here, teeth bared. There are 2 chestnut warhounds here. The sickly sweet stench of death and decay wafts off of a sadistic, jade tainted warhound here. Suspended in a web of ethereal, fickle light, a luminescent spider spirit waits here. Khelzya is here. She wields a vicious light brown dhurive in her hands. Ehtias is here. He is riding on a midnight black stallion. He wields a bardiche in his hands. Valeria is here. She is riding on an oversized toad. She wields a Shamanic quarterstaff in her hands. Mjoll is here. She wields a blackened warhammer in her hands. Kanivara is here. She is riding on a hulking, black-haired boar. She wields a oversized carrot on a stick shaped warhammer in her hands. Ardent is here. He is riding on a giant, black-furred wolf. He wields a throwing axe in his left hand and a rune-covered cavalry shield in his right. This area has been overgrown with a swathe of seething plantlife.

A dark aura surrounds Qelres, bringing the smell of decay in from the southwest. Archelaus enters from the southwest, riding a gentle pony. He is followed by a green slime. Stine enters from the southwest, riding a sleek, golden horse. Rhyot arrives from the southwest. Lilein enters from the southwest, followed by Vaeth. She is followed by a menacingly-armored stallion.

Ardent sharply inhales, maintaining the force and pacing of his battlechant with another shout. A red mist tints Ayuna's vision, and her limbs seem to hum with pent up energy and power, needing to be released with harder strikes upon her foes.

(Tells): Through the ether, Lilein utters to Ayuna, "I am but one, but we have many."

Draden "the Mauler" Jibbs straightens up from his slouch as Zsarachnor enters. The man's usually casual demeanour stiffens, silently watching the vampire.

Kanivara shifts her grip on a oversized carrot on a stick shaped warhammer as she adjusts her stance, gaze focused on Zsarachnor, Reborn.

Upon the drawbridge, and in front of Draden, Ayuna watches intently.

Valeria utters a guttural chant, enacting the Oath of the Durdalis.

A spider spirit is startled into wakefulness! A spider spirit seems to settle down.

With a flick of her wrist, Malcanthet conjures a fine layer of magic sand that settles over everything in sight.

Zsarachnor, Reborn takes a step towards Draden. Then another and then - the third is blocked by some unseen force. The vampire casts a contemptuous glare at a shrine of Iosyne. "I will return for you," he promises.

Wreathed in shadows, Zsarachnor departs to the east.

Qelres just thought: You will not touch him.

Passing over the bridge and arriving at the Black Gates, entrance to the Black Keep, Ayuna deducts the destination of the vampire, readying herself to defend the one in the room ahead.

All in attendance head with haste after Zsarachnor, the Reborn, further through the reception hall within the Black Keep.

Wreathed in shadows, Zsarachnor departs to the east.

Ardent says, "Yep."

Ayuna notices that the ancient tyrant vampire heads east to the throneroom of Llazuth, the Malevolent's priestess. Without another word, the entourage heads after him.