The Dragonis War

[Asakai-miko-Midoriko]

"You....I've seen you before..." Asakai looked at the newcomer. She had been busy redressing some of Thaltos' wounds. She stood up and got closer to the newcomer before touching his cheek."...but where...?"

[Final Warrior]

His skin was as cold as the air; it was as if he were corpse, with no heat emanating from his body. His gauntleted hand reached up and gently, but firmly, grasped Asakai's hand, sliding it away. He bowed low to the woman. As he rosem he stated his name. "I am... Griffinhart. Perhaps you recognize the name, though I have never walked this plane before."

[Asakai-miko-Midoriko]

"....I have seen you before...but that was so long ago.....So you do have a name..." Asakai smiled at him before removing her hand. She bowed to him."I never...thanked you...you saved my life when I was a child."

[VoxEladrin]

((Sorry I was at a reunion of my own for the weekend.))

Torque didn't drop his guard at the newcomer and, even raised it up when Asakai said she remembered him. He had sensed a void from this man, one of emptiness that will probably never fill. He made him all the more suspicious.

((Raph, you're forgetting Heir to the Stone King and the NC rps too, Chelz, you're also due for a post in Heir))

[Asakai-miko-Midoriko]

((No one has posted in forever so I'lll go post now I guess in Heir that is.))

"I realize you haven't walked this plane and stayed but you see when I was a very young child I was traveling with a Priest...he was gravely injured while we were on another plane and I had not yet come into my powers...You saved me from those creatures...and then you were gone." She spoke deep in thought. It was so long ago and she tended to block out memories.

[Final Warrior]

((Yeah... writer's block.))

His eyes were blank, the memory of such a deed lost from him. This plane didn't feel familiar, but then... what did? He had forgotten so much, and gained so little. But he bowed his head. "Forgive me... I do not remember such a thing, though you say it happened. Perhaps it did." He looked about, tryng to discern what he could. A battle had been fought here, and at least one person was wounded. "A battle. Against whom?"

[Ninja_Blue]

Balthizar got serious, he stepped foward and spoke up, "Against Daemon's elite guard." he held a hand up, stopping Griffinhart from asking the question, "Daemon is a demon lord, who works in the shadows. He is the one who made you devoid of memory, at least that is what I theorize. And we defeated his elite guard in battle, well, at least all but one. Let me introduce myself, I am Balthizar, or as many know me by, Balthizar Devourer of Souls, former General of Daemon's demonic army." Balthizar bowed.

[Vadriel]

Thaltos stirred and groaned. Drifting back into consciousness, he pushed himself up off the ground to his knees. Slowly standing, he stretched and winced, putting a hand to his back as pain shot up his spine from the blow he'd taken when he was thrown against the marble pillar. "Unngh...that's gonna be sore tomorrow."

He noticed a newcomer, and stood up straight in spite of his injuries. Instinctively he reached to his back for the Shears, and his gaze whipped over to the stone statue that was formerly Vaal, one blade still embedded in his underside and the other in his outstretched hand. The newcomer making no offensive movements and the rest of his comrades around him showing no animosity, Thaltos relaxed a little and nodded a greeting. "Hi..be right back."

He walked, rubbing his sore neck with one hand and stumbling a little bit, over to Vaal and bent down to rip the Shear out of his underbelly. The action sent more pain up his arm and back, but he didn't care. The forcible removal of the blade cracked Vaal and the statue fell to the ground, shattering, the other Shear skittering off a short distance. Thaltos wandered over to it and picked it up, sheathing it alongside its brother across his back.

Feeling a lot more secure now that his weapons were safely recovered, Thaltos half staggered, half swaggered over to the others and leaned one shoulder against a ruined building pillar. Looking the newcomer over, he nodded again.

"So...who are you?"

[Final Warrior]

The warrior bowed his head in politeness. "I am Griffinhart." He surveyed the ravaged area again, wondering still why he was pulled to this plane and then Anchored to it, making it impossible for him to simply Walk away.

"I have been bound to this plane, for now." He turned to regard to band of combatants. "I am not familiar with this plane... would you care for another pair of blades? Perhaps your battle is mine as well."

[VoxEladrin]

Something sparked in Torque's memory when he heard the name Griffinhart. Something he read before...He then remembered. "Griffinhart, you wouldn't happen to be Raphael Griffinhart, the Final Warrior from the Third War, are you?" He asked, removing his hand from Deathscream's pommel. If this was the Griffinhart he read about, this man was as ancient as the Dragonis bloodline.

[Vadriel]

Thaltos was too tired to be impressed. All he did was pop his neck and cross his arms, then shrugged.

"If you're here to help and not to hinder, then I personally don't have a problem with you tagging along."

[Asakai-miko-Midoriko]

"If Griffinhart does join us...then there is no need for more people is there?" She looked at Torque."You're trying to get rid of us aren't you?" Gojyo spoke looking at her."I have other methods of getting rid of you if necessary." She got in his face."If you want us to leave then we'll go! Come on Tsubaki." Gojyo took hold of Tsubaki's hand starting to leave. Tsubaki broke free and ran and hugged Asakai."Get off me before I decide to send you to your grave again." Asakai spoke so deadly venom dripped from her words.Tsubaki let go tears streaming down her face. Tsubaki turned to Torque,"I wish you well on your journey." Her tears flooded and Gojyo put an arm around her as They both headed towards the exit of the town. Akira looked back at Asakai before running off and joining her parents.

[Final Warrior]

His eyes flashed. A memory, a story, came back to him. A Demon engulfed him in its jaws, as an Angel tore away his flesh; the world was lost to him.

Griffinhart gripped his head, his skull pounding. He fell to his knees struggling with the passed milennia; the others crowded closer to him, but he pushed them away. "No... stay... stay back! He is... has been... Released!" This last word came out as a horrible screech, like the wail of a banshee. A horrible beast took partial form, almost like a ghost, sprouting from Griffinhart's back; its maw hung open, teeth as long as eternity and sharp as forever dripping with venom, talons dangling from hands disproportionately large. It spoke, both a whisper and a roar. The words were indescribable horror, a tongue unrecognized by anyone present. The beast shambled forward, struggling agains tthe only thing anchoring it down; the huddled form of Griffinhart, yelling against the maelstrom. The terror reached forward, snagging its smoke-like form on the trees, reaching for the closest being: Asakai.

And then it winked out of existence; no bang, no whisper, no lights. The creature simply ceased to be. Where the ghost-beast touched, no life remained. At the epicenter stood Griffinhart, swaying; around him, in a perfect circle, the area was blasted clean of life. No grass grew, and trees had been sheared out of existence.

He looked up, silver-aqua eyes glowing in the night. "Yes, I am he. The last one to don armor and draw steel, the only warrior who fell and rose again." Smoke wreathed his body, forming ghosts and shadows in the moonlight. "And you are a child of the Dragonis line. What is required of me?"

[Asakai-miko-Midoriko]

(( My last post until sunday my family reunion time.))
She had jumped back at the beasts swipe at her. This was the second time she had seen that beast only this time she wasn't a child."That was too close for my comfort." She managed to find her cloak and decided to put it on.

[VoxEladrin]

The creature that spurt forth from Griffinhart's back startled Torque a bit and he stepped back. When its existence ceased to be, He returned to his own spot again. "The Dragonis family never commanded you. Hm, I remember a bit of an old poem from the books... how did it go again... Spawn of Lord Death, child of Lady Life. Which means you are defiantly not of this world. Raphael, we are going to fight Daemon and end his reign so that the land will be at peace again."

[Final Warrior]

"No, your bloodline never commanded me, but your blood did compel me, call me... and bound me. Until I have served you as needed, I remain on this plain." He listened to the stanza of an ancient poem recalling his lineage, and Torque's declaration.

"Flesh of Death, Blood of Life, / Built and Born, meant for Strife... If it is to battle you go, then my blades will be at your beck and call, though I do not know if I can say the same for my... Demons and Angels."

[Ninja_Blue]

"Interesting....very interesting...." Balthizar whispered.

He spoke up, "If you are enemy of Daemon, than you are a friend of mine." Balthizar extended a hand, "Great to meet you Griffinhart, if I may call you that, and welcome to the party." Balthizar said cheerfully with a smile.

[Asakai-miko-Midoriko]

"If possible I'd like to get going...If we stay in one place Daemon is bound to send more....well idiots." She spoke with a sigh."That and I'm sure we are not welcome here anymore....." She pointed behind her to the crowd of villagers presently glaring at there party.

[Asakai-miko-Midoriko]

She felt a cold chill run down her spine. She froze slightly before heading away from the party."...don't wait for me....I'll catch up..." Her voice was distant. She ended up making her way into the forest. Whispers...she could here them. No...calling to her. She stopped somewhere she assumed was a clearing.The voice was unfamiliar but yet she felt she knew it.'...I have an offer to make...' the voice spoke.

[Ninja_Blue]

Balthizar slung Hibiki and Michi across his back, he spoke impatiently, "Lets get going, I don't wish to stay here any longer....and the villagers wish the same for us." He started walking towards the road.