Immanuel's Duels

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Immanuel versus Vyrick
Death Duel



Immanuel stands proudly before the King. The robe of retirement he wears begins to shimmer and change. Black laces down the sleeves and seems to burn upwards from the bottom. Within moments cloth has changed into a black robe without insignia. The vampire raises his tainted eyes and at the same time he snaps both hands down. Loud ‘cracks’ resound throughout the area, as he moves his body around; clearing the rust that has formed in his injured joints. Once again tainted eyes are allowed to fall onto the form of the king. An almost sad sigh escapes Immy’s lips before he speaks to Vyrick, “King, I gave thee warning: I said that if you harassed my former wife I would kill you. The time has now come for me to make true my words. Be ready.” The sad look does not leave the mage’s face as he begins to mumble something. Flames that were once so familiar burst into life around the vampire. They flare brightly, as if resenting their time of stagnation, forced upon them by their master’s laziness. The sad look melts off Immanuel’s face as the strength returns to his wary body, the power of his ancestors once more flows cleanly through his tainted blood, and once more his face twists into a mask of hatred. Two pallid hands are lifted from their place at his side before the vampire screams four words of power. From the very tips of his pale fingers, power spews out. It holds no real form, just a tsunami of death aimed solely at Vyrick... The flames around the vampire once more flare as the power is released; this time they flare into the figure of a giant dragon…
Vyrick laughs loudly at Immanuels words yet gives no reply. As the wave of energy comes upon him, he raises the Soulcutter before him like a shield. The energy envelops the Vampire king as it passes, leaving no trace within as you begin to smell the scent of charred flesh and burned clothing. As the last of the energy passes, you see Vyrick, now horrendously burned to the point where his features are hardly recognizable to the man who had been standing there not a few moments ago. Although his lips have now been turned to little but ash, he still opens his mouth enough to give out a hissing laugh. His knees begin to buckle and finally give way as Vyrick in turn plunges his axe to the ground. The very earth itself seems to scream out in pain as the winds suddenly pick up. Trees creak and eventually break around the area as many different objects are strewn into the air. Whirling about them, this torrential onslaught bears a funneled form around them as heavy object after heavy object is cast about in a drained manner, swirling each around and soon coming upon the firey form of Immanuel…
Immanuel eyes the trees and rubble the flies at him rapidly. An almost disappointed look forms on his pale features before he raises his hand and begins to chant. The flames in front of his flare more brightly than the rest, forming quickly the face of a dragon. The mouth is opened and the trees thrown by Vyrick enter this void. Smoke issues ironicly from where the dragons is and within seconds the trees have gone, leaving Immanuel unhurt. A dark grin forms on his pale lips before he snaps his hand to the left and lets forth a dark, sadistic scream, which quickly forms the words, “Soulbrother!” The air inches before the mage’s out stretched hand begins to wave, as if a great heat was suddenly burning there. Within seconds the outline of a staff is formed. More moments pass and the weapon Immanuel used to destroy Lyra forms more solidly until it is floating quite comfortably next to its master. Pallid digits wrap around the crimson staff, and with a scream of pure ecstasy the staff is bought in front of his face. Tainted, sanguine-hued orbs lock onto the skull that decorates the weapon and mad laughter spews out of his stained lips. The flames, as if recognizing this vile weapon, dance and weave with more power than before. The ground beneath the maddened vampire begins to crystallize, the air cracks and spits with the heat and in the middle of all this Immanuel stands tall and proud, once more bloodlust has blinded reason, burnt away love and most of all, doomed this warrior to once more kill. The mage turns the staff so the skull is facing the already injured king. Once more words of power escape stained lips and once more their effect is instant! From the tip of the weapon a small beam of dark light shoots forth. It cleaves cleanly through the raging fires and flies straight for the King. Its intentions are unknown to all, including Immanuel, this power is not his to control. It is the weapon. For a moment you wonder who is really in control, the weapon or the vampire, but these thoughts melt away as curiousity over Vyrick’s fate burns it away.
Vyrick hisses at the display of power from the staff of Immanuel. As his anger builds, Vyrick rises quickly and swings the Soulcutter directly at the beam of energy. The two collide and begin their own battle as Vyrick shouts out to no specific being “ There is only one master of souls ONE! “ as without warning given, the area erupts in a explosion of dark energy around the Ancient. As you continue to look on, you see several emanations of discontented faces and bodies fly out from this ensuing maw and disappear into the air. Once more the darkened area explodes as all the area is covered in a moment of complete pitch. When sunlight has begun to finally return, you see Vyrick leaning backwards, as if a fall was stopped by an unseen force. His mouth is open as if to shout or curse in anger, yet you cannot detect any sound from him. Yet as you look on, you see one sight that shuns each of the previous ones. Vyricks hands are still held before him, grasping the handle to the Soulcutter… but the handle is now all that remains. The beam of dark energy that is cast from Immanuels staff now impales the king of Modova through the chest, holding him in place after completely obliterating the hellish weapon that was cast in its way…
Immanuel glares wickedly at what is left of the king. His old arrogance has been once more burned into his tortured face. The flames that dance around his pallid form flare for a final time before they vanish from wherever they came. The master of souls walks over to the still form of the king and without hesitating he slams his hand through the kings already wounded chest and with a vile sound, that causes the hair to stand up on your neck, the mage rips out the heart of the king. Without waiting another moment, the mage swings his weapon with his free hand; it slams full force into the skull of the king. This instantly explodes sending blood and brains splashing in all directions. A dark, powerful light begins to emit from the dead king, it is his soul. As soon as this appears, Immanuel screams three words of power. The staff in his hand shoots out once more and impales the dark, unearthly light. Tortured screams are heard from everywhere and nowhere. These die as a violent flash explodes from where the king was. When this too has died down all that is left is a panting Immanuel. His crimson weapon has once again changed. As when Shylah’s soul ran through it, white lines have cut through the red, they swirl and climb the shaft. With this done Immanuel turns to Alexia and lowers his eyes, “This is who I really am. I am sorry you had to see this.”





Immanuel versus Alexander



Immanuel lets his bloodstained lips curl into a wicked smile. “Well meet Alexander, it is a honour to meet you in battle once more.” Never letting the smile fall from his lips, the mage wraps his strong hands around his weapon, and with a slight grunt drives it into the ground. With his hands now free, he begins to trace patterns in the air. His movements are arcane, precise and accompanied by a slow chant. Faint white lines begin to form behind the trailing limbs, but this doesn’t change their speed or their pre-ordained design. The lines slowly start to connect together, forming a complicated patter in the air. When finished, the pattern floats up above the two warriors and bathes them in it’s unholy light. Immanuel lifts his hands above his head and begins to scream… all his hatred, all his pain, let free in one vile action. The pattern reacts to this by shining more brightly, as if the hatred fuels its dark power. Lowering his hands, he once again wraps pallid fingers around his weapon, and draws if out of the ground. With the crimson staff once more in his hands, Immanuel spreads his wings, and launches himself towards Alexander. The light that rains from the sky flares brightly for a second and when it returns to normal, the mage is gone… A lengthy scream suddenly shatters the silence, and from within the pattern of darkness Immanuel shoots forth! Physically little has changed, only his eyes which now are a black so complete they challenge ones sanity, and the staff he once carried is no more, it is replaced dark sword. As the demonic vampire continues on his way towards Alexander, black flames shoot out of his form, burning all that they touch instantly. “You wanted power Alexander! Feel the wrath of my ancestors!” The flames shoot forward at the paladin, their heat enough that the ground starts to crystallise. Following in their wake, the vampire swings his sword, with skill he does not normally possess, at the paladin’s neck. It’s clean edge looks not just for flesh, but also for the champion of hope’s soul….
Alexander issues forth into the air, avoiding the blades stroke as he looks downwards upon his foe. The flames that encircle him now mold themselves into the visage of a great bird, depicting his true self. This Phoenix entity opens its beak and shrieks out at Immanuel, yet its call bears with it a voice that plunges into the minds of all nearby. “ You have learned nothing of our last encounter vampire. I have existed far beyond your concept of time. “ it speaks as with no other word spoken, it casts its flight in a large circular pattern. With each flap of its wings the winds grow stronger. Again it issues out a shriek but it speaks no clear language to you. In the distance of the nearby forest you hear the calls of various animals and beasts. Louder they grow in response to the Phoenix as the ground shudders. Without warning, a mass of creatures both magical and mundane rampage from all directions of town, forest, and air directly at Immanuel. Claws slash, hooves kick and talons grasp at him as Alexander flies overhead, bearing witness to the allies he has summoned as they continue their stampede at the mage…
Immanuel watches the animals appear, and lets horribly bored expression finds its way onto his face. Tilting his wings, his forward momentum quickly shifts to upwards, and he soars high into the sky, stopping only when he is equalled that of Alexander. “Animals?! You don’t take me seriously! Bah!” The pattern that still floats above the two suddenly distorts, the light that once poured forth, is stopped, and pitch black is all that is left. Out of the dark abyss, three souls emerge. Their strength seems to drown out all others, as they float to Immanuel, and surround his form. Opening himself up to them, they dissolve into his being, causing a moan of pleasure to escape his lips. Now whored with power that is not his own, the mage faces one open palm at Alexander, and one at the animals which lace the ground below. “Feel now the true strength of my fallen kin!” Black power spews out of his two hands. As the power reaches the animals panicked, screams are heard as the beasts try to escape. Any who are touched instantly age at a horrific rate, and soon the ground is decorated with dry, white bones. Returning his attention upward, he watches the remaining power rush at Alexander, attempting to do to him, what it just did to the pathetic animals of Hollow…
Alexander attempts to outmaneuver this energy that seeks to claim him, but to no avail. It surrounds him quickly as you see his form begin to succumb. His skin wrinkles horribly and his hair turns to a brilliant white. As his body ages, his wings no longer able to support his armored body lose their strength and lift. Alexander falls helplessly to the ground among his now dead allies as you hear several large cracking sounds, his brittle bones shattering like thin glass. A final breath emanates from his lips as he lies broken upon the ground. The energy surrounding him fades, its job now done as no further life energy exists within the knight of hope to take. A silence grips the area. Cold and bleak as if the world itself had grinded to a halt at this single death when you feel the winds ripping you from this silenced state. They continue on course as they had when summoned as the fires around Alexanders body begin to flicker once more. The heat rises swiftly, burning away the flesh of the mortal form as the ashes are taken up into the air. Dancing and spiraling these embers and ashen remains float above when oddly, the winds converge upon each other, taking the cremated body and thrusting it together in a giant sphere. As the last miniscule part touches with the others, this sphere explodes in a mass of fire and light. As eyes adjust, you see now within it the form of a man, naked in a fetal position, looking as if just born when his eyes open. He looks down upon Immanuel in silence as Runeblade sings loudly, recognizing the form. It shoots up from its place among the fallen empty armor to the hand of the man as he stretches out, showing his face to the crowd. Reborn from the ashes of old, Alexander floats once more, taking in a newfound breath as if it were his first. He places the tip of Runeblade to his forehead as his eyes burst with green flame. Unbeknownst to those without the sense, Alexanders mind reaches out to Immanuels, attempting to grasp hold as it sends forth recollections of past injuries sustained in battle. Vivid as if they were cut this moment, they each seek to lash at the vampire with such a mental force as to cause the same injuries upon his body through the conduit of his own mind…
Immanuel screams in triumph as Alexander dies, but his screams quickly fade away, as the ashes of the beast rejoin, and grant life to his soul once more. Rage filters though the blackness of his eyes, as sanguine vines slighter across the blackness. “NO!” In his enraged state, the mage doesn’t notice what the paladin is doing until it is too late. Horrendous wounds rip his flesh apart. Slashes, stabs, swipes and the effects of hundreds of spells all lavish their attention upon the small form that is Immanuel. Within no time, the mage too dies. What is left none could identify, his entire body has become one giant wound… Silence once again emerges on the battlefield, and like always it is quickly shattered! The portal, which Immanuel has left open, glows once more! And from within its dark grasp the soul of the vampire emerges. Standing tall and proud the soul starts to solidify, and within moments flesh has once again incarcerated the soul. Looking up at the portal, Immanuel speaks slowly. “Come brothers, let’s end this now!” The now glowing portal starts to spew the souls of Immanuel’s kin. Though these ones are not as strong as the original three, their power is still great. As the last one rips itself free, the portal closes, and the souls converge around the newly formed vampire. “Not even you can stop this Alexander! Your holy power will not halt my plans!” As if this were a command the souls float over to the phoenix. The small light they emit blacks out any light from the flames, as they surround his form. They halt for but a moment, before all rush in. The flames do not seem to bother them at all, as they make their way towards Alexander himself. Hundreds of hands reach out, each one going for a different part of him, as they seek to blanket the warrior, and drag him back to which ever hell they all call home…
Alexander slashes forth with the Sword of Hope, cutting only a few down with each stroke of the mighty weapon as the others close in around him. As each takes hold, Alexander looks upwards to the skies with a pleading look. His voice snuffed as his neck becomes caught by several of these dark emanations. As his breath begins to leave him, the clouds begin to shimmer with a silvery sparkle. As you look upon them, small forms begin to cast down from the skies. As each comes closer, you see their heavenly forms. Male and female each bearing a set of near ethereal wings that glow with several colors float down. Clad in no armor, carrying no weapon these heavenly beings come upon the mass of evil souls. Each reaching out their hands, they touch these souls gently sending them into ferocious convulsions as each angel begins to whisper prayers and songs of forgiveness. These darkened beings suddenly burst with light, a light that banishes the darkness in their very beings as each releases its hold on Alexander. Together, both soul and angel rise from the mortal plane to return together to the heavens once more as Alexanders breath finds him once more. He turns his attention to his armor components now strewn along the ground. He holds his empty hand out to them as they each begin to shudder under their owners command. Suddenly each piece shoots forth from their rested place towards Immanuel. As each bears upon him, they attempt to latch themselves to his body, armoring him in their holy metal. As each does this the power of all lunges out at the vampire, attacking not his body, nor his mind, but his very essence, the things that make up his evil nature in their power, attempting to turn him towards the light, change his image to that of good and pure as Alexander floats above, commanding each to its combined attack on the vampire…
Immanuel watches his fallen brethren float into the sky. A deep feeling of contentment bathes his troubled mind. “Rest well brothers.” Looking once more at Alexander, he fails to notice the armour until it is too late. The pieces latch onto his being, incarcerating him in a prison of light. Unable to move his body, he looks up at Alexander, expecting to see him rushing forwards, but before he can even spot the phoenix, his essence suddenly screams in pain! The scream takes but a moment to make its way out Immanuel’s real mouth. It is a scream of pain, of hurt and most of all, of hatred; Hatred of who he is, who he let himself become. The holy fury ravages every part of him, driving the darkness away. His pallid body starts to convulse, blood spews out of his mouth, and down the armour of light. Expecting death, Immanuel latches on to the one thing he really loves in this vile world, Alexia. Thoughts of her full his pain racked mind, driving away the darkness inside. As if fooled by this, the armour stops glowing, and fall piece by piece to the ground. The vampire falls along side the holy items, his wings lay bloodied behind his back, all but useless. His downward momentum is stopped abruptly as the ground catches his fall. The still white bones offer little cushion as they shatter around his form. Slowly the mage lets the thoughts of Alexia drift away, he lets his mind once again be tortured by the darkness. Slowly he stands and looks up at the floating form of Alexander, and once again he speaks to the warrior of hope. “Thank you… You granted my kin forgiveness, and let them once more live in paradise. For that we will fight no more.”





Immanuel versus Kiya



Immanuel chuckles as his eyes look over Kiya. “You do have pretty eyes. I think I will take them now.” Spreading his majestic wings, the dragon takes off, soaring higher and higher, until he is but a speck above the battlefield. Turning in the air, to face his elvic opponent, Immanuel draws, out of his robe, a small, clear crystal. Looking deep into it, the mage giggles a little, then drops it. As soon as it leaves his hands, Immanuel faces his out-stretched arm at it, palm out. Chanting a simple spell, he sends a slightly off-white beam of magic at the crystal. The mage’s aim like usual, is perfect, and the beam of magic enters one side of the stone. As it exits out the other side, it is split into hundreds of smaller beams, each one raining down on the battlefield. The crystal continues to fall next to the beams, occasionally catching one of them, causing it to break into even smaller beams, until the view of Immanuel is blocked out, buy his, simple seeming spell…
Kiya smiles as the beam of light surrounds her. “Yes, indeed my eyes are quite beautiful, but I will not give them to you so willingly. Reaching for her shield, the elf brandishes it in front of her, the shinny metallic metal reflecting all the light and magic back at Immanuel. Still blinded by the light of the magic spell, the ranger reaches for her arrows and aims it up at the sky, at the sound of his flapping wings, hoping at least one would make the mark.
Immanuel curses delicately as his magic is sent back towards him. Though he grins as the beams pass through his skin, not harming him at all, for they were just a pretty light show. Thinking himself quite smart, he does not see the arrow until it is too late. Searing pain enters his leg, as the arrow sinks in, between his scales. Reaching down, he tries to pull it out, but it snaps in two, leaving the head embedded in his lower leg. Really pissed off now, the mage starts a slow deep chant, the words audible to all, though none understand him. As the song leaves his lips, Immanuel starts to glow a disgusting green colour. Increasing the pace and intensity of his chant, the mage starts to shimmer,like he is moving in and out of reality. Giggling uncontrollably now, his chant finished, the dragon melts away, leaving a glowing ball were he once was. The ball starts to fly towards his elvic opponent as if by its own accord, crackling the air with its very heat. Moments before it reaches her, Immanuel shimmers back into existence behind the ranger, a dagger in his hand, though only a dragon would really call it a dagger. As the ball continues its flight Immanuel retracts his hand, and silently aims a terrible blow at the back of the ranger… like he is moving in and out of reality. Giggling uncontrollably now, his chant finished, the dragon melts away, leaving a glowing ball were he once was. The ball starts to fly towards his elvic opponent as if by its own accord, crackling the air with its very heat. Moments before it reaches her, Immanuel shimmers back into existence behind the ranger, a dagger in his hand, though only a dragon would really call it a dagger. As the ball continues its flight Immanuel retracts his hand, and silently aims a terrible blow at the back of the ranger…
Kiya grins a deep grin of satisfaction knowing one of her arrows hit its mark upon the dragon. The sight of the mage’s blood, fueling her hatred from with in, as the glowing ball grows closer to Kiya, it strikes the ground sending her rolling forward away from Immanuel turning quickly upon her back the elf ranger pulls out her last three reaming arrows all dipped in poison from special herbs found in the Sage Forests. Her hands badly burned from the ball, Kiya aims the arrows towards the dragons reappearing body
Immanuel cries out in rage as his dagger finds only air. -Confused how his ball pushed her forwards, when it came in from the front-. Shaking his head, he watches the ranger fire the arrows at him. Keeping his eyes locked on Kiya, the mage raises his hand, and the three arrows stop in their flight. Thinking it unfair to send them towards Kiya, the mage just sends them flying off the cliff. Shaking his head in disgust he cools his bloodlust, and simply stares at Kiya.
Lili said, "Alright, all judges have voted. Immanuel, you won the duel."
Immanuel walks up to the ranger. “Yes most pretty.” Reaching one of his scaled arms out the dragon stabs his fingers into the ranger’s sockets, ripping out her eyes. Pulling out his trusty jar with his other hand, the mage places the eyes in their jar, careful not to break them even more then they are. Satisfied Immanuel places the jar on the floor, and with little effort, swings his arms either side of Kiya’s head, ripping her ears off as he does. Putting these in the jar with Kiya’s eyes, Immanuel writes in small writing ‘Kiya’ on it’s side. Then replace the jars in his robe and with out a second glance walks away from the maimed elf. Stopping in front of the judges to bow. “Thank you for judging..”

Immanuel versus Gladius



Immanuel of his knees, he launches himself into the air, stopping about level with the tavern roof. A dark sadistic grin flashes over his face, as he looks down at the human who accepted his dark challenge. “Well met Gladius, it will be a honor feeding off your soul!” The moment the last word leaves his lips, black flames erupt around the flying vampire. The flames form the shape of a dragon for just a moment, before they calm down and simply burn around the mage, their heat not bothering him at all. “Now fool, you die!” Immanuel concentrates on the flames once more, and with an extravagant gesture he sends from the heavens, his fires that match the intensity of hell! They burn and crack the air on their way, once more taking the form of a dragon. And with an arrogance matched only by their ease, they destroy everything foolish enough to stand before them, and their prize….Gladius!
Gladius looks in shock, as the flames draw nearer. The ranger reaches into his pocket, grabbing a darkened metallic stone. He pauses for a moment, to look at the rock he holds within his grasp, but says to himself "Not yet, Gladius" Looking back to the flames, Gladius grabs his sword, from his side. A vicious smile comes to his face, as he starts to take charge at the Vamipre. With the fire's intense heat,
Gladius starts to fade away. Sweat starts to pour down his features, as he becomes slightly weakened. Suddenly, the fire strikes..melting the cloths off his back, and singing his hair. No serious damage was caused by the tremendous blow. Gladius smirks, still charging his way towards the vampire, only at a lessened speed. In a fit of anger, the ranger yells out "Time for this fool, to take his nap!" After the finishing speaking, Gladius reaches his arms over head, swinging towards Immanuels chest, with a powerful, yet quickened blow..
Immanuel thinks his terrible blow must have done some damage, as he watches his opponent swing his sword wildly on the ground. With an amused grin on his face he calls out. “I’m up here moron!” With a quick flap of his wings, Immanuel sends himself flying around in circles above the not-so-smart ranger. As his speed increases, a dark chant issues from his lips, causing the ground below to shake slightly. Without anymore warning, the ground below Gladius rips itself open, and from Hollow’s own core, flames erupt upwards. As this happens the flying mage stops his chant, and dips his wings, causing him to fly downwards with untold velocity! Upon reaching Gladius, Immanuel swings his staff at the ranger’s head. The skull that lives so happily on the end of the weapon starts to giggle as it nears the human, and from it’s open mouth dark energies spew forth, coating the weapon in destructive magicks….
Gladius grins, as if he has mislead this Vampire. " Now it is time" He says, with a grin upon his face. Dodging the strike by the foolish Mage, Gladius quickly runs back a few steps. Reaching into his pocket for the metallic stone, Gladius laughs madly. The ranger hurls the stone to the ground. Within a moment, the rock starts to turn into a blakened dark smoke. Filling the area, you hear hellish type screams. Gladius starts to yell, at the top of his lungs. The noises suddenly come to a hault. Looking closely, you see two red dots appear. The smoke starts to fade away slightly, enough to see the "new" ranger. A fiendish creature stands before you now, spreading its wings at a span of seven metres each. Blood lust starts to over come the Fiend, as drool starts to spill out its mouth. With lightning quick speed, the fiend glides towards you, holding a blood thirst scimitar in his hands, awaiting the demise of such a foolish Vampire..
Immanuel curses as he tilts his wings, and once more soars into the air. His mind is turning wildly, as he is sure he opened up the ground under the ranger, but oh well, can’t waste thought on such dismal things such as that! As the ‘Fiend’ rushes at him, Immanuel is unsure what to do, the beast doesn’t seem to attack, just rush at him. With yet another dark curse, Immanuel stops the rhythmic beating of his wings, but he is too slow. The beast’s scimitar slashes across his shoulder, causing a dark sanguine liquid to explode out of the wound. Due to the wound, he is unable to start the flapping again, and with a loud crunch, he slams feet first into the ground. He tries brace for the impact, but the blood loss is too much, and he ends up in a crumpled heap. Slowly the mage gets to his feet, and limps around painfully, his legs feel like they are broken, though he is sure they are not. Lifting his crimson gaze up to the skies he spots the beast. “For that, you will die!!” Dark energies start to flow out of the mage, pouring on the ground, melting the well-trodden road. “You want to play boy!?! Feel my wrath!” The mage raises his staff above his head, and the dark energies fly up the weapon, and shoot out of it’s top. The power crosses the space between the two combatants almost instantly, seeking not just to kill the moronic ranger, but to destroy any soul he may have…
Gladius looks in amazement, as the darkened energies approach him. A plan comes to thought, perhaps it may work. Quickening his thoughts, the ranger jumps into the air, his darkened wings start flapping wickedly, sending a furious wind towards the Mage. Seeing that had no affect on the energies, Gladius equips his bow. With amazing accuracy, and lightning quick speed he grabs his arrows, and stealthly fire at the Vampire, not realising they had been demolished within the energy. Continuing his furios attack, the ranger starts to realise, that the arrows are not getting near the Vampire. A moment passes, as the energy encloses. With one last ditch effort, to rid the Vampire Gladius glides full force into the energy, holding his scimitar infront of him, aiming for the Vampires heart
Immanuel shakes his head as the ‘fiend’ flies right through his power. Unable to think past his idiocy, the mage is taken by surprise! His head tells him one thing, but his legs tell him another, and in the end he gets nowhere. The scimitar rips into his chest, missing his dark heart by inches. Leaping quickly back, the mage de-whores himself from the weapon, and lands in a heap, which quickly turns into a puddle of crimson liquid. With a dark curse he pushes himself to his feet, all be it weakly. Quickly the end of his staff slams into the ground, and the mage leans most of his weight onto his trusty weapon. Taking ragged deep breaths, the mage speaks through a bloodied mouth. “Bah, you are a fool! And I will fight you no longer, let those who bear witness to this duel decide, our fates Gladius, because I am sick of deciding my own…”





Lyra versus Immanuel
Death Duel


Lyra bows her head, reaching up with one thin hand to remove the leather band that holds her hair in place. With this movement, a dark glimmer of something shiny grasped within her misshapen, scarred fingers catches and refracts the pounding light of the red-rimmed sun. Iridescent beams shimmer mysteriously through the heated atmosphere, absorbing the tension as each erupts in an impressive display of color. The vampiress releases her ancient treasure, and the crystal dangles from her hand by a tarnished, silver chain. A cruel, wicked grin spreads across the pallid countenance of Lyra, and her eyes—each a color akin to onyx—bear hatefully into the body of Immanuel. Small beads if precipitation break out upon her face, however the vampiress is too distracted with her workings to notice. Her hand motions to and froe, dragging with it the iridescent crystal, and a slight tinkling melody echoes through the way; driven by the breath of wind. Crimson-stained lips part, and a glimpse of a pink tongue is momentarily offered before harsh words are whispered forth. Haunting, melodic, and nearly forgotten in language, this strange spell at first has no effect. Only when the precious stone falls from Lyra’s hand, much happens. The thin, laceration-like scars upon the woman’s hand burst all at once! Each spurts blood and even fits of flesh in a gruesome, painful display. The small rivulets drip to the ground, falling upon the crystal and staining its multi-faceted surface a hellish red. The stone begins to shudder violently, and without warning shatters like a bomb! Columns of multicolored smoke blast forth, each one undulating to its own rhythm. The air sizzles and crackles, and the contained power of the stone given to Lyra by Syadon zooms in force toward her adversary. It spreads in a vaporous cloud upwards, offering the vampire no escape from the terrible, physical and emotion burning that broken constraints offer—bringing forth a power even Lyra herself had no idea existed. The vampiress drops into a crouch upon the ground, her good hand gripping the horribly injured one. She watches emotionlessly the effects of her broken word.
Immanuel lets a small smirk play upon his lips as the power of Syadon’s gift is released. As it charges towards him the mage raises his staff above his head and holds it with both hands parallel to the ground. The smoke washes over the still vampire and from the depths of his very soul a scream issues forth. The pain, which ravages both his body and soul, is complete. He loses all sense of everything, hanging on to life by a single thought. A single glimmer of hope in these dark, dark times. Alexia Isis. He holds the memory of her to him, clinging to it like a child... As the smoke begins to wash past him, what is left of Immanuel is greatly changed. His shining armor shines no longer! It is ravaged and rusted by this single attack. His eyes that once glowed with such rich, tainted life now gleam with pure hatred. The smirk on his lips was burned off almost instantly and his pale skin no longer seems healthy; it seems more like the flesh of a two-day old corpse. All this is lost to the dark vampire though, he shakes his head, lowers his staff and simply charges forward, his long forgotten family war-cry screaming from his now cracked lips! His crimson and white-hued weapon begins to whirl around his pallid form. Small storms of dust fly up as his feet glide across the road, the small ‘thuds’ are all but drowned out by the fierce cry Immanuel screams. As he reaches his vampiric opponent, the mage leaps towards her! He brings his staff slashing in from the left, from the right his now rusted, clawed hand slices the air, aimed directly for Lyra’s neck. As the two attacks swoop in, Immanuel stops his cry and whispers a single word of power. Though spoken softly, it carries such weight everyone can hear it with crystal clarity, the word is, ‘muffin! The odd command uttered in a whisper has violent effects, it causes Immanuel’s black flames to roar into life! In an instant they have flared around his body, and with their almost soft touch, seek out the damned child, Lyra.
Lyra allows the most grim of smiles to stretch her pallid features—a ghostly, unpleasant appearance in itself. She releases her injured hand, dropping the better one to grasp a long, dark weapon. With a glad, triumphant shriek the Forsaken staff is wrenched forth! Blackened runes gleam along its rough surface, illuminated with in a hellish aura by the quickly fading sun. Lyra relishes its presence, for with it not only comes the ambience of her lover, but the nearly forgotten visions of another—the creator of such a destructive power. To both does Lyra cling as the Forsaken staff whistles through the now dead air. With a sickening ‘crack’ it collides brutally with Immanuel’s staff, exploding immediately into dark flames that leap and dance with horrific ferocity. The vampiress growls furiously, her injured hand falling into its place upon her weapon. New blood only encourages the dark power, and tendrils of darkness extend from the forsaken staff towards the blazing body of Immanuel. Her magicks cut through the fires that dance around her, even as they eat away at the woman’s soul. Lyra’s ebon head falls back a bit, strands of her hair catching the flames in an eerie display, yet through this all, the grin remains. “I grew up in Hell, Immy, in the shadow of a dead god…you think I know not how to deal with fire?” Little more than a hoarse whisper, her voice is still heard above the chaos. The robed body of the Fallen Angel glows an electric blue, and, as if burned themselves, the flames fall away—leaving only Immy’s clawed hand, which she has failed to notice. Only at the last possible second does the woman stagger backwards, dragging the dread weapon of Valzain with her. The staff slams into the clawed hand, and begins shaking violently with the impact. Knowing well that the possessed weapon would burn any but its proper wielder, Lyra quickly yanks it away. The flames are nearly out, but not quite, circulate around the woman…not hot, but COLD! A fierce northern wind begins to whistle, carrying frigid air in its wake and a sense of unreality. Lyra’s eyes close, becoming hidden behind pale lids as he ambience leaves her body behind, traveling toward Immanuel and a wave of both ground and sky. Small plants wither and die in its path, frozen in mere seconds with what is only basic cryomancy. Lyra herself steps back, only now beginning to feel the waves of pain inflicted by the various burns that cover her body.
Immanuel screams in rage as Lyra manages to block both his weapon and his claw with her single staff! The scream soon dies as the dark staff of Valzain burns his hand. He retracts the wounded limb quickly before staggering back in pain. As the terrible cold surges forward, Immanuel wraps his burned and still dead-looking hand around his staff. The dreaded wind consumes him, freezing all life. As it clears the mage is standing frozen as a popsicle! The only part of him not frozen is his weapon. The white spirals on his staff have begun to glow. They cover the icy vampire in blinding light and when it has died down he stands tall, and unfrozen once more. “I have part of Shylah’s soul, child. You think cold would affect me?” He lets out a nervous laugh, before a simple plan comes into his mind. “You baught this upon yourself, damned one! Now feel the power which my family used to rule their world!” Immanuel calls forth the power of his brethren. The power he denied so long ago. The power which turned his brother insane! No words are uttered. No movements noticed. The power used needs no war-cry! Needs no summon! It is eternal and it is complete. Immanuel lets go of reason, forgets his own will to survive. Forgets anything other than the destruction of the bitch before him! As the demons of his past return, the mage tears one hand off his weapon and points a single bony finger at Lyra while muttering, “And now, you die!” The power streaks forth silently, invisibly and with untold velocity. It covers the ground between them almost instantly. Its effects are noticed as a small bird gets between them. The birds flesh rots straight away. Both wings fall from its feathered back and a small thud breaks the oppressive silence as the once-winged creature falls dead. This alters little of the powers intent though, it still flies right at the damned one, wanting nothing more than to add her to its collection of souls.
Lyra shifts stiffly, the aches of her charred limbs increasing fiercely as the initial rush of adrenalin fades from her stolen blood. The vampiress stares at her foe, a puzzled frown adorning her light, nearly translucent countenance as he simply—is there, frozen like one of Nyterath’s ice sculptures. The thought brings a smile to her lips, and soon after a light chuckle echoes through the air as Lyra forgets all else but what she seeks most---revenge! All this instantly fades as Immanuel’s invisible attack forcefully enters her mind. She falls backwards, her back arching as the woman rolls across the frozen ground. Broken images and thoughts of incomprehensible malevolence rock her unstable mind, and with sudden, shrill violence Lyra screams! The muscles in her arms tighten instinctively and she pulls Valzain’s staff towards her, holding it tightly against her. Bloody tears stream down her pallid cheeks, the faint trails they leave freezing and falling away with faint clinks. Lyra’s body trembles as the delicate bonds that hold her soul to her body are tugged and twisted at. The Fallen Angel lays motionless for a few long moments before something else comes into play—memory! Images of days gone by, of people long dead and better gone, flood her. Valzain, Solaris, Crisiant, flashbacks of so many others that this woman somehow loved invade her mind, weakly pushing away the insanity of Immanuel, the madness that threatens to overwhelm her. Only later does Lyra rise, the winner of this internal battle wills, and with slow, painful steps she rises from the ground. Dark eyes narrow to slits, and a hateful, feral growl is sent forth in the direction of Immy. “You use your past to form the present. so I shall take it from you!” The shrill anger of her words pierces the silence. Her hands move quickly, tracing complicated patterns along the surface of her staff that form into one blinding illumination—a spell directed toward Immanuel that will wipe everything from him. Every memory this creature has will be smashed into oblivion—if her magic prevails.
Immanuel lets forth yet another colourful string of curses as Lyra once again evades death. As the power he allowed Hollow to witness begins to fade, the truth hits him like a spade to the head. Almost forgotten fear enters his tainted orbs, his slightly blue-hued lips turn into a feral snarl and he knows deep down he cannot defeat Lyra. This single thought enters his mind and burns away all reason. At this moment the power of the damned child enters his head. Oddly, its effect isn’t quite what Lyra had in mind. It doesn’t burn away all his memories; it burns away all his doubts. That which consumed his mind completely is destroyed and leaves the mage feeling content, though he still knows now he has not the power to win alone. Once more the vampire uses the power of Shylah. He lifts his weapon to his face and speaks inaudible words to it. The white spirals begin to twirl rapidly, they surge up the weapon and are released into the sky. It glows a perfect white, its power unaffected by the taint that is Immanuel. Crimson, rage-fulled orbs are lifted from Lyra to fall on the power above him. And with an almost loving voice he speaks to it. “Destroy her, soul of the queen, and I swear I shall free you to return to Shylah.” The soul above the battlefield begins to take shape. Wings emerge from the light, long legs, short arms and a massive head for all to see. It has formed the figure of a giant dragon. The wings that decorate its back begin to flap slowly. Its head turns to look at Immanuel for a moment, before roaring at him and twisting to face Lyra. Little time is wasted as it cuts through the air, its wings are not needed as it keeps flight by will alone. As it reaches the damned one, it wraps its claws around her form, and in that instant explodes! Everything is thrown into chaos by the power released on this day. Birds bark. Lizards debate the higher forms of philosophy. The tavern itself lets out an annoyed moan. In that one instant everything changes. Immanuel is thrown off his feet. He surges through the air coming to rest only when the unkind ground catches him. Horrible wounds seem to have found themselves a home all over his body, though their cause is all but unknown. He lies there withering in pain. Crawling on the ground like a beggar; begging for the pain to stop. All thoughts of Shylah, Alexiaisis and Aniquilar are lost. Pain consumes him completely. Throughout this though, he still manages to lift his head and look over to Lyra, he is more than a little curious to see what the horrendous power of Shylah has done to the proud, damned child.
Lyra stares in awe, her jar nearly hitting the ground, as the purified dragon sweeps grandly through the chilled air to encircle her, exploding at the very instant that its claws contact her perfect skin. The effects are immediate! Lyra staggers backwards, collapsing into the tavern wall. The blinding whiteness shimmers around her, the savior and destroyer that consumes all things great and evil. Horrific burns and lacerations appear from nowhere, and blooming crimson stains soon overtake the once back garments of Lyra. The Fallen Angel lays quite still, her body wracked with too much agony to move. Only one hand—the once-scarred appendages now freed of the corrupted power. Bony fingers close around her Forsaken staff, and it begins to rise. Strands no thicker than a woman’s hair pierce through the freezing luminescence of Shylah, cracking and severing bits and pieces. The exploded dragon begins to crumble, much like a window would if it had a rock thrown through it, and the possessed weapon of Valzain pulsates with a life of its own. The runes dance and writhe along the dark surface of the unholy weapon, and a small crack in the stone opens a bit wider. With a loud ‘thwoop’ sound, the essence of Shylah is sucked within the Forsaken staff, bound eternally by the dark magic. Its wielder, however, is surprisingly motionless.
Rudra sighs before stepping forth from the crowd. He takes a bow and clears his throat, preparing to speak, "The votes have been counted, and the judges decisions have been made. The winner is...Immanuel."
Rudra takes yet another bow before the two combatants, "Very well fought though. You have my utmost respect."
Immanuel gets slowly to his feet. His body is a tattered display of wounds. Flesh drips from more than one place on his pallid body. He sways around like the drunken fool, though his eyes lock onto the form of Lyra. A dark, tortured scream is ripped from his throat as he sees her lying there. he once again lifts his ruined hand and points what can only be a finger, though it looks more like a hunk of raw steak, at Lyra. “Die…” From the tip of his digit comes once more the power of his family. It surges through the area and engulfs Lyra. Immanuel holds to his feet for as long as he can, before dropping his hand and fainting face first onto the ground. Dust has erupted around the damned child, and when it finally clears, all that is left is a withered, dead corpse. Her dreaded weapon seems to have vanished with her life…
Rudra sighs sadly as he approaches the Fallen Angel's corpse. Something unseen suddenly appears as a single, solitary tear wells within Rudra's eye and begins to slowly trail his cheek. He kneels and leans, planting a delicate kiss upon Lyra's forehead and wishes her the best journey in her walk.
Immanuel lifts his head from its place in the dirt and whispers that famous word of power, "muffin." Black fires explode from the corpse of Lyra, burning away her corpse till nothing remains.
Siolad glances towards Immanuel, and sighs, "You know.. You didn't have to.."
Immanuel 's face once more slams into the dust covered ground. This time, he doesn't rise.
Itarilde frowns, turning her head away...
Shogo bites firmly on his lower lip, hardly able to watch the scene. He does not blink, and his expression shows little.
Rudra mutters quietly to himself.
Ciya whispers a prayer for the fallen Lyra.
Lyra's corpse burns brightly into nothingness, taking with it the possessed staff of Valzain, as well as the secret to where Kaizer's scythe once lay. Beside it, the small form of a tabby cat curls up, its fur lighting with its' mistress' corpse, until both are gone.
Immanuel coughs into the dirt, causing a small amount to fly up and stick to his horrible wounds.
Caiban having witnessed the merciless battle quietly he now breaks his silence, "Does he have no family or friends? For the gods, see to him already! He needs your help now."
Ciya said to Caiban, "What would you have us do?"
Immanuel gets to his feet slowly. He looks at everyone here for a moment, before letting out an insane laugh. This lasts for several moments, stopped only when Immanuel enters the tavern. And once again falls flat on his face.





Mandu versus Immanuel



Mandu stands still as he feels the chilly air surround his very being, as it finds a way to bypass his leather tunic and chill him to the bone. The elven paladin calmly stands there looking at the vampiric mage that now stands before him. In fluent elven he speaks "Llie aa’ tu amin tigin deshu sina naa vanwa." then reachs for his sword pulling his Dragon Tooth blade from his hip. As the blade comes clean from its scabbard the paladin lift his other hand in front of himself and begins to chant "Tua amin Mystra! Selingue theur!" as the last word leaves his lip a bright light surrounds his hand as a holy shield of light forms on his forearm. Upon completing his spell he goes on the offensive as he charges his would be attacker his sword held out far to his side as he approuchs. The paladin quickly lungs for the vampire intending to spear him with the end of his blade hopeing to score a deep wound, as his feet hit the ground from his lung he jumps upward and back hoping to slash accross the mages chest...
Immanuel yawns loudly as Mandu chants in the horrible elvic tongue. With a slight shake of his head, he draws out his staff, and slams it into the ground. Spreading his free arms, he speaks only two words of power, and black flames explode from his body. The mage lets a small grin creep over his features as he rips his staff out of the ground. Looking once more to the elf, he is a little surprised to see him running! Quickly he jumps backwards, the blade missing his front on the lunge, by mere inches, but the slash is way to wild, and misses his form by quite a bit.. Hundreds of dust granules leap into the air as the vampire lands, but he doesn’t bother to look down. Instead he let’s forth a primal scream! His hatred of cowards slithers through the sound, making it harsh and cruel. Wasting no more time, he leaps towards Mandu, the flames that surround him flare violently. The shape they create seems to be a mighty dragon, though that could just be your imagination. Immanuel starts to swing his staff around and around. The flames lick the air, causing horrible cracking sounds… the ground itself seems to moan at the heat they possess. Upon reaching the paladin, the vampire leaps out of the flames, his staff swings quickly for Mandu’s head, and then his groin. The flames waste but a second, before once again overtaking the mage, their intent to remove the pesky elf from these vile lands…
Mandu chuckles slightly knowing his attack was going to miss, as he now has the vampire where he wants him. He quickly lifts the shield of light above his head holding it firmly as he feels the staff come down upon it he parries it away with great force. He then lets a slight smirk run accross his whole face as he steps back and throws the shield and sword to his sides, and steps back takeing both his hand in front of himself he begins to chant again "Amin yel deno' i' luth en' i' Seldarine en' iant." as he utters the last word his body is engulfed in a bright white light. The roadway seems to lighten up as though the sun were at high noon. A loud thundery crash can be heard in the distance as all time seems to stand still around the combatants, and all things holy seem to give off a radiating light. Slowly to all onlookers a figure can be seen steping out of the light dressed in mithril fullplate, as the figure gets farther from the like the pearly white wings can be seen trailing behind him as he glows in all his radiance. He reachs to his back pulling a skillfully forged claymore with runes all along the blade from his back, then he chants "Selingue Rill." before he disappears into the sky. He is out of sight within seconds before a loud boom can be heard as he breaks through the sound barrier on his approuch towards the foul vampire, quickly diveing for the foul creature he begins to skillfully send blow after blow towards the creature in hopes to destroy him...
Immanuel curses as his flames don’t seem to bother the elf at all. With a delicate shrug, he dismisses these thoughts and focuses once more on the job at hand. The mage twists in the air, and lands gracefully, his eyes once again lock on the vile little elf. Suddenly bright light erupts outwards. He is forced to quickly shield his eyes behind his arm, knowing full well the dangers of being blind in a duel like this. When the light clears, Immanuel is more then shocked to see Alexander standing before him. He rubs his eyes with his free hand, and realizes it is not his worthy foe, but the elf simply changed. Not really impressed by this, he stands arrogantly and waits for the attack. When it eventually comes, Immanuel is more then prepared, his staff becomes nothing but a blur as he parries blow after blow, never seeking to counter attack, he is more then content to defend for now. This little game quickly grows quite boring, and Immanuel once again jumps backwards, out of harms way, and then he quickly leaps high into the air! His wings do not guide his flight, as they stay completely still. The flames that still burn around him are what carry this mage on his graceful flight. Looking down now at the pathetic, holy elf the mage starts to speak. His words are spoken softly, yet they carry to everyone in the area. “Now elf, you will feel my wrath!” The words echo around the area strangely, instead of getting softer they increase in volume, until they drown out everything else! Immanuel points a withered finger at Mandu, and small balls appear all around him. Instead of floating towards him, they each sink down into the ground. A dark, sadistic laughter is heard, before the ground under Mandu liquefies. At this moment, the mage makes his move. He shoots down from the sky with untold velocity, directly at the paladin. Upon reaching him, dark energies lash out, forming a web like pattern. Quickly Immanuel retracts his arm, and throws his staff at the web. It hits it cleanly, and drives it down. Acting like a ram, to push the elf into the bowels of Hollow forever. The mage quickly changes his direction and once more heads upwards, away from danger, and away from that strange smell…
Mandu notices his blows are not makeing contact with his foe before the vampire flies off. The angel looks around wildly trying to find the vampire when suddenly sees the ground beneath him liguefie, he looks up as the web of darkness is unleashed. He begins to look for another way out not intending on being sent into that pit. Thrusting upward full force towards the cent aiming not for the web, but the bottom of the staff with his claymore he screams out "Llie saura lerret n' moot arta amin! Mor!" quickly slamming the holy blade into the bottom of his staff intending to light the web ablaze and splinter the foul beasts staff. After takeing the trust at the staff his body seems to become a bright white glow and disappear from within the unholy cage of death. He then materializes within two feet of the beast shouting "Foul beast! You shall die!" as he utters these words he lifts the claymore quickly from his right slashing upward as he lift his other hand and yells "Lerret Rill teshuel sina quarlani nae i' morinuin!" letting loose a volley of white flames from his outdrawn hand locking onto the darkness within the vampire's heart intending to light him ablaze...
Immanuel curses as the ‘angel’ dodges his well thought out attack. A little pissed by this, the mage starts to utter a longer, set of curses, but these are soon cut off by the appearance of the elf. With no weapon to defend himself, Immanuel quickly starts to fly backwards, the blade creates many new holes in his robes, but never once marks his pallid flesh. As the bolts of flame are sent forwards, the mage can only laugh. He simply concentrates on his own flames, and they expand outwards. The balls of white are quickly absorbed in the black fires of Immanuel. Shaking his head he once again extracts his finger in Mandu’s direction, and a small glob appears. The glob looks quite comical, it bounces around in the air, as if dancing to un-heard music. It makes its merry way to the paladin with a lazy grace. Nothing seems to bother this glob! Upon reaching him it bends into all kinds of awkward positions, before suddenly exploding! What comes out of this glob surprises even Immanuel! Lots of small globs! The area is now full of little floating globs! The small comical balls of energy, start to wrap around Mandu, never touching him, but being so damn close it looks like they are. The mage lets a satisfied grin make its way to his lips, “ummm, go?” As if this were some kind of odd command, the globs latch together and start to shrink rapidly! Each one connects so tight, not even a vampiric giant could prize them apart! And as they shrink they try to crush that little Alexander look-a-like! And end what must be a miserable existence
Mandu is caught off guard by the globs and feels his body being crushed as the tighten around him. He shout aloud "Damn you! Foul Beast!" he tries to muster all the strength in his body to break free, but to no avail. He then remembers something he was taught long ago while he was being trained as a paladin, he quickly lets his body relax and begins to go into a meditating slumber slowly loosening the grip around him. He body begins to contort with the globs as they try to latch tighter around him but can not seem to get a grip he slowly slips down through them as though being glided slowly to the ground by the orbs. Once his feet reach the ground and he is no longer within the globs he looks up at his foe and speaks "You fight well for a foul beast." then nods to the vampire...





Xzar versus Immanuel



Xzar focuses his red hues on the mage that stands before him. The faintly lit fountain seems to softly glow and the crimson liquid that is held within fills the vampire's nostrils, putrid yet pleasant and beautiful. Reaching up he outstrenches his pale, lithe fingers, bonelike and appearing similar to the hand of death itself reaching out towards the sick and suffering. His hand travels behind his head and the assassin pulls his sword from it's sheath, the soft 'click' seems to drown out all other noise, filling the senses with an ever present foreboding of what is to come. The vampire pulls his sword forward, its color as deathlike as the hand that holds it. Red hues light up as the assassin studies his fellow vampire, his ashen lips speak not a word as his footfalls are wisped away with the night breeze. He nears Immanuel and reaches to the side with his sword, his hips shift as he leaps into the air, the white khopesh leaves a flash of pale hatred in the air behind it. The sword, like a single claw follows a single path, aimed toward the center of the mages back, Xzar can almost picture the blood seeping from in between the slash.
Immanuel watches Xzar run at him with a bored smile on his face. “Now really, your wife is at stake, I expected more.” The mage waits until Xzar leaps forward, before he decides it is time to do something. He pushes forwards and upwards with his strong legs, but alas! He is too slow. Xzar’s blade slices the skin on his back, blood spews forth causing Immanuel to falter for just a moment. Quickly he regains his composure, and spreads his wings. They begin to beat rhythmically, and quickly carry him high above the fountain of blood. The wound that is on his back makes flying difficult, but Immanuel manages it. Looking down at Xzar, he flashes him a quick sadistic grin before starting to chant in a language obviously not made for the human throat. The words rip themselves free, each one said clearly, and strongly. As the chant continues, the blood in the fountain begins to bubble. After a few moments of this, the blood explodes upwards, and from within the sanguine waters, a dark being shoots upwards. His speed is uncanny, as he makes his way towards his master. “I serve you Immanuel, in death as I did in life.” Seemingly satisfied by this the mage points towards Xzar. “Then rip his black heart out and feed it to me!” The beast wastes no time, he launches himself forwards. Though no wings decorate his back, the being has little trouble in defying gravity. His features are hard to make out, as light does not seem to reflect of him at all and what light does reflect, is tainted by the crimson liquid that is all over him. As he reaches the assassin, a black blade materializes in his hand. It is instantly whipped up, and swung at Xzar’s midsection, then before you know it, it has swung back, this time for Xzar’s neck! The sound of battle is suddenly drowned out by the insane laughter of Immanuel, as he watches his being play with rare pride…
Xzar is slightly thrown of center from his own attack, he footfalls heavy as he clumsily stumbles, gaining his balance his crimson eyes gaze up at the rising fluid, a fluid that very nearly matches the color of his vampiric orbs. The blood rises up, small droplets land upon the assassin's face staining it with tiny blotches. A figure collects itself, the liquid taking shape, it soon speeds toward him. Leather like wings become taunt expanding fully they send a gust towards the figure, and leaping from the ground a blade tip scathes the delicate chest yet that is the least of worries as it returns. Blunt force slams the assassin's head to the side forcing him to drop his blade. It falls into the now empty fountain with a 'clang' that in no way matches the ringing in his ears. In a burst of speed the vampire rushes into the air, dodging other swipes by the animation, soaring near Immanuel, unsure as if he indeed sees his foe. Ashen fingers dig into Xzar's pocket and he pulls an item from it's concealment. His gleaming stiletto is revealed, ancient scripts seem to run up and down the blade itself, truly a belle of a weapon. The blade is quite long in length, nearing the dimension of a short sword, yet unlike any other sword the sides are blunt as this weapon is simply fro piercing flesh directly, burying deep hole in flesh. The vampire flies above his foe and in a swooping motion hooks the blade, adding force as it nears the mages shoulder, aiming to tear valuable muscles and ligaments rendering the arm useless.
Immanuel curses at the speed of Xzar, his own pet not quick enough to really mark the flesh of the assassin. As Xzar reaches him, the mage, simply stops beating his wings. With all his upward force gone, Immanuel neatly drops out of the sky. The graceful landing marred only by the blood that taints his shoes and the small swirling of dust granules that are rudely unsettled. Looking back up he notices his pet has gone in for another round, it’s blade is once more a blur as it slashes and stabs at Xzar’s vitals. With a slight shake of his head, Immanuel begins another chant. This one is slow and wordy, as his pet distracts the vampire above him hopefully for long enough! The moment the last word is ripped free, black magicks surround Immanuel. Faces can be seen within the now swirling power, and hideous, tortured screams issue forth. Grinning at it, he speaks mockingly to those who are trapped within. “Bring me his soul, and I might free yours!” The power instantly obeys, it streams upwards towards Xzar, the screams within get louder and louder, as they all hunger for the soul of Xzar. Though this magic is quite damaging to physical objects as the foolish undead crow the flies into it finds out. An explosion of feathers is all that is seen, before the soul of the bird, small as it may be, is added to this, most vile of collections.
Xzar dodges swings from the blood servant, blood leaks from small wounds that were causes by swings to well placed to dodge, the fight continues above as an unfamiliar creature approaches. A white majestic being approaches, soft thumps are heard, gravel is crushed under it's long extremities. Appearing as a ghost, ghastly, pale and unidentifiable is strides under the battle. Rose colored eyes glow, illuminating the ground in front of the figure, making the blood that soaks the ground light up, and appear almost beautiful. The eyes gaze toward the winged fighters, sadness and suffering seem to be absorbed into the massive creature as it gazes toward the sky.... Xzar faintly hears the screams of the damned below, feeling his ears with anger, hatred.. and a thirst for his life-force. Tossing his only weapon to the ground he arcs and turns in order to avoid blows. Abruptly the vampire is forced downward, souls dart and glide around his body, surrounding his and causing unspeakable pain and horror. Quickly engulfed all that is seen is a dark swirling mass in the night sky... Suddenly and unexpectantly white light illuminates the shadow covered area, the brightness burning into sockets causing momentary blindness and confusion. The white light reaches all, even the back of your eyes seem alit. The fountain rapidly becomes dark, but a soft glow is seen above, a brilliant white long sword is extended in mid air... Now strangely freed of the soul created prison the assassin impulsively rushes to the alien sword and wraps his thin fingers around the hilt, a soft whisper is heard as Xzar speaks, "Thank you Meier.". Diving towards the ground the vampire lets out a shriek, a scream to match that of a banshee. Swinging the blade towards the mage, a gust is felt as he passes. Doubling back his flies in a straight line, his sword grasped by both hands as he attempts to drive it through Immanuel as he crashes into the fellow vampire.
Immanuel can only shake his head as Xzar runs at him with yet another new weapon. The mage quickly spreads the wings that decorate his back, but the speed of the assassin is too much. Pain erupts in Immanuel’s stomach as the new blade of Xzar finds itself a new home in the pallid flesh of the vampire. The force of the blow, plus the added weight of the assassin sends the mage flying of his feet, his wings now dangle uselessly, and offer no cushion to the hard ground below. All the air is slammed out him and the horrible wound in his stomach spews more precious blood. As his senses reel, his pet shimmers, and then vanishes. So too does the collection of souls. Unable now to even pull himself up, Immanuel lies very still. Breathing has become very hard, as he fights for life. Without warning the thoughts of hatred, of lust and of sadistic joy are pushed out of his head, to be replaced by thoughts of Alexia. Holding onto the memory of his beloved, the mage stands slowly and glares at Xzar. “Is that all you got?!” Lifting one hand of his wound, he points it at Xzar, and a small blue fireball appears there. Struggling to keep consciousness, Immanuel pours all he has into this azure ball. The powers that linger inside are different, no dark magic is present, as this power is different, more divine. Letting go of his hold over the sphere, it floats almost lazily over to Xzar. At that moment Immanuel once more collapses on to the ground. He can not even watch as the ball, suddenly rips itself in tow, then four, then eight! All of the spheres spiral around the assassin, their movements are slow and deliberate. As if by an un-worded command, they all suddenly rush in at Xzar, each one going for a different spot on his body, and each one charged, to rip the miserable flesh of his tainted body…
Xzar tumbles into Immanuel, dust raises from the ground enveloping both fingures. The assassin leapts back, his wings pushing against the currants of the wind, pulling him away from the enemy. Wearly his huefigures to Immanuel, almost sad, almost fearful. Azure orbs encircle, carefully yielding to the slim, weak looking being imprisoned by them. Without a sound they cease movement for only a second before they sink into the vampire's body burning horribly, draining strength from all his being, damage is faintly seen on the outside yet inside he feels as though each muscle is being torn from the bone, snapping and shredding, slowly killing. The vampire sinks to his knees, his breathing heavy and labored. Heaving he coughs, blood speckles his lips, adding, if not slightly, some color, a tiny sign that his is indeed alive. Raising his head and a single hand he removes the mask from his face, crimson eyes stare at the opponent. A single tear is shed, it falls to the ground in silence. The assassin gazes at each person gathered, a sight that could be his last, in his mind he wishes his love was present, his last vision would then be perfect.
Kaethil steps forward, "The victory goes to Immy."



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