Test of Power

[gojirazard]

Verk,followed by his controlled slave, Taurus, walk close down the shore. Verk's mind wonders how much control he has on Taurus, and so he's keeping an eye out for a chance to test his power.

[Kender Bard]

Fauna was in the area. Raina was sleeping, Sara and Adris working, and she was bored. Not wanting to add to their workload with a plea for a snack, she decided to come to the shores and try her hand at some natural fishing. Luckily for the two men, they were downwind of her, and she didn't notice they were in the area as she let her paws dart for fish.

[gojirazard]

Verk prepares himself with his sword, and speaks silently to Taurus so his voice won't carry. "You are not to reveal that I am a clear, nor that I have any prior relation to you. You will run down there, and cause enough harm to that lady to get her to scream for attention, then you are to kill her in any way you can before anyone else reaches you. You are to try to defend yourself, but not harm anyone else, and leave an opening in your defense for me to take advantage of. When you fall, cry out for a 'Lord Jhaal', and act as if he is your master." Verk looks at Taurus seriously. "Do you understand?"

[Kender Bard]

Taurus nods, but his face is a picture of terror. Almost rigidly, his body moves to go towards Fauna, but deep inside.. he's internally screaming and crying for help.

Fauna's ears prick at the sound of Taurus's approach and she looks at the man warily. "What do you want?"

Taurus doesn't answer, and instead attacks her mind. Caught off guard, Fauna gives a yowl of pain, holding her head. She shakes it vigorously and lunges bodily at Taurus. The man just teleports aside and resumes his assault, repeating this. He does get badly injured as Meoran appears at Fauna's pain, and he has to warily defend himself on two fronts. Exhaustion begins to catch up to him, but he manages to send a lance of mental power at a vulnerable spot in Fauna's mind. The catgirl holds her head as a scream rips from her, bestial and full of white-hot agony.

[gojirazard]

Verk frowns and draws his sword, masking his face with a look of indignant rage, he had hoped Taurus would be quicker, and that he himself would reach them first. He rushes towards the group, shouting, "Taurus! You're being controlled! Don't cause anymore pain for anyone else!" Verk raises his sword, prepared to strike at Taurus once he gets close.

[adris]

Adris was out like a shot, the only time he took was the time it took for him to grab his trident. With a mighty stomp a shockwave was sent in the direction of Taurus, and him following behind it almost as if a Buffalo were charging.

[Kender Bard]

Taurus fell and was knocked rather senseless from the shockwave. He hadn't the energy left to teleport away; that last attack had taken its toll on his reserves. He struggled to get back up, heart racing madly in fear and despair. He glanced over at Fauna, and wished he could cry for the attack had done its job; she lay motionless on the ground, dead, her bobcat mewling pitifully as it tried to nose her into wakefulness. Looking at Adris, and seeing Verk, he wondered, silently, what he had ever done to deserve Etaf's scorn.

This time he at least had the excuse of pain to let tears spring into his eyes as he called out, involuntarily, "For Lord Jhaal..!"

[gojirazard]

Verk frowns, and sat, looking at Adris. "Don't hate him for what he did," he said in a measured tone, "for he was being controlled by a clear." Verk reached over and closes Taurus' eyes. "He was a good man, though unlucky."

[adris]

Adris was holding his friend, tears in his eyes already. He couldn't believe this, they moved to get away from the world for a while. This place was supposed to be sanctuary. He looked briefly to the other man, Taurus, lying dead. It wasn't his fault, he was an innocent but... why did the other man slay him?

"If what you say is true, I think it is best you leave before I recover."

Or else he would suffer for killing an innocent man... for striking him down instead of restraining him. Why would clears do this? What vendetta could they possibly have against Fauna? He should be skeptical about Verk's story but he was abysmal, his mind was in a billion places and would have accepted any explination he heard. He couldn't help whimper like a nearly seven foot tall child. He scratched behind Fauna's ears, hoping to hear her purr like back in Maelstrom, or Hell even a bite to the hand would have been great.

[gojirazard]

"He was captured by a clear, Jhaal is the name of the leader of Reave... This was just sparing him his torture, and releasing his innocent spirit to the heavens." Verk stands again, and puts his sword away. "I'm sorry for your loss," offers Verk before leaving.

[adris]

Adris shot a harsh look in the direction of Verk. He didn't let Fauna's head down but he got serious in a way that would have frightened him if he could catch himself. He ground his teeth a little at the man and then spoke again.

"I know, I'm a vagabond. I didn't ask for your sympathy I asked for you to leave. You struck down an innocent, you should have just incapacitated him so he could be bound. Your heart is as stained as your sword and I have no time for you."

It was harsh and out of character, but it was his feelings as mixed up as they were. Perhaps it wasn't normal to be as angry at the world as he was but he just lost his best friend... he didn't care. Another reason is he wanted to vent his anger before he saw Raina about this.

[gojirazard]

Verk, hearing his words, doesn't respond, and just keeps moving. So, my power is absolute, even to the point of death, thinks Verk. I must completely know the total the limits of my power.

[adris]

With Verk gone Adris gave himself time to calm down, or at least enough time to stop the tears from flowing. After he composed himself, he decided he would give Fauna and Taurus a better resting place until a grave is dug. He didn't want to carry them indignantly so decided on taking Fauna inside first. He called out as soon as he entered the house.

"Raina, brace yourself before coming into the living area. Tragedy has struck in terrible ways today. I... I am still very much striken myself."

He sets her down on a cushion that he can find open. He knows this isn't his house but he will clean it all later if the need be. He knows he needs something disposable to lay the bloodied Taurus on though, so grabs his sleeping mat and heads back outside. After a moment he lays Taurus's body in the back part of the yard. He then looks to find Raina, in hopes that they can comfort one another.

[Kender Bard]

Raina had been napping, and roused when Adris called to her. She frowned, puzzled at his words, and wrapped up in a warm robe before coming out into the living room. The sight of the bodies shook her, reeled her mind. She gave a cry of shock and knelt down next to Fauna, checking in vain for signs of life. When finding none, she gave herself over to tears. She did not know the man who was put next to Fauna, but she doubted Adris would have been so tender if it had not been someone who also was worth mourning.

[adris]

Adris sees Raina, and the tears in her eyes just added to his sorrow. It wasn't long before he lost himself again. He knelt down next to his wife and pulled her to him, so that they could cry with one another. It didn't make the tears go away easier, but for him it made them easier to shed. He just softly rubbed her back as he wept for his fallen friend.