[b]Korian Dale soon to be [color=a010a0]Asif Wang[/color][/b]


"Everything's on fire!"

The voice sounded half anguished and half just in panic. A mix that really made the already overly-dramatic cry rather pathetic. Then again perhaps that's what happens when people find them in life threatening situations, not everyone has the benefit of being able to make novel worthy quotes. People have a tendency to sound rather pathetic in times of crises, not that one should be faulted for such things, that's just the way things are. Then again, such musings mattered little to robed man standing in the center of the room, who arguably was responsible for the flames that now engulfed the area. He had already set out to play a certain role of sorts, and thus his lines had to hit that novel level of worthiness. He was the hero of this tale after all, what good is a hero that can't spout off catchy one liners and remarkable phrases regardless of the situation they find themselves in. 

A crackling noise could then be heard, as another pieces of the flaming rafters above him gave way bring with it bits of ember and ash. The smoke had was beginning to obscure all vision in the burning palace, and the throne that had once set at the head of the room was now little more than a molten mess of melted gold and leather. A hole was blasted in the upper right corner, another direct casualty of the vendetta raged by the man standing in the center of the flames. Even the wood beneath his feet was cracked, splintered and acting as tinder for the inferno raging everyone around him. At the far end of the room, another man, one far larger than the first, lay broken and bruised against a fountain with three lion heads still spitting water out in vain. Only the fourth head, shattered and resting inside of the far wall now ran dry. 

As the man robed in green advanced towards the large man at the fountain, the last remnants of evening light illuminated the petals that floated in from the holes in the ceiling. Pink swirling blossoms that melded with the gentle amber of the soon ending dusk. Fire and water, light and shadow, life and death, opposites were in play wherever one looked in the once opulent room. A stage had been set, an end to a battle that had raged on for 10 years, and now the man in green approached his opposite as a savage grin appeared across his face. There was a brief glint in his deep brown eyes as the man opened his mouth:

"[color=a010a0]Enjoying it are we? The stage that has been set for you end.[/color]"

Only a grunt came out the lips of the man beaten and bruised in the fountain. Yet as the man in green stepped closer, for the first time the evening twilight illuminated the person behind all the flames that now engulfed the area. For just an instant, shadows disappeared and one could see a glinting silver sword, borrowed from a friend and the reddened eyes that had given to that friend. Then the shadows returned and only a dim outline back lit by flames remained.  

"[color=a010a0]It's a shame really, normally I'd be having a lot more fun at moments like this, yet you actually ripped something interesting away from me. It's really put a huge damper on my mood.[/color]"

"Is that so," this time there was an actual reply from the man on the other side. The voice was just as broken as the man, a voice resigned to death but not quite accepting of defeat. A cough soon followed the words, blowing away some of the blood that had dripped down from his forehead to his mouth. 

Yet there was no opportunity for a silence, as a furious "[color=a010a0]No![/color]" resounded from the other man. "[color=a010a0]This is all wrong. You're supposed to be giving some evil laugh or big speech or something, why do you think I'm using his sword man. Dramatic irony come on, have you not heard of it. You're the Khan, this is what it's all been about.[/color]"

It'd be generous to call the Khan's response a laugh or even a chortle, there was too much blood and soot for that. "You're crazy, foreigner."

"[color=#a010a0]Yes, well, I get that a lot. But let's get one thing clear,[/color]" by now the man in green was upon his target and the tip of his sword raised the Khan's face to meet his own, "[color=#a010a0]My name is not foreigner. I am Korian Dale, The Great Magician of the East, I have walked hundreds of miles through dust and blood to reach this place. I am the friend and disciple of Asif Qureshi and it is by his blade that I now claim your head.[/color]" 

With the last of the magic enhancing his strength still flowing through him, Korian Dale raised his hand and brought his sword crashing down on the Khan's neck. 

****

"[color=#a010a0]Damn that felt bad ass. Nailed the delivery."[/color] It was the unfamiliar echo that first alerted Korian Dale to his new environment, he was used to being ripped from his world, although this was the first time something like this happened while Korian was doing something of import. Still within the man existed no sense of trepidation or even disappointment, much to the contrary Korian's face lit up the moment he saw the archway he now found himself under. He didn't need to open his eyes to realize he was in place filled with old magic. 

At the end of the path Korian could already make out a man robed in red and gold sitting upon a stone throne and wasted no time in sprinting towards the obvious next stage of his journey. His feet only halted once he arrived at the main platform, where upon Korian was quick to bow and prepare his new introduction, "[color=#a010a0]Asif Wang, The Comedian, reporting for duty.[/color]" A grin appeared upon the lowered head of [s]Korian[/s]Asif as he mentally congratulated himself on his new persona. 

Yet the robed man provided no response to Asif, leading the magician to suppose that he must be the silent and mysterious type of quest giver, a fact he was perfectly content with. The notice of another man, well more of a boy, circling the other end of the platform with a wolf popped another idea into Asif's head. One he promptly voiced to the robed man, "[color=#a010a0]Ah I see, you're waiting for us to form up as some sort of group. Love the concept. I'll wait then.[/color]"

Indeed, a few moments after Asif had backed away from the robed man, others filed in. Many of whom Asif noted appeared to carry traces of magic with them, of course he was respectfully to never keep his eyes active for too long. Just a cursory glance that only served to further increase the man's bubbling excitement. The eyes that had shed tears only hours ago in another world could no longer be seen. Instead all that remained was literal embodiment of a kid in a candy store. 

Then, now that everyone else had gathered, the robed man finally stood up and began speaking. Which of course only caused an even giddier Asif to lean over to the person next to him and whisper a simple "[color=a010a0]Called it.[/color]" That quest itself was also interesting, a chance to journey other worlds in search of fragments of a powerful creature. It was the kind of adventure Asif had long been dying to embark upon and when the speech had completed Asif had but one simple adjustment he had to make. 

While the young man from earlier opened his mouth expressing a desire to leave, Asif took a bit different approach. Whether urged on by bravery or just stupidity, the magician approached the robed man once more until he was looking the other being directly in the face. Only a few inches separated them at this point as Asif posed his own queries. For once, he actually made sure his ring was [i]off[/i], after all he wasn't some idiot that was going to try and cheat a cosmic being. "[color=#a010a0]Loved the speech, really I did. This whole thing sounds absolutely breath taking. But...[/color]"

There was a slight pause as Asif trailed his last word and walked to the right side of the robed man to look at the congregation of everyone else with him. Once again such overt familiarity was likely born out of stupidity, but nevertheless Asif treated the other man as a long lost friend. "[color=#a010a0]I've just got one teeny-weeny suggestion. Look at all those guys, heroes that you brought on who are bound to take this quest just to save the world and all that. I mean I know that I personally would love to jump right on this for the adventure, but don't you take it's a little unfair just taking advantage of their kindness like that?[/color]"

Like a teacher lecturing a student, Asif now paced with pointer finger raised behind the robed man until he arrived on the man's left side.  "[color=#a010a0]So how 'bout this, some vague promise to be willing to listen to any requests we might have after everything is said and done. I mean every quest giver offers a reward even if it's not collected. You can always refuse anything too crazy, just the right to ask is all I'm asking for. Hell if need be that'll be my request, just trying to look out for the other good Samaritans after all. So what say you padre?[/color]" 

His request complete, Asif rejoined the others on the platform, facing the robed man once more to say one more little thing. "[color=#a010a0]But seriously sir, loved the speech, I'm excited.[/color]"