[color=saddlebrown]“Spit.”[/color]

Vrog gnawed the splintered bone in his mouth, cracking through it with a sound that would have delighted him at any other time, but now simply brought frustration. The best part, the marrow, was open right there, and just needed to suck in to…

He retched and spat the chewed splinters, held together in a globe of noxious sludge. Useless. The things inside him were as dead as they could get, but somehow they continued to make him feel [i]full[/i]. Nothing had helped with that. Not digging around inside himself (trying to tell their remains apart from the rest was useless at this point), not diluting them with drink, not burying them in other tastes. It seemed that the only thing left to do was wait, and he’d be burned if he did not hate waiting.

Growling [color=saddlebrown][i]“Gut that dream”[/i][/color] to himself for the thousandth time that day, he kicked aside the tattered remains of the gigantic bird and speared his tongue into the air, turning towards the edge of the mountain cliff. Broad views were of little use to him, but the cleanness of the air up there had one advantage. What few smell trails reached there were easy to pick apart, like - that one. His toothed tongue wove through the breeze, following a curiously familiar scent. Something like the inner rot of those four-eyed creatures. One of them there? It was far from the lair he had found, but that might not have been the only one.

The rot had tasted good, Vrog remembered. Nothing had helped with the nauseating feeling inside him so far, but if anything would at all, it could well be that. Trying would not hurt, at any rate.

Not him, anyway.

Leaving behind the mangled carcass and a nest of wantonly smashed eggs, he began to leap his way down the mountainside. The source of smell was somewhere there ahead, growing stronger by the step. Whatever it was that had exuded it could not escape him now.

At the base of the mountain, Laurien washed herself in a large creek, or rather took a swim, letting the water cool her off. It had been several days since she left the Shengshi’s ship, and oh how she longed to return, but the excitement of the journey was overwhelming. She had traveled further north-east since starting out, feeling that it was the best course of action. She had no idea where to start looking anyways. 

Dislodged stones rattled down from above, followed by the screech of metal on rock and the heavy thump of something landing near the shore. A massive shape covered in filthy armour hobbled closer to the water, moving with sharp, decisive gestures despite its unnaturally asymmetrical features. Its visor-covered head sluggishly turned from side to side before fixating on her. The hideously long, slender fingers on its right hand, all the more ghastly in comparison with the thick, stunted left, scraped the ground, then the water, before abruptly withdrawing.

Something flew through the air and landed near Laurien’s head with a plop.

[color=saddlebrown]“It’s just you?”[/color] the being gurgled from under its helmet, [color=saddlebrown]“Gut it. Just thought I’d found something good.”[/color]

Laurien had turned her head when the thing landed on the shore near her. Her eyes went wide, trying to discern what exactly the creature was, or what it was supposed to be. It looked sickly, no… right down disgusting and that stench. She tried not to gag. So fixated on the creature, she barely noticed the plop next to her, but after it came, she blinked. Her head began to work overtime as she realized how far away from her weapon she was. 

Then it spoke, and it’s voice sent shivers up her spine. Slowly she stood up, the water coming to her chest. She squinted her eyes as she spoke. [color=plum]”Uh, who are you supposed to be?”[/color] she said cautiously.

[color=saddlebrown]“If I got a scrap every time some slaghead asked that, I’d be making myself another skin soon,”[/color] the thing growled, [color=saddlebrown]“I’m Vrog. Bet that doesn’t mean much to you, so I better say I’m-”[/color] the long-fingered hand reached up to the visor, [color=saddlebrown]“-this.”[/color]

The faceguard was torn open, baring a chaos of teeth, jaws, welts and sores floating in an unholy mire of festering scum. Surrounded by bone and filth, a monstrously wide mouth spluttered through its mesh of skin and fangs. [color=saddlebrown]“And what’re you?”[/color]

For the first time in her life, Laurien was frozen with horror. The kind of which if only felt when having seen something so repulsive, and vile, you couldn’t think of it in your wildest dreams. She opened her mouth to speak, but no sounds came out. She needed to think fast, but the girl could only stare at Vrog’s monstrous visage. Her mind was screaming to do something, anything, but her body wouldn’t budge. She needed her weapons, get the weapons. That was the key, just breath. Breath deeply. [i]You are better than this.[/i] she told herself, [i]Say something! Think of your duty.[/i] 

And Laurien blinked, and a great breath escaped her lips. With a shaky voice, she said, [color=plum]”I-I’m… Laurien.”[/color]

Vrog’s teeth gritted against each other as his jaws edged from side to side with a sickening fluidity. It was as though under what passed for his face there were no solid flesh, but more liquid rot that flowed smoothly with a will of its own. [color=saddlebrown]“Guess it’s too much to hope that everything that talks can do it good,”[/color] he scratched the recurve tips of two clawed fingers against each other, [color=saddlebrown]“but you’re just being spitting stupid. Think ‘I’m Laurien’ tells [i]me[/i] a lot?”[/color]

His maw opened wide, and, more hideous yet than the parody of Laurien’s voice that had preceded it, a length of black tongue burst out, more similar to a thick tentacle studded with tooth-like spikes than to what it was supposed to be. Darting like that of an overgrown toad, it unfolded into something that could by no means have fit into Vrog’s mouth and swung for her neck, trying to wrap itself into a noose around it.

[color=plum]”Wha-”[/color] she began before being cut off by the tongue. In an instant, Vrog’s tongue shot over her head, grazing he top of her hair and cutting a few strands as she fell into the water. In an instant, she was half swimming, half running for her weapons. They leaned against the a nearby tree, and she cursed herself for being unprepared and having them so out of reach. She turned to gaze upon Vrog, weary of another attack. She could feel it in her bones, something was not quite right about this one and he seemed powerful, far too powerful for her. The only chance she had was the dagger, sword, and if he had a soul, she could use her abilities on him. But there was no time to check, not now.

The tongue coiled back upon itself and disappeared into the maw, impossible though that might have appeared. Vrog’s jaws moved as though chewing something, and another whistle pierced the air close to Laurien’s head, followed by a small splash. The entire bulk began to shuffle along the bank, following her movement with little haste.

[color=saddlebrown]“Let’s try this again,”[/color] again a whistle and a plop in the water, this time close enough for her to feel the shearing of the thing’s flight, [color=saddlebrown]“what are you really?”[/color]

Once again Laurien froze in her path, having felt whatever the projectile was flying past her. She knew he could hit her, and she knew if he did the damage would would be severe. She turned to face Vrog, but began to walk sideways to the shore. She was nearly there.

[color=plum]”I already told you, I am Laurien. What more is there to know, beast!”[/color] she said defiantly. 

The collection of fragmented mouths shook and scrunched together in a nauseating display. Though it was difficult to say for certain, it was a fair guess that it might have been a grimace of distaste. [color=saddlebrown]“Dumb as slag, are ya?”[/color] the mouth’s motions were almost perfunctory, in spite of the tone. Its words rolled out between the rows of teeth without much care for matching the lips’ mimicry. [color=saddlebrown]“There’d be a deal more to say anyways, but the part I care for is-”[/color] the tip of his tongue flicked out, [color=saddlebrown]“why’d you smell almost the same as something I’ve eaten a far spit from here?”[/color]

One of her feet touched the sandy shores of the shallower water, as she stared down Vrog, now almost directly across from him. She squinted her eyes as her face flashed with anger at the name calling. At least she thought it was intended as insult, the creatures speech pattern was strange after all. Another step and both her feet found footing on soft grass, as she continued to back up towards the tree. She began to shake her head at his question. [color=plum]”I have no idea what you’re talking about, I smell fine.”[/color] she said sarcastically. 

[color=saddlebrown]“Figures,”[/color] Vrog spat a large split grey seed to his feet. [color=saddlebrown]“Bet you wouldn’t even’ve felt it, not with that lump on your face. Doesn’t matter.”[/color] With the crack of several somethings snapping at once inside his body, he abruptly jolted upright from his half-crouch. His arms flexed outwards, flicking their fingers in sequence. Their tips, hooked on one, straight and pointed on the other, glistened in the high daylight. [color=saddlebrown]“Hope you taste better than you talk. Maybe I’ll be done quicker.”[/color] He paused mid-step, ruminating on something, then spat another seed and resumed his shambling advance. [color=saddlebrown]“Hah, who am I kidding?”[/color]

Her eyes grew fierce as she turned around, and with a burst of speed kicked off to the tree where her sword leaned. Vrog twirled his right hand, and suddenly it was holding a dagger with a short, broad blade. Snarling, he pounced forward with unsuspected agility. Unaware of her divine adversary, Laurien was almost at the tree when something sharp and pointed cut into her right calf like a knife carving butter. She let out muffled scream as she fell forward into the dirt, reaching out for her sword. An iron grip closed around her leg, as the blade rose again and stabbed towards her arm. Before the blade could land, Laurien used her free leg to kick at Vrog, in a desperate attempt to shake her attacker off. It struck coarse, hard metal. The density of the mass she felt behind it betrayed the creature’s immense weight. He grunted, but did not bulge.

Then the blade came down, pinning her arm into the dirt. Laurien screamed in pain, desperately trying to kick Vrog regardless of his weight. With her free hand, she tried to pull the sword out of her arm. The hand holding the weapon released its grip, leaving the blade embedded in her flesh, and reached past the crossguard with its abnormally long fingers, searching for a grip on the arm. At the same time, both claws heaved upwards with tremendous strength, moving to hurl her whole body sideways against the ground. She barely had time to grab the blade before she was lifted and then slammed against the ground, knocking the wind out of her. She tried to breath, but she could only inhale as the shock hit her. Loose fingers grasped the hilt of the cruel dagger still, but her grip was unsteady and she was dazed.

A cold hand reached for her throat, scratching and cutting in its careless slide. The grasp on her leg was released, only for the now free claw to rise over her with yet another almost identical dagger and arc downwards, aimed for her shoulder. As the blade entered her shoulder, she exhaled and screamed out in pain again. She tried to kick Vrog off of her again but it did little, then her grip hardened on the dagger, and with her free hand she went to stab Vrog in his face, or what she thought was his face.

There was an eerie silence as the blade sank smoothly into the putrid sludge, punctuated only by a single surprised grunt. Then, in a spray of rot and fetid spittle, the flesh around the dagger burst open, swallowing the blade in a pulsating fissure that suddenly gaped between two ragged edges. Rows of mismatched teeth tore through their surfaces, and the newly-formed mouth snapped closed around Laurien’s wrist. She let out a blood curdling scream, as she desperately tried to rip her hand free from the creature’s maw. She couldn’t win against this thing, not even her abilities were working, it was if this creature before her would divine in itself. She was going to die and be eaten by the putrid thing. And Laurien began to panic as she struggled, bleeding and in pain. 

[color=plum]”F-Father! Oh gods, please help me!”[/color] she began to cry. 

Vrog’s free mouth twisted into a dubiously expressive snarl. While it was clear that it betrayed some feeling, what exactly that was remained as opaque as his armour.  [color=saddlebrown]“What’re you wailing for now? I haven’t even gotten started!”[/color] he cackled. [color=saddlebrown]“Ya know, maybe the thing with my guts is all in the mood. Eating straight away mayn’t help, but cutting you up first? Could cheer me right up.”[/color] He dangled his knife dangerously close to her eyes. [color=saddlebrown]“Worth a try anyway.”[/color]

Laurien’s eyes grew wide, and her voice died in an instant as a cold realization came over her. She had so much to do, and promises that would never be kept, because she was going to die. Something told her to keep fighting, that this was not the end, but her blood loss was making her weak, and both of her arms were useless. But try she did, because she at least wanted to die fighting. And then, like the sound of thunder, something slammed into the water next to them, sending a great wave washing over the two, scattering her things. 

Almost thrown off-balance by the impact, Vrog staggered sideways. Both his mouths momentarily gaped in surprise, releasing Laurien’s deeply gouged hand. Moving with uncanny speed, he vaulted aside, aiming a swift kick at her flank to sweep her away while his right hand flicked down his visor. The left readied its weapon in a rough, but stable battle-stance.

She rolled into a tree with a grunt from Vrog’s kick. Now clutching her gouged hand, her eyes fell upon the creek, or what was left of it. She held her breath, fearing another foe, but her eye grew misty as two eyes that remembled her own peered forth. Her father had come, and he did not look impassive, or blank, but expressed a profound anger as he stared daggers into Vrog. 

[color=black]”You dare attack a child of mine?”[/color] came his cruel words as he walked towards Vrog with open hands. There was a whooshing sounds, like a blade being swung and her greatsword flew into his right hand. From his left, another sword materialized, identical to her own. 

[color=black]”Foolish.”[/color]

Vrog’s head leaned sideways as far as his stump of a neck would allow. His frame drew backwards for a moment, but defiantly slumped ahead again. He pointed an accusatory finger at the advancing god. [color=saddlebrown]“You’re interrupting, you know,”[/color] he growled, [color=saddlebrown]“Don’t want to sound like an uneatable scraphead, but that’s spitting rude. Who even the gut are you?”[/color]

[color=black]”I am Orvus, the God of Desolation.”[/color] he spat, before in a split second he was before Vrog, raising both blades high before bringing them down upon him. The monster barely had the time to lift his dagger, narrowly catching one of the swords. The weaker iron blade shattered under the blow, leaving a notch in the now useless grip. Meanwhile, the second sword found no other resistance than a hastily swiping vambrace. It grazed the arm and bit into the creature’s shoulder, filth spraying from the dent in the yielding armour.

With an audible snap of his teeth, Vrog leapt backwards in almost froglike fashion, raising his right palm as he went. [color=saddlebrown]“God? Hey, alright, wait. Don’t rush into this.”[/color] He craned his wounded shoulder aside and tapped a finger on the now clearly visible symbol of a closed fist etched on his armour. [color=saddlebrown]“You really don’t want to.”[/color]

Orvus did not hesitate as he slapped both blades together and pointed them at Vrog. They began to glow and crackle with scarlet energy. [color=black]”But I do.”[/color] he said, before unleashing the beams in Vrog’s direction. 

The massive body shuddered as the blast struck it, the almost thundering reverb of the impact fading into a loud, fiery fizzle as acrid black smoke billowed up to obscure it entirely. The stench, even from a distance, was eye-watering. Something waved inside the writhing cloud, dispersing it into wisps that, perhaps mercifully obscuring most of Vrog’s form from sight. The half-melted, half-charred parts where the beam had struck that emerged when the fumes briefly cleared around his midsection were worse yet to the eye than the smell was to the nose.

[color=saddlebrown]“Don’t get it?”[/color] the gnashing sounded more angry than anything, [color=saddlebrown]“If that’s your daughter, ‘s clear where she got her spit-brains from. I got higher-ups. I’m useful. You kill me, and you’ll be in for a bad time.”[/color]

Orvus slammed both ends of the blades into the ground before him and opened his arms wide. [color=black]”Your threats are meaningless, spouted about to save yourself like anyone would care if you died. You are nothing but a blight of flesh and teeth, gnawing at anything weaker than you. At the first sign of a challenge, you cower like some mongrel pup. Unbefitting of an avatar. I do not think Narzhak would think that very highly but who am I to punish another’s pet? But as you wish, since you did not kill Laurien, I shall allow you to leave my presence. But know this, ‘spit-brain’, harm another child of mine and you will not be so lucky next we meet.”[/color]

[color=saddlebrown]“I got more than flesh and teeth, you know,”[/color] Vrog seemed to vibrate in place for a moment, scattering the remaining smoke, before opening his helm-guard. His tongue darted down to feel about his wounds with its tip, clicked and withdrew. Oddly, it did not stop him from speaking as it moved about. [color=saddlebrown]“No brain, though, so joke’s on you.”[/color] He paused, scratching his head. [color=saddlebrown]“I think.”[/color]

With a few more leaps, more limping than even his asymmetry would have accounted for, he was back on the slope he had descended from. He struck a hand into the rock, preparing to pull himself upwards, but stopped in his tracks and turned his head back. His lack of eyes made it difficult to say whom he was addressing. [color=saddlebrown]“Don’t take it personally, I’d’ve loved a rematch. Just when things’re less, how’d say it, loaded.”[/color] He began to clamber up the cliff at an insectile scurrying pace. [color=saddlebrown]“I’ll let you know.”[/color] And off he went.

But before he could climb any further, a whistle sounded in the air, before the new desolate blade embedded itself into Vrog’s back, pinning him to the cliff face momentarily. Another second went by, and Orvus’ voice could be heard next to him. [color=black]”Yes… You did not kill her, but you did maim her...and now, you will have more then teeth and flesh.”[/color] and then the blade shattered, releasing Vrog from it’s grip as the pieces turned to dust and began to sink into the avatar.

Orvus was high above him now looming like a vulture. [color=black]”Dust for blood.”[/color] came his hallowed words. He then began to fly off in the direction of Laurien, but his voice lingered around Vrog, [color=black]”Remember, harm another child of mine and your punishment will be far worse.”[/color] before vanishing. 

Grunting, the brute pulled himself higher still and over the upper ledge, with nary a sign that being impaled, however shortly, had inconvenienced him. Something, however, felt off. He licked the tips of his teeth, scraped his stomach and hummed in bemusement. His tongue reached for the bird carcass he had left behind, scattering the flies that had flocked to it in the interval, and tore a piece from it. He drew it in like an angler would reel a catch, preparing to bite down into the still fresh meat - but his teeth closed on nothing but dust.

He vaulted over to the body and ripped out another chunk. As soon as it touched the interior of his mouth, he was spitting dust again. The next attempt fared no better. Nor the next. Nor the next.

[color=saddlebrown]“Well spit.”[/color]

[hr]

Laurien awoke with the sun rise, groggily and her head pounding. She blinked her eyes, coming to the realization that she was propped up against a tree, still next to water. A great pool had formed where her father had landed. Her Father! She looked about again, seeing that her items lay next to her and she wore the cloak, but no sign of Orvus. She tried to get up but felt exhausted. Both her arms hurt, and her hand… She rose it with a grunt to meet her face. The wound had stopped pleading, in fact it looked like it had been cauterized, then cleaned. It was highly ugly at the moment, but perhaps it would scar into a eery beauty. She began to check her other wounds, finding much the same had happened, cauterized and cleaned and more scars. 

[color=black]”I was wondering when you would wake again, Laurien.”[/color] his voice broke through the silence of the woods, and came closer as he floated down from the trees. Orvus looked much the same, if not sad. [color=black]”I am glad to see you. You did the right thing, praying to me, child.”[/color] he said, touching down in front of her. 

She opened her mouth to speak, her throat still felt raw, but speak still she did. [color=plum]”He was so strong… so vile and I… felt so powerless. What was he?”[/color] she asked as Orvus sat down. 

[color=black]”An avatar, a piece of a God left to its own devices. Autonomous, they embody an aspect of ourselves. He came from Narzhak, God of War, but his purpose was something else.”[/color] Orvus said softly.

Laurien nodded, [color=plum]”His name was Vrog. Did… Did you kill him?”[/color]

Orvus shook his head, [color=black]”No. I would have liked too, more than you know but I stayed my hand.”[/color]

Laurien squinted her eyes, in confusion at first but quickly turning to anger. [color=plum]”What do you mean you stayed your hand? He lives? That means… What if comes back? What if he tries to eat me again.”[/color] she shivered, unwelcome memories flashing before her eyes. 

[color=black]”He will not, otherwise I will kill him. I told him to never lay a hand upon any of my children. If he breaks such a thing, simply pray and I will come. Regardless, what happened? Why did he attack you?”[/color] 

[color=plum]”I don’t know why.”[/color] she shrugged, [color=plum]”He kept spewing about a foul taste and how I reminded him of it, or something. He didn’t have a reason, he simply found me and I was caught unaware and away from my weapons. You know the rest.”[/color] she said ashamed. 

Orvus said nothing for a moment, looking upon Laurien’s face with a soft expression. [color=black]”You would have died even if you had your weapons with you, and ready to fight. His class of enemy is second only to Gods, Laurien. Do not be ashamed in asking for help if it means you get to live.”[/color] he let out a sigh. [color=black]”I was unaware such threats existed in the world, your normal gear can only help you so much. You need… something more. Sharper and deadly, even to divine flesh. I will think upon this and when I have a solution, you will be the first to know.”[/color] he said thoughtfully. 

Laurien sighed, defeated by his words. Her shame was lessened somewhat, but she still felt like a failure. [color=plum]”Okay.”[/color] she said bowing her head.

[color=black]”I… Know where Arya might be found.”[/color] he said suddenly. 

She snapped her head up at Orvus, her eyes twinkling. [color=plum]”Where? How did you find out?”[/color] she said excitedly. 

[color=black]”She is on Tendlepog, the land created by K’nell. He told me…”[/color] his voice abruptly cut off and he stood up, turning away from her. This left Laurien highly confused, and, using the tree as support, she stood up as well. 

[color=plum]”K’nell told you? How? When?”[/color] she asked. Her father said nothing and did not turn around. She tried to float herself over, but it was no use. [color=plum]”Father!”[/color] she said again. 

Orvus turned around slowly, his gaze full of sorrow. [color=black]”Silver is dead.”[/color] he said. Laurien blinked, the weight of his words crushing her, and throwing her off balance. She couldn’t believe what she just heard, but as she looked at Orvus, she knew it to be true. Tears began to pool in her eyes. [color=plum]”How could you let that happen?”[/color] she said shakely. 

[color=black]”K’nell came with the other Li’Kalla shards. He was going to put her back together, and Silver was willing.”[/color] he said emotionlessly. 

[color=plum]”So K’nell killed her?”[/color] she gritted, her fingers tearing into the bark of the tree as she used it for balance. 

But Orvus shook his head. [color=plum]”Then who did!”[/color] Laurien shouted. 

[color=black]”I did.”[/color] came his weak reply. 

Laurien froze, her body beginning to shake as the gravity of his words took hold. She felt betrayed, and angry and at a loss for words. Her knees buckled and she fell on her knees, crying now. She let out a terrible wail, a loss and pain and when it was done she looked at Orvus with fiery eyes. 

[color=plum]”Go away.”[/color] she said, [color=plum]”Go away and don’t come back!”[/color] she screamed at him through tears. She couldn’t hardly look at him, she was disgusted, far more than she had been at the sight of Vrog. Somehow, through all her physical injuries, this hurt so much more. 

Orvus looked down at her, one small tear falling down his face and shattering before her knees, as he took off in a burst of speed into the sky. 

[hider=Cheeki-breeki by the river]

Somewhere in the Qiangshan Mountains, Vrog is annoyed at being unable to get pleasure from eating. He smells something that resembles a reaper and tracks it, but instead finds Laurien taking a swim. She is incredibly afraid of Vrog at first, and they talk back and forth. Slowly but surely she tries to get out of the river and to the tree where her sword is leaning. She almost makes it, but Vrog attacks and a fight ensues - a rather one-sided one, with Laurien wounded in several places and almost getting her hand eaten. Realizing her situation is dire, she screams for her father. 

And Orvus answers, as he was in the same general area as them. He lands and starts beating on Vrog until the latter chickens out and pulls the “I got connections, yo” card. Orvus, having killed a shit ton of dragons earlier, decides to let him go because he didn’t kill Laurien. He does threaten him to never touch any of his children ever again and then curses Laurien’s blood inside Vrog. Anything he eats not turns to dust as punishment for his offense. 

Pan to Laurien, who wakes up several days later. Orvus and her talk about things, and to make her feel better, Orvus tells her where to find Arya. Oops, cause then she asks how he found out and so Orvus tells her that Silver is dead, and that he did it. She screams at him to leave and so he does.

[/hider]

[hider=MP Summary]

-1MP to create another Desolate Sword, discounted to 0MP.

-1MP to curse Laurien’s blood inside Vrog. Using the desolate sword as a catalyst, Orvus used the blood inside Vrog to corrupt him. Every time he tries to eat something, it will turn to dust. 

[/hider]