Geralt ran through the woods. Wind beat against his dark cowl and buffeted his clothes. Beads of sweat ran down his neck. "Gods preserve us, what was that thing? How did it do that to Broen?" He grimaced as the vivid imagery replay in his head. Beetles, flies, and maggots wriggled beneath his comrades skin, crawling out his mouth and eyes. The bone-chilling screams echoed in his ears even still. "I have to warn the others-" In one moment, Geralt was running to safety. In the next, the world flew out from under him. He felt a sharp pain in his leg as he landed with a hard thud. His senses screamed in alarm, urging him to his feet. He pushed himself up, and immediately fell again. He stared at his legs, and noticed one of them had been wrenched around backward and broken. His eyes bulged as the pain suddenly caught up with him. An agonized growl erupted from his chest. A rustle in the bushes caught his attention. His head snapped around for a look, but there was nothing. His eyes scanned the treeline as he itched at his hands. His skin tingled uncomfortably, a strange prickling sensation which spread rapidly. A breath caught in his throat and coughed. Something clung to his mouth. He spit and wretched, as a mucus-covered centipede undulated its way across the ground. Panic gripped him, heart hammering against his ribs. "No." A painful itch in his ear was accompanied by a strange noise, like a thousand tiny bubbles popping. He cried out as blood ran down from his ears. One after another black flies crawled out and tried to dry their wings. He growled in pain. Thin worms instead of tears wriggled out of his eyes. His vision grew dark as a small antlered creature stared at him with three bright green eyes; it's lithe body sheathed in short, blood-flecked coat of white and brown. An oily ichor bubbled up from the ground around it, steaming and hissing at it blackened the earth. Writhing tendrils wrenched themselves from the roiling pool and slowly slithered toward Geralt. "Monster! My master will mount your head on the wall." The man chuckled grimly as he reached for the knife at his belt. The creature spoke in chorus, its voices pounding the air. [color=#30D5C8]"Your master will know a [i]thousand[/i] subtle shades of pain.."[/color] It took a slow, deliberate step forward. [color=#30D5C8]"A [i]hundred[/i] ways to die..."[/color] Another step. [color=#30D5C8]"Until I lay his [i]worthless[/i] body upon my table..."[/color] Another step. [color=#30D5C8]"Sleep, little morsel. For the feast has just begun~"[/color] [hr] The Tyrant of Nightmares lived up to his name. He licked is lips with satisfaction as yet another headless corpse settled into his magic gullet. He peered deeper into the brush and watched as spells fizzled and backfired; flesh shriveled to nothing or boiled away. A divine infestation wracked the bodies of the stubborn few who struggled to escape. Insects clawed and bit their way out of each one, erupting into black clouds of pestilence. He had just clawed out the tongue of his most recent plaything, when Ashara arrived. Frantic and disheveled, she smelled of fear. [quote]"Lord Chompy, Sir Gromgard... Something-" She began, but unsure of how to word it."-something is not right. The deeper we go in this forest, the more I sense something... A presence." She placed a hand on her chin, thinking of how to describe it. "It feels like... An aura of incredible malice, pure, simple and unadulterated evil. Like a fog or miasma of choking gas... It lies at the heart of this forest, and it seems to be just as powerful as any of us." Ashara said, thoughtfully and concerned. Her many tails were moving in a disorderly fashion.[/quote] Although he was immune to fear himself, anything powerful enough to shake Ashara's confidence was a legitimate threat indeed. [color=#30D5C8]"Oh dear~"[/color] His voice held a note of concern. [color=#30D5C8]"Our foes have such good taste. Its a pity we're obliged to slaughter them wholesale. They would have made an excellent addition to the Dreamlands."[/color] He sauntered past Ashara, confidently holding his tail high. His burning green eyes stared into the dark of the forest. [color=#30D5C8]"I'm sure the General will agree that we have the advantage here. My curses are slowly spreading through their ranks, a plague upon them. If they believe their magic sanctum will protect them, they are [i]gravely[/i] mistaken."[/color] His eyes narrowed to slits. [color=#30D5C8]"But the lady believes them to be a threat, no? Let's just reap them now and be done with it."[/color] He met the listless gaze of his most recent victim. His torso was twisted unnaturally, but he still lived. [color=#30D5C8]"It would truly be a mercy."[/color] Several layers of arcane glyphs encircled the feline, casting electric blue shadows upon the trees. A pale ethereal spire lanced through the the man's chest and blasted the skin from his body as he rose into the air. His charred bones turned to ash before they hit the ground. Spectral fire ignited and wreathed Ashara, Gromgard, and all of his nearby goblins in a veil of harmless blue-white flames. The ghostfire dissipated quickly, but left a faint silvery glow behind. Though few chose the ability, High Warlocks had the option to empower spells using willing or helpless sacrifices, but it always made the spell【 Evil 】. The gloominess of the atmosphere around the small cat changed rapidly, as a foul wind kicked blood and dust into the air, instilling in all allies nearby a lust for violence. [color=#30D5C8]"Enjoy my blessings while they last."[/color] He said dryly. [hider=bonuses for allies] 【 Eye of Ra 】 Extra Holy and Fire damage on all attacks; combat spells included 【 Aura - Bloodthirst 】 Minor HP steal; Severe bonus to PHY. ATK and MAG. ATK 【 Balefire Blessings 】 Increased HP and MP Regen; Severe bonus to resistances; potency increased with sacrifice. [/hider]