Lugubrious

.::Legend of Zelda :: Whispers in the Night::.

When Frore heard the ringing noise, the memory of teleporting earlier first came to mind, and accordingly the Chilfos froze in a rather awkward position in a kneeling posture with one hand extended. Frore remained that was as the radiant, humming white light enveloped the already brilliant white of the ice. Though the spectacle would have been far more impressive at night, this overwhelming, blinding glimmer still managed to force everyone present to look away if they didn't want their eyes to throb with pain. From within the impenetrable glare, there came a loudly crackling sound, only adding to the chaos and sensory overload

Only seconds later, though it felt far longer, the illumination faded. When Magus, Veitaru, and Lethe once again looked where the Chilfos had stood moments before, a surprise awaited them.

Rather than a man, as was to be reasonably expected given Frore's more masculine characteristics as a Chilfos, a woman stood in its place. Despite being technically only three years old, Frore was a fully mature Hylian--evidently her natural, monstrous race didn't undergo any sort of conventional life cycle. Frore's skin was terribly pale, practically albino, as if it had never seen sunlight. She was, of course, very tall, rivaling and even beating most men at an impressive 6'2". However, just as the Chilfos had been, she was incredibly slender. Frore had never eaten anything in its life excluding water vapor, and as a Hylian she was little more than skin and bones. Despite that, she had healthy white hair somehow gathered into a large bun. On her long, sharp face was a vapid expression. Though hardly beautiful, she could be said to sport a certain rugged charm by those attuned to looks.

The partially-melted icicle spear on the ground had somehow also transformed. In the place of hyper-chilled water was white steel. The tip resembled that of a boar spear, with a deadly point and flaring lugs. Very confused by what had happened, Frore instinctively reached out for her weapon, the one familiar thing in sight. Even altered by the ring's magic, it felt natural in her hands as she picked it up and rose to her full height. Unsure about how to react to the eyes fixated upon her, Frore opened her mouth slowly, exploring the feeling. "Ss...sssah....aah...haaa.....I....ice."

Living Reflection: A Psychological Alter Egos RP

“Very well.” After answering Fantasy Sky Breaker, Seraph briefly stepped around him to address the other two egos. “I expect you'll both be participating in the games tomorrow?”
The gentleman shook his head softly. “Last time got so competitive. I think I'll sit this one out.”
Without so much as looking up from her book, the young lady scornfully chimed in, “Not on your life. I don't have anything to prove, and if I did, I wouldn't have to win anything to prove it.”
Seraph rolled her eyes and turned around to leave, the only sound of her movement the soft swish of cloth. She looked back to make sure her guests were following. “That's Mim for you. Always so full of herself.” Though she spoke in a low voice, there was more bitterness to her words than friendly chiding. “Shall we press on?”

Next stop, on the other side of an entrance to a grand, square-spiral staircase, was the food court. This fairly large chamber, with rows of stone pillars, wooden benches, and torches beneath a low ceiling, was unoccupied. Some clanging and hissing from behind a nearby oaken door, however, indicated that preparations were being made for dinner. One wall was dominated by a long, spotless counter, totally devoid of anything but light. Another side of the chamber seemed devoted to various barrels of all sized, from casts to jerkins, laid on their sides and tapped. The whole structure evoked a semblance of crispness, order, organization, and partition, not unlike the function-over-form divisions of a military setup. “We don't really do snacks,” Seraph admitted. “Aside from the whole frugality aspect, there's health to be considered. Of course, some egos still find ways to pack on the pounds.” It was fairly obvious who at least one of these gluttonous egos was. “Drinks, however, are free for all. Help yourself.”

Seraph did so herself. Leading the way over to the wall of drink, she steadily became aware of a low noise that increased in volume the closer she drew. Upon arriving at the stacks of liquid containers, she found Midwinter's Envoy sound asleep, slumped against a pillar, flask in hand and clothes in disarray. It was difficult to tell if he was passed out from overindulgence to alcohol or simple fatigue. Sera ignored him -plainly this had happened before- and opened a nearby value. Cool, refreshing mint tea poured from the spigot into her ceramic drinking cup, uneven stacks of which were interspersed at regular intervals along the wall.

.::Legend of Zelda :: Whispers in the Night::.

If you were planning to describe Frore post-change, I'd rather you leave that up to me. Between the two of us, we've had enough large posts to allow two small, quick ones.

.::Legend of Zelda :: Whispers in the Night::.

You imbecile Cain groaned internally as Magus made his 'demands'. He was personally ashamed that a Twili, particularly a learned one as he seemed to be, could be so blind. Once more he felt forced to contain his sentiments, both out of his learned sense of propriety and the necessity of keeping his ill intentions to himself. To demand apology of these wretched Goddesses is no wiser than an ant demanding mercy from a boot. He wanted to growl, to unveil a hint of the wrath that smoldered in the shadows. Lethe's response only furthered his point. To them we are not people, not changeable, not redeemable. They see us as no more than monsters fit for the darkness. The fairy just said herself that she's only considering us 'Twilight Folk' for her mission because we are suitable pawns for her to use at this moment. The only justice either Magus nor Cain could hope to have would be to swat down those who mindlessly followed their cruel Goddesses like the sheep they were. Slaying their emissary was a new and inviting purpose, far more attainable than finding either Midna or a way back to the Twilight Realm.

That, however, would have to wait. And he could wait. As long as needed to he could be Lethe's pawn.

Summoned by Veitaru, Frore tentatively took a few steps in her direction before breaking out into a full walk. Given his impressive stature, a single stride for the Chilfos surpassed two of an average Hylian's. In no time he was standing at the cliff face. An hour from this moment the wall of stone would have cast him in its shade, but as it was nearly noon everything remained awash in sunlight. Frore let go of his spear, which promptly fell like the trunk of a young tree and, bereft of his cold aura, snapped into two pieces on the ground. The Chilfos didn't seem to notice; he had gripped the chest with both hands. A single tug was all it took -and more- to rip the box from its resting place in the packed soil and send it tumbling onto the ground. Mercifully, the aged, dirt-stained wood weathered the impact. Frore knelt ponderously and stiffly, a vast, icy manikin, and pried at the box's edges. His long, clumsy fingers proved unable to find enough purchase to seamlessly part lid from container, so he predictably resorted to brute strength. With a brief, protesting creak, container and lid parted company, and the latter was hurled sideways. Though he meant to throw it away from anyone, it was always possible that he missed somebody had carelessly projected the thin oaken slab in his or her direction.

With the top off, Frore could clearly see the clothes within. He picked up a length of cloth, possibly a cowl or scarf, and watched as his aura spread frost over the fabric. Before the frost grew too extensively, he let the scarf slip through his grasp and land without sound among the other clothes. Before long the warm sun would reduce the shimmering specks of ice to a mere spot of dampness. Next, Frore looked expectantly at the ring on his finger, as if it were going to cast its magic on its own.

Cain, as always, was focused on the mission. "It doesn't need to be said, then, that sooner is better." With that, he exited the shadow of his kneeling glacial companion and bounced between those of various objects around the graveyard until he was on his way down the trail. Equally lost in thought and dedicated to returning the the crowds in town to search for six others, he didn't notice a hooded man just beginning to ascend the graveyard path until he happened to enter his shadow, intending no more than to use him as another stepping stone. Like a poke from a needle, however, something quickly and painfully caught his attention. Cain stopped, sensing something, and attempted to pinpoint it as the walking Sheikah carried him back the way he came. This sensation was familiar, but also unique, much like the one that had emanated from Magus but much weaker. He quickly determined that the individual in whose shadow he rested was no Twili -that would have been far, far too much coincidence for one day- but nevertheless he seemed to host an inkling of dark magic. On another note, he moved quickly, with purpose and utter self-assurance. Clearly there was something in the graveyard that concerned him. Thinking quickly, Cain whispered, "Hurry," before going quiet, simply along for the ride. If this fellow was one of the six, Cain was in luck.

.::Legend of Zelda :: Whispers in the Night::.

While Magus answered Cain, the latter met his eyes steadily. Inferences, observations, and conclusions flashed through his mind like tiny silver fish shooting through a stream. Clerk useless proper know-it-all unhelpful furtive weak broken. When the other Twili lifted his gloves, Cain took in the sight of wood, bone, and trace of shadow in silence. If the side-effects of existing in full form in the World of Light included having to take on a false body, then Cain could see why this one was reluctant to share his methods. He briefly wondered if it was permanent. As Magus stepped around him to chatter to Lethe, Cain didn't move, simply staring ahead, lost in thought. Magus represented what he had been searching for: a shred of hope, a hint that he was, at last, looking in the right direction. Only now it seemed that this Twili wasn't the savior that he had so desperately wanted. Very disappointing, in truth--still, something of use might be derived from this Twili yet. There was no alternative but to stick with Lethe, the owner of the voice in his dreams.

Finally, after Lethe had responded, Cain stirred himself from his reverie and returned to Frore's shadow. "At ease, comrade," he intoned to the Chilfos from his favorite hiding-place, "This one is on our side. We seem to be gathering more 'Ones' by the minute; maybe if we stay here for an hour longer the rest will come to us." From his two-dimensional position on the ground, Cain took a second look at Lethe's ring, now lightly frosted and jammed onto one of Frore's long, spindly fingers. "Let's see. Frore, in a few moments I believe you are to become a Hylian. When that happens, you must swap out your cloak for the clothes the girl will provide." He shifted his voice to address the whole group. Only a few moments had passed, but in that space of time he guessed that Lethe and Magus must have had enough time for a brief introduction and exchange. "If your questions are answered, historian, I suggest we all get down to business. The fate of the world, after all, apparently rests in our hands."

.::Legend of Zelda :: Whispers in the Night::.

It took every fiber of self-control in Cain's body not to erupt into laughter when Lethe literally attacked Veitaru, flying into her face and scaring the wits out of her. The Gerudo's wound against the tombstone behind her was more dire, however, and the Twili pulled no humor from that. This is, he mused, what happens when two excessive egos collide. He took a few more moments to think as Veitaru writhed on the dusty ground. It had probably been a mistake to shift gears with her so suddenly and abrasively. After all, he had only just finished insulting and ignoring the girl before he theatrically introduced himself and Frore. Such a mistake might take some time to resolve--and Cain wasn't exactly an expert when it came to long-term social interaction. In terms of reading others like books and pulling at their strings, there was no-one more suited, but a lifetime in the shadows meant that his commitments were seldom more than a few days. If the world was truly at stake, and he intended to keep up his facade about caring, he'd likely be with Vei for some time.

He was distracted from his pondering when Veitaru abruptly caved, consenting to get Frore clothes. Cain watched, both amused and somewhat disturbed, as the girl effectively drank her own blood. He was so absorbed in his observation that the approach of a certain dark figure went totally unnoticed by him.

Instead, the Chilfos, who hadn't the societal understanding of propriety and disgust to register any emotion at Veitaru's actions -or even any emotion to do so- heard the dust shifting en masse as the cloak of Magus swept over it. Frore pivoted about, more quickly than it seemed possible, and leveled his spear at the newcomer's chest. Attuned to his partner's actions, Cain glanced out of the corner of his eye to see what the problem was. As Magus entered his field of vision, he went rigid. He remained quiet as death while Magus made his remark, swiftly ticking off a mental list of criteria. This being was almost certainly a fellow Twili, but somehow he remained full-bodied in the World of Light while suffering no harm.

Cain's initial impulse was to take full form, execute a diving tackle, pin the other Twili to the ground, and squeeze any and all information out of him. Luckily, just as he was tensing himself up to spring, his rationality kicked in and stalled his movement. To do so would be to both openly advertise his desperation and already confirm him as a liar. With agonizing restraint, he hovered closer, until only a few feet separated him and the figure in the pitch-black robe. "You are a denizen of the Twilight Realm, are you not?" He listened while Magus made his brief reply. As he did so, he made a gestured for Lethe and Veitaru, who were now behind him, to stay away. "I am Cain, an attendant of the Shadow Court," he declared for the second time in as many minutes, before his voice lowered to an urgent whisper. "Who are you, how did you get here, and how do you sustain your full-bodied form in the World of Light?"

Dungeon Keepers

No problem. We've had a pretty steady pace recently, so a brief drag caught be somewhat off guard. My sincerest apologies for your loss.

.::Legend of Zelda :: Whispers in the Night::.

Alright, cool. My apologies if I came off as angry there.

.::Legend of Zelda :: Whispers in the Night::.

I guess I misunderstood about exactly what she figured out and the nature of her reaction then. I had assumed that she knew that Cain was trying to manipulate her, not that she just thought he was being a bully, as you've pointed out. Now that you've explained that, everything works out.

.::Legend of Zelda :: Whispers in the Night::.

Veitaru must be one hell of a smart kid to be able to see through the adult Royal Spymaster (who's been in the business long before Vei was born) like that, not to mention having already figured out Cain was a separate entity from Frore and being thoroughly unimpressed with the both of them. Cain must truly have been a terrible spymaster to be able to fool, frighten, or even catch the attention of nobody.