ShiningSector

Transcendent: Darkness Rising (A Sci-Fi Roleplay)

Mmmm, need more real. Will any of this be reported to Sel? >:0

@Kitsune

EDITED

Now everyone will know~

Transcendent: Darkness Rising (A Sci-Fi Roleplay)

And now sh!t gets real.

Sorry about the lack of posts again, this semester is intent on kicking my butt.

Transcendent: Darkness Rising (A Sci-Fi Roleplay)

The Galactic Coalition guards standing outside the Infamous Alto's air-sealed cargo hold appeared bewildered when what seemed to be a AISC came walking down the ramp. Orderly instincts demanded a salute or a sudden stand at attention upon the presence of a CO or an higher ranking elite solider but the individual coming down wore a toned down version of the iconic AISC attire. Most of the armor had been stripped down from the main NVP suit with only the secondary plates at the only external protection and much of the other utility devices had been overhauled too with only the iconic jetpack and booster nodes remaining attached. Upon their HUDs was a IFF digital signature highlighted over the not-AISC's head, listing the individual as a non-combatant with the header reading Cpt. Rayland Sul'tari.

"Sir!" one of the men snapped frantically to attention upon the AISC's identity. Though it was respectful gesture, he had little reason to do so since he didn't answer to the Captain. It was clear he was the less firm of his squad in terms of will with his action response empty of thought.

The other guard rolled his eyes behind his thick visor and merely gave a salute. The infantry man wore a white striped pattern over his helm, signifying his command of the the squad, "Afternoon, Captain Sul'tari. The perimeter is secure...If that is what you're here to confirm...Anything we can help you with?"

Rayland stopped at the edge of the ramp facing the soldiers as they "greeted" him. "Ah, no. I should be fine, thank you. I was actually going to look around for a bit. Probably stroll around one of those facilities up there and make sure my ship is in safe hands...If that is okay with you gentleman."

The squad simply stared at at one another, deducing if the Captain had been actually serious or was just being sarcastic. Of course, they were leaning towards the latter with annoyed expressions developing behind their armored masks. Standing guard on a hostile world with little protection and with such confined spaces and poisonous atmosphere around them was about enough they could deal with; adding the Captain's bull wasn't helping.

"That...Should be fine, Captain. But if you're going to be walking out here, at least take one of my men with you just as a precaution."

"I'm grateful for the offer, Sergeant. But I can take care of my self. Besides, I need to air out the vents of this thing!" Rayland said with enthusiasm as his NVP suit's jetpack started to whine as the boosters slowly glowed to life.

"Err-Wait, Captain Sul'tari. That wasn't an offer. We haven't-

"See ya guys on the flip-side! I shouldn't be long!"

In an instant, Rayland shot upward as his suit's miniature thrusters roared, firing intense momentum behind and below him until he reached one of the balconies overlooking the ship.

-thoroughly patrolled those sectors yet..." the sergeant ended his sentence in disbelief, frustration nagging at him over the Captain's stubbornness. "...What fuck just happened?"

The rest of the squad decided not to give any inputs on the event that transpired.

===

The facility Rayland had landed into appeared to be one of several maintenance sections within the starship pen. Looking around, he could see within roughly a month or so, the place and the multiple terminals and equipment was claimed by layers of dust due to lack of any facilities maintenance and the severe climate changes. Data slabs and other sensitive gadgets lay sprawled out on the floor in a untidy manner. Given the reports made by the AISCs, it seemed evident that everyone here left in a hurry. Classified reports meant for his eyes only confirmed traces of fighting and blood in some areas, concluding that a battle or worse, a massacre had taken place. Thankfully though to his mind, this area was void of any resemblance of struggle; but the fear was still present.

Picking up one of the tablets covered in powdery debris, Rayland attempted to activate the long abandoned device. Most slabs would have instantly the moment someone had touched it though this particular unit appeared to struggle with its holographic screen flickering repeatedly. It was no surprise to him that changing environment had tampered with the more fragile equipment as seconds later, the tablet in his hands simply gave out, powering down into its dormant state once more. Most of the IT and technical engineers that boarded his ship were still investigating and restoring the lower levels; it would take some time before they make it up here and give this place the same justice.

Making his way to a surveying catwalk, the Captain was able to grasp a much finer view of his ship resting at the bottom of this starship bay. He could see some of the logistical support crews and patrols scattered everywhere, even the soldiers from before whom he was sure to have pissed off just so he could venture out here by himself. It was irresponsible of him to have abandoned his duties and he knew that Towan was going to "scold" him for doing so. Though what the VI lacked in personality, made up in thoroughness and could easily write a novel on a single task. Feeling bad wasn't what Rayland was afraid of; dying of boredom was. But if he was going to act like a responsible captain, he needed to get something off his mind. He needed to find his "Ghost".

Roughly a half an hour had past with nothing to really settle his investigation. Every area he cleared was the same as the last; dust, abandoned computers, decayed and shattered glass, equipment all over the floor. The pattern never ceased from the annoyingly repetitive trend. However, there was station he had yet to check; the facilitating facing the starboard-side of his ship, his quarters. The room he remembered being almost claimed by shadow and his first encounter with the apparition.

Looking the sector wasn't that hard but getting into it however was as Rayland fought with a barely half-opened door, trying to forcefully slide it into its retracted state. Thanks to his mandatory modifications he acquired in service with the AISCs, he eventually brute forced the door into its own wall with the tearing and shearing of metal reverberating around the floor. The sudden shriek of metallic materials grinding aginst the other made Rayland flinch and look around as if anyone one heard the loud noise.

Upon stepping into the room, Rayland quickly re-evaluated how dark the place really was as the entire room was filled with dust, much more than the areas he investigated. In fact, much of it had filled the air around him...An odd find considering no one but him had visited this place. Was he not the first? Contributing to the lack of, most of the shudders to what he saw outside had either been closed or partially lowered, reducing the already inadequate amount of light that could enter inward. Rayland's HUD quickly adapted to this fact and altered the image he was seeing, lighting up the outlines and corners in neon green, allowing him to see past the almost murky room.

Just a few steps forward and something caught his NVP suit's sensors as blip briefly popped up on his radar. He could also see the glimpse of the anomaly as something scurried ahead of him in to the darkness. Though he was excited that he was not crazy deep down, he was also becoming terrified that he may not be the only one here. He knew that the situation was escalating against him and by procedure he needed to report in for assistance his mind remained focused on the specter that was here with him as slowly reached down to his weapon holster, feeling that he was going to need his gun in a moment. Sure enough, the moment came as he turned to look around him only to be facing eye to eye with the phantom figure from before.

The scene appeared awkward as both him and the ebony figure stared at on another, frozen in place and unmoving. Fear gripped Rayland as he gazed straight into the white illuminated eyes of the figure before him. To top off the tension, his suit's sensors had fully verified that there was another life-form in the room with him with the blip strangely phasing in and out on his radar. But he had no time to worry about that, especially when the phantom suddenly lunged at him. In quick reflexes, Rayland pulled his Sub-Repeater out and took aim as the attacking entity caused to him to fall backwards and collide into one of the terminals behind him.

Raylands eyes darted as he tried to visually identify his attacker. In the background however, all the shudders began to retracted, lighting up the room as they folded back. He quickly theorized that he may have accidentally toggled the shudder controls for the room. Convenient as the place didn't have any power though he did read up upon a report about that mentioned restoring said power to most of the facilities. While lucky as that may have seemed, Rayland was still picking up something still in the room with him. Once the last shudder retracted behind him, so did he find that something as whatever it was casted a large organic shaped shadow over him as he could visually indicate on the partially now illuminated floor. It would-be attacker was right behind him.

"Oh. Shit." said Rayland as he turned around to see a single red glowing eye glaring right at him.

The sound of automatic gunfire soon echoed throughout the ship bay.

===

The local disturbance had not gone unnoticed as the soldiers guarding the vulnerable Infamous Alto outside were the first to address the sudden situation change as an unidentified blip appeared on local sensors and apparently had engaged a friendly. A detachment had quickly assembled and rushed to the source of the conventional anomoly while engineers close by had been evacuated to safer location until things were resolved. Towan, now notified about the possible threat quickly decreed a ship-wide order.

"All crewman. Infamous Alto now entering Yellow Alert status. Repeat, Infamous Alto now entering Yellow Alert status. Security details are to intensify presence in all ship-wide sectors. Non-combatants are to remain to their assigned posts until advised...Weapon restrictions have been lifted."

Transcendent: Darkness Rising (A Sci-Fi Roleplay)

EDIT (from a 3DS(sue me)):
I've made Kate relevant again...By putting a gun to her poor head...
...
...
...
I am a bad person.

Transcendent: Darkness Rising (A Sci-Fi Roleplay)

Post is up now.

It appears Rayland has gone coo coo for coco puffs...

...Or Ebrillon is now revealing another surprise.

Transcendent: Darkness Rising (A Sci-Fi Roleplay)

Sel's words were encouraging to say the least and Rayland agreed with most of her diagnosing suggestions. Though in terms of favorite beverage, Rayland's selection were sadly and heavily leaning into the more alcoholic side of things. He was sure liqueur was not a medical recommendation in this case, especially in his position.

"Sounds good Sel." Rayland kindly replied, "I'll be sure to keep them posted once we get further orders. See ya around."

With a friendly wave to his Vexi doctor, Rayland walked out as the sliding doors retracting before him and soon closing as he stepped out. The whole situation as it stood wasn't going to change anytime soon and he would have to accept that for the time being. Sel'Varok's counsel however did prove somewhat enlightening and succeed in at least calming his nerves with her logic in mind. Satisfied with the meeting, Rayland walked off towards the bridge to which he was sure Towan would ambush him like always and give a report on the present condition; the present condition being pretty much nothing more than likely.

On his way to the bridge, Rayland couldn't help but feel cold all of a sudden. An odd feeling indeed as he could see the local corridor had not frosted over nor could he see his own breath as cooling vapor. Outside no doubt it was freezing but there was relatively no reason for the ship to feel this way unless environmental control sector wasn't doing its job and such errors were rare and quickly reported. Rayland tried to pay no mind for the odd temperature change and thought it off as his own quirky reaction to the current temperature at that.

Turning a corner that lead straight to the bridge, Rayland promptly stopped in place with eyes widening and unflinching. Across the other end of the corridor was the same shadowy entity as before, its appearance contracting the reality of the environment around it. The ebony figure casted no shadows from the lights from the floor and the ceiling. The holo-projectors that normally illuminated over those that walked by denied the entity the same service. This was probably just as Sel had mentioned; an illusion of a stressed mind. A ghost. A hallucination.

With a sighed in annoyance , Rayland buried his face into his left hand and pinched the bridge of his nose. It was quite noticeable he was not in the mood for any of this. Plus someone could be watching and that would have made things all the more awkward.

"Its not real..." he said to himself, "Not real at all just a figment of your..."

Rayland failed to complete his self encouragement as he looked up after blinking and rubbing his eyes several times, only to see the entity was not only still there, it was now only a few feet in front of him and casting a noticeable shadow around the corridor in which stood in. All logic regarding this ordeal had landed on its head; the illusion persisted despite his attempts in rekindling his place in reality. Something was not right and his body and senses knew it; what appeared to have been a phantom created from his imagination now seemed blatantly real. Adrenaline quickly spiked throughout his entire system as he ripped his Sub-Repeater our from it's holster and quickly took aim, the weapon giving off a electronic whine as it activated.

However it became apparent that life was now simply toying with him as the moment his aim landed right on the head of the figure before him, the dark profile had completely vanished. Rayland's firearm remained firmly in place without a target while his eyes frantically scouring the scene, trying to find where the entity had gone. But nothing was there. Just like last time, it was gone as soon as it came.

Just as he was about to slowly but cautiously lower his weapon, the doors to the bridge suddenly retracted, revealing a young female officer stepping out into the hallway. The navigation officer soon froze into place as soon as she deduced the the Captain's posture the weapon he held and pointed right at her. Unsurprisingly, the young woman began to tremble as if sensing her life was becoming increasingly in danger at that very moment. Quick inducing fear gripped her, causing the officer to accidentally lose grip of her data slab as it fell onto the floor; it appeared she wan't too used to firearms being deployed, especially when said firearms were pointed at her.

"C-Captain...?" she uneasily spoke while quivering, raising her arms above her head,"Is s-something wrong?"

It was then Rayland was quickly realizing was now going on and lowered his Sub-Repeater calmly as he could, visually showing the young officer his nonthreatening intentions. "I...I'm sorry about that Kate...I thought..."

So much for making things not awkward...

Kathleen McCloud, or simply Kate as she was usually known by, reached down and picked up her slab, showing less fear and slowly more concern. "Captain...A-are you feeling alright...?"

Rayland simply stared at her for a brief moment, processing what Kate had just said to him; are you feeling alright? Clearly that was no longer the case anymore. He basically had a gun pointed at his own crew member for crying out loud! "No...No I don't believe I am. Excuse me for my utmost rudeness, Officer McCloud. As you were."

With line now in the air, Rayland turned the opposite direction and almost stormed out of the hallway, leaving an even more concerned and confused navigation officer behind to contemplate what had just happened. Anger and frustration now gripped the Captain, feeling guilty of what he had done and even more annoyed by the possibility that he was nearing the verge of insanity, or so would some of the crew of the Infamous Alto would say if word got out; he wouldn't blame them if it did. But was he was more furious about perhaps the most was that he was being messed with intentionally. Rayland wasn't a stranger of seeing things that weren't there; he worked a stressful job and downed more than enough alcohol to quench his thirst and sorrows and was bound to see something amiss. But this time, it was different. Far different. The incident in the corridor had provided a new element to this new case of hallucinating; legitimate realism.

The encounter with the entity appeared life-like somehow despite the factors he was able to identify with before had had a good reason to draw his weapon. It was almost as if his mind had honestly believed the figure was truly standing before him. The sudden shadows within the corridor, the increasing air pressure, the awareness of another life form in front of him...Rayland was able to deduce one possible cause to this dilema; telepathy and a meaner variation at that. Though being psionically capable himself, it was not up to that equivalent degree, however he was still much more sensitive to the evolving mind than anything else really. The claim made the most sense here but he would have to prove its validity as anything he had to say right now was more than likely to be flung out of the nearest airlock along with his position.

There was a wrong he had to re-write and he would need the right equipment to get the job done...

The Sands of Blood (Dead)

The Marilith screamed in pain as Sergei's magic imbued warhammer smashed down on the she-demon's scale face. Holy fire exploded everywhere across her head and chest, tearing and burning away at the Marilith's cursed aura and wretched form. Unsurprisingly, the Marilith writhed in agony and collapsed backwards as Sergei held her hair firmly, pulling him down with the demon. The Guild entrance caved in with the falling Marilith as the vacuous catalyst of the building's further destruction. Swung around once more, the Inquisitor released his grip from the demon's fibers once the swing had entered its base. Sergei through his body upward just as he let go, using his shield to cushion the landing and create the necessary resistance as he slid across the street, sparks from metal meeting cobblestone until his momentum was dragged off.

Sergei got himself up, feeling uneasy from the brief moments of airtime with Marilith's snappy reflexes. With his age, such movements proved more taxing on him but hyped adrenaline fought back, keeping him fragilely focused on the task at hand. The Marilith eventually came achieved her bearings as well with most of the Inquisitor's magic painfully wearing off with a her upper-right portion of her figure burned badly and already cauterized. Rises from the debris around her, the Marilith screamed in defiance at the Inquisitor; it was perhaps the only thing she could say since her jar and throat suffered damage as well. Sergei responded in kind with his hammer igniting in white flames once more, clashing it against his re-equipped shield to intimidate and provoke. Enraged by the display, the demon of six blades slithered into a mad charge toward her opponent, revenge ever motivating her blind desire to kill the one responsible for her pain.

Just as she was about to bring her swords down on her small opponent in multiple striking vectors with a mad serpentine grin across the Marilith's face, a boom of thunder and lightning struck her back side, throwing the demon off balance. Before the Marilith could identify the sudden attack, ropes and cables snared her limbs from her own control while an array of magic spells barraged against her, keeping the demon from putting up a resistance. Through her feeble attempts she cough glimpses of Order soldiers, Zaphere guardsman, and Guild mages coordinating against here; the same measly souls she had been massacred earlier now filled with moral and determination to put her down. Ensnared to such a degree, the Marilith fell forward and impacted the ground hard.

The Marilith soon tried desperately to escape from her bindings but the combined effort of the powers set against her had now made that impossible. As if the she-demon couldn't lose anymore hope, looking up, she set her ugly terrified eyes upon the Inquisitor beaming down upon her, his hammer still aflame. The demon hissed defiantly but Sergei paid no mind to her desperate attempts and grabbed the Marilith's hair, pulling her head up before driving the apex tip of his warhammer into her skull. The Marilith shrieked once more, pain fueling her non-stop wailing as streaks of burning white paved out from the hammer unto her flesh and scales. The finishing blow finally came with Sergei casting a powerful spell, light radiating off of the steel of his warhammer vibrantly and intensely until rays of sunlight pierced the Marilith's head, silencing her screams almost immediately. The demon's form quickly turned ash as she was incinerated by holy fire whilst the soldiers cheered and roared for her demise in which Sergei yelled in triumph along with them.

The Cultists that remained broke ranks as their demonic champion fell before the Inquisitor and the combined efforts of Zaphere's armed and capable people. Seeing most of their enemy fleeing and attempted to regroup with the new insectoid monstrosities that arrived to reinforce them, the men and women of the Order, the Guild, and the Guard and militia charged forward with renewed moral and vigor, no longer held back by their earlier indifferences.

"Cast them down, warriors of Zaphere!" the Inquisitor cried with his hammer in the air, attempting to further inspire the everyone jumping into the fray, "We must prevail against the enemy that threatens us all!"

Sergei was about to charge forward long side his kin until something captured his attention. A voice, a warm ethereal voiced echoed through out the confines of his mind.

Sergei...Sergei... echoed the ethereal whisper, I am Pelor. I have a task for you my son.

Pelor. The deity Sergei had sworn to serve unquestionably and unwavering loyalty to, had spoke to him. Was this for actually for real? Could a deity of which the highest ranking members of the Order could supposedly speak to be calling out to him?

After the victory here you must retreat to a tavern. There you will wait and hold up with the rest of your men. My Ally Corellan Larethian is marching a army of elves to Zaphere for reinforcements but even with them this will not be enough.

Corellan Larethian? My word...thought Sergei. Either he was really going insane or he had stepped into something much larger than he ever imagined.

A host of people will arrive at the tavern, two of them already present within, you will go with them and take them into the catacombs.

Images flowed through Sergei mind, illustrating each word and syllable that came into being. He could almost virtually see the dark depths of the catacombs and the individuals Pelor began to speak of. There was no doubt about it, he was communing with a deity.

The demon Eliphas is too strong and powerful. His detection was too late. In the catacombs hidden in its deep darkness is a chamber. The chamber kept secret with a binding on its door. You will know it when you see it. It is time to awaken the my angel of death and rebirth from the depths of her hybernation. It will take you and this group to get there, while the remains of your men and Corellan's army distracts the forces of evil.

Eliphas...So this was the mastermind behind of not only his own grief but bane of the entire city of Zaphere. Everything that has transpired has been conjured and devised by this demon lord. Sergei relished the opportunity to take such a hated and cursed entity down.

This group in question is as follows; A Halfling named Ellis and a Priestess named Ceris...They are already at the tavern.

A Halfling and a Priestess eh...? It was an odd team up and the pondering thought of their pairing was an amusing one. Judging has been a common practice through out a great deal of his life, but even he knew when his opinion had little place and thus kept it as such.

The rest of the group is a few days away from here. They will arrive at the tavern, and they are as follows...

Hugh the Ex-Paladin...

A former Paladin? What heretical nonse- Sergei quickly stopped himself, self-reminding himself he was pretty much in the presence of a god.

Sana the Gypsy...

Artos the Magus...

Ellyn the Bard...

Bjoric the Cleric...

Vivian the War Blade...

Garrek the Fighter...

Deila the Shaman...

and Das the Kafshe...

Sergei's eyes physically narrowed out of confusing concern, perhaps not really wanting to know what that last title meant.

This mission is important my servant. This is our chance to demolish this demon's desire for conquest...For good this time.

And just light that, the ethereal-like feeling evaporated along with the soothing voice it carried. Sergei could mentally confirm that Pelor was no longer present and eventually snapped back to reality, re-finding himself on a bloodied battlefield of rightous warriors and damned dirty cultists. Pelor's words rang heavily upon him, but with a goal now set in motion, Sergei could not hope to ignore or deny the request. Whether anyone else would even believe him in which he really expected none int he first place. At any rate, there was a battle in need of winning; destiny was with him.

Transcendent: Darkness Rising (A Sci-Fi Roleplay)

"I don't know about you, but ghosts tend to haunt the living out of spite or remorse...This planet is already..."

He halted himself before finishing that sentence. Rayland caught what he was about to say and denied it from leaving his mouth, not wanting to sound as if he were venting or disrespecting the considered dead. Sounding like a downer was the least he wanted to have happen; he had an image to keep after all. Too recover himself from the moment, the leaned back, keeping hold of the chair's back-rest to balance himself while sighing in a deep breath.

"But, stress huh?" Rayland repeated, as if reminding himself of the word and its meaning. Was he really stressed out? Probably more than he realized himself considering how every single event was playing out.

"I suppose a break every now and then should help." said Rayland before his eyes caught the time displayed holographically on the medical office's wall. Breathing out his nostrils, he decided to raise himself from the chair, "...But I've been away from my duties much longer than I should be. I'm sure that I'll be needed again soon for OP coordination again."

Transcendent: Darkness Rising (A Sci-Fi Roleplay)

I should probably make a feedback request to the guild to notify people of edits as apparently I've been 3 days unknowing of your additional details @Hawlin...

Also college...So much fun...Math...Wooooooo....

Probably the reason that Kaite should be scared that the doctor is a vexi super-soldier with enough enhancements to challenge a Ascended Sphere warrior on near equal terms whom would easily dwarf Kaite in terms in size and cybernetically/genetically enhanced masculinity...And you have Sel keeping "tabs" on you.

Anyways, currently working on the next bit now.

The Sands of Blood (Dead)

Fighting his way through the ranks of mages that stood against him was hardly worth his time. Sergei's personal experiences with magic users, especially the heretical warlocks, witches, and occasion lich's that delved in the dark artes was very expansive. His training against black magic had been tedious but thorough and to the point. He knew what to look out for such as spells, auras and spiritual energy, and even enchanted items; all of which he could trace and detect, knowing what his opponent had in planned and actively preparing a countermeasure of his own.

Three fire mages, apparently to have foreseen his arrival ambushed the Inquisitor through one of the hall ways on the forth floor. With their combined efforts, they amassed a huge torrent of flames and directing the artificial back-draft violently towards Sergei. But unfortunately for them, the mages had engaged the Inquisitor in his own element. With this own aura and fire based magic, he channeled the mystic energies into his palm before the gout of fire divided harmlessly against him, leaving the surrounding walls torched beyond recognition. The three men looked on in horrors as the Inquisitor walk out of the smoke unfazed. Having the advantage with him, he raised his warhammer and channeled his own spell and pointed the mass of steel at the fools who opposed him.

An orb a bright light and boiling heat suddenly appeared in front of the mages before they could run or cast another spell. The miniature sun quickly grew until into an expanding loud banging flash. The three adept magic users appeared from the subsiding glare sprawled out on the floor unconscious, steam radiating from the burnt robes. Sergei gave a disappointed grunt before moving forward, walking over their numb bodies unopposed. Several other engagements passed by without slowing down the Inquisitor one bit, showing his magical dominance and experience over the feeble mages that got in his way. If there was anything that they were successful at, it was testing his patience. But through their stubbornness in obstructing his approach, Sergei was finding it odd that none of the foes he had dispatch had used any dark magic or carried any demonic auras. Could he have been mistaken? A possibility, though the quest documents were genuine however and the item in question could only bring bad news. But just how severe was the objective?

After dealing with the last bit of resistance against him, Sergei had reached the Headmaster's chambers and before him were the overly large gates that lead into the private room. Just he he could even lay a finger on the gate handle, the Inquisitor felt the sudden surge of magic; dark magic, pressing against the gates. Sergei quickly sidestepped from the archway as the gates were blown down by demonic fire. It became apparent the Headmaster was expecting him.

"One too many times has your damned Order of over-sensitive and closed-minded zealots has been a utter annoyance and a thorn in our enlightening progress!" shouted a frantic Headmaster within the chamber. "But no more! It seems you've lost what mere pitiful tolerance you had left and seek our destruction and we will answer in kind!"

He's not so far off, thought Sergei with his back against the wall adjacent to the archway as he readied his shield, pouring a vial of sacred water onto the steel frame and sanctifying it to battle against the unholy force before him. "You are correct that you presence here in Zaphere is hardly tolerated, but your string of blunders in controlling the dark artes has ruined your credibility and risked the local population on more than one occasion."

"D-don't you dare claim that our mistakes were of any threat to the city's people! We have learn from our errors, the darkness must be understood if we are ever to overcome it. You are not the only ones capable of fighting such evil!" the Headmaster countered.

I recall the Guild summoning a demon before...

"As noble as a claim as that sounds, I must ask what you had in mind once you get you hands on a lich's phylactery." said Sergei has he crept closer to the chamber entrance, his warhammer at the ready, "Even you should know how the item functions so what heretical desires do you have planned for?"

The Headmaster didn't reply at first and Sergei could sense the momentary hesitancy from the Guild leader, "H-how did you...? That is personal business with the Guild and-"

"Such objects and magic are my business, Headmaster." Sergei leaned forward, spreading his feet apart in preparations for rushing the room; he had little desire to duke it out with a Master Mage and only sought to end this, "I will give this one and only warning, lay down your staff and surrender to the judgement of the order. You have no where to run."

"No! I've come too far to be stopped by a lowly wretch! Years of research will not be wasted! I will-"

Sergei could not longer stand the Headmaster's babbling any further and quickly rushed the chamber, his light endowed shield raised. The tactic worked as in the moment he made his profile was made known, another burst of dark hurdled in his direction but dispersed upon impact against the holy aura the shield gave off. Preventing the Headmaster another follow up, the Inquisitor pointed his warhammer forward and casted his own spell. Like before, another small sun-like orb materialized into reality and expanded close to the Headmaster; it was the Sergei attempt to quickly subdue the Master Mage. But the Headmaster didn't receive his title for nothing as the moment the ball of fire and light came into being, the head mage quickly developed a ward that protected him from the eventual blast. The explosion's kinetic energy and enough force to blow out all the windows in the room, spraying shards of glass everywhere. But with the Inquisitor and the Headmaster's defenses in place, no one received any damage.

Once the chamber was almost cleared of dust, the battle rapidly resumed with Sergei now casting his own spell, light suddenly beaming forth from his warhammer and into the Headmaster's magical barrier. The stream of slight quickly burned the ward away with shimmering spectacles pealing away from the disintegrating barrier. The Headmaster growled as he too casted his own magic with a torrent of wind gathering around his staff before unleashing it towards the Inquisitor. The floor was ripped to pieces by the raging cyclone direct intent of doing the same to Sergei but like his sense forewarned him, he actually dashed forward with his shield once more. The impact was much more devastating than it was with the demonic fire but Sergei pushed ahead, shredding winds breaking against his shield with deflected tunnels tearing away at the chamber's architecture as chucks of the surrounding walls giving way, showing glimpses the outside scenery into the room.

It wasn't before long that the rest of the room eventually collapsed with the constant storming winds destroying any structural support that held the chamber. The ceiling came first with it being split nearly in half with the stone falling down only to shatter against the violent wind tunnels. Most of the debris then caved into the surrounding walls and eventually exposing the entire chamber to the outside. Unaware to the situation on the city streets, Sergei continued his struggle until the light of the sun dawned on to him. With his frown literally morphing into grin, the Inquisitor raised his warhammer skyward, rays of fire and light gifted by the sun poured onto the bulking steel, radiating an incredible dominating ambience of heat until it mirrored the transparent image of the sun itself. The Headmaster looked on in horror and awe until he was consumed by the suddenly flashing beams of assaulting light. Blinded by endless white the head mage was completely unaware of Sergei's follow up attack as he felt a mass of steel slamming into his torso, sending the Headmaster crashing into one of the still remaining inward walls.

After the powerful spell had dissipated, Sergei, now triumphant against the now unconscious Headmaster, casually walked over the strewn about research articles and volumes that survived the fighting. Picking up a large tome that reeked of evil spiritual energy, despite the restricting magic already laid against it. He opened the book by the inserted page-mark and went over its content. The chapter was apparently about theories of immortality and the imbuing of powerful magic. It became more intriguing with the unexpected details of utilizing a lich's phylactery to generate the needed life energy to accomplish the feat of ever-preserving life and youth. Looking over some of the Headmaster's notes, it became obvious that the Headmaster was not interested in summoning demons like Sergei was hoping to be the case. He had confirmed that the Mage's Guild was guilty of forbidden magic, but not the kind he was looking for.

The need to vent his frustration over wasted effort grew heavily; his would-be lead to a cultist organization within the Guild's ranks evaporated. The facts no longer added up and separated from current logic. Nothing made sense now and he was back to square one. But then the sound of conflict reached his ears, originating from the city. Looking over the collapsed edge of the chamber, Sergei could see a battle a taken over the streets outside the Guild. Mages and the united front of Order champions and guardsman continued to rage on but the balance or fighting began to shift with the arrival of a third faction. He could feel the dark magic everywhere, demonic energy filling the atmosphere, but was worst was huge plume of smoke in the distance with its direction familiar. It was Monastery and it was burning and under attack.

Sergei eyes widened as he observed the scene in all of its carnage. Cultists and demons waged war against all contenders on the field, even against the mages as they tried to fight back against the holy and the unholy. It soon came to him that this was the intention the organization he had been hunting had in planned all along. The evidence against the Guild, the raid he started, and the attack on the Monastery with most of the Order's forces pulled elsewhere. He had been played as a fool, even when he made sure his actions were justly and right; he had caused this. Guilt was not alien to him and he knew he was rightly to blame for this, but duty was calling to him, in the form of a large demon in the thick of battle; a Marilith to be exact.

The snake-like creature was formidable indeed as her six arms cleaved through the unaware and gave most of the Order's forces enough trouble than they could take. With such raw attack power pit against them they weren't going to last long. Sergei was ready to storm the Guild's stairs downward but he realized how much time it took even traversing the complex building he had to fight though to even reach this point. There was simply not enough time. But Sergei was an Inquisitor, he was going to make time and he knew just how to do it and channel his rage at once.

Taking into account of the Marilith's position, the Inquisitor made his way unto the rooftop out from the gutted chamber and followed the demon's charge across the roof shingles. Once he saw the Marilith cease her advance to engage anther group of Paladins, Sergei increased his pace into a dashing run until the moment of truth came into being; he jumped off the roof once the demon was in his range. He could feel gravity pushing against him and pulling him down as he came into a free-fall with one hand wielding a now burning warhammer, radiating an already casted spell and the other hand eventually reaching out and grasping the Marilith's black hair. The demon shrieked in pain and surprised with the sudden weight clinging down on her skull, causing her to reel back in reflex. As foul at it was to him, the Inquisitor, still tugging to the demon's hair, swung forward due to the Marilith's natural reaction and eventually found himself looking at the demon's dismayed face which then turned to terror as she finally looked at the Inquisitor bringing down his warhammer onto her reptilian-like face in full burning swing.