An Ivory Mark's Creed
By: Iolanthe Posted on: July 25, 2007
------------------------------------------------- Trapped. I'm trapped. There's nowhere else to hide. What was I thinking when I took up this job? Ever since I did, all I've faced was death after death after death. I've doomed my poor followers, those guardians of Nature, and I've tried to release them from their service to me, but they stubbornly cling to me, insisting on staying to see everything through. With that sort of courage, they're more fit for this job than me. I mean, what could I have been thinking? I believe I am one of Lady Tarah's strongest followers, yet I act upon a desire to fight back instead of seeking a compassionate way out; everything points to the fact that heading this way was wrong. ------------------------------------------------- Daria secreted a dose of aconite, letting the drops of venom drip onto the dirk. She grinned evilly, "That little atavian boy has it coming to him." She licked her lips. "You're one to talk," scoffed Caerus. He placed his calloused hand on top of her head and stuck out his tongue playfully. "Shorty." Despite them both being mhuns, and being small, Caerus was taller than Daria, a fact that he flaunted. Daria flicked her whip and hissed. "Less talking from you. Rune me up before our target runs away." Putting his rapiers aside, Caerus began sketching the basic hunting runes on his serpent friend. "Relax, love. He's still hiding in that grove. I doubt he'll be leaving any time soon, seeing how badly he was just beaten by Litori." He paused to admire his perfect Berkana on Daria and began sketching on himself and his rapiers. "Why did that fool join as an Ivory Mark anyways? He's just going to get pummeled over and over. Only fight he's won as a Mark was against Edwin, but we all know Edwin doesn't have the competence to even spin his own crystals properly. Maybe he is a good fighter, but by now he's probably failed so many contracts that his confidence is completely shot." Daria nodded in agreement. As Caerus finished up and whistled for his jet-black Maldaathi falcon, Daria called for her own death viper. She reached out to stroke it's shimmering scales and curled her lips into a sneer. "Let's get him." ------------------------------------------------- I can't rely on Mother forever, staying in her grove every day and night. I'm just endangering her, but where else can I go now? I've exhausted all other possibilities... When did I turn into this? I dreamed of a life as an Ivory Mark, helping the weak gain their vengeance on those who have wronged them. A life of valour and honour, a life of providing service to the people! What service was I providing by sitting here? My behavior is disgusting; just one step out of here can end these disgraceful acts. Being courageous and facing my fear... I can certainly do that! Just one step. Just one step. ------------------------------------------------ "Hey, look, the twerp stopped hiding!" Daria snickered. "I guess even his mommy got tired of him. Let's go, Caerus. There are two of us, so I'll work on keeping anorexia on him, draw him north where you'll have a sleeper totem and have you try keeping him asleep with voyria. I'll confuse him with illusions and overwhelm him with monkshood. Understand the plan?" Caerus nodded, preparing his wunjo, inguz, mairat, and three fehus totem sequence. He slipped out to the north and stood his totem, pushing back the remorse he felt for dragging Irrylath into an unfair fight. He was Maldaathi. A fight like this should not be allowed. He murmured silent prayers to the Lords of Evil, although he knew he was to be punished later for this deed if Lord Shaitan decided to take this fight into consideration. Caerus heaved a heavy sigh and ordered his falcon to circle above the clearing to the south, sincerely hoping that Irrylath would rip Daria to shreds. Daria took a deep breath, preparing herself for the fight ahead. She sneaked into the forest clearing phased so that Irrylath wouldn't be able to see her until the last second. As she did her final mental preparations, she materialized and smiled. "Greetings, Irrylath. Enjoy your visits to Maya?" And the ambush began. ------------------------------------------------- A thrill rushed through me as I bond with the jaguar spirit. Come on, old friend, I think, help me out one more time. Daria is a well-known serpent assassin, but I know better. As a mhun, she wouldn't be able to live through a lot of damage dealt quickly. This probably isn't precisely right, but it's my only chance. I'll just keep mauling away at her, and urge my forestal entourage to keep at it. I'm trying to keep a level head and stay confident, but the good feeling I had before vanished completely. She's winning. I feel it. Victory is slipping from my grasp as her illusions overwhelm me. Also, Daria was known for her treacherous strategies, so just overwhelming me probably isn't her plan. What is she up to? ------------------------------------------------- Daria swore underneath her breath. This kid cured well despite looking completely terrified, so anorexia wasn't sticking, and he was dealing quite a bit of damage. Finally, she saw it. His epidermal salve ran out, because he stopped applying it every time she tried double stabbing with slike. She smirked and pricked him with aconite and slike in quick succession. Then, with a swift snap of her fingers, brought her pitiful target to the north, showing no mercy in the hard glint of her storm-gray eyes. She slid out to the north to join the fun and to ensure her partner was not being stupid. Caerus was a good fighter, but he was a bit soft in the head. Lord Shaitan needs to teach him a lesson someday, she thought. Caerus grinned weakly, almost feeling sorry for the atavian. He blocked the only exit to the south and rewielded his rapiers. After a quick double slash of voyria and slike, he stopped to watch. Daria stood next to him, her heart fueled by Irrylath's pain. ------------------------------------------------- I fell asleep. So stupid! She's evil, having an accomplice north. Two against one is hardly fair. They call themselves Marks when they are afraid to fight one on one? Ugh, I better vent my energy in the fight against them instead. I feel the urge to vomit, and the worries of the world lift from my shoulders. It feels so good to be able to just give in and forget the world, just vanish completely from the realms... No, I can't! Life can't just end like this. This world has people who need me and love me, and those who depend on me to be there for them. They were the reason I became an Ivory Mark, and unlike these jerks, I have a reason to wake up each day, live on through this bitter world, and pound all that treat others like vermin into the dirt. For them I will struggle on forever. I vow to them that I will fulfill my duty as an Ivory Mark. By by spear, I shall protect with my life. ------------------------------------------------- "Another job well done," Daria said with a tinkling laugh. She took a cloth from her scroll case and began wiping off her dirk. Caerus checked the atavian's pulse and rose to his feet. He murmured, "Pity. He would've made a good fighter, if he just didn't lose confidence.