Castle Feign

High upon the ramparts of Castle Feign, Tam was preparing for the coming battle, covering the castle in runes he could later use. Their first and perhaps reatest use was that he could use them to track anything and anyone within the house, which would be invaluable if he had to evacuate the king. He also prepared traps throughout the castle corridors, and set up ancient holy wards that should hold off some of the weaker demons at least. Tam covered the entirety of the castle in haste, using both his armor and his blade to both strengthen and expediate his work. When he had finished setting up the basic necessities he went to the throne room to find the king.

"King Horatio!" Tam exlaimed loudly, and cheerily, a broad grin on his face as he threw the doors open, still in his silk pajamas and fuzzy bathrobe. "The name is Tam, better known as the Wandering Knight, at your service in this time of need. General Craven has sent me to be your personal bodyguard. Not to alarm you, but in case you hadn't noticed, Valkarie has breached the inner wall, and in all likelihood, he'll be attacking this castle. Hopefully he's not here for you, I'm sure there are plenty of magical artifacts, ancient secrets, or treasures hidden within these walls he could be after. But just in case, I'm here to make sure you don't die." Tam grinned broadly, hands on his hips, and nodded.

The throne room was a nothing but a shelter now, and I was more than happy to oblige. A city can never be without her citizens, and I adamantly believed that It is I who should die for them, not the other way around. My great grandfather, Horatio the first, stood in this very room once long ago, and attended to his citizens, just as I am right now.

Hundreds of wounded lay at our feet and filled the rooms. I had my servants attending to the needs of the hungry and the poor. I had every free priest and every deacon that I could call to provide some morale support to the soldiers. My Dread Angels were lined up across the room on either side of the red carpet that ended at my feet. They stood stoic with their halberds and claymores pointed at the ground. Some of the Overwatch were here and guarded the doors and windows with their automatic weaponry.

I was awaiting Judas to report in. The evacuation was dependant on his word. But word had already come in that the Outer Wall had fallen. If the Mid Wall also succumbs, I will have no choice but to abandon Feign. Damn you Augustus. Damn you and you forsaken ilk!

Then a odd man came storming into the room, which my Dread Angels took offence to. Extending their diamond encrusted wings and holding their weapons pointed at him. I immediately stood up and waved them down as the general's name came up, "The general sent you?" I questioned, "Well as he knows I am already well protected..." I began thinking about the benefits this will have, "... But the general has held the interests of Castor above his own."

My Dread Angels listened to the rest of what this man had to say, then the Captain looked at me questioningly. I motioned for him to call the rabble of off him, "Tam was it?" I asked as I stepped down the steps of my throne and began to approach him, "Yes. In fact I know exactly what he is after." I stop in front of Tam and slip my hand into my gown, taking out a thin rod reminiscent of a choir conductors stick.

“He’s after this…” I said looking down at the thing in my hand that pulsated with strands of gray energy that now danced around my arm and hand. “Surely you know the story of Aleksander?” I ask Tam. I have quite the story to tell him.

"This," I hold the rod up into the sunlight and let it glisten. The gray strands seemed to grow more violent in the light, but didn't hurt me, "Is the Eye Of The Storm."

I paused. What for? For dramatic effect of course. Bring the Eye back down to eye level between Tam and I, I look at him, "Aleksander had left behind four artifacts when the smoke cleared a thousand years ago. My great grandfather also served the menace before he was corrupted by the taint of the Horde. Each one a fossil of yesteryear, but each holds immense in their own right."

I daze off for a moment, retreating into my thoughts, "The Phoenix was a small red gemstone that burned with great healing properties. It could reanimate the dead, or even fully resurrect a person who had long succumb to death's icy grip... It could also steal life to fuel it's own purposes.

Turning around and heading back to my throne, motioning for Tam to follow, I continue, "The Mirror was a magician's toy once. It, if I remember correctly, could create bold and massive illusions to trick an entire city's people. With a strong enough will; however, it could permanently etch these illusions into your mind and cause you to lose your free will. Some historians say that the mirror is what Aleksander used to trick the Elv people of this world long ago."

Turning around once I was back at my throne to look at Tam, I continued, "The Lyre was a weapon of unparalleled proportions. It created whatever the wielder wanted. Be it gold. Be it power. The Lyre could shape reality as we see it, turn the impossible, into possible. If Aleksander was still in command of this weapon, we surely wouldn't be here anymore, none of us would."

Finally sitting down and sighing, I hold the Eye up toward Tam so that we both could admire it, "The Eye, could bring the wrath of nature down upon us all. Shape continents. Create mountains. Boil a sea. I think this is what Valkarie is after. Listen to me Tam, it MUSTN'T enter his hands. If it does?" I turn to the people in the room, my warriors and my civilians, all my responsibility, "If it does we will all be doomed."

**OOC** This post occurs before Azreal's second post as the king, directly after his first as the king.

Tam laughed out loud at the King's question, despite the dire circumstances. "Know the story of Aleksander? My friend, I knew the man himself. I served under him in days gone by, one of his loyal knights, one of his champions. I've walked the earth for millenia, watching as Valkarie damns the world before him and time, and time again, unable to stop his oncoming wrath. But not this time my lord. This time I swear to you, I will stop him. He will not harm you or..."

Tam trailed of, staring at the thin scepter in the King's hands. "Dear King. Is that what I think it is?" Tam shook his head, "Naye it cannot be, that was lost with the fall of Aleksander." Yet he stared at the rod, and felt a small blossom of hope blooming deep down within his soul. Entirely without his realization, his bedraggled appearance faded, flickering in and out of form between his bathrobe and his resplendent armor, as he walked with slow, almost cautious steps forwards, his eyes fixed upon the magical artifact. "My liege." He whispered softly under his breath.

Tam regained his composure as the King spoke, his bedraggled bedclothes once more asserting their presence over his knightly form and true armor. Following the king as he walked to his throne, and indulgently listening as the king spoke of artifacts he had once watched his own king weild, standing at his side as he controlled their massive power. "Aye. Doomed we would be." Tam replied, nodding his head in aquiescence. "Doomed if we let any of them fall into his hands. But, if we were to use the Eye against Valkarie... if its might were to be used against him, and his foul Horde, then it would be salvation. Salvation for us, and all of Feign, and damnation for the enemy."

Tam tucked his hands into his bathrobe pockets, withdrawing a long churchwarden pipe and lighting it with a match. He puffed twice to get it cherried, and released a long plume of smoke, ghostly images of figures long dead dancing within it. "Can you weild it King Horatio? Can you control its might? Now is not the time to hold back, to fear power. All the city will burn before Valkarie in his attempt to gain the Eye. We must use it against him, drive him back. Or, failing that, we must run. Now. There is naught in this city that will hold back his army, and the wards I have placed on the castle grounds will only help me defend this last ground for so long. As I see it, this leaves us with only two recourses. One, we can fight back, we can turn the Eye against Valkarie and his army, and make a final stand, here, in this city, against all that is dark in this world. Or two, we can run. I have run for centuries, and if anyone can keep you alive, and free from Valkarie's clutches, it is me. SO. King Horatio Valus the Third, Lord of the Great City Feign. What say you? Stand and fight, use the Eye for own good, or run, as I have for so long, and keep the Eye for from Valkarie?"

"Here, take it Tam." I said, pushing the Eye into his arms as I heard a roar that was ever so familiar, "He's coming." I said in definite fear. I stood up immediately and began shouting orders to my Dread Angels and the Overwatch to gather up the civilians begin an IMMEDIATE evacuation. They all headed my word as if I was a god, and picked up the wounded, ushering the men and women to the nearest rear exit. The once somewhat calm throne room of mine was thrown in chaos. Every priest and every deacon were setting up teleportation portals for those incapable of walking.

As everyone was leaving the room, I walked toward Tam, the Captain and Lieutenant of the Dread Angels following closely behind me.

"I hope you know what you're doing son," I said putting both hand on his shoulders, "Don't let me down, and may the gods watch over you."

Tam stared at the Eye of the Storm, held in his hands. It had been centuries since he had last seen his former master, Aleksander, weild the Eye, but the ancient magics were deeply engrained into who Tam was, and weilding the Eye was as natural as breathing. All across the city the air suddenly stilled, before a strong wind pulled inwards, towards the castle, and, suddenly, exploded out of the roof of Castle Feign in the form of a massive tornado. Riding up through the wind storm's layers was none other than Tam, clinging to his Umbrella with one hand, and the Eye held in the other. Far above the Castle Feign in a magnificent display of nature's might, Tam, the Wandering Knight, prepared to do battle with the horrofic Valkarie Voloshonz. His lifetimes of running were over, and it was time for him to face the wretched beast.

Using the wind to magically protect his voice all over the city, Tam bellowed, "VALKARIE! You want the Eye? COME AND GET IT!" With that, the tornado dissipated in a massive shock wave, incredibly powerful winds, imbued with ancient holy magics, and guided by the power of an immortal mage swept through the entire city of Feign, eradicating weaker Hordelings, and launching the more powerful out of the city into the wasteland that lay around it. The broken Outer Wall of the city grew back, forming together with rubble and the earth itself, and rising higher than it had been before. Tam's eyes were glowing as the power surged through him, and his disheveled bed robe and umbrella were torn away, replaced by the illusory armor and hidden blade that he truly carried. Tam held the Eye of the Storm as one would hold a sheild, and massive sheild did form around it, made of metal drawn and formed straight from the earth, harder, stronger, more pure than any item crafted by mortal hands, the sheild was a force of nature unto itself, and would defend against most anything, even Valkaries demon fire.

Standing there on the wall, looking again like the knight he had once been, channeling all the power of nature to save the people of Castle Feign, and hold of the darkness for long enough that they could escape, Tam knew in his heart he had made the right decision. Even if he were to die here today, it was worth it. This is what Aleksander would have wanted, for Tam to defend the innocent, to never say die, to fight to his last breath for all that is right in the world. Not to run like the coward he had been for so long. Turning his head back to face the sky, Tam screamed again, "VALKARIE!" A pillar of blue flame, one hundred feet tall shot from his mouth as he bellowed his challeng, letting all the world know exactly where he was.

I had arrived finally.
Standing before the castle doors, I felt a rushing feeling of nostalgia. A thousand years ago, I entered through these very doors to request the King's permission to lead the Court to the Tower of Eden to confront Aleksander that fateful day... But today, I enter for a completely different reason.

With a roar, I yelled and destroyed the doors, blowing it to smithereens. The man whom the King trusted to wield the Eye of the Storm against my army stood there, powerful magics billowing out of him like smoke. I took a few steps through the doorway and grinned sinisterly before saying, "Surprised to see me? You no doubt thought the Eye would destroy me alongside my army."

This man... he knows so little of this trinket. He plays with a power he does not understand: or rather, a power his King neglected to explain to him.

Tam laughed at the beasts arrogance and foolish assumptions. "What do you take me for? A fool?" He taunted. "I've had centuries to wizen up since last we met Valkarie. You probably don't even remember me, though we've walked this Earth together, on opposite sides of the coin, for so long. Are you happy yet Valkarie? After all the horror you've brought, all the evil you've done, do you sleep well at night? Do you enjoy winding down from a long day with good friends? Or are you just all alone, with nothing but your hatred to keep you warm?" Tam laughed again, sneering, "You may strike me down today, you may even gain the Eye of the Storm. But the people of the Great City Feign will live on. And when and if I face the grave, I will know that I lived well, that I was a good man, and that there are those in this world who shall mourn my passage. Can you say the same Valkarie? Naye, I think when you finally die, this world shall rejoice in your passage."

Tam raised his sword and pointed it straight out towards Valkaries chest. "Come on then Valkarie, shed blood, prove your might, destroy again. Its all you're capable of, and surely that's what will make you happy in the end, isn't it? When all the world is as miserable as you are, you wicked wretch, will you finally be at peace? Or perhaps I can help you find peace now, at the end of my blade."

"The only man I have ever called my king is Aleksander, and you are right about one thing. You are a mere shadow of him. Just because I live within the nation of Castor do not make the mistake to think me one of them. Were it they attacking you, not the other way around, I would have helped your people flee. You speak as if these people are the true demons, and you merely an avenging angel. Yet you are not, and they are not. No matter what sins the King of this nation has commited, no matter what evil acts he has done, it is you who are here today, threatening an entire peoples lives and livelihood. Do not be so vain as to think yourself in the right. You suffered, you walked alone for thousands of years? So what? I have to. Yet it is you who this world fears and runs from, and it is I standing here to defend. Whether or not you think yourself righteous, your actions are those of a villain, not a hero. The ends could never justify the means you use." Tam spoke calmly, in a reasonable and even tone.

"If all you want is to tell your story, for it to be heard, then you have done. Leave now, let these people be, and I swear to you I will tell them your story. I will investigate the wrong doings of the King, I will make sure there is a fair and reasonable trial, and if you speak true, and the people deem the King's actions unacceptable, then I myself will topple his throne. But not through violence, not through warfare, and bloodshed. You do not hurt the King with your attack Valkarie, you only hurt the innocent folk who make their lives here. Even if you yourself do not kill them, you and your army destroy their very homes and livelihoods. How many poor, simple, innocent mortals died here today, so that you could make a point? How many people died so you could reclaim your goddamn Eye of the Storm?

"You speak to me of ancient evils, as if you were the righteous come to unbury them. I tell you, you are not but an insolent child, destroying thousands of lives to get your way. You blaim others for your evil, for your fall to damnation. And perhaps they did cause it. But they can not be blamed for all the wrongs you have committed since then. Only you can bear that burden. And until you can accept it, you can never make up for it. So I offer you a choice Valkarie. Leave now, and I will do as I have promised, I will tell your tale, and help you to right old wrongs, the right way. Through peace, and reason, not the madness of war. You blame others for turning you into a monster, yet you turn others just the same. We are all a product of the experiences we have endured, and you only serve to create more hate in the hearts of man when you spread war, the same hate that was seeded in you all those years ago. But you can break the cycle. So choose right Valkarie, let me be your ally, let me be your friend, and leave this nation in peace. Perhaps then you can one day return in the same peace.

"But if you choose wrong, if you choose to continue down this dark path, of sorrow and despair, then I have no choice but to do all I can to stop you. Perhaps I will kill you, perhaps I will die. But I must make a stand, I must do all I can to end the bloodshed, because that is the right choice. I have made mine, I shall not budge. All that is left, Valkarie, is for you to make yours. So tell me now, what are you? Man, or monster?"

Another idealist.

"My cause is not righteous or proper. It is selfish. I have come for the simple satisfaction of seeking revenge: and I am resolute. Perhaps a few centuries ago, your words would have reached me. Perhaps if just one minute detail of this wretched nation's history were different, I wouldn't be bringing hell to this doorstep. But neither of these hopeful idealizations are reality. The cold, stark reality is that I have been banished, exiled and condemned... and I seek nothing more then to rid the world of my persecutors... or die trying.

So... man or monster?" I said, my tone shifting, "... Monster." I said simply.

"But I will not kill you, wizard. You are needed here. And I am pressed for time. Killing you would take up too much of the precious time I have so little of. I will, however, be taking the Eye. Something must have been lost in translation over the years... because so few people realize the Eye of the Storm is a magical relic of consciousness. It chooses it's wielder. Whether you realize it or not, the Eye chose you: not the other way around. But, of course... the Eye is a curious item in the fact that it's always had a particular liking to me."

I extended my arm, as if I were reaching for something. For a very brief moment, the Eye flickered and moved ever so slightly.

The Eye... is mine.

"You've chosen Valkarie, and so have I, and I will never give you the Eye." Tam said, standing strong in the face of the beast, the Eye clenched tightly within his fist, and both entombed in metal and earth, hardened to the point of nigh indestructibility. To get to the Eye at all, Valkarie would have to destroy the shield, and while he could no doubt accomplish the virtually impossible task with time, Tam would not let him gain the chance easily. "You say time is short for you? Well good. Because I'm going to hold you off for as long as I can, or until one or both of us is dead."

With that, Tam leapt upwards into the air, and, channeling the power of the Eye through the sheild and his sword, he unleashed twin blades of wind, massive in size, and imbued with all the holy and ancient magic Tam could muster. Even one such as Valkarie would undoubtedly be wounded if he were hit by such a blow.

This fight is futile. The Eye will return to me soon. The Eye, as I mentioned, is a magical relic of consciousness. It's a bit of a petty item... it tends to choose it's owner based on their power. All I truly have to do is exhibit power superior to the wizard's, and the Eye will plow through time and space to return to me.

However, for the time being, the wizard is using it's magic: and seeing as how I created the weapon, I know the extent of it's powers. Granted, it is not collossal in his untrained hands, but I'd rather not sustain unnescessary injuries. I dodged, rolling to the right. I brandished Original Sin and began bursting dark energies, charging the power.

"I tire of playing with you," I said to myself, preparing one of the ultimate spells of the School of Shadow: Ragnarok.

The spell was used several times throughout history, in many different forms: thus, it's use varies. It once appeared in the books of Norse mythology, manifested as a weapon to bring about the end of the world and injure Thor. It appeared in the Catholic religion as the spear that wounded Jesus' side. And now, it would appear once more as a devastating spell of darkness and decay. Quite simply... the wizard's defense from this spell will require ALL of his strength and the aid of the Eye: and he's no fool, he WILL use the Eye to defend himself. But it will not be enough. His power is not enough to use the Eye to such an extent. The damage will be lessened, yes: but injury is inevitable.

I spun out of my corner and held Original Sin with both hands, pointing it toward the wizard. The energy was released in an instant: dark fires and bursts and novas erupted from the blade, completely pumping out dark energies in the most threatening way.

"Defend yourself, wizard!" I bellowed.

But it would be futile.

Tam raised his shield, and surrounded himself in a swirling vortex of water, lifting off the Earth and landing high atop one of the castle ramparts as he absorbed and reflected the damage of the attack. As he landed, he allowed the water vortex to dissipate, and it rained down on the city, as if caught in a brief storm. As the rain fell, he turned each drop into a thin, sharp icicle, and drove them forward at massive speed to impale Valkarie. Smoke was rising from the shield, but Tam himself was still unharmed. Valkarie thought him simple, and weak. Yet, while Tam may not be Demi-God, he was thousands of years old, an incredible warrior, and unfathomably wise. His power level on his own simple could not stand up to Valkarie, but even with his untrained usage of the Eye, he would drag this fight out. Valkarie has spoken of time, that it was short for him. So Tam would make this fight take as long as he could.

As the hail of icicles rained down on Valkarie, Tam let go of his sword, it once more dissappearing into the either, and in his hand, he started to create holy fire. More and more fire he unleashed, yet more and more restrained he held it, filling it with holy magics as he did so. It was like a miniature sun, in the palm of his hand, powerful enough to burn through the earth itself. Continuing to layer the ball of fire with more and more energy and holy magic, it was beginning to give off minute solar flares, like a sun preparing for a supernova. Tam was only waiting for his chance, watching Valkarie to see how he handled the ice, looking for an opening.

I quickly strafed through the pillars, dodging any and all icicles that fell from above. The holy fire was trivial to avoid, it flew out slowly enough to provide luxury. The magic was indeed powerful, but the wizard was not used to the caliber of power. He has trouble moving around while casting such spells, slowing his reflexes and defenses.

Now was my opportunity to end this.

I concentrated dark matter into my tattered wings to form bolstered wings of shadow. I flapped my wings and moved at blinding speeds now, running with the force of the wings pushing me forward. The wizard could not keep up. I took the opportunity and took to flight to meet the wizard in his safe little spot up in the air. I charged forward at neck break speed and swung Original Sin with might, directed to the wizard's arm: the one holding the Eye.

The sword made contact and completely severed the Arm. Magic energies were still flying out of the Eye, all attempting to harm me. I pulled the Eye out of the enclosed palm very quickly and tamed the magic, almost hushing it, lulling it to sleep. As the wizard's arm hit the ground, I too landed, dodging the remainder of the icicles. Once they had disappeared, I smiled triumphantly, holding the bloodied Eye in my palms.

"The Eye... is MINE!" I bellowed.

(Gabriel has consented.)