Post by Samael Wolfwood on May 13, 2013 22:50:14 GMT -5
In Lucas' dream a girl-child with fiery red hair stands on the opposite bank of a river. The place is familiar to him, but the landscape has changed since he last passed this way. The girl-child calls out to him but he hears nothing. She calls out to him again and beckons him to come to her, yet still he hears nothing. Then suddenly, without warning, the river explodes into flame. The water boils and hisses as the flames lick the shoreline. Dark, thick putrid smoke fills the sky and stings the eyes. When he looks again to the opposite shore he sees a grown woman with fiery red hair sitting upon a great war-horse. She is dressed in shining armor and carries a battle standard of a twelve pointed star on a black field. Again she cries out to him and beacons him to come to her. Again he hears nothing.
Then someone is standing behind him. They have laid their hands upon his shoulder in a friendly, familiar way. They lean forward and whisper in his ear.
“She is beautiful is she not? And yet, at the same time, terrible to behold, for she is the Glory and the Flame upon which the world shall perish and you, my son, you shall perish as well unless you go to her and ask for mercy. I assure you, she will be merciful, she will forgive you your sins and past transgressions and she will take you as her own. But you must go to her. You must prepare yourself for the crossing, My Lord, but you must do so quickly.”
Suddenly without much warning the scenery shifts. All that remains is him and the one who's hand rests upon his shoulder. His own hand raises and rests upon the other. .
"You wish to show me things that disturb me... or make me think. But you do not seem to realize my secret. Because of all I have done... all that I have seen... I haven't had a peaceful nights sleep in a long... long time. I've seen death, I've seen injustice, and I have seen tragedy. There is nothing new you could show me.." Lucas spoke calmly.
Slowly Lucas turns to the figure behind him. The illusion of humanity around her is slowly pushed away, leaving her standing there in her true form.
"I've allowed you here for a reason. Unlike the others I have chosen to face you. As I cannot harm you in any way, I have chosen to help you. But only if you agree to my terms, Which I will admit there are a few. But in the end I think you will benefit from it all..... and I do mean you.... not your master.....What do you say?"
He stands before her staring at her awaiting her response. a wind blows across the black landscape, surely brought on by him in a dramatic expression..
At first Lamashtu was surprised by the shift of scenery, but then understood how this human might be different than the others and for her it was the difference she had been looking for. She knew that somewhere in this miserable plane of mortal existence there would be a few scattered instances of malignant humankind; someone willing to bargain, for there are always a few willing to stand at the crossroads and strike a deal. She smiled and flexed her wings. No need to paint an illusion for this one. She could smell his soul and it was ripe for the bargain.
Not even trying to disguise her voice she spoke to the human as she would any lesser daemon under her command. Her voice was like the rasping of dragon scales over cold iron.
“Speak human. What terms do you offer for this bargain to be fulfilled?”
"First.... You are to end the dreams effecting my friends. They aren't going to give in to them, you will be better off dealing with me.." Lucas smiled to the demon looking her in the eyes.
"My second request is simple, If you want the girl... you will do something for me in return. The number of tasks I need you to complete is eight. Eight places you will accompany me and my friends... and assist us...." Lucas walked around the demon quite calmly, running a finger across the top of one of her wings slowly.
"You are welcome to refuse this.... after all it would be embarrassing for you i am sure... to be outsmarted by a human.... If you do refuse I will force you from my mind and you will have to find another to haunt... though I can see in your eyes... curiosity..." Lucas stood back in front of her his eyes locked with hers.
"I think before we strike any business... courtesy should be exchanged, I am Lucas Drachen..... and you are?" Lucas stood silently awaiting her response.
The Daemoness Lamashtu found this human most amusing. Bargaining this way. Acting familiar as if touching her wing was somehow proof of his immunity to her. His soul reeked of self pride and vanity. She followed him with her sightless eye sockets as he moved around her. She flexed her wings causing a small gust of air that ruffled his hair. How many such mages, wizards and necromancers populated the burning plains of Targoth, she could not recall. She did remember dining on a number of their brains as they screamed for mercy only to have their missing brains replaced almost instantly to be devoured again, over and over, for all eternity. She smile and wondered how sweet this ones brain would taste. She was sure her master would be amused as well.
“So now he makes the terms,” she thought to herself. Confident in his control of the situation. Another trait exhibited by those who thought to bargain with that which was far beyond their understanding. She grinned, exposing ragged, blood stained fangs that seemed to overfill her mouth. She listened to his speech and his terms. She knew also he would attempt to renege on his bargain in the end, once he got all he wanted, they always do. Thinking to “outsmart” the original deceiver and liar was never a wise plan. But she had a task to complete and, if she was able to deliver up the girl as well as the soul of this hapless necromancer, then it might be worth the small effort.
“Lucas Drachen.” The second she said his name it was written in the Book of Souls. Lamashtu smiled down at him and in a voice that would curdle the blood of even the strongest warrior, she rasped;
“I am called Lamashtu, Daemoness of the Dark Moon Legions. I am known among the tribes as the most terrible of all female demons. I am daughter of the sky god Anu and humble servant of the Nameless One. I agree to the terms of your bargain, but know this. Once the bargain is struck and the blood signature is made, I will be yours to command until the terms are fulfilled at which time you will forfeit the girl and your everlasting soul.”
A wave of her hand produced a parchment. The terms spoken by Lucas Drachen appeared upon the parchment exactly as they were spoken. Smiling, Lamashtu ran a finger across her fangs drawing blood. This she applied to the bottom of the agreement and held it out to Lucas.
“Sign as I have,” she rasped. “With your blood.”
Lucas signed the bargain without any hesitation. Something odd glowed in his eyes. He looked to Lamashtu with a slight smile.
"You are not as terrible as you give yourself credit, The first of the tasks will be arranged soon... I will summon you for it. I cannot harm you myself, but my comrades can. I would recommend being on your best behavior.. I imagine dieing though temporary.. is quite painful still."
"Until that time, you are welcome to visit me. I can imagine wasting your time impeding into other people's minds is quite annoying after a while. Who knows, perhaps you can learn a thing or two."
Lucas looked to the demon quite calmly. he reaches out and gives her an oddly friendly pat on the back.
"Your master doesn't appreciate what he has. How you serve so diligently is beyond me. Though I do not understand the loyalty your kind possess, I suppose power is what rules. pity.."
With that the dream ended. Lucas awoke in his bed, a slight grin on his face.. It was time to get to work.
Then someone is standing behind him. They have laid their hands upon his shoulder in a friendly, familiar way. They lean forward and whisper in his ear.
“She is beautiful is she not? And yet, at the same time, terrible to behold, for she is the Glory and the Flame upon which the world shall perish and you, my son, you shall perish as well unless you go to her and ask for mercy. I assure you, she will be merciful, she will forgive you your sins and past transgressions and she will take you as her own. But you must go to her. You must prepare yourself for the crossing, My Lord, but you must do so quickly.”
Suddenly without much warning the scenery shifts. All that remains is him and the one who's hand rests upon his shoulder. His own hand raises and rests upon the other. .
"You wish to show me things that disturb me... or make me think. But you do not seem to realize my secret. Because of all I have done... all that I have seen... I haven't had a peaceful nights sleep in a long... long time. I've seen death, I've seen injustice, and I have seen tragedy. There is nothing new you could show me.." Lucas spoke calmly.
Slowly Lucas turns to the figure behind him. The illusion of humanity around her is slowly pushed away, leaving her standing there in her true form.
"I've allowed you here for a reason. Unlike the others I have chosen to face you. As I cannot harm you in any way, I have chosen to help you. But only if you agree to my terms, Which I will admit there are a few. But in the end I think you will benefit from it all..... and I do mean you.... not your master.....What do you say?"
He stands before her staring at her awaiting her response. a wind blows across the black landscape, surely brought on by him in a dramatic expression..
At first Lamashtu was surprised by the shift of scenery, but then understood how this human might be different than the others and for her it was the difference she had been looking for. She knew that somewhere in this miserable plane of mortal existence there would be a few scattered instances of malignant humankind; someone willing to bargain, for there are always a few willing to stand at the crossroads and strike a deal. She smiled and flexed her wings. No need to paint an illusion for this one. She could smell his soul and it was ripe for the bargain.
Not even trying to disguise her voice she spoke to the human as she would any lesser daemon under her command. Her voice was like the rasping of dragon scales over cold iron.
“Speak human. What terms do you offer for this bargain to be fulfilled?”
"First.... You are to end the dreams effecting my friends. They aren't going to give in to them, you will be better off dealing with me.." Lucas smiled to the demon looking her in the eyes.
"My second request is simple, If you want the girl... you will do something for me in return. The number of tasks I need you to complete is eight. Eight places you will accompany me and my friends... and assist us...." Lucas walked around the demon quite calmly, running a finger across the top of one of her wings slowly.
"You are welcome to refuse this.... after all it would be embarrassing for you i am sure... to be outsmarted by a human.... If you do refuse I will force you from my mind and you will have to find another to haunt... though I can see in your eyes... curiosity..." Lucas stood back in front of her his eyes locked with hers.
"I think before we strike any business... courtesy should be exchanged, I am Lucas Drachen..... and you are?" Lucas stood silently awaiting her response.
The Daemoness Lamashtu found this human most amusing. Bargaining this way. Acting familiar as if touching her wing was somehow proof of his immunity to her. His soul reeked of self pride and vanity. She followed him with her sightless eye sockets as he moved around her. She flexed her wings causing a small gust of air that ruffled his hair. How many such mages, wizards and necromancers populated the burning plains of Targoth, she could not recall. She did remember dining on a number of their brains as they screamed for mercy only to have their missing brains replaced almost instantly to be devoured again, over and over, for all eternity. She smile and wondered how sweet this ones brain would taste. She was sure her master would be amused as well.
“So now he makes the terms,” she thought to herself. Confident in his control of the situation. Another trait exhibited by those who thought to bargain with that which was far beyond their understanding. She grinned, exposing ragged, blood stained fangs that seemed to overfill her mouth. She listened to his speech and his terms. She knew also he would attempt to renege on his bargain in the end, once he got all he wanted, they always do. Thinking to “outsmart” the original deceiver and liar was never a wise plan. But she had a task to complete and, if she was able to deliver up the girl as well as the soul of this hapless necromancer, then it might be worth the small effort.
“Lucas Drachen.” The second she said his name it was written in the Book of Souls. Lamashtu smiled down at him and in a voice that would curdle the blood of even the strongest warrior, she rasped;
“I am called Lamashtu, Daemoness of the Dark Moon Legions. I am known among the tribes as the most terrible of all female demons. I am daughter of the sky god Anu and humble servant of the Nameless One. I agree to the terms of your bargain, but know this. Once the bargain is struck and the blood signature is made, I will be yours to command until the terms are fulfilled at which time you will forfeit the girl and your everlasting soul.”
A wave of her hand produced a parchment. The terms spoken by Lucas Drachen appeared upon the parchment exactly as they were spoken. Smiling, Lamashtu ran a finger across her fangs drawing blood. This she applied to the bottom of the agreement and held it out to Lucas.
“Sign as I have,” she rasped. “With your blood.”
Lucas signed the bargain without any hesitation. Something odd glowed in his eyes. He looked to Lamashtu with a slight smile.
"You are not as terrible as you give yourself credit, The first of the tasks will be arranged soon... I will summon you for it. I cannot harm you myself, but my comrades can. I would recommend being on your best behavior.. I imagine dieing though temporary.. is quite painful still."
"Until that time, you are welcome to visit me. I can imagine wasting your time impeding into other people's minds is quite annoying after a while. Who knows, perhaps you can learn a thing or two."
Lucas looked to the demon quite calmly. he reaches out and gives her an oddly friendly pat on the back.
"Your master doesn't appreciate what he has. How you serve so diligently is beyond me. Though I do not understand the loyalty your kind possess, I suppose power is what rules. pity.."
With that the dream ended. Lucas awoke in his bed, a slight grin on his face.. It was time to get to work.