The Baron of the Bog

[Guest]

He'd not been in the Swamps of Alulaylaranti for some time. Now, though, the 'Baron of the Bog', as some called him, took his steps lightly; carefully placing each foot over the bottomless patches of vile swamp waters and puddles of muck. Releasing a soft sigh, Szadek continued on his way to his place of residence within the boggy swampland...a slightly less-than-noble appearing establishment, built two...somewhat short...stories high, and sat upon eight sturdy shoots of a rather thick bamboo-esque wood. Stopping, he looked up at his dwelling, his lips curling into a smile. Here and there, a seemingly mindless undead creature would scurry, taking the Baron's belongings to and fro. He had not been in the Swamps of Alulaylaranti for some time...nor had he been there that long. The Emperor, Haseo, had placed the Vampyric Parun in 'charge' of the Swamps. Obviously so the Emperor wouldn't have to watch over them as much...and Szadek didn't blame him. The Swamps were horrid, but to the Parun's liking. Suddenly, the smile faded.

-CRASH- The sound came from the second floor of the dwelling, and Szadek had looked up just in time to see one of the undead minions fall through the center of his little homestead. "Gah! You mindless cur! Pick yourself up and get back to work! I'm not feeding you so well to watch you lay on my floor!", he snarled at the fearful Teterogen, who immediately gathered his thoughts, as well as an appendage...probably an arm, from the looks of it...and rushed back to work.

Standing there, watching the teterogens loading what few belongings he owned into his new home, Szadek couldn't help but wonder what Haseo would have thought if he'd have seen him using the undead minions as simple slaves. Fact was...Szadek was far too lazy to move his own belongings, and these zombies were just perfect for the work he had in mind. Continuing on that notion, Szadek thought ahead to the next day, when he planned on forcing some of the Trolls in the area to dig a trench around his ramshackle mansion, to divert some of the mucky swamp water into a moat. Again, the corners of his nearly coal black lips curved upwards in a twisted version of a smile. It would seem he might be able to stand his stay in the Alulaylaranti Swamps, after all.

That twisted smirk stuck to his facial features, Szadek's hands reached up simultaneously and grabbed at the sides of the bandage-like hood that now hung from his broad shoulders, pulling it up and neatly over his head. The brim of the hood stopped just short up the Parun's upturned lips, so the only thing visible behind the mass of cloth atop his head were four dagger-like canines, each pointed brilliantly, and seemed to be turned to curve inwards, and each must have threatened to pierce the tongue in the creature's mouth.

[Guest]

The previous day had been a long one for the vampire that never sleeps. He'd spent the majority of the day, and well into the night following, traversing the Swamps...choosing a few well-'equipped' trolls from the deeper regions of the bog, using his Parun influence to tap into their weak minds, bidding that they carry out his will. He found out a few things about the denizens of the Swamps as he traversed in the muck; The first of which, was the deeper into the Swamps he traveled, the thicker the muck and air got. The second, were a pair of teterogens that had been brutally ripped apart, heads, arms, and a leg of each severed from their rotting bodies. Well...he had only found the head of one of them. The other, he had guessed would have been devoured by one of the grotesque Mutations of the Swamps.

Pushing these findings to the back of his mind, Szadek lead the six Trolls towards his dwelling in the central region of the Swamp. Once there, he willed the brutish being to fall into a line, each standing just out of arms reach of the one to his side. "Well. I see no point in making a long speech, as the six of you doubtfully even comprehend what I am saying right now. I want a trench dug around my dwelling. Make it so wide that three of you could lay down head-to-toe, and not cross it...and deep enough that you", he said, pointing to the second largest of the six, and then to the largest, "could stand on his shoulders, and still be underwater." He looked between the trolls, cocking his head a bit to one side. "Understand?" Each nodded. "Good. Now get to work!", he barked. When he did, the trolls immediately jumped into action, not bothering to glance at the six make-shift shovels that stood leaning against a Willow. Szadek shook his head, watching as they formed a very loose circle around his home, before each got to one knee and brutally shoved their hands, fingers splayed, deep into the muck.

Szadek had to give it to the Trolls. The six of them worked fast, digging the trench by bare hand, than ten of himself could have with the shovels. He grinned that devilish grin and stepped around one of the trolls. "Food after work.", he put simply, as he ascended the stairs to the platform that mad up his front lookout on the first floor, already high overhead. Laying his hands on the railings, he leaned forward and watched the trolls work. As he did, he brought forth the recollection of the teterogens deeper in the Swamps. He would have to investigate into that once his defenses for his home were well on the way. He would not have these mutations running so freely in his place of residence. Not just that, but he wouldn't be able to get any work done if the damned things kept devouring his workers. Szadek let out a small sigh, returning his gaze to the marsh beyond his home, looking as if he were looking for a sign of the mutations, as if he expected one of them to appear this close to himself. Occasionally, he could spot one of Emperor Haseo's mechanically beings passing through the thin woodland farther out in the Swamps, but aside from that, the following few hours that it had taken the trolls to make a dent in his moat were quite boring.

[Guest]

Szadek gazed out over the hazy Swamps of Alulaylaranti for a few minutes, before returning his gaze upon the six trolls. Taking note that they had each been making a considerable amount of progress, Szadek's horrible smirk crept back onto his tinted lips. They should be fine at least until well past the setting of the suns...and even knowing that there was the possibility of the trolls drawing attention to his dwelling, Szadek would work the trolls past their normal feeding time, before giving them a break and letting them eat. This, too, brought a slight bit more of that smirk out onto his face as he stepped back down the way to the swamp's mucky surface. "Keep working until I get back.", he told the trolls as he past by them on his way towards the Western region of the Swamps - the region called the 'Unlived Region'. Szadek recalled, in his mind, the scene of the teterogens on his way to gather the trolls. He had figured then, that it was the mutations, and had made it the number one action on his new 'To-Do' list as Baron of the Bog.

Of course, to get to the Unlived Region, where the Swamps' mutations resided, Szadek would first have to pass through the Outer Regions, where the sectarian populace of the Swamps were. This would also be a good chance for the Baron to make himself known to his area of command. With this thought, fresh in his mind as he passed into the outer regions, Szadek's smile faded, and was replaced with a sterner expression that, though it showed no emotion, could have demanded respect from even the most hateful of creatures in the Swamps.

[Treble]

Zsadist trudged through the swamps of Alulaylaranti, his twin black bladed daggers held loosely in his hands. It had been about five minutes since the last… whatever it was, had attacked, but he wasn’t letting his guard down, not even for a second. This was why he traveled through the accursed swamps, this killing, this fighting; it was perfect training for him. His black eyes scanned the horizon, or as much of it as he could see through the dense trees and muck. He lifted his hand, the dagger held loosely in his palm, and ran the back of his sweat slicked hand over his face, intending to wipe the mud off, only succeeding in smearing more in.

Cursing silently to himself, Z sheathed his daggers and looked around before lifting the end of the tight, black long sleeve turtle neck he wore and ran it across his face, clearing it of most of the muck and mud. The sleeve of his black trench coat lifted as well as the sleeve of the turtle neck, when he wiped is face revealing black tribal tattoos that circled his wrist and traveled up his arm. Those same tattoos were sprawled across his rather sunken in abdomen as well. Quickly the demonic vampire lowered his shirt and looked around again, making sure no one was watching him, something he did quite often being a rather paranoid being. His hands, which were now void of most of the mud, ran over his face once more, traveling the length of the jagged, thin line scar that ran down the left side of his face, from right above his eye to right under his cheek. His head was bald, save for an extremely short buzz, only because he hadn’t gotten around to shaving his head in a week or so.

Walking further into the swamp, Z growled, his dead black eyes flinting slightly. Someone was near, perhaps his latest victim, and oh how sweet it would be to feel the creatures flesh… or scales… or whatever it had, it didn’t matter to Z, run through his blades. Slowly, quietly, he pulled the twin daggers from their place on his chest and began a quiet stalk forward, the shit kickers on his feet making small *smack* sounds as he lifted his foot to take a step. Looking down, the assassin was entirely annoyed to realize he was the one making the noise as he walked, how in the hell was someone supposed to sneak up on something if they made noise every time they walked?! “Bah!” He muttered silently to himself as he slowly shuffled his feet, more skating through the mud at a crawling speed now, than walking, and continued his ascent on whatever he was hearing.

Up ahead he saw… Was that an actual being? Not just a creature? A sneer fell on Zsadist’s lips as he stopped his stalking form and watched the man, for surely that was a man, make his way towards the Outer Regions, a place Z was sure to stay away from, he didn’t like intelligent beings enough to venture somewhere the population sprouted. No thank you. Stepping out from behind the tree, Zsadist squared his shoulders and palmed both daggers, a wickedly evil grin on his face, revealing his pearly white teeth. “Well well well, what have we here? Is Little Red Riding Hood on her way to visit grandma’s house?” He sneered to the man.

[Guest]

"Well well well, what have we here? Is Little Red Riding Hood on her way to visit grandma’s house?”. Szadek stopped on a dime as he heard the voice, his inner eye turning directly to the source of the sound, followed by the slightest smirk that would twist it's way onto his lips, causing the left corner to turn ever so slightly up. Szadek turned, slowly, to face the assassin, letting the creepy smirk evolve into a fully blown maniacal sneer. "Hmm...?", the Parun replied, looking from the man's eyes to his hands. "And what have we here? A last straggler trying to make his name on a nameless noble?" Szadek had, sometime in the process between the teterogens and the trolls, removed the cloths surrounding his upper torso, allowing the gold trimmed shoulder plates and dark aquatic colored armor of the Karthro Dynasty to show, brilliantly, even in the dim sunlight of the dense swampland.

His gaze at the man never faltered as he silently crossed his arms infront of his chest. "Well then, big bad wolf...what am I to do with you? It seems you have me at a slight disadvantage. I don't have any weapons on me...and you seem well armed." He reached to his shoulder and plucked on a single strip of wide cloth that crossed over his left breast. The cloth snapped and fell to hang loosely from his waist. Behind where the strap had been, the Karthro Insignia had been imprinted over the chest plate, and had now been perfectly revealed, the ancient Vampyric symbol for 'Ancient' showing clearly behind another ancient symbol translating into 'Parun'.

Szadek simply continued staring at the assassin. If the man would attack, Szadek would have no choice but to use him for an example for those in the Outer regions, where he was headed. Or perhaps he would sling the corpse over his shoulder, as so many of the locals of the central region had done, and use it for a bridge...he wasn't quite sure yet which. Then again, he was hoping at least that the demonic heritage in the bogey would recognize the symbols as significance that Szadek was an Ancient leader. Or perhaps even the vampire would recognize the symbols as some form of significance. Either way, there we only two ways this meeting was going to end up, and neither one of them involved Szadek not making it to the Outer regions and back before nightfall.

"It's your move, minion. Do as will, but you've wasted enough of my time. I have a schedule to keep..." was all he could say. Then he stood there, silently, again, and awaited the reply, tossing the situation's possible outcomes around in his mind, and smiling the entire time, being indifferent to them all. They didn't matter to him, he just wanted to get to his first act as Baron, and this demonic assassin was so far, only keeping him from doing so. Of course, there was always the Emperor's henchmen that had been running around in discrete areas of the swamps, filing through the muck and trees for any threats to the Emperor or his Investment and his officer...but Szadek had decided he'd best prove himself worthy of ruling over the swamps by handling all threats in the swamp personally. His smile receded a bit, as he stared on. "Well?"

[Treble]

Zsadist’s eyebrows knitted together closely as he stared at the now exposed insignia on the man’s armor. A slight frown ran across his face for the briefest of moments while his mind did a quick scan through of the things the Empress had been teaching him on literacy. Those symbols meant something, he knew they did, but the more he ran them through his mind, the more confused he got. Only one thing was clear though, if he attacked he would be in a world of trouble with not only the Brotherhood, but Treble too. Damn it. he thought inwardly as he looked around and re-sheathed his daggers. Z had never gotten used to following orders from anyone, nor was he used to controlling himself when it came to killing, but he couldn’t very well attack this man, knowing it would mean a bunch of bullshit when he got back to the Folly.

The ancient symbol flashed through his head just as he was about to give up the hope of ever knowing what the man’s armor said and a grimace flared across his deadened eyes. Sunufabitch this wasn’t just any being of the swamp, this was a gods damned noble, and ancient at that. His eyes flashed for a moment and he shook his head taking two steps forward, lowering his head in a semi-bow, the closest he would go to actually showing anything or anybody respect. “It seems your luck has changed for the better. That or mine has slowly begun to change for the worse.” Zsadist’s mouth barely moved; annoyance that he wouldn’t be killing anything else for a minute showing in his eyes. “They call me Zsadist, member of the Black Dagger Brotherhood, assassin, body guard to the Empress Treble, and all around asshole.” He tilted his head to the side for a moment, thinking briefly about why someone of such a stature would be scouting the Emperor’s swamps. “What’s brought you to the swamps of Emperor Haseo? And where is your escorting guard? Shouldn’t someone of your… stature… have a guard?” He asked in a dead pan voice, his hands fidgeting with the ends of his trench coat nervously. Gods, being close to living beings made him twitchy as hell, unless of course they were on the end of his daggers.

“If you don’t have a guard,” Zsadist grimaced, wanting to grab a needle and thread and sew his lips shut to prevent himself from saying what he was about to say. “I will be escorting you until you are back in your residential compound. Friend or not of the Emperor’s I can’t leave knowing a noble is alone in a swamp, especially one of Alulaylaranti.” God, he hated the fact that the Brotherhood called for respect to those of a higher stature. He would just as soon gut this fish than protect him, but gods be damned, he liked his place in the brotherhood, which meant he wasn’t going anywhere. Yup… definitely bad luck… Fucking Nobles. he thought bitterly as he stood there, somewhat aloof, and stared at him.

[Guest]

Szadek had to smile when the dread of recognition took hold of the assassin. He nodded his head, giving it a downwards twitch. "Tell me...why you think Someone of my..." - he glanced down at the insignia on his breast plate. - "...stature...would need a guard?" Before his voice had completely left his lips, the Parun bolted forward, covering the distance between himself and the demonic assassin with all the expected agility of a royal blooded ancient vampire, reaching out with his hands and grasping the mixed breed vampire by the lower jaw, pinning the connection point between his thumb and forefinger. "Surely, you know the symbol for 'Parun', minion...I am no mere noble..." Szadek let out a sigh, and took an authoritative step forward before releasing his grip altogether and allowing his arm to drop to his side. "I am here on behalf of Emperor Haseo...as his officer for the Swamps. I'm an Ancient, as well as a Parun, which means I'm more than qualified to take care of myself...but if you wish, then I will accept your company, assassin. You will come with me to the Outer regions. I need to show the Mutations that I am their officer, as well. Hopefully, I will be able to put the fear of that into them, and perhaps be able to stunt these kinds of display."

After thinking for a moment, the added..."If there is no evidence, then I will have to look at the trolls, the less likely of possible culprits. The Teterogens in my command are not to be fed or hunted upon by any being within the Swamp. Those that do not follow this rule will see the face of my wrath. I'll show every denizen of these Swamps that there will be no need for Emperor Haseo to get involved." He smiled and turned to face the West, again, and started walking. "If you're planning on accompanying me, you might want to keep up, assassin."

[Treble]

With wide eyes, Zsadist glared at the noble, holding every neuron in his brain that wanted to squash the man like a bug in tight check. There was no reason to lose control... yet, but if he didn't let him go right now... As he was released, Z took three quick steps backwards, desperatley wanting to reach out and rip the... what the hell was a Parun anyway? Shaking off the anger that threatened the surface of his face, Z reached up and rubbed his jaw for a moment before staring blankly at the noble for a minute, digesting the word 'Parun' in his head, letting it run through his database of the things he and Treble had gone over in his private lessons. There was nothing... and it seriously annoyed him. What the fuck is a Parun? He wondered annoyingly, hating the fact that he was illiterate, and that it was obvious in times such as this.

Gruffly, mainly because his throat had run dry when the Parun had grabbed him, Z looked at the ground and then back up at him and said, "Well, if the Emperor knows your here then everything's cool. I'm still gonna go with you, don't care if your a noble that can kick ass or not, we got rules in the Brotherhood. 'Less your a contract we protect nobles." His face flushed slightly, embarassment crossing his hard features. Damn it, why didn't he just shut up and grunt like he normally did? Shut up Z, shut the hell up, don't say anything else. At the word Teterogens Z's head jerked up and he stared at him for a moment, his face falling in annoyance again. Damn it, there goes my swamp filled days of training. he thought bitterly. "Well..." He quickly realized that he was talking to the nobles back and hastily moved forward, his daggers once again in his palms. "What about if someone kill a Teter...whatever but didn't know you didn't want them to? Like if they was training and didn't know no better?" he asked, wincing as he did. Wouldn't it just be great for Mr. I'm so noble over there to be pissed cuz I killed a couple stupid Tet... whatever those things are. Whatever, it's his problem, not mine. he thought to himself as they walked in semi-silence.

[Guest]

Szadek laughed a bit, calling back over his shoulder. "My friend...I have been around much longer than the 'Brotherhood'...I doubt those rules apply in my instance. If it makes you feel better, though, I will let you go about as if you were doing me something more of a favor than being a distraction when I choose to lash out at the Mutations...", he snickered. A second of silence passed before he heard a second question...about the killing of teterogens. "Sometimes, people get the feeling that one of the teterogens are in my command. Most of the one's under my command stay near the compound, however, and are therefore nearly impossible to find to kill..."

The thought of the feeling he had earlier, while he was standing on his overlook made him shiver a bit. "There is something, however, that spooks me a little bit. Knowing who and what you are, I know that you will not deceive me...especially in my own presence...so what I am about to say is to be kept strictly in the Swamps...confidential unless to the Emperor or Empress themselves. Do you understand?" Without waiting for a reply, Szadek pushed on. "You see, the largest defense my compound has, is the fact that is my compound. A person will not be able to find the compound by themselves, whether they've been there once or a million times, without my assistance...but I feel that the Mutations have somehow figured out a direct route to the compound...without my aid...this bothers me, you see, as such should not happen. So I feel that there is a deeper power at work in Alulaylaranti, hidden from both myself, and the Imperial Family."

He waited just a moment to let it sink in for the assassin, just...what kind of problem that could pose for both the Parun, and himself. "Let me put it this way, Assassin...You are directly under the Empress' pull, are you not? Which means, that her best interests are your own. If these mutations can penetrate my fortress, you will have a much larger problem than a shortage of troll, teterogens, and other creatures to train on. If a war spills out of the Outer regions, there may be no way to keep the Imperial Family from having to get involved. So it is imperative that we get into the Outer regions, leave our mark and message, and get out without drawing physical attention to ourselves. I'm confidant that the Empress has provided you the proper training necessary to accomplish this. That is, if you are up to the task. I think it would provide a proper level of training for you for the time being, am I mistaken?"

[Guest]

Szadek, without waiting for more of a reply, pushed onwards. "I said keep up, if you wish to join me. If you slack, you'll be left behind. I am not like the rest of the Barons or Royalty around these parts, Assassin. I do like to get things done in a timely manner, whenever possible." That being said, Szadek pushed Westward, his eyes set, now, on the regions beyond...the Outer Regions, then...finally, the Unlived Regions. Two simple steps was all that were required to push into the Outer Regions...and when taken, Szadek's lip curled into a smirk. He was one step closer to the Mutations' hideaway...and knew that nothing stood between him, and showing those abominations exactly who they were screwing with, now.

Reaching his left hand out, as if to grab something from the air, a single decree materialized in his grip, on a rolled piece of parchment. The title was clear as day, as he unfolded the decree to read the exact words it carried;

Decree of Szadek Karthro

Act I - Grounds of Necessary Engagement - Property of Szadek Karthro: Teterogen Workers

Under Act One of the Decree of the Karthro Dynasty, any being that harms one or more Teterogen Workers belonging to or of Szadek Karthro, Baron of the Swamps of Alulaylaranti, is hereby labeled Disposable and Bountied, for the worth of Ten Thousand (10,000) gold...D.o.A.

After rolling the parchment back up, he slipped the thing in his robes, his smirk growing broader. "This should make my point known well enough...", he said to himself, already getting a mental image of him nailing the parchment to a willow near the Mutations' base...under it, laying a small heap of two or three of the lifeless abominations. Yes...that should make for good proof that he is not to be mistaken for one of the lazy royals or barons that these parts had been so used to...

[Treble]

Zsadist stared at the back of the Baron's head for a long moment, his mind almost not registering what the Parun was saying. Something more in the swamps of Alulaylaranti? That's not possible... Is it? Hadn't that oaf Haseo supposedly taken care of all such beings? His mind flashed a mile a minute with this new piece of information; he really should tell Treble what he had just learned, but he had a fleeting, very fleeting, thought that he didn't want to tell her because he wanted to protect her. Oh fuck that, I don't give two damns about that prissy little Empress, I'm gonna tell her... Just as soon as I get back to The Fortress... Although Zsadist knew in his head, more than likely not his heart, he didn't have one, that he wouldn't tell Treble until he absolutely had to. He didn't want to cause her any more harm than already had been done.

"My apologies Baron." He muttered as he quickened his pace, a flashing thought of grabbing the back of the Baron's head and ramming a tree limb into his skull crushing down on his mind, making him grin in maliciousness. It was just like him to think thoughts such as that over the one that he was to protect. Gods, you are a sick, twisted, fuck aren't you. He thought to himself. "As for the tetro... Whatever the hell they are, I understand what you mean. I believe I have not killed any that had a presence you you about them. But I'm gonna stop my... training facilities here in the swamps just to be sure." Oh how it killed him to not be able to come to the swamps and kill things. That had been the one true time in his existance when he had felt at peace. In the swamps he had been alone, only his blade to protect him, and he had flourished at it.

As he trudged beside the Baron his hand rested losely on the hilt of one of his daggers that was hidden by his trench coat. "I suggest we get to the Outer Regions as soon as possible, kill any and everything there, and then call it a day. Killing is always a quick, simple solution to life's most annoying, sometimes dangerous, problems. So why not kill it all?" He asked, only half joking.

As the Baron unfolded the parchment, Zsadist leaned in; only half pretending to read what was on it, though he knew he wouldn't be able to understand a single word on there. Shame filled his eyes for the briefest of moments before annoyance flushed through him. Why the hell should he care what some stupid piece of paper said? Forget it, it didn't matter anyway. But his curiosity peaked and had him staring at the parchment as he and the Parun walked, which had him opening his mouth, regretting what he was about to ask even before he asked it. The Brother never asked someone what something said, but gods be damned, he was going to."What's it say then?" He stumbled through the words, actually not pausing between words, nore breathing, making the sounds come out more like, "Whastsayen"

[Guest]

Szadek stopped in his tracks when the question about killing all of the mutations arose. "Because, assassin...they are inhabitants of the Swamps...and I am their charge, as well as their leader. All I wish to achieve here, today, is sending them a clear message that I will not take such disrespect lying down. Besides...if we went after the entire lot of them...a genocidal war would break out, and I'm quite sure neither Emperor Haseo, nor the Empress want such a thing to happen. I know that I, for one, Do not... Especially on only my second day as Baron." For a second, he just watched the assassin, before reaching into his robes and retrieving the parchment on which the decree was written. "This is my decree on what is to become of those caught slaying my teterogens. It says that anyone caught, will be subject to a bounty, to be paid upon delivery, Dead or Alive. It also states that those accused are thenceforth disposable...and no longer protected by myself."

Again, he rolled it up and slipped it into his robes. As he started walking, he laughed a bit to himself. "What I had in mind for these abominations is simple, yet effective; We will slay two or three of them, pile their bodies infront of a stake each. Each body's severed head will rest on the stake, and a field of my own magic will hold this decree in place, centered above the bodies." After thinking for a moment, he added; "Or perhaps we'll just nail the decree to their base's front door... I'm quite confidant that none of these beasts will consider an attack on me after the display I plan to make." With a nod, he remained quiet from then on, his eyes restlessly watching the sides of the path they were on for any Mutations or likewise violent creatures.

[Treble]

Zsadist eyed Szadek from the corner of his black eyes, his body somewhat tense. “Well, I guess I’m definitely going to not be killing any of those Tetro… whatever things any more. But I think aside from simply leveling the entire place, I think your plan is gonna put the fear of god into those creatures. I approve.” He flashed the Baron a quick, semi grin that barely showed the tips of his fangs before focusing back on the road and the task at hand. “When we get there, do you want me to do anything? Or just stay outta your way?” He asked, wanting it to be perfectly clear that he was more than willing to kill anything the Baron wanted. But before a reply could be heard there was a crashing noise that pounded through the forest, sounding as if it were heading directly for Zsadist and the Baron.

“What the fu…” The vampire didn’t have a chance to finish though as a great roaring and one of the many inhabitating monsters of the swamps thundered into the clearing, slamming directly into the duo. It was a hideous sight to be seen with great teeth that stretched out of it’s mouth, half way down what could have been a chin, had it not been covered with some sickly green fungus. The thing was well over seven feet tall, and looked more like a snarling mass of green muscle and fat than a living being. It’s eyes were pure white, no visible pupil, and it’s entire face was covered in the same sickly fungus as was the rest of it’s body. With a roar, a tremendous thing that shook the very foundations of the swamp, it lurched and lumbered, pulling a massive club from behind it’s back and started to swing at Zsadist and Szadek, each time the club hit something it was with such force the beast’s arm vibrated.

“Umm… It’s okay to kill this thing yea?” Zsadist asked, a sardonic smile falling onto his face as he jumped up and pulled two daggers from his belt, both black in blade and hilt. He jumped to one side and then the other, narrowly missing the club’s swings as he moved closer to the great beast.

[Guest]

Szadek gave Zsadist a side-glance, as the assassin asked what he could do once the two arrived at the Mutations' lair. "I'll deal with the majority of them. I want you to find the largest creature there, and make the largest number of small, irritating gashing that you can, without killing it. I'm going to use my nec-", but Szadek was cut off by the thundering crash of footsteps stampeding towards them. As the large beast came into view, Szadek and Zsadist's reactions were identical, down to the cut-off of the cursing question. Zsadist had asked for permission to slay the beast, but went on to charge it without awaiting an answer...and Szadek followed suit.

Szadek needed no material weaponry as he charged the creature. Instead, the Ancient's fists were crunched into balls, and engulfed by a malicious glow. Silly assassin..., he thought to himself as he drew back his arms, left first, followed by his right. As he struck out with this left fist first, still a good twenty yards from the beast, Szadek's feet hovered a decent inch, inch and a half from the surface of the swamp grounds. As the left fist was thrown to the arm's full length, a wave erupted from the engulfing aura that surrounded it, striking not at the beast, but at Zsadist's daggers, instead, setting the blades aglow with the same violent purple aura of the wave.

"Strike for the heart!" The baron's voice went unheard over the roar of the beast, but the message had not been for the ears. He was confident the message had rang in the mind of the assassin. He struck next with his right fist, from less than five yards away. The wave that erupted from this hand did not head to the assassin, but indeed struck the beast, engulfing it's form in the same aura as the blades on Zsadist's daggers. Within seconds, the aura had vanished, but the beast's movement had slowed greatly. This was what Szadek loved the most about the powers of Necromancy; the victim did not have to be dead when the spell was used...the effects simply unaltered the victim until it's death. Szadek had never before used his teterogen spell in the presence of another, but he was confident that Zsadist would enjoy the show, as well as the experience...after all, it was training, that the assassin sought after.

[Treble]

”Strike for the heart!” The Baron’s voice screamed inside Zsadist’s head making his eyes damn near cross in shock. He looked at his blades as they glowed a dazzling purple, Z’s face lighting up in a moment of wonder. Magic never did cease to amaze the brother, though the moment was short lived as the club came crashing through the air, aimed almost directly at Zsadist’s face. With a slight cry of alarm, and silent chastising over getting distracted in the midst of a fight, the vampire pivoted on his heels, the black bladed daggers flying through the air, still gripped firmly in his hand, in an X fashion; one right after the other sailed towards the beasts flesh, each blow hitting the intended spot, though it wasn’t the heart, that wasn’t visible at the moment. With a grunt of annoyance, Z dodged another blow from the club, this time the tip of it actually hitting the brother’s forearm. A low growl came out of his mouth, a death threat that was about to be followed through if he had anything so say about it. Crouching low on his haunches, Zsadist leapt high into the air, pivoting as his body sailed over the beast, both hands flying out and lancing through the thick flesh of the monsters back and neck.

Landing swiftly on both of his feet, Z stole a quick glance at Szadek, his demonic fire eyes burning with the joy of the fight, the thrill of the kill so to speak; there was nothing like a good fight where your life was on the line in Zsadist’s eyes. As he leapt forward, his fists, still clutching the daggers, moved this way and that, slicing the beast here, gouging deep into his flesh there, and still he managed to move swift enough that the, now rather slow beast, was beginning to look like a pin cushion. With a loud war cry, though it wasn’t very audible over the din roar of the beasts great bellowing through the swamps, Z charged, his black trench coat flapping wildly in his wake as his daggers slashed through the air, this time aimed directly for the beasts heart. His mind raced, his pulse quickened, his eyesight went read as the Vampire fell in for the kill. There was nothing like this, nothing at all, for the Brotherhood member. This is what he lived for. Zsadist was a born assassin, and killing was what made his cold, dark heart skip for joy.

With two, swift, powerful thrusts, Zsadist created a deep gash directly over the beasts heart, the blades cutting deep, the wound causing the beast to cry out in outrage as he lifted his club and looked at Z with pure murder in his eyes, but the blow to his heart was to much as a great roar sounded from his mouth causing birds to fly out of the trees, their angry cries echoing through the swamps as Z snarled at the beast, his fist flying into the opening in the beast’s chest, ripping out almost immediately with the no longer beating heart clutched tightly in his hand. With a mighty lurch, the beast’s eyes rolled up into the back of his head and he fell over backwards, the *thud* resonating through the swamp loudly while Z turned to Szadek and grinned his malicious grin. “This what you meant?”

[Guest]

Grinning, Szadek took a step towards Zsadist, glancing momentarily at the assassin's fresh kill. "Impressive..." was the only word to escape the Baron's lifeless lips as he snatched the heart from the assassin's grasp with one swift, fluid movement. In the Parun's grasp, the heart steadily began to beat once again. When it did, the smirk on Szadek's lips grew wider, and he crouched near the belly of the beast, speaking in a low tone as he re-inserted the beating heart into the titanic creature. "Rise again, my servant. Breathe in that fresh air that once poisoned your lungs when you where amongst the living...the the taste of the hatred for he who fell you satisfy your hunger for now...if only momentarily. We have much work to do, Dredge...and you will be my right hand."

When the words ended, and Szadek backed slowly away from the beast, he watched simply, unwavering, as the beast slowly stirred, and then sat upright. "Ah....thank you, Zsadist. Your skill with the dagger came in handy...now...for a little repair...you've left his hide in horrible shape...", Szadek said, motioning at the cuts, rips, and gashes made by the assassin's daggers. In the same manner which he had used to create the two waves that struck both Zsadist's blades and the creature's heart, Szadek sent out a slightly smaller wave of purple aura. This was not a violent wave, though, and only reached to the sides, into the wood, where it engulfed several large logs and some bile from the surface. within seconds, the aura had everything it had gathered twisting, and combining itself into what looked like small field dressings.

These dressings where then placed over the creature's wounds, where they seemed to melt and merge together with it's body. A large, thick piece of hardened and enhanced bark from a log was merged into the creature's chest, providing a plate with which to protect the heart. "There we are...done. We now have an undead shield to take the brunt of the counter-attack from the Mutations..." Szadek turned to the other vampire. "Training time is over, assassin...are you ready for what lies ahead?"

[Treble]

Zsadist's eyes widened in shock as he watched Szadek hunch over the lifeless heap that was the... whatever it was, his lips curled into a nasty snarl. "What're you doin over ther..." The assassin's words stopped dead in his throat as he watched the beast shift for a moment and then sit straight up, a low growl coming from the Vampire's throat. He lifted his hand, running it effortlessly through his shaved, black hair before narrowing his eyes on the Baron's. "Now why the hell'd you go an do that for? Why'd I even kill the damnable thing?"

Zsadist was a simple creature, not accustomed to forms of magic, or reasons behind one's actions; all he lived for was killing, and he exceled at his main purpose in life, which is why the concept of bringing something back from the dead, something only moments before you killed, was damn near impossible for him to grasp. Sheathing his daggers, the assassin ruffled his trench coat lightly, his muscles slightly bulging beneath the body tight, long sleeved, black shirt underneath, except for his stomach, he had an emaciated look about him in every way but the pure, raw, muscle mass that held fast to him. Shaking his head lightly, realizing that he, more than likely, would never understand the Parun's reasons behind anything, Z lowered his head and walked over to stand behind Szadek, his fingers itching to grab something and rip it's head off. Christ, I have to control these violent urges if I'm gonna work for this Parun thing. His thoughts were dark... very dark, as he winced lightly, moving his thoughts away from murder. Lifting his head slightly, Z nodded his head once, the stoney impression of indifference setteling on his face. "Yeah, course I'm ready Baron, I'm always ready."

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