Acolyte of Darkness (open to 2)

[halen2020]

A dark portal opened in the alleyway of Traverse Town's Second District. A man stumbled out, and fell. He had on a dark robe, and clutched a small book close to his body. He drew breath in great shuddering gasps. His mind spun wildly, confusion overtaking it. The foremost thought in his head was Where am I? Ari sat up slowly, and took a look around. Night. In a city. This place was definitely a royal city, for what group of commoners could afford to build a city out of brick? The dark mage stood slowly, glancing around. There appeared to be no sign of the shadow spawned. He dusted off his robe, and checked his spell book. It opened for him the moment he thought of it. So, it was working fine. He wove a small shadow block around his memories of his world dying. He couldn't afford to think about that know. He had information gathering to do.

[Ellie who has 0%]

One of the greatest storms had finally passed, the ice witch roamed in her blue room of Traverse Town's hotel. It became a common home to her, since she could afford it. Walking pass a mirror in her quarters, she gazed at herself. Her golden hair was fair and wavy with curls; her pale skin never fazed her, since it been eons ago when she had a complexion. What did caught her attention was the dark rings around her eyes. She had been occupying herself monitoring Antique's sleeping chamber that her tender loving care for herself had diminished to a minimum. How uncanny for a woman to had strive for immortal beauty to fall by the wayside? It seems her priorities of 'me' had turned into priorities of others.

"How lovely," she spoke flatly at her reflection, but the hideous blemish wouldn't last long as her fingers dragged underneath her lower lids. In seconds, the darkness around her everest green eyes were gone. Slightly satisified, she strode towards her balcony with her long black dress fluttered behind her like smoke. Holding her hand palm up, her free hand dug into her bust retrieving a silver vial to pour a silver liquid on her hand. It spread out into an even disc solidifying to a tea plate and a tea cup filled with...the obvious, tea.

Yes it may seem redundant to indulge herself in warm delight on the balcony in thin dress during a world's winter, but this was Jadis; she always did what she pleased when she wanted to, and what she wanted at the moment was decent R&R after watching her sleeping ward revive herself from her winter sleep. Of-course being a mother figure over the girl, she would be stalking behind her keeping her in radar, but Mikhail was her extension for the time being since he was just as concerned for her. Knowing that Antique was being watched after, Jadis could sit on her balcony in peace...or so she thought.

Rising the rim of the cup to her red lips, her eyelids drooped in a trance, while exhaling the smell of lilacs in the beverage, but the lids became ajar was darkness was tracked in her radar. A brow arched finely sensing a portal being opened.

There goes the neighborhood, she truly didn't feel like investigating who now joined the population of Traverse Town. Atleast it wasn't one of those devious Nobodies and pesky Heartless. Although she had narrowed it down, she wasn't about to conclude her judgement with the immense bundle of darkness waltzing below her.

[halen2020]

Ari looked up and down the alley. There was a dark pool of water at one end, and a darker passageway at the other. Ari felt like avoiding darkness for now, and walked up to one of the doors in the large building that formed one wall of the alley. He tried the door, but it was locked, and he didn't have any spells that would unlock it, only ones that would blast it off its hinges. He walked to the next door, and tried it. Locked as well. He went to each door, and found them all locked. It made sense really, since it appeared to be the dead of night. He looked up at the second story and saw a woman. She was immensly beautiful. "Excuse me, madam. Might I ask where I am?"

[Ellie who has 0%]

She hummed somewhat pleased at civil nature; it has been a while hearing a decent stranger, since Jadis had a trend of attracting hostile youth that will pounce for thinking or even talking. With a final sip the tea of lilacs and jasmine was gone. As her leg crossed the other, she looked over towards the voice from below, "You have arrived to Traverse Town, a common world with similar arrivals like your own."

The White Witch didn't have to guess how he ended up here, since many people carried the same story of global destruction by darkness. She wondered when did she became a tour guide for the lost and so generous; it seems the good news of her Antique had embraced her such way, since she had pent her sensitivity for the Mikhail's sake. That child may be the end of me.

"This world have four districts total, and you're in the second. I assume you will need housing and since it is late this hotel is appropriate," Traverse Town had became lenient with the newcomers, but eventually they will have to stand on their own two feet to continue on their lives.

[halen2020]

Traverse Town... A town with arrivals like his? Other people had lost their homes to the Shadow Spawned? But what did she mean she said this world had for districts? Did she mean four kingdoms ruled to land? Something else bothering him was the fact that this was clearly a higborn lady, and she was staying in an inn. Why would any kingdom force someone of the upper class to share an inn with the common folk?"Madam, I would like someplace to stay, but the doors down here are locked tight." Another thought struck him, and he asked, "Is this land safe from the Shadow Spawned?"

[Ellie who has 0%]

Jadis placed the teacup on the black iron table. A single chuckle shook from her chest as she listened to him, while watching the cup refilled itself. He truly was foreign to not be able to distinquish an alley. In her chair, she turned towards the edge of the balcony before rising, "The doors are locked, because you're in a mere alley; people are not generally welcomed through back doors. You have to walk around to come to the front."

"As for your Shadow Spawned, no the world isn't entirely safe," it wasn't hard to bridge the connection that he meant a heartless, "yet many have made a living coexisting with the chaos. I doubt you'll have much problems with them tonight."

The Heartless never fancied Jadis' presence; it would be a suicide mission to hunt her or nearby, so they tended to steer clear from the witch altogether. Atleast there was some common sense in them. Although she was in the hotel, it wouldn't mean they wouldn't waltz about; also the witch contemplated whether she should meet him halfway to prevent the newcomer from being lost.

"If you go down the alley way and make a right hand turn you'll find me." The Ice Witch had slept with many crimes on her shoulders, but she rather not smoulder the good mood she was in, "Don't loose your way."

[halen2020]

The back...? Of course! If he was in an alleyway, then of course the doors wuld be locked. They would always be locked. Ari felt like a total fool. He started towards the end of the alley with the waterway, Figuring that this was the direction that the beautiful woman had meant. He did not hurry, because he did not wish to attract attention. The woman had mentioned the Shadow Spawned were around, and he prefered not to have to fight.

(sry short post)

[Ellie who has 0%]

The Ice Witch turned on her toes returning to her quarters to fetch a pair of shoes. She may feel loose today, but not loose enough to roam Traverse Town barefoot. The door opened for her when she turned to leave down the hotel's hallway into the lobby. The main door open with a thick breeze basking her in the neon lights of the Hotel sign. She had forgotten that an obvious sign dangled above the building. Well he can't miss that.

Jadis had to duck to get through the doorway, since it wasn't sevent feet high. Seeing that her direction was dry clean cut, being a giantess standing outside a building with neon lights should be sufficient. The cobblestone around her started to pale with frost digging into ever nook and cranny. Her eyes scanned like a falcon across the district's plain.

The lower level tended to favored hunting ground for the Heartless, and some of the smaller ones usually hovered on the roof and the upper floor. She didn't care to look for them, because they were merely small mage-like elements, babies compared to the elemental range she have reached.

[halen2020]

Ari glanced around the corner. It appeared clear, but the Shadow Spawned could come out of nothing. He walked cautiously through, feeling with his mind looking for the darkness, waiting for it to convalesce. He walked out of the shadowy alleyay into a moderately brighter courtyard. He looked around in awe. There were lights everywhere. Big bold lights on poles, signs glowing with inner brilliance. There was a beautiful fountain. He looked for a way up, and there, stairs. He began to cross the courtyard when he heard the dreaded sound of the Shadow Spawn appearing. He whirled about, and saw two big fat ones and five wearing armor and jerking their limbs in some dance. They advanced quickly. Ari didn't have time to open his spell book. Instead, he whipped his arm out, and Havok Wreaker, his staff, appeared in a flurry of dark energy. He pointed it at the Shadow Spawned, and shouted "Blast!" The eyeholes in the goat's skull lit up, and lightning shot out of them. It speared one of the fat ones once, twice, three times! The fat one exploded into black fog, and dissapated. The others paused for a moment, perhaps confused by there ally's death.

[Ellie who has 0%]

A brow quirked once darkness was detected, and a portal had opened; that was her cue to walk towards the ledge of the second floor. A pair large bodies were spotted with their curvacious figures. Narrowing her eyes, her vision zoomed to the small Soldiers that wobbled alongside them. Seeing enough, her pace quickened with long strides down a ramp with her heels clicking with each step.

A bright light flashed against the cold stone wall, and hearing a masculine voice, she pinned down who it was. Once reaching the courtyard, the black mist was still lifting. Long toned arms crossed over her chest not amused at the heartless' presence and usual tactics, while they were distracted the ground below them began to frost before ice spires erupted from below. The soldiers were skewered and wavered in a black fog. The thich ice structure then shatter into flurries and fluttered with the wind.

"Like I said...not entirely safe."

[halen2020]

Ari had taken advantage of the Shadow Spawned's momentary confusion. He had gotten his book open, and found the spell he wanted when the ground erupted with huge spikes of ice. The Spawned died immediately.

"Like I said...not entirely safe."

Ari nodded as readjusted his mental estimate of the woman. She was definitely a mage, perhaps even a sage. "Yes. Perhaps we should leave before more show up." He then gave her a critical once over. She was the tallest woman he had ever met, easily seven feet in height. He felt the edge of her power, and shivered slightly. She was more than just a sage. She was strong enough to be a sorceress. And her manner was regal. She was definitely of royal blood. "If I may ask, what is your name, milady?"

[Ellie who has 0%]

Either he had read her mind or it was the obvious task to do, to leave. The witch turned on her toes going back where she came expecting him to follow suit, but stopped momentarily at the question. Looking back she scanned him over absorbing his paleness, his youth, dark hair, and blackened eyes that looked all too familiar, "Jadis. Come along we can socialize once inside."

Retracing her steps, she walked back up the ramp making a right turn towards the Hotel, which the doors were already opened in a waiting mannerism. The door to the blue room creaked open permitting them in; it was already charmed to close behind them. The blue room had increased in size compared to its original model; her personal quarters was out of sight behind a door, while the room they stepped into became a living room with a maroon tea table set.

The chairs were already turned towards them, while a two tea cup set waited for them with a little chest. Jadis had already took her seat waiting for him. She haven't looked up at him, since her focus was on digging in the small chest for something, "And your name?"

[halen2020]

The room they entered was magically tampered with. The room was large than the outside would suggest, even if the doors to the other rooms in the hall were set into corners. The ceiling was also higher. Jadis was sitting when he entered, digging through a box.

"And your name?"

Ari sat down in the second chair. "I am Ari Karnes, of Taizel, Lady Jadis. Correct me if I am wrong, but you are of royal lineage, yes?"

(BTW, nice death spike.)

[Ellie who has 0%]

She never heard of the world, Taizel, or heard its name before, but it seemed knowledge of it wouldn't matter, because he's here and the world isn't. Right now it was probably in clusters floating in space mending to the grand design of heartless' malice activities. It was unfortunate, but her guest was lucky to have made it here. With many worlds dotting the universe, he happened to appeared in this one out of so many.

Jadis hummed at the question and found what she was looking for, a red key. She placed it down on the table; it would permit him in to the red room, which was right next door. No the witch didn't own the hotel despite how she lived in it, but she was an aware indiviidual of knowing who would be her neighbors. She had charges and wards in this world, and the ice witch wouldn't welcome anyone that would harm them.

"Well aren't you attentive. Some habits are hard to stop and some won't ever," the cups were final full with tea, and the emperess grabbed hers for a sip, "I bestow sentiments for the unfortunate events of Taizel. I doubt much words can soothe you of it, especially if its becoming a trend now."

[halen2020]

Aha. She was royal. Ari was always hapy to be right. She placed a red key on the table between them. Wonder what that is for? She then offered her sentiments about his home, and said something about trends. What trend? You are missing something big here, Ari.

"You said this city was called Traverse Town. What kingdom are we in? I assume it isn't yours, otherwise, you would not be staying in an inn." He picked up the cup, and sipped it. Tea. Bit strong for his tastes. He replaced the cup on the table.