Closed The returning (Iggy)

[Valo]

Much to the great annoyance and the dismay of the red haired artist, he found him self slamming into the cobbles once more, this time with a subtly greater impact that hopefully knocked some sense into him. A proof that he would have to completely recalculate his next move in this gruesome battle of chess. Though any such thought was interrupted immediately, the flame of it stomped out by the words of the attacker. The words with an admirable magnitude to them, halting Valo, making him listen. And if that was not all, another sphere of res hovered about his face, a warning for him to listen. And the warning was not ignored. Wide eyes, the chained one stared at his attacker, fists clenched. His tamer side once again took over. "Impressive." spoke the stranger. "Your will is strong, and your body seems capable of wondrous things..." Valo's chest elevated and fell in jagged motions, for he had not yet realised that breathing was no longer required. A statement to the fact he was not yet ready to relinquish his humanity. A subconscious behaviour that was so native to him, he performed it even after death. Eyes, which just hours beforehand sparkled with the most delightful of soft emerald tones, now burned red from beneath his brow, raging at the smile on the other's face. An irritation at the other's arrogance that manifested so boldly in the turning of the wizard's back on him. A fury. Yet also something else. Respect perhaps, apprehension of the possible reasons for this boldness. "And yet, you are not human. Not even close. It's obvious, even from a distance. Although, perhaps I am a little more sensitive than others. You are, for all intents and purposes, a monster." That final word struck Valo right in the face. Monster. He was no monster! A victim perhaps, but no monster! How dare he say such things! And with that very moment Valo felt a mixture of emotions that antagonized one another, before coming to an equilibrium of pure hate for the stranger and the fear of what he, himself, had just become. Of course by that time, Valo had not a chance to look in the mirror. He had no knowledge of the monster he had become. And with those few words, he looked down at his hands. Eyes widening further in disbelief until they bulged out so severely that one might think they were about to drop out from his scull, for what those eyes saw was pure horror to the artist. Little more than claws, bones covered with paper white flesh. Any muscle that had once lingered there, forming the slender tools that created beautiful art, had now shrunk, leaving deep sunken in ridges between the linear tendons. "And so you will be feared. But you require protection. Guidance. Had any but I faced you, there would be only ashes. You require, quite simply, an elder undead. I can help you there." "Just moments ago you threatened to kill me." barked Valo in a shaken voice. "Why the sudden change of mind?" He eyes the nuit before him with care, paying attention to the slightest of details. The shark profile, the yellow teeth that peered from a sinister green. The very tone to his voice and the way in which he spoke. "How is it that you plan to help me? And what do you want in return?" The questions were endless, but he needed his answers right there. He needed to wrap his wit around all that was going on. In those questions however lingered the noted of approval, for Valo was nothing but alone now. Completely secluded and alienated with his condition and that cursed new life of his and if there was anyone who really could help him, was precisely this man, it seemed. An opportunistic gamble on Valo's behalf, but he had only that which should have been taken away from him in the first place, to loose. "Who are you?" was the last question, but one which seemed most important.

[Ignotus Everto]

"Business." Ignotus said dismissively, "You've shown potential. I like people like you."

The Nuit's arm dropped when Valo continued peppering him with questions, a rather bemused expression sliding onto his face, "I'm going to teach you how to survive as an undead, and provide you with shelter. In return, I expect nothing more than the occasional assistance in a sore spot. A bit of friendly help. We're friends, aren't we? Of course we are." he quipped.

Finally, at the request for his identity, the smile returned. A much more grandfatherly one than the leer of before, however. Still, it was slightly lopsided, and the wizard's eyes still held a predatory gleam as he leaned over Valo and the lit sphere of Res floated in front of his face, illuminating it in orange. "I am Ignotus Everto, and I shall be your new patron."
"Or your executioner."

[Valo]

So it was a question of fondness. And though Valo wasn't quite sure if friend was an appropriate word to use in this case, it did have it's allure. A pretty term to describe a rather ominous symbiosis that awaited him. Having now banished any concern over his appearance - for now wasn't the time for such. He'd have plenty of opportunity to mourn over it and adjust to it and perhaps even come to acceptance of it, for beauty was a small price to pay for a second chance - the artist's mind was spun in gear. And that very mind could not prevent the admittance of one thing and one thing only. Ignotus' offer was too tempting to refuse. Any concern over these sore spots which he so briefly mentioned did not matter now.

The world seemed inverted. Death had no true power over life. For Valo was alive in all senses of the word, even if his was a different life. Unlife. And he had found him self devoted wholly to perhaps the most unlikely deity that a man like him self could have been devoted to.A transformation within him took place, for the ideologist was brutally murdered, relinquishing his hold over Valo and a survivalist had taken that place. And most unlikely of all perhaps, for a man who was to kill him now sought to assist in the growth of the red haired creature as a worthy Undead and despite the lack of trust that now saturated the air between them, the artist had nodded in acceptance.

"I shall be your new patron. Or your executioner."

"I do believe the prospects of patronage are much in my favour." replied Valo with perhaps a crooked crescent of a smile in his paper white feature. A smile of acceptance of it all, just like he had accepted the gift of unlife in that decisive moment. Avery simple acceptance, without the sufficient thought over the concept, but all bravery in his heart and the self assurance that he could in fact tackle whatever it is that will be thrown at him.

There was something so strangely calming in the lob sided grin of Ignotus and in that predatory gleam to his eyes into which Valo now stared. He couldn't quite explain why, for if he had been perhaps even an hour younger, the nuit would have filled his very subconscious with awkward agitation, perhaps even fear. But he was a new man now, or perhaps a canvas upon which a new man would be built. Yes, that seemed the best way to think of him self right at this moment, for a desperate clinging to his old ways would only result in a breakdown.

[Ignotus Everto]

"Excellent..."

As it turned out, Ignotus was both quick and efficient at making men vanish. Valo was tucked away into an abandoned house not far from East Street, with orders not to leave until night time. Meanwhile, a pair of stray dogs were lured from the surrounding area, lured to the spot of the original clash, and incinerated. The ashes (Ignotus disposed of the dogs' bones) were later used as proof of a job done.

Ignotus got a pat on the back and a fair bit of approval from his superiors, whilst Valo was nestled away in his own little corner of Zeltiva, free to roam... As long as he didn't dance in front of a Wave Guard.

[Cloud]

XP Reward!

From the sky falls your reward!

PC Name: Valo

Experience

Skill	XP Earned
Intimidation	+1
Observation	+1
Interrogation	+1

Lores

•	Lore Earned
•	Ignotus The Undead
•	Ignotus Everto (Acquaintance)

Notes :

A reminder to review your posts every now and then, just a few technical errors but good nonetheless!

PC Name: Ignotus

Experience

Skill	XP Earned
Reimancy	+1
Hypnotism	+2
Observation	+1

Lores

•	Lore Earned
•	Valo The Returned
•	Valo (Acquaintance)

Good thread you two. It ended sooner then I expected but it was right to the point.