You have been taken by the Mists

Author Topic: Lady Luck- Ariana Argent  (Read 6485 times)

Haplo Nexus

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Re: Lady Luck- Ariana Argent
« Reply #25 on: September 03, 2008, 11:26:36 PM »
        For an elf, rest was far more efficient than for a human. Though she could sleep the way humans did, she found reverie to be far more efficient and safer. She couldn't be caught off guard, she was as awake and aware of her surroundings as if she were simply reading a book, but the book was her mind, her memories, thoughts, feelings, all presented for reflection. The one flaw was, nightmares, especiallly Ariana's, could enter even Reverie.
          She awoke strapped to a bloody slab, lights flashing occasionally around her. Guttural voices and malevolent whispers reached her ears from beyond the darkness, and even when the lightning came, nothing was there. Well, almost nothing. A familiar figure walked around the slab, his footsteps seeming loud and booming. Her exclamation stuck in her throat at the sight of her old puppetteer, Kir'Thalax. And she had hoped the puppet's strings were severed...The lich stopped to her right and produced a knife, even with the naked eye one could see it was sharp, impossibly so.
This is a dream..this..is just a dream, it isn't real... It was then she felt they were not alone. Behind her another figure stood. Spiders crawled over his form, his skeletal fingers twitching in rhythm with the Illithid's tentacles. This was the puppeteer...It gave a small sense of staisfaciton to Ariana to see Kir'Thalax as the puppet, even though she knew it wasn't real.
Through the mouth of the lich, the Nightmare's voice spoke: I assure you, this is as real as anything else. She didn't want to beleive him, she knew she couldn't, she'd give into her fear..it's what the Nightmare wanted..but she remembered how real her dreams could be; waking up with sword slashes across her body, burns on her clothes and hair..it's all too real.
Anger replaced the fear, or masked it. Ariana was always a bit too stubborn, she would make sure the Nightmare knew that. Though her movement was restricted, she whispered a spell, directing it to the lich hovering over her with a knife. The illithid burst into flames and writhed trying to put them out. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see the Nightmare's pain as well. Before the lich could lash out, Ariana fired a series of spells in quick succession, her skin of stone, her mind protected. The lich came back, singed, with what looked like a rusted saw. Holding down her head, he placed the jagged teeth of the saw on her forehead and started to move the bade back and forth slowly. The stoneskin didn't last long, she began to feel the pain, felt it grow to the point of agony, and she screamed. No doubt the Nightmare relished the sound. Soon, she felt nothing. She knew her head wasn't in one piece any longer, but she was aware of everything.
Tell Nell to stop her meddling, it is because of her you suffer. Tell Stela Cojocaru, Thomas Ashford, and Ashan to stop their investigation, they do not know with what they are dealing. The voice registered only confuison in Ariana. Who were these people, what was going on, why was -she- dragged into this? She saw the liich's tentacles reach for her , she squinted her eyes shut and wished it away like any other bad dream.
         Ariana bolted upright to a sitting position. She was soaked through with cold sweat, and her breathing was heavy and irregular. She could tell she spoke in her sleep. After a change of clothes into something dryer, she stepped out of Nant Gaerwyn into the white night. Someone had anwsers.

Haplo Nexus

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Re: Lady Luck- Ariana Argent
« Reply #26 on: September 11, 2008, 11:06:23 PM »
     The anwsers Ariana received were less than positive. All the group had were speculations and guesses as to the nature of the nightmares. Ariana also learned she was not the only one having them, and perhaps what is worse..the nightmares didn't stay in the world of dreams, they walked into this one. Fears personified tormented the Ezrites and Ariana; there really was no way to win. The Nightmare would find every crack in their armor and use it, no matter how much one convinced him or herself it's just a dream, when it comes to it, the dreams are no less real.
      The nights without sleep and days of fighting to stay awake were torture.  The times when she would simply succumb to exhaustion, she could get no more than a couple hours of fitful rest before she woke again in her own sweat, the sheets thrown about. When it came down to, it's better to suffer awake than in those nightmares; some of those memories are not meant to be brought back..just when she thought she had all but forgotten...

       She awoke in a foreign bed, larger than the one she fell asleep in. The room seemed familiar, but she could not quite place how. Ariana realized she still wore her evening gown. She realized in horror it seemed frightfully similiar to the one she wore all those years ago...Just as the memory recurred, footsteps approached the door from outside. Her eyes darted to the lock and took in the room in the process. Unusually misty..for a bedroom...The handle turned with a small creak and the door groaned open. Through the mists, her nightmares returned. In the doorway stood Jeryll. Ariana's breathing stilled..this she never expected, this she never wanted..sometimes she would tell herself she would kill the man if she saw him again, she would destroy the one who ruined her life, tore it apart at the seams. Her words failed her, her spells rushed from her head, her weapons seemed miles away from her hands. Helpless..just as before. The man approached, his sneer sickeningly evident. "You know we were meant to be Lady Argent.." How much pain those words caused, all the irony and sarcasm that lay behind that one sentence was enough to make Ariana grit her teeth. Forcing herself to focus, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Not this time...she never would win without a cool head on her shoulders. He's not real, she will never see him again, when she would open her eyes, he would be gone. He wasn't; in fact he had come closer. "Get away from me..you ruined my life all tho-" before she could finish her sentence he grabbed her arms and held them tightly against her sides: "Hold still...Lady Argent.." Everything was as the one night before. Despite her best efforts, he pushed her on the bed, tearing her elegant gown off her shred by shred until not even a tatter was left on her. By this time the tears flowed freely, the fear could not be contained...
With a scream she awoke in her bed at the Lady's. Her gown rested in one piece on the chair beside the bed, the sheets were strewn wildly about the room, one pillow even making it so far as to be dangling on the chandelier. Her perspiration seemed like ice water on her flushed skin, and she was shaking noticeably. With quiet cry of agony she sank back down under the covers, wishing like any child would, for the bad dreams to just go away.

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Re: Lady Luck- Ariana Argent
« Reply #27 on: September 19, 2008, 07:35:27 PM »
         Twirling figures danced on the ballroom floor, accompanied in rhythm by a full orchestra. The elaborate dresses and costumes could make one lose himself among the colors, like staring at ever-changing fire and never seeming to blink. A smile stayed on Ariana's face throughout the entire party, and for once this one was not a false pretense for the sake of keeping up appearances, she was actually happy. The party was one of the most elaborate she has seen in decades; familiar and well-known faces graced the room, the Captain's wife, the captain himself, adorned in his decorational armor, Sairalinde Greyn, arm in arm with an unfamilair lord. She'd make sure to ask his name later, if he could be here with the gifted dancer, he must be influential indeed. The music was beautiful, the decorations, real and magical, drew the eye and imaginaiton, but what really perfected the night was the man she walked arm in arm with. Jeryll seemed to know eveyrone, every lord winked at him, every lady fanned herself when he passed by, but it was Ariana who had the fortune of actually being with him. Her smile was real, she knew her luck had turned for the better. She loved this man, he was perfection personified, even willing to sacrifice some of his own status for her. It was well know Ariana was among the less-popular ladies of the city, mostly due to jealousy, of course. The whole night through she danced with him, her smile all but evanescent. The masquerade ball was a large success, the family hosting it would be acclaimed for such for years. As the song ended, it was customary for the dancers to remove thier masks. Looking into Jeryll's eyes, Ariana removed her silver mask. He reached up for his, smiling....
           The bright lights were gone. The party was gone, her entire world was gone. All she saw now was Jeryll, no longer smiling the fake smile he had so charmed her with, but leering at her, his desire all too visible. His hand struck out quickly for her neck, the darkness coming shortly after.
          Reality was no less dark. She stood inside the church, pale as her snow-white outfit. She looked on in horror at the brutalized body of the barmaid. On the girl's face the word "Jeryll" was carved. Where did the nightmare stop and reality start, Ariana no longer knew.

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Re: Lady Luck- Ariana Argent
« Reply #28 on: October 04, 2008, 03:46:27 PM »
          The illusion of normality seemed a bit more persistant in Ariana's life. The nightmares have become habit; every one was expected. The fear in surprise element was lost. Hers was a childish fear and she knew it; it should be discarded, in due time. The lack of sleep did severely dampen Ariana's activities. It took fairly lttle for exhaustion to overtake her body and mind. The weakness made the vampire's bite all the worse.
           A small disturbance outside, just neuri. She was concealed from most eyes magically, wathcing over those gathered, ready to step in should a real threat arise. A growling could be heard from the forest, Esiirous' ears pricked up as did Ariana's. There have been stories of a werepanther lately..could this be it? The growl was broken by a laugh from the same place, a panther dashing out of the dark woods through the crowd gathered. The panther became a detail once the vampire stepped out of the shadows. She had seen him once..no..twice before. She had made sure to be a pain in his ass every time she did, though she could do little with him shadowdancing and healing. While prior to this the group had her protection, Ariana knew she could do relatively little against this one. Silently bidding the others to go inside, she began the short trip back to the Outksirts. She did not get far until a dagger ran through her back. She could not scream as the vampire pulled her head back and tore into her neck. No one saw her until it was too late. Her still form fell to the ground, the words "You do not toy with me" reverberating in her head.
           That was old history though. Never forgotten or discarded from consideration of course, but there was no use for paranoia now. She was too strong for paranoia, but wise enough for caution. Some of Ariana's old acquaintances saw the change in her, they saw she no longer smiled. No stimulus could seem to bring that smile to her lips any more, and for that she was different in some eyes. They couldn't understand the truth of it sometimes. Happiness is evanescent here. The populace has been bred for ignorance and the rest for cruelty. Those that did not have fear drilled into their heads, and their parents heads, and their grandparents heads, the Outlanders, still saw light here. Of course, but is it more than scatterred candles in the dark? Some say there would be a chance if all those candles, bright and dim, came together. Perhaps, but each candle is surrounded byt its own darkness it must overcome. Not enough candles are bright enough to join the others. Maybe she was just pessimistic...but Ariana saw it all leading to nowhere. A light is snuffed out, another appears..but the dark will always be there. Should the candles just burn out on their own? No. Go down blades bared, spells on lips, and arrows on the string. Go down and do not let the lights burn out one by one. Go down making sure others take your place. Until then, live your life, enjoy and gather what happiness you can and try to forget that the sands are trickling away.

Some can't forget. "We are cursed with interesting times."
« Last Edit: October 06, 2008, 07:21:50 PM by Haplo Nexus »

Haplo Nexus

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Re: Lady Luck- Ariana Argent
« Reply #29 on: November 19, 2008, 08:58:13 PM »
Ariana grew in strength of spell and mind gradually. As he power increased, so did her will. While before a smile was an all but unheard of sight on her lips, now it was more prominent. Every smirk counted towards something. Even her attire changed. Instead of the droll black and white, she chose red, the color of passion. It was as if the very color itself ignited the spark of life she had been missing for so long. Things seemed to be genuinely looking up. She had friends she trusted and who trusted her. As this realization entered her mind, she was forced to raise the corners of her lips in a small, grateful smile.

                                                                --------------------------------------

   She had responsibilities now. She found a small group in which she belonged. Long have they all fought against the body of evil in the land, but never have they tried to go after anything near the head. The group was strong. They had a chance, a real, genuine hope to make a difference.
            --------------------------------------

   Slowly it fell apart. First one captured, a failed rescue. His death. The tug of war with the very embodiment of this land’s corruption took a toll. Tears once again flowed from her eyes at the loss. Resolve replaced the moisture gone. She won’t lose anyone like that again.  Everything in her considerable power will be put forth to keep that from happening.
            
            ---------------------------------------
   
Bleeding from various place, wet, and covered in old earth, she approached the edifice. Down the entire hall and in a circle around where she stood lay the foul progeny of the one that rested in the stone construction before her. Her hand tentatively reached towards it. This was the moment they had been waiting for. She would get some real good done now. Her trembling hand reached towards it and her fingers enclosed around the lid. After closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, she pulled open the lid…

            -----------------------------------------

   Agony. Her limbs, gone. Her bones stretched and broken. Lashes on her back, nails in her body. But she did not go down quietly. She spoke, but not what they wanted to hear. She spoke her own language. The humans had to deal with its power. But only one human she had concern of. She was strong in spirit and body….but the one in red knew her business. The room was an old playground, and she was simply a new playmate. What the trouble was...was that the one in red was getting bored with the games. Ariana proved too stubborn a playmate. The horrors whispered in Ariana’s ears evoked chills down her eviscerated spine. Let it be over...one way or another...let it end. Ariana closed her eyes and looked down from her uncomfortable position. As her eyes opened, she saw a table filled with torture tools. A delicate hand gripped the handle of an axe and raised it. The hand came closer. Cold and alone, Ariana closed her eyes one last time. Perhaps in death, no nightmares would come.

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Re: Lady Luck- Ariana Argent
« Reply #30 on: December 21, 2008, 09:21:33 PM »
Disappointment. It always ended in disappointment. The compassion to pursue good, every little good thing that has ever happenned, amounted to nothing. It was like trying to light a moonless night with candles. It was hope. As a wise young mage once said, hope is the carrot in front of the horse. Hope is the refusal to see the truth. The truth is, there are no happy endings. The dark will come and go, but only to come again.