OnlineHost: *** You are in "The Black Crypt". ***

ShadWvr: ::They are deposited at the foot of some ancient steps::

DaraeIRene: ::Darael withdrawls from the man as soon as he is able to::

ShadWvr: you are free to wander, lad... just do not do so too far off... you never know what you'll

ShadWvr: find in the darkness.

DaraeIRene: ::he nods, smoothing out tousled, dark hair and takes the steps, his feet sounding odd

DaraeIRene: against the effaced grain::

ShadWvr: ::He begins to descend, brandishing no torch::

ShadWvr: ::The feeling of a cool, empty space, with steps beneath their feet, encompasses them::

DaraeIRene: ::his eyes flicker back to the Shadow Weaver:: What is the darkness, Sir?

ShadWvr: ::Morgan flows down the steps until he is standing in a poorly lit hallway at the bottom::

ShadWvr: It is all the things you fear... and all the things you wish for.

ShadWvr: It is... different for all of us.

DaraeIRene: ::he paces himself to keep up with the Shadow Weaver but keeps enough distance to give the

DaraeIRene: apperance of indifference::

ShadWvr: ::The hall is lit by four alcoves, each bearing a human skull which has an eerie light

ShadWvr: burning in each of their eyes::

ShadWvr: ::They reach a door at the very end of the hall, shrouded in darkness as it is::

DaraeIRene: ::he glances down at his hands and a small little gasp escapes startled lips. His skin, so

DaraeIRene: white, usually stands out in the dark, but here it is completely swallowed::

ShadWvr: ::The door is unlocked and behind it lies.... nothing::

ShadWvr: ::Only the thick, uncuttable blackness of nightmare sleep is back there::

DaraeIRene: ::he cranes his neck back at Morgan and he nudges open the door::

ShadWvr: ::Even so... the boy swears he sees fluid figures move in and out of it::

ShadWvr: Step in, lad.

ShadWvr: Let us see what you are made of.

DaraeIRene: ::he presses his teeth into his lower lip and steps in proudly. he'll show him::

ShadWvr: ::The door shuts just as he enders, and locks. Darael is alone...

in the blackest black he

ShadWvr: has ever known::

DaraeIRene: :;a blink at the locking of the door. Why does it sound so much

like someone sealing the

DaraeIRene: lid of his own coffin?::

DaraeIRene: ::his eyes dart around to nothing and he even wonders if perhaps

they're closed::

ShadWvr: ::The sounds of evil voices, whispering to themselves, fills his

ears::

DaraeIRene: ::the voices themselves do not startle him, at first, and he

pays attention to what they

DaraeIRene: say::

ShadWvr: ::Something brushes against his leg... then his hand... then his

cheek...::

DaraeIRene: :;and here it is, he jumps, back, a full ten feet, or so it

seems::

ShadWvr: ::The insane sounds make no conprehenisble noises... just

whisperings::

DaraeIRene: ::he rubs his hand where the darkness touched him and starts

backing up, one hand behind him

DaraeIRene: as he hopes to find a wall::

ShadWvr: ::They grow more fevered in their swirling, unbreakable tounge,

excited::

DaraeIRene: :;back, back, back, it seems to on forever like a great, inky,

velvet sea of tar::

ShadWvr: ::The wall he touches is hard, but has a cloth-like texture::

ShadWvr: ::More hidden words and quiet rantings... more groping for his

young body::

DaraeIRene: ::he turns his cheek into the wall, fingers spreading out over

it. This isn't so bad. Only

DaraeIRene: Dark. The dark is only frightening because you can't see what's

coming::

DaraeIRene: ::he takes a deep breath and flattens himself against the wall::

ShadWvr: ::Excited even more by his "fear" they pull at him savagely::

ShadWvr: ::Darael finds himself torn from sanctuary::

DaraeIRene: ::jerked around like a rag doll, he reflexivly twists and tries

to pull away but he is

ShadWvr: ::The fingers of icy corruption pass through his skin, breaking it

it seems::

DaraeIRene: carefl to make no noise::

DaraeIRene: :;a low gasp, eyes widen as he reaches for this thing that has

penetrated him::

ShadWvr: ::In his hand, he holds nothing, just the feeling of empty, voided

hands::

DaraeIRene: :;which, in turn, makes it all the more horrific and he sweeps

his fingers through it again:

ShadWvr: ::Something slides it's way to his mouth, like a serpant::

ShadWvr: ::The feeling of his clothes bulging, as these horrific...

things... violate his privacy::

DaraeIRene: ::he chokes and laborously takes in a deep breath of the

blackness. Arms stretch out wide

DaraeIRene: and tears pool in his eyes. It has him now, what can he do

other than embrace it. this

DaraeIRene: wicked, oily thing leaves him small and in his proper place::

DaraeIRene: ::there is no pride for him here or unearned boldness::

ShadWvr: ::Suddenly...... violet light blinds the room from across its

length... the form of a large

ShadWvr: book is silouetted in inky nothingness. It lies there dormant,

sighing. The shadows leave

ShadWvr: him be.::

DaraeIRene: ::as they go he feels as if he's dripping or bleeding the

invasion seeming a rape. A slow

DaraeIRene: step towards this book::

ShadWvr: ::It seems so familiar::

DaraeIRene: :;as if he is afraid to near it, he reaches out, stretching,

pale fingers ache to take the

DaraeIRene: tome::

ShadWvr: ::A pentacle embedded on it's worn surface of strange leather glows

at him... beakons him::

ShadWvr: ::It sighs and small worms of silvery, sickening purple light swirl

madly::

DaraeIRene: ::the violet luminescence basks his small form as he steps close

enough to touch the book's

DaraeIRene: cover::

ShadWvr: ::A sound of releif at his touch and the thing opens, showing him

secrets of thaumatergy...

ShadWvr: how to READ... how to REALLY read. A gloved hand closes it::

ShadWvr: ::The room grows brighter and Morgan stands before him, hand on the

book::

ShadWvr: You pass....

DaraeIRene: ::he looks to the book, and then to the Shadow weaver. he can

still feel the taint of the

DaraeIRene: darkness in his body and it numbs him::

DaraeIRene: ::his hands drop to his sides::

ShadWvr: You are now a man Darael... let no other tell you anything but

that.

DaraeIRene: and if they do? :;even his voice sounds different. his tongue

is bitter::

ShadWvr: ::A smirk, greasy with darkness of its own:: You are as I was...

when I was your age.

ShadWvr: If they do... you bide time... and show them who you really are...

when the darkness courses

DaraeIRene: :: a particularly nasty comment presents itself to darael's mind

and he carefully tucks it

DaraeIRene: away::

ShadWvr: through your veins as it does mine.

DaraeIRene: :;a pause, and then a nod:: Yes, Shadow Weaver.

ShadWvr: brb

DaraeIRene: kk

ShadWvr: You see... that is the trick of things... subtlety... patients.

DaraeIRene: tact? ::ah, he was afraid of this::

DaraeIRene: ::he isnt' any good at that::

ShadWvr: ::He swipes up the heavy tome and takes a seat at a table::

ShadWvr: Aye... tact... sometimes.

DaraeIRene: ::he follows, taking up a seat beside him and looking at the

book enviously::

ShadWvr: ::Morgan does not open it, knowing exactly how the boy feels::

DaraeIRene: Is that all for my lesson, Shadow Weaver? Isn't there mroe?

ShadWvr: So... should someone tell you off at a tavern, and you are not

strong enough to take them...

ShadWvr: what do you do?

DaraeIRene: bide my time and show him that the darkness runs in my veins.

::he isn't really paying

DaraeIRene: attention, watching the book::

ShadWvr: Aye... but how do you show him?

DaraeIRene: . . .

DaraeIRene: ::he closes his mouth, hearing the question::

ShadWvr: How?

DaraeIRene: I don't know. ::he admits, embarassed::

ShadWvr: You wait for them to slip up. Sleep is the best screw up... sleep

causes death like you

ShadWvr: would not belive.

DaraeIRene: Sleep?

DaraeIRene: ::he closes on eye and looks up at him:: Do /you/ sleep?

ShadWvr: When I must. Which is almost never... and I do it in secret.

DaraeIRene: Give me your book.

ShadWvr: What?

ShadWvr: ::Morgan stands::

DaraeIRene: Your book. I want it.

DaraeIRene: ::he stands as well, on his chair::

ShadWvr: You incolent twerp. Take it you want it so bad.

ShadWvr: ::He sets the book behind him, on the floor::

DaraeIRene: ::he looks at the book on the ground::

DaraeIRene: ::and then slowly at Morgan::

DaraeIRene: ::his arms folding over his chest he says in a proud, airy

tone--:: No.

DaraeIRene: you give it to me.

ShadWvr: When I am dead... it will choose who.

ShadWvr: ::He motions with a hand and the tome floats to him::

ShadWvr: ::He grabs it up::

ShadWvr: ::Tucks it under his cloak::

DaraeIRene: ...

ShadWvr: Now... who is doing what?

DaraeIRene: ::his eyes narrow. what is this? he asked and didn't

receive?::

DaraeIRene: I want it /now/, Shadow Weaver.

DaraeIRene: ::he points to the ground, his voice a snarl::

ShadWvr: ::He stands there, smiling:: Perhaps I should let them have you

longer?

DaraeIRene: :his mouth form a snarl, his face red with anger and

embarassment at the memory:: It wasn't

DaraeIRene: so /bad/.

ShadWvr: NO? Well, then perhaps I should let you meet a personal friend of

mine... Madge.

DaraeIRene: who is it?

DaraeIRene: ::his eyes narrow a bit as he glances again to the book::

ShadWvr: She would rape you... and thoroughly... Succubi care very little

with what they fuck...

ShadWvr: ::His words sharp like dagger points::

DaraeIRene: I'm telling my father. ::he snaps, stepping back::

ShadWvr: Tell... see if I care. Tell and you'll NEVER see MY book again.

ShadWvr: ::Smiles in satisfaction::

DaraeIRene: ::he bows his head at that, anger slowly boiling::

ShadWvr: Now... you are a man Darael... act like one already.

DaraeIRene: :;not having much to stay to that he plops back down in his

chair and sulks::

DaraeIRene: fuck you. ::he mumbles against his arms, pouting::

ShadWvr: You sicken me already. Atleast I had balls when I found the

book... you have nothing.

ShadWvr: ::He reaches into his cloak::

ShadWvr: ::Morgan draws out the book and his fireplace comes to life::

ShadWvr: You know... I don't need it anymore.

ShadWvr: ::He walks to the fireplace::

DaraeIRene: ::he snarls as he presses his nails into his palm. he's trying

so hard to do as he's told

DaraeIRene: and "bide his time". He watches his teacher, the corners of his

mouth twitching as he

DaraeIRene: swallows protest::

ShadWvr: I could burn it... and I would be at no loss... but you? heh. You

can't even cantrip

ShadWvr: corectly.

DaraeIRene: ::he leans back into the chair, arms folded over his small

chest. silent, silent, silent::

ShadWvr: What? No words?

ShadWvr: ::The book grows very close to the fire::

DaraeIRene: ::he stands to his feet:: i'm leaving.

ShadWvr: ::The door, he notices, is still locked::

ShadWvr: Are you now?

DaraeIRene: let me out! ::he's tugging on the knob::

ShadWvr: ::Morgan puts the book away, into his cloak and lets go of it... it

seems to disappear::

DaraeIRene: ::his skin dips from bone white, to ashen, slowly filling with

gray::

ShadWvr: why... There is so much for you, if you can learn to control your

frustration.

DaraeIRene: I'm not frustrated. ::he protests. gray storm clouds give way

to terrible, heavy black

DaraeIRene: reaching to the tips of his fingers::

ShadWvr: But, if you insist.

ShadWvr: ::The door swings open for him::

ShadWvr: Remember though... there are many things still awaiting you here...

The power to make your

ShadWvr: OWN shadow creatures.

DaraeIRene: ::he turns back:: that darkness was yours?

ShadWvr: My very own. Summoned by myself. But, it has it's own mine.

ShadWvr: *mind.

ShadWvr: I simply command it and it does what I say... basically.

DaraeIRene: it was perverted. ::he hisses back:: when is my next lesson?

ShadWvr: When I am ready. And yes... I told it to be, but I did not control

it....... It could be

ShadWvr: yours too.

ShadWvr: Think of all the young girls you could harass with it. ::A sinister

smile::

DaraeIRene: young girls?

ShadWvr: You'll understand.

DaraeIRene: Shadow Weaver, once I have mastered this I will level cities!

:;he emphazises each word with

DaraeIRene: a jab of his finger::

ShadWvr: You're like me after all... very much like me.

ShadWvr: Some day you'll have the same wants... why settle for a city?

DaraeIRene: I have no use for "girls" or anyone for that matter and after

you have taught me everything

DaraeIRene: you know, I'll kill you.

ShadWvr: Now... I tire of your prattle. Go to your father... tell him what

you learned.

ShadWvr: And killing me? Ha. ::He smirks, about to finish something, but

does not::

ShadWvr: You will understand...

DaraeIRene: ::he takes in one deep breath and then turns, opening the door::

DaraeIRene: Yes, Shadow Weaver.

DaraeIRene: :;and he makes his way out::

Darael Rene