<strong>Various NPCs<br/>Location: the ouskirts of Jeron, on farm land<br/>Tagged:  Shenovi</strong><br/><br/>By the time most of the farmers from the village arrived at the scene with large, heavey buckets of water, the fire spread out through the dried grass, reaching the nearby stacks of hay. The smell of burnt flesh covered the odours of rot and decay that Famine and Pestilence left behind, but sadly the marks of their passing remained to be discovered by the villagers upon returning home. The vivid flames were a spectacle all on their own, oblivious to the efforts and struggles of humans to end their dangerous dance.<br/>Some of those who had yet to discover the misfortunes brought upon their land, tried to save the farmer’s cattle and horses, almost losing their lives in the process. Untainted by human emotion, the arsonist gathered his things in a clearing and started to dress. He would have done so in peace if not for a certain event that was meant to take place at one point or another in this particular life of his.<br/><br/>Dressed in rags and crippled by the neverending passing of time, an old man came from within the flames carrying his fragile constitution with great effort. He stretched out a hand pointing his skeletal finger at the half naked man just a few steps in front of him. As he opened his cracked lips to speak, the old man’s pink eyes were gazing into the abyss of Shenovi’s pupils, as if to draw out anything that might linger there. To the trumpeter’s consternation, the old man didn’t voice his thoughts or desires, instead he let the rags on his body to fall on the grass  beneath his feet. There was something terribly familiar about the markings on his rangy body, while they were lighted by the fire behind him.<br/><br/>“As you are a man of riddles” he finally spoke and his hoarse voice barely reached Shenovi’s ears  “I have one for you. When you throw away the choice of taking either side, do you work with or against yourself? You are stepping on the threshold of destruction itself with no one to hold the key on your behalf. ” The old man heaved the words, looking like he could barely stand on his feet and yet he remained unflinching when sparks of fire darted on his shoulders from the haystack beside him.<br/><br/>“Seek your pactmaker where humans mimic life for others to see. You will find her in the presence of humans and she will bestow upon you the freedom you need, if she plays her part well. Do not make the same mistake twice.”  The old man let out a gurgle and dropped on his knees, while the pink shades of his eyes were rolling up in the back of his head. A frog darted out from his open mouth and disappeared in the grass beneath Shenovi’s feet.<br/><br/>Where there should have been the decrepit body of an old man, the trumpeter saw only bones and rags, the last remainings of his future.<br/><br/><br/><strong>Zefiriel, Protector of the Sacrifice<br/>Location: on Reginald’s shoulder<br/>Tagged:  Baa'lethor, Reginald</strong><br/><br/>Flustered by the violent scenes in which her ward participated earlier on stage, the golden eyed angel took a moment to regain her spiritual composure, still lingering on Reginald’s right shoulder.  Had she human form, her nose would have picked up the scent of puppies and forget-me-not flowers that the Incubus had left to wander in the backstage. Zefiriel felt his presence only when he introduced himself to Reginald and she instantly knew that the demon must have entered the building long before her shield was created.<br/><br/><em>"Mr. Carter! It is an honor to meet you at last. Might I borrow a moment of your time perhaps?"</em>he would say making use of his time in human form to the best of its possibilites, no doubt.  Zefiriel was expecting a move from the demoness she saw earlier in the crowd and not from a demon of the masculine side.  His subtle presence along with a well chosen disguise placed her in a tight spot, not knowing sure how to react. Reginald was still safe from harm, as long as he wouldn’t comply  with the Incubus’ gimmicks, yet she doubted that Baa'lethor wanted no more than to “borrow a moment”. Even Reginald’s time was important enough not to be given away on the demands of a demon. She only gave the Incubus a frown, letting him know that she was here to stay.<br/><br/>The barriers placed upon the theatre shifted for a second, letting a blue-winged angel to pass. He landed behind the Incubus, facing Zefiriel and the human in her care. His eyes drifted to Baa'lethor’s figure, then to Zefiriel with a questioning look.<br/><br/>“It is alright, his soul is hard to sway,” she stated and opened her wings to gain full form again.<br/>“There are a few of us here on Lord Antonius’ orders.  You will be wise not to try anything out of the law, demon!”  the angel said before telling Zefiriel what he had came for.<br/>“You are summoned by our commander. I’ll have the honor to escort you as soon as you are ready to leave.  Fear not, this will not come in the way of your mission, they are well taken care of.” he said referring to the sacrifices and the two demons alike.<br/>Zefiriel nodded, knowing that orders are to be met even if she wanted to act differently.<br/>“I shall return soon.” she said to the Incubus who by now had to keep his composure and ignore their presence, as not to disturb Reginald.<br/><br/><strong>Zefiriel, Protector of the Sacrifice<br/>Location:  The Church<br/>Tagged:  Antonius</strong><br/><br/>“You have need of my presence.”<br/><br/>Zefiriel was left alone with her commander within the chapel to report on her latest activity. She felt his presence comforting, intimidating and blessed with power. The angel did not know what triggered first her display of human emotion, such as excitement and eagerness to see him.  Were they due to the fact that he presented such faith in her ability to carry out this mission or was it something else?<br/><br/>“I have found the two chosen as sacrifice, a few hours before the demons. It seems the demon lord chose lust for their temptation and send a Succubus and an Incubus to corrupt them.  I do not fear for their souls as I fear for their minds, my lord. They are still young and have not seen the horrors men commit upon eachother. Should they achieve this title of Sacrifice, I fear they would not stand to see the battles around them, where demons and angels are slain in horrible ways. ”<br/>She sought his gaze and guidance once more, not being afraid of sharing her thoughts on the matter.<br/>“I also find it hard to protect both Reginald and Noelle at the same time, I will need help especially with the girl. She needs a masculine presence to help her fight the temptations.  I also found a soul similar to ours by essence, a bit erratic, but is might prove helpful to us. Her name is Deva. There is also another safe location for our base, near the theatre.”<br/>