Blood and Coin

[Evil Grin]

Urial felt like was been turned inside out and then the world exploded into a white flash of otherwordly pain. When he woke up, there was black bile in his mouth. I'm never crossing dimensional doorways again the half-fiend made a promise to himself and stood up, wiping the dust off his robes. He checked his money pouch and daggers, making sure that his most precious belongings. He needed not check upon Vanity's Soul. The cursed blade was always in his sword belt around his waist, radiating with malicious power. It was an extension of his body now, much like his arms and legs.

A shipyard...what kind of place was this? Hopefully nothing worse than the Underdark. Urial thought as he made his way there. He took a relatively big, obsidian coin out of the pockets of his cloak and brought it to his nose. A small, leather cord, was bound around it. It smelled of blood and rot, a smell that put Malus' senses on edge. The smell of victory. A boat could be seen ahead. Curious, he walked towards that direction, hoping the boatman could transport him to a more...civilised place.

[Ladd Russo of the Russo Family]

A figure hopped out of the rowboat with the ease of a person that has done something too many times to count, almost before it even came aground. The docks were beside him, with decaying masts of once-grand ships reaching for the sky even as they crumbled. It was a dead zone, but one was a fool if he thought the dead could not trouble the living. People did not quiet when they died... they only howled louder.

The blades hidden at the tips of his cracked leather boots glistened wetly with grains of sand as he approached the young man, and his dark colored clothes had the crisp look of a uniform. A wind piece of cloth was wrapped several times over his eyes, covering what his spikes of brown hair did not already, but it didn't seem to hinder his unhurried pace in the least. In the gloom it was hard to see any expression on his ebony face, but his lips twitched in faint surprise as he stopped. They had told him it would be a drow, the same as he, but this kid was as pale as a grub. Other heritages usually did not dominate so strongly.

"Welcome to Twilight Moon Academy," he stated. His voice was deep and dry, and thoroughly detached. The face's color might be different than the students he was used to seeing, but the expression was not. How many young drow had passed his way, hoping for power or sanctuary until they could bring revenge to those who had set them apart? How many students had utterly destroyed themselves on that whim? A fatal flaw he dared to hope that this one did not share.

[Evil Grin]

The son of Acheron walked on the wooden broadway, fearing that the wood might crack. The vast space above him made Urial feel uncomfortable. He had lived in the Underdark all of his life and only once went up into the surface. Having the roof of a cave above his head made him feel comfortable. The sky made him feel more open than ever, as if he was naked and a dozen men with steel in their hands were about to attack him. Ships and boats were arrayed around him. He could not see far ahead, but his keen demon eyes could pierce the fog and spot the boatman. The man had an...unsettling, to say the least, aura about him. This damp place must be playing tricks on me Urial thought and kept walking towards the boatman.

"Welcome to Twilight Moon Academy," the man said. Academy? The years in Tier Bres were terrible. Malus hoped that he didn't jump out of one hell to end up in another. Warily, he noticed the piece of cloth that covered his eyes and placed his hand upon the hilt of his sword, feeling slightly more comfortable. Twilight Moon...Academy? Forgive me, friend, but I just...arrived here, so to speak, and I am completely unfamiliar with this place Malus answered, studying the man.

Gods knew what this place was. But it couldn't be as worse as home was. At least here, no one had any reason to kill him...yet.

[Ladd Russo of the Russo Family]

The man chuckled, but there was no humor to that sound. "At times this school calls those who don't even know of it, but it is... unusual. No need to feel threatened, but if you want to come and learn from this place, you're entitled to do so. I am Zet, and I will be your teacher if you decide it. But if you decide it, know this..." A seriousness settled heavily on the drow's voice.

"These are not the halls of the Underdark. Neither the students nor the teachers vie for influence or struggle for power, and you would be lucky to find even three that worship the Goddess Lloth. This is a different world. Many have become great from Twilight Moon Academy. I've seen a lot worse than you."

Retrieving a small card from his pocket, Zet offered it to Urial and cocked his head questioningly.

[Evil Grin]

I see... Urial replied, retrieving the card and hiding it inside the left sleeve of his robe, without looking at it. This place might not be that bad after all. No spider-loving b*tches to make his life hell and no traitorous siblings and fellow students trying to sink a dagger into his back or poison his wine. This man...Zet, was weird though. Malus could sense something of the grave inside of him. While he was not an undead, he could possibly be a mage that tempered with the powers of the dead. Necromancy was a popular practise in the drow society and Urial had enough wits to fear it's practisioners.

So...master Zet, what are you going to teach me here? And how does the...school call those that are even unaware of it's existance? he asked, choosing to ignore that "I've seen a lot worse than you" comment. For some reason, it sent a chill down his entire spine. Could Zet notice the Archdevil blood within him? Pushing these thoughts out of his mind, Urial waited for the boatman's reply.

[Ladd Russo of the Russo Family]

(Just to let you know, Zet doesn't necromance anymore. He now is more of a monk. Necromancing was in his old days before he left the drow society. I have a student on this site too though, Darishan, and he's my main necromancing character. Sorry if I confuzzled you there. ^^')

Zet silently regarded him before boarding the small boat again, gesturing to Urial to do the same. "The school was built long ago. Even the oldest teachers do not know exactly how it functions. I think, however, that you'll find it a lot more of cheer than this place. Most of it, anyway." A low moan shot across the boiling lake waters, eerily human-like. It was answered by another cry in the opposite direction, that one beastlike and hungry.

"Tell me, Urial," he said flatly. "Why did you leave your home?"

[Evil Grin]

Urial boarded the boat with caution, fearing that Zet might have set a trap there. Live all your life in a drow society and it would be the most logical thing to become suspicious and untrusting to the point of paranoia. "I see the half-drow replied, staring at the ominous-looking waters. He had only once travelled by boat at the subterrenian Dark Lake in the Underdark and he didn't care to experience such a ride again.

"Oh, I didn't leave my home. I was driven out, in truth. Sort of Malus answered, half truth half lie, ignoring the moanings. Or trying to, for that matter. He had faced worse and lived to tell the tale, but this place seemed to set his teeth on edge for some odd reason. Zet didn't help the situation either.

[Ladd Russo of the Russo Family]

It was hard to tell what Zet thought of that answer, since he continued on as if Urial had said he didn't want to discuss it.

"School days are divided into classes, and the first five every student takes. These are Magic, Weaponry, Alchemy, Beastry, and Master. The other classes you have some choice in," he finished levelly.

"During the seventh period you have either Music, History, or Potionry. Whatever your preference. The eighth period has the option of Holy, Flare, or Summoning. Some students do not recognize the term 'flare', so I'll tell you now that it is a class dealing in dark magic. After that you may choose Dragoon, Samurai, or Thievery class. Finally there is either Survival or Puppetmaster. I would appreciate if you considered them now and made your choice, but I will answer any questions you have."

[Evil Grin]

Urial nodded as he listened to Zet going about the different classes, absorbing all the details. This place certainly wasn't of the scale Tier Bres was, but it offered some delicious choices. Malus had studied at Melee Magthere, the Pyramid of Fighters, despite his obvious talent for the arcane arts. Sorcere would've been a better choice, but Matron Baerne had decided that someone like him shouldn't be dragged into the petty struggles between wizards. Her death by Urial's cunning machinations only proved how wrong she was. Oh well, at least here I might get what I want after all

I shall choose Music for the first period, master Zet he said with little consideration. Drow were elves after all and even a half-fiend like him had a certain attraction towards the finer arts. Now, the second period choices were trickier. Holy was out of the question. The son of an Archdevil practising holy magic would be absurd, to say the least. Flare or Summoning...I shall choose Flare for the second period Malus said after a moment of thought.

Samurai will be next he said without thought. Urial prefered the direct approach and wasn't the most stealthy person in the Planes, therefore Thievery would be a poor choice. Dragoon was meant for those who were accompanied by dragons, and no drow would like having such a beast living with him. However, he had some questions about the last period. I am not certain about the last lessons though. What exactly is 'Puppetmaster'?

[Ladd Russo of the Russo Family]

"You'd probably prefer it," Zet replied, a hint of a smile gracing his dark face. "In Puppetmaster a student learns how to influence puppets for battle or mundane purposes, controlled by their spirit. I've also heard that with practice, other objects beside puppets can be influenced. I believe the teacher can even control some people, but that might be a rumor."

"I doubt that it is necessary to tell you, but do not touch the water," he added, noticing how far out they were from the shores.

[Evil Grin]

Urial supressed a grin. Oh, it would be the perfect choice for one such as him. It goes without saying that I'll pick Puppetmaster. he said to Zet, aching for a chance to stretch his strategic muscles. Part drow part fiend, Urial's second nature would be manipulating people, either by words or by some arcane sorcery.

Even if Zet hadn't said it, Malus wouldn't be a fool big enough to touch the water. Last thing he wanted was to become the meal of some bizzare creature that dwelled in the depths of the lake. How long to the Academy, master Zet? he asked, starting to feel quite uncomfortable in the boat. He hadn't put his suspicions aside and should this turn into a fight, Urial didn't have the room to use his sword or fiendish abilities.

[Ladd Russo of the Russo Family]

Zellar concluded his marking of a dark piece of paper, but he held it poised there still, not moving. Urial Malus was polished and smooth, on the surface, much like the quiet waters of the lake. Most drows were like this--the ones that survived for any period of time. Any heartfelt emotions were cracks in the beautiful facades they made to fool, and cracks could be widened, exploited. Diving into the depths of the lake, nameless even now, could reveal its murk-hidden truth... if one could manage to resurface alive.

What secrets did Urial conceal, and would it be worth the risk to unveil them? Zet classified his distrust as rational, but he would not act on it. He would merely be ready as he was always, as he was every waking second.

"Approximately five minutes." The dark-haired drow held out the slip of paper to him. "Take your schedule," he said abruptly, but not unkindly. About five minutes later, which may or may not have been unnecessarily silent, the scratchy cry of gravel sounded their arrival to shore.

Zet dismounted the side of the rowboat and started up the well-trod path to the school. It was a massive complex of stone and old oak, ancient but strong, with windows by the thousands dancing like a party of will o' wisps. "Do you have any last thoughts or inquiries, Urial?"




***Urial received Schedule***
Where to go and when...
1: Magic
2: Weaponry
3: Alchemy
4: Beastry
5: Master
6: BREAK
7: Music
8: Flare
9: Samurai
10: Puppetmaster

[Evil Grin]

The half-fiend observed as Zet marked some words on a piece of paper and then handed it to him. Urial made a show of studying it but was instead paying more attention to the boatman's motions. He didn't trust him further than he could throw a Pit Fiend (which was pretty far, but nevermind that) but had no choice in the matter. If this turned into a fight things would get realy uncomfortable for the young half-drow, as Zet had the upper hand. Urial had found himself in some pretty tight spots before, but this was different. For once, he hadn't the roof of a cave on top of him and his unfamiliarity with water and boats gave him a significant disadvantage. Not to mention the things that dwelled at the depths of this lake.

Urial Malus jumped out of the boat after Zet, glad to be back on terra firma. He followed the boatman through the path, trying to notice any likely spots for an ambush but stopped after a while. After all, if Zet wanted to kill him, he had had the perfect chance. Do you have any last thoughts or inquiries, Urial?"
the man asked and a mirthless grin broke into the half-fiend's face. He speaks as if I'm a man about to be executed. How refreshing he remarked silently but shook his head. I have none. Shall we carry on?

[Ladd Russo of the Russo Family]

"You will go on alone from here. Any of the foyer-men would be ecstatic to direct you to your dormitory room," he expressed with all the warmth of a stone. "Take this, it may help you." The drow pushed a black velvet pouch into his student's hand, considering. Urial was tense and uncomfortable, and Zet could understand his uncertainty. He just hoped he wasn't going soft for believing it unfeigned. "Don't worry too much," he added finally, his tone just a fraction softer than before. Perhaps his way of apology.

"Zet, how long are you going to dawdle out here?!" a woman yelled. Well short of her middle years, she held herself with a fiery confidence that seemed to challenge everyone she looked at, and her glance at the half-drow student was no exception. Her dark red hair shivered in the lake breeze as she leaned over to get a better look--remarkable, considering that she was shorter than him. "Oh hey, you're pretty cute," she said, much kinder to him than to Zet. "You'll have fun here, so don't let Zet ruin your time."

Zet took her interruption as stoically as he could, but one eyebrow was raised over the edge of his blindfold. "Soren?" he asked dryly. Whatever was going through his mind, it didn't affect his voice.

"I just came to say hello," she responded pleasantly, green eyes full of mirth. It was as if she had just left a party and was trying to settle her face after an hour of jokes. "But new student, you should head over to the Ninth Heaven, our little in-school tavern. I know a few other newbies are there, and getting acquainted is important." She nodded, a wry smile on her face. "Farewell." And she walked off as suddenly as she came. Women were crazy.



***Urial received Lightless Orb***
This orb was summon up the Living Darkness. Once bound under the earth's flesh for thousands of years, it is now bound in this little orb. The summoner can release it, and all light will be gone from the battle area. Since the Darkness is Living, the summoner will nevertheless be able to see. Also, because of the Living qualities of the Living Darkness, enemies can expect to randomly hear the weeping screams of an impressive collection of poor damned souls the Living Darkness had collected during its underground stay, and may or may not be bludgeoned with freshly dismembered body parts. It really just matters on how much the Living Darkness likes its summoner, considering the effort of the 'extra mile'.
Warning: Summoning can be tiring. Practice is imperative. First time users may feel drained and weak, dizzy, and ravenous, so the owner should be sure to do a few test runs alone unless one is really desperate.



(Congratulations, and welcome to Twilight Moon Academy! You have passed the Ghost Shipyards Tutorial Run with flying colors. You are now free to move about most places in the school, gaining posts(levels), items, friends, and experience. And just generally goof off. If you have any questions at any time, private message me or ask me through the chatbox. I am extremely helpful when I'm not being lazy. If you want to take Soren's suggestion, you can go to this board and get 'acquainted'. And fed. xxbahaumauntxx.proboards102.com/index.cgi?board=food&action=display&thread=3542 )