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Registered User
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Posts: 135
Join Date: Oct 2007
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Midnight in the New World
After centuries of hunting down the Death’s Hand cult only a few survived. The latest in a long line of Dark’s, puritan Will Dark had hunted the remaining members of the Death’s Hand cult for the last five years. Now only two eluded his grasp, the current High Mage Madelyn Pryor and her assassin Cantankerous.
When Will heard that Madelyn Prior gained passage on the Mayflower disguised as a pilgrim, he knew he had to follow her. So he too became a pilgrim and sailed across the ocean to the new world. When the ship landed at Plymouth Rock Will saw Cantankerous slip out of the cargo hold and disappear into the wilderness. Madelyn kept up appearances by helping unload the ship and Will slipped off trying to track the assassin’s movements. Night fell fast and Will used his night-vision which he had inherited from his father just like every other male member of the Dark bloodline since the early twelfth century where it started with his namesake Sir William Dark the demon slayer.
He tracked Cantankerous to a mysterious grove where the assassin had begun placing rocks in a circle around a roaring fire. Will watched him as he worked oblivious to the fact he was being spied upon. All the while the newest Dark wondered if he were planning some new ritual. Night eventually turned to day and Cantankerous had finished his work. He then disappeared into the trees back the way he had come.
Will did not like the looks of the rock formation, noting how similar it looked to other summoning circles the cult used. Almost every generation the cult would release a demon into the world preparing to pave the way for an invasion. Of course every time they did this a Dark would have to step forward and wage war on the demon, usually resulting in an untimely demise for the Dark who would then only leave behind an heir to the legacy. This time however as Will had no heir to carry on he planned to foil their plans before the demon was summoned. He set to work moving rocks around at slightly different angles which would throw off the summoning without giving way to the fact the circle had been tampered with.
With his task complete Will wrapped his face in a dark cloth covering the lower half in order to keep his identity secret and made his way back toward Plymouth. He watched the pilgrims from the tree line and saw them mingling with some natives who called themselves the Patuxet tribe. These natives, who Columbus had dubbed Indians when he arrived to the new world, were sharing a harvest of vegetables with the pilgrims in a great feast. Madelyn Pryor and Cantankerous were among them enjoying the food and drink. No one seemed to notice Will was no longer among them.
Several days passed as Will watched from the trees waiting patiently to catch the Death’s Hand in the summoning. Then around midnight Madelyn stole away from the camp, Cantankerous in tow. Will used his night-vision and followed them from a safe distance back to the grove.
Once there Cantankerous stood watch and the High Mage used sorcery to light a fire in the center of the stones. Then she began chanting in a strange language known as Shadow Tongue. Soon a shadowy figure began to take form and rose from the smoke.
“Who disturbs Targoth’s slumber?”
“It is I High Mage of the Death’s Hand; I seek aid in our quest.”
Targoth started to laugh as he realized the circle of stones couldn’t bind him to their will for it was not exactly right. Madelyn realized this to, just a tad too late. The demon’s razor sharp claws ripped through Madelyn Pryor’s mage robes and dug right into her torso severing it from her spine. With her last breath the High Mage sent out magical energies trying to send the demon back to his own realm. Cantankerous unleashed his own magic in the struggle.
The grove ignited in an explosion sending rocks and trees flying in all directions. Will was thrown into the air as well landing a few hundred feet away and lost consciousness. When he finally came too he cautiously worked his way back to the grove. Looking around there was no sign of life. The High Mage’s body was charred to a crisp. Cantankerous was nowhere to be found but his own robes lay there singed and still smoking. It was hard to tell if he could have survived that.
Will wondered if maybe the assassin had been thrown as he had. If so he might still be out there. Unable to do anything about the situation at this moment Will Dark decided he would join the Patuxet tribe and learn their ways in order to survive in this new land.
__________________"Beware villains for it is Midnight!"
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I always hold out hope for happy endings. 
