Jihon Jihon YOU still dont see it do you!!! I simply took all of the evil in your heart and acted apon it.... YOU ARE A COWARD!!! You use the term parasite lightly!! I preffer the term symbiotic... I help you and you help me... Now give ME full controll so we can leave and destroy thisplanet you hate so much

"YOU!!!!"

*Jihon suddenly seems enlightened apon something. As if a part of him was suddenly awakened he manages to push the blade a bit farther in his chest the entire piont of the blade is now covered by his bleeding flesh.*

"You possesed my grandfather all those years ago and killed my brothers.... So you could use me now!!!! You bastard!!! You forced me to join the trial by fire.... You are why I am here... Why I am inmortal..."

NOW YOU SEE!!! without me you would have died all those years ago. AN UNHONORABLE DEATH!! In your mind I have been training you for all those years untill I could have a human body.... A body capible of supporting my soul!! You I have chose you. For years I have looked across the cosmos untill I found you. I watched you for some time and I found your weaknesses which were: Love, anger, and most of all SHAME!!! I killed your brothers.... I told Ishad to rape your preciouse love... Lotaria. I have fueled you for all these years and now... YOU HAVE FOUND ME AND YOU CANNOT DO A THING!!! Your family... Your freinds... As samita once said "YOU WILL LIVE TO SEE THOSE AROUNDD YOU DIE!" And now instead of watching them you will be handing out their deaths... Your shame has absorbed you for so long Jihon and it is I who have restored your PRIDE!!! I was the one that caused the great north city masacre that caused you such pain... I ALONE AM YOUR GOD!!!!

*Flames begin to pour out of Jihons eyes flying into the wind singeing his hair. His rage is growing slowly fueled by Cerberises words. The carving on his fore head begins to slowly change as many have seen before... But this thime it is different somehow instead of darkness.... A great light appears from within Jihon. His body glow golden and is eminating a deep whir. Jihon begins to speak with rage in his voice as the markings change....to pride.*

"Thank you cerberis!"

I knew you would see my point!

"No cerberis you will see my point!! I have only now relised how much I have. I had a great son... He might not have been mine but he was still my son... I have freinds that care for me... I have my life. As endless as it shall be It is still... MY LIFE!!!!!"

*The glow suddenly grows at a tremendouse speed sending the gold glow over most of the area absobing soul and the others standing around. He screams loudly as the glow grows and he begins to speak again. slowly and whispering at first.*

"my life... my life...MY LIFE!!!!"

*The pain sabre suddenly burst through Jihons back and he is suddenly in a pool of blood.*

Hahahahahaha.... Think about it Jihon you are still inmortal... I dont feel your pain you are doing nothing but giving yourself nifty battle scars!!!! You will not die now nor ever while I am still inside of you!!!!

"NOOOOOOO!!!!! Soul hurry absorb him or something quickly!!!"

WHAT SOUL REAVER!!!! NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!! Jihon you cannot allow this!!! Run Jihon run Kill him let me have controll please I beg you!!!!

"Hahahahahaha!! Cerberis I am too weak to run now!!! Fool!! You cannot judge a man simply on himself.... You must anylyze his freinds!!!!!!!"

*Jihon begins caughing up blood and then looks at soul. he shakes his head and stands once again. He pulls out the blade and sheaths it still bloody.*

I need to get up there and see what is happening, she reaches for the sword and sheathes it.

*She tries to stand and cries out when she falls back down to her knees, jarring her wounded leg. Her breath comes in quick gasps as she bears the sharp pain that rips through her leg. She smacks her palms against the stone floor and lets out a wordless yell. The wound is healing already, but for now she is crippled. Yet, she refuses to wait down in the dank tomb she now sits in and carefully begins crawling towards the steps leading to the surface.*

“Damn,” she grits her teeth as she slowly climbs the stairs, her ooze-covered hands gripping at the slick stone.

*Her eyes stare upwards as she makes her way towards the top of the stairs. She is almost there when the foot of her good leg slips and she falls. A groan emerges from her lips when she finally gets her breath back. She pushes herself up with her arms and begins climbing again.*

“Thisias,” she whispers as she pulls herself out of the rubble and stares at the group of warriors standing around Jihon.

*The demohuman is standing with his back to her, a bloody hole in his chest. She tries to crawl faster towards the others, dragging her useless leg along. When she finally makes it to Thisias, he is lying on the ground.*

“I told you to rest, damn you,” she reaches out and touches the wound in his chest lightly. “Gods.”

*She glances at Soul and Jihon, watching as Jihon struggles with himself. She looks back down at Thisias and moves closer, lifting his head and laying it in her lap. Her eyes go to the wound and she bites her lower lip, knowing that she cannot heal him. Whatever had been used to make the hole had caused too much damage and the wound was not even beginning to heal on its own.*

“Thisias, hold on,” she puts her hand on the side of his face and looks down at him sorrowfully.

*She caresses the side of his face, watching as he fights the pain.*

“Look at me, Thisias,” she whispers, her olive eyes swirling. “Hold on…you’ll be fine.”

~A sweet little woman...with more bite than bark.~

Jihon’s blood-soaked hands begin to shake, and his brow furrows. His soul was weakening... and should it die, Cerberis would own Jihon for all time.

Then, Soul Reaver falls silent, and looks up at Jihon. His left hand is gently placed on Jihon’s right shoulder.
"Forgive me..."
Blooddrinker thrusts forward, slamming through Jihon’s torso, and bursts from his back. The sword sighs at the taste of warm blood.
"...Jihon."

In shock, Jihon’s body shudders at it slides off the Daemon blade and inside Jihon, Cerberis’ soul undergoes the same shock as well. Weakened from its battle with Jihon, it is barely able to maintain its hold on his body. The added shock has weakened its grip further. And now...

Soul Reaver holds his left hand over Jihon’s blazing mask. Soul Reaver’s eyes begin to burn crimson as he makes use of the ability that he has perfected over the millennia, and that is his namesake. A spiritual vortex forms inside Soul Reaver, focused on the alien intruder in Jihon’s body. Threads of red power begin to rise from Jihon’s mask, and a wordless, inhuman scream issues from his lips. Then, with a massive pulse of energy, Cerberis is ripped from its host, and pulled into Soul Reaver himself.

For a moment, Soul Reaver’s body doubles over as Cerberis attempts to take over. But Soul Reaver has long learned to be master of his own soul. Eyes blazing fiercly, he stands pulls himself to a straight, standing positon, and stretches out his left hand once more. From the palm of his hand bubbles a sack of twisted flesh... a new body for Cerberis.

Soul Reaver, rather than absorbing Cerberis, rejects his soul and banishes it into the tortured body he has created. As Cerberis enters the quivering mound of flesh, he attempts to reassert his true form... but he is too weak. A small, pathetic horned daemon is all that takes shape. It roars with the voice of a creature many times its size, and begins to tear at Soul Reaver’s arms with hooked claws.

Ignoring the blood being drawn by the creature, Soul Reaver chants again, and then slashes downwards with Blooddrinker, creating a massive Warp Gate. On hearing the spell, the Antedeluvian begins to scrabble even more viciously, desperation now apparent in its throes.

And then a great darkness steps from the Warp Gate...
A wave of tangible evil spreads from it...
And a Daemon Prince enters the Mortal Plane...
A Shadowlord...

Its skin is dark grey and hairless, and rippling muscles play beneath its shadowy surface. On its wrists it wears bracers wrought from ornate black steel, and it is dressed in a finely made loincloth of black chainmail. From its shoulders sprout two massive bat-like wings, now folded regally behind it. Two pairs of sweeping horns grow from its head. Its features are human, and might be considered handsome, if not for the inhuman cruelty that flickers below the surface. The Daemon’s eyes burn red like the fires of Inferno, and it gives a broad, fanged smile.

With the Daemon’s arrival, Cerberis has stopped clawing. The warriors can see its new body shivering with abject terror.

"Prince Irewroth. I have a gift for you."

The Daemon Prince’s smile grows even broader.

"Aaah, Soul Reaver. Your gifts are welcome, as always."

Soul Reaver's expression is humourless as the Daemon’s eyes fall on Cerberis. A pathetic whimper issues from Cerberis’ malformed throat.

"One of our lost children... a renegade. One of those who would think themselves higher than Inferno’s hierarchy. But we are generous, and patient. We know that they all return to us in the end. Even the lost children will be welcomed back... come, Cerberis. It is time for you to come home..."

Irewroth gently strokes the top of Cerberis’ head. It would seem a motion of affection, but the warriors closest to Cerberis see the antedeluvian’s skin bubble beneath that Deamon’s touch. The smell of burning flesh fills the air. Irewroth takes a step back.

"Time to return home, my child!"

With that, the Daemon laughs and spreads its arms and wings wide. Razor-studded chains of infernal steel fly from behind the Daemon, materialising from the Warp gate behind it. Cerberis screams in agony as the serrated barbs at the end of the chains plunge themselves into his body. Soul Reaver releases his grip on Cerberis as the Shadowlord seizes the chains in its fists. Still laughing, the Shadowlord steps through the Warp Gate, with a screaming Cerberis in tow. The antedeluvian makes one last attempt to evade capture, scrabbling pathetically on the ground. But is claws find no purchase in the ashes of the city, and with a final scream, it is wrenched through the Warp Gate.

The Gate closes, and the echoes of Irewroth’s laughter slowly fade from the ears of the warriors… though they will remain in their minds for some time yet. Soul Reaver lowers his bloodied arm.

"His punishment. He will suffer for eternity for his deeds. I think it is quite appropriate."

Looking tired, Soul Reaver gets down on his knees beside Jihon.

"Jihon..."

"What is this strange sensation I am feeling... It is death is'nt it... So long have I wanted this but... Not here not now... Not when I have relised what I have." *He attempts to stand but he falls back on the ground..* "Soul take me to him I must speak with him...."

*Soul just shakes his head and Jihon smiles and begins to cawl towards the dieing Thisias.*

Thisias: Before I go... I will have you know that I have been more than a freind to you all those years... I was your son and your student. I was present when my mother died and only now I remember her words. "Tell Jihon I loved him and give him this." she handed me a necklace with an inscription apon it that only she and you could read. Soul can you give it to him now please.

*Soul reaces into his pocket and pulls out the silver neclace with the strange words apon it. He places it in Jihons hand. Jihon holds it to his face and he begins to sob.*

"This was a gift I gave her all those years ago... I says Shame is temporary but love is eternal..."

*He holds it to his chest as the massive wounds seem to heal instantly.*

Thisias: In my passing I have one more gift fro you... My soul. I will give it to you to have for all eternity to live within you... Since I am half demon I am doomed to hell.... A fate I do not wish. My death will not be a time of ending for me... It wil be a time of beggining. Before I met you I was an outcast... You gave me life... father....

*Thisiases body goes limp and his head falls. He is gone...*

"Good bye son..."

*Jihon stands up and brushes the ash off of his clothing which is soaked with his blood. He is crying.*

“Dust to dust…ashes to ashes,” she whispers. “The mother welcomes you to her arms.”

*They take the body away from the lifeless city and to a small gathering of trees that was probably at one time a great forest. There they place the husk of Thisias into the ground and say their farewells. When the grave is covered and dusk is seeping over the silent, war-torn earth, she presses her hands to the ground. Small flowers, vines and ferns unwrap themselves from the dirt on the grave and make a fine carpet to mark the site of Jihon’s student and son.*

“I’m sorry,” she places a hand on Jihon’s shoulder as she moves away, then limps towards the clearing among the trees where they will make camp and discuss the next steps to be taken.

*Exhausted and overcome by everything that had gone on within the past few days, she slumps to the ground and sighs. She takes off her backpack and sets it beside her, then begins to disarm herself of all of her blades. Her leg has stopped bleeding, but even in the dimming light it is seen that the claw that caused the wound has left a very deep gash in her leg, almost to the bone. She shifts uncomfortably and leans back against a fallen log, closing her eyes and resting for a bit.*

" I'm ... I'm... free."

*Although Jihon is still saddened by Thisiases death a small amount of enthusiasm can be heard in his voice. His eyes are hazel and the flicker as the light hits them. Jihon picks up the mask and examines it for a second. He holds the mask firmly to his chest in one hand while holding the necklace he was given in the other. He places the mask on Thisiases grave and turns back towards the others.*

"We have 2 choices now... We either go back to after Cerberis possesed me or we stay in this time and continue from here. I am shure that I will have to go before the council... God only knows my fate..."

*Suddenly Jihon doubles over as if he has been struck by something. A familiar voice runs through him as he is doubled over."

Hey Jihon.... Can you hear me?

"Your pretty loud!!"

Oops sorry.... I see you have lost the mask... Evan I have never seen your face before. Well anyway I just contacted you to say that you can use the demon bone armor now... Because my soul continues to live within you. You can also controll time and mettaliic objects.

"Thank you Thisias... Fare thee well..."

I dont intend on leaving that soon!! I'll be here if you need me...

*The voice fades like a forgotten dream and Jihon sighs.*

*The amulet glows, and Tamrissa's leg slowly closes. She sighs in relief, but a scar remains where the wound closed.*

What do you want to do now Tamrissa?

Sabre Soldier: The Unreal Assasin.
Death is my Mistress...
War is my Master...

He must go before the Council before anything else can be accomplished. I will bring him to the Upper Umbra, along with the others. They at least deserve some reward for bringing Cerberis under control. Not only that, I believe we all need a bit of a rest before we take on the other antedeluvions.

*She brings her eyes up and looks towards Jihon, blinking with wide eyes as the mask drops off. Her jaw drops and she furrows her brow in confusion.*

The mask…Sabre…the mask has come off. Shame no longer possesses him.

*Her hand goes to the amulet, her fingertips running across the emerald stone on its center.*

This may be the best chance Jihon has with the Council. If he goes now and we tell them that the mask was what drove him to madness…perhaps he will escape the sentence that would normally go to an immortal with such crimes on his head…he would not lose his immortality. The most that would come of this is him being questioned and taking a minor punishment, right?

*She stands, wavering a bit as she straightens the healed leg.*

“Jihon?” she calls to him and walks towards him. “Jihon, I know it is a bit quick, but I think it would be best if we went to the Council now. I believe that I can speak to them for you and perhaps sway their decisions on what shall become of you.”

*The scarlet flecks in her olive eyes brighten and she looks towards the others.*

“He will need the rest of you for support. And I believe the Highers will wish to commend your efforts to bring Cerberis to justice. If we are to go though, we will have to leave now, lest the Council think we are trying to help Jihon escape his trial.”

*Her eyes go back to Jihon.*

“Trust me when I say that it will be much worse if we wait. Already they will treat you as a criminal when you arrive, I will not lie to you. Yet, as soon as I can speak to them, I will try to have you placed in more comfortable confines until your trial. It will take no more than a matter of a few days and after that, we can continue with whatever it is we need to continue with.”

*She watches him for a moment and continues.*

“I will not force you to go, Jihon, but I must go back and give a report anyway. If you do not come back with me, they will send someone else soon.”

*The amulet swirls, mirroring her eyes.*

"I will go... It is my fate. I do not want to but what choice do I have?"

*Jihon is feeling about his face. He has not touced it in a long long time. He seems to be relieved somehow as Tamrissa speaks. He looks at the sky. And sighs...*

"Shall we?"

“The rest of you may choose your own path, there is no hold on any of you…except perhaps the trust of friendship,” she gazes over them carefully then looks back to Jihon. “You are ready then?”

*When he nods, she turns and closes her eyes. Bringing her hands up, she reaches out into the air. She claps her hands together, mumbling a few arcane words, then slowly pulls her hands apart. The fabric of the planes rips apart to form a portal, bright light streaming from it. She looks over her shoulder to avoid blinding herself, watching as Jihon shrinks back a bit from the brightness. After losing the cover of the mask, it must have been strange to see the light so completely, to feel it radiate on the skin of his face.*

“The Council waits, they know we come,” she breathes and gestures Jihon through the portal.

*As he steps through, she looks to the other warriors, then steps in after him. The portal will only be open for a short time now.*

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

The other side of the portal is not the middle dimension, the limbo, that is usually between portals. Instead, they step out from a stone archway on the top of a grassy knoll facing a huge glittering city. It looks like it is carved from alabaster, its massive buildings with a magnificent palace growing from its center. Because of the ethereal look of the place, many in the past have mistaken it for what some call Heaven. Yet, despite the order which runs the Upper Umbra, there is nothing heavenly about it for some people.

A moat of sparkling green waters surrounds the towering ivory walls protecting the city. Stretched above is a bubble of flickering blue energy, a force field held in tact day and night by the powers of the Council. The wind picks up on the hill they stand on, ruffling the blue-green grasses around them.

“Halt!” a deep voice demands to their right. “In the name of the Higher Council, I am to escort you both into the city and to the Imperial Court of the Umbras.”

The owner of the voice is a tall, broad-shouldered guard in thick white armor. He stares at them calmly from beneath the shadow of his helmet with ice-blue eyes, unblinking and just waiting for a wrong movement. A small troop of seven guards, all dressed in the same thick armor only plain silver, makes a half-moon behind him.

“Ah, General Aengus, how delightful to see you, yet I am sure I can handle taking this man to the city…no need to make a parade of it,” Tamrissa smiles sweetly and steps towards him.

“Oh, but you are mistaken, mistress. I was instructed to put you under custody too,” he echoes her sweet smile on his cold face and brings a hand up, motioning two of the guards forward. “And who said anything of making a parade out of it. If you are speaking of the citizens gawking at this murderer, you must understand that most are only curious.”

“Curious, my behind, Aengus! They will do their best to mistreat him with their words before they even hear the truth!” she wretches her wrist away from one of the guards. “Take us by the tunnels at least!”

“Mistress Tamrissa, either cooperate or I will have Loc here throw you over his shoulder and carry you,” the man smirks. “We will go through the main street. We were not instructed by the Council to use the tunnels and to do so might go against their orders. Now, come quietly or I will let them know that you questioned their orders, which will certainly not look good for either of you.”

“The Council gave you no orders about the tunnels, you pigheaded mule,” she snaps back at him and writhes in the grasp of the guard. “You are just set on making us into a spectacle!”

The general’s jaw tightens and steps up to her, bending down to put his face very close to hers. He narrows his eyes and speaks in a low, menacing tone.

“You are in deep, Tamma, so I would suggest you stop waggling that venomous little tongue of yours and think about how you are going to get out of your predicament!” he growls out his words through his teeth.

She glares as he straightens back up and looks to the remaining guards. The two that stand near Tamrissa and Jihon immediately pull the two’s hands behind their back and attach a set of magicked handcuffs to their wrists.

“Wait to see if the others are coming through. If they arrive, escort them to the Court immediately…through the tunnels,” he says the last with an amused look in Tamma’s direction. “Let’s go.”

Sabre, I am going to kill this man if I ever see him outside of the city, I swear it! This is uncalled for! Did the Council truly demand that we both be taken under guard? Then paraded through the street?

General Aengus goes into the lead. Jihon’s guard shoves him forward and then falls in behind him, so he is sandwiched in between the two officers. Two more guards fall in beside each of his elbows. He is well guarded. Tamrissa follows without allowing the guard to treat her the same. He tries to put a palm at the small of her back, as if guiding her, but she smacks his arm away with her elbow and continues on. They head for the city, where they will walk the old-fashioned cobblestone street and meet the faces of a ridiculing crowd.

If the others follow, the remaining three guards will take them to their already prepared quarters in the palace-like building known as the Imperial Court of Umbras.

I'm sorry Tamrissa. The others will not be allowed in the city. I'm sorry. They may wait outside the city if they wish, but if they take one step into the city, they are to be killed on site. As for the council. Let me talk to them. Council Member to Council Memeber. If they have a problem. Then they have me to deal with, and not you. I wouldn't want you getting into anymore trouble. I don't want the burden of your death hanging on my shoulders again. As for these guards......

*The amulet swirls brightly, and a projection of Sabre Soldier forms infront of the General.*

General Aengus! *The general stops in his tracks, slightly shocked* It is I, Fei Serumen of the Higher Council. I will lead these 2 to the Imperial Court. If you disagree, I will take your head right now.

*Without word, the General backs away, and bows semi-politely to Sabre Soldier's projection, who leads the 2 to the imperial courtyard, where Jihon is to await judgement*

"They Just simply do not see that I had no controll of my actions... All will be explained. If they do not beleive me then I will suffer for it. Either way... Life goes on..."

*Jihon begins to mumble to himself apparently talking to Thisias*

Dont worry! I think that Sabre will have every thing under controll. If all else fails... You could always challenge them to a T.B.F.

"A T.B.F. !!! But that would get nothing done but destruction...."

Now remember Jihon they did hold the thing a few years before you Joined up. Heck it miight even give you the chance to become compleatly free... You know Mortal again.

"I don not wish to be mortal Thisias... My job is not yet done!! Besides when I die... You go to hell remember?"

Oh yeah that was a bad Idea hmmm... I still like the T.B.F. Idea. I mean c'mon Jihon! You could win forgiveness...

*Jihon ponders the Idea of another Trial by fire and shudders at the thought.*

"Only if it cmes to that!!! Last resort only!! I was humiliated last time and I do not wish that again!"

I fully understand. Well If you need me Just say something!

*The voice fades away in Jihons head as the others look at him strangely.*

" I think I liked him better when he was dieing!! "

I heard that!!

*Jihon continues to follow the others.*

"What i don't understand is why the others have to stay behind!! After all Kelvack, Soul and Poiupp had the same to do with this as any of us! For gods sake let them come and be whitnesses...."

*Jihons jaw drops open as the reality of his situation becomes clear to him... There will be no trial.*

Not allowed in? Killed on site? Gods, Sabre, they brought Jihon under control and got rid of Cerberis, why are they not allowed into the city? They are witnesses, they are heroes, and they are friends! I will warn them, but I wish to know why they are being held outside of the city!

*She searches for a link to Soul.*

If you have not already passed through the portal, stay where you are. If you have already, stay near the portal. We have been met with some hostility and I have been told that if anyone but Jihon and I set foot into the city, they will be killed on sight. I do not know how this all will turn out…I do not believe that Jihon is going to be given a complete trial since there are no witnesses but Sabre and I. Do not be distressed though, as soon as I find out more, I will contact you again.

*She cuts the link off before he can respond and watches as Sabre projects himself before the guards. When Aengus bows and backs away, she casts a small smile of triumph in his direction. The guards drop to one knee until Sabre’s likeness is a good distance away from them.*

“Whether life goes on after this, Jihon, depends on the Council’s judgement,” she whispers to him. “I do not understand what is happening…I did not expect this.”

*She eyes him curiously as he talks to Thisias’ soul. The beating of her heart is the only thing that betrays her effort to stay calm. She does not know what will become of either of them. Her eyes lower as she tries to think of what she will say if she gets the chance to say anything. Even if they don’t give her a chance, she decides that she will give herself a chance. There is no reason that she should not be able to give her opinions and point of view.*

“Jihon, what’s wrong?” she glances up, noticing his wide-eyed look. “Jihon?”

*They are almost to the gates of the city. Those pearly gates look like Hell’s own to her, all that is missing is the flames. She is sure she’ll find the demons inside.*

~A sweet little woman...with more bite than bark.~

I understand what you're talking about. The fact of the matter is that this city is a very holy place. The higher council does not know the others. They do not trust ones they don't know. No matter what good deed they've done. I wish for them to come along as well, to be there and give support, but these are the rules of the Umbra that have been followed for many millenia. I cannot change the rules. I'm very sorry. I will find a place for them to stay while the trial takes place for the next 3 days though.

As for you Jihon, you will not be going through a traditional trial. There are 13 Higher Council Members. I am one of these 13. They will decide whether you're guilty or innocent. I will not take part of your trial, for I would be considered taking favoritism on your behalf. So the other 12 will read your soul, and make judgment upon what they feel is right. If found guilty, then they will decide on a punishment based on your actions.

Well, Tamrissa, it is time to lead Jihon into the Imperial Courtyard, where he awaits judgement.

*Sabre Soldier walks over to the gates to the courtyard, and they open to reveal an open yard, followed a large wall where 12 Higher Council Members sit, awaiting.*

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