May There be Peace

The sun lay above the horizon. The night was hinting at its eventual takeover of the sky. Peace village was lazily winding its way down after a long day. A few people moved about the streets. Some gathered within town hall. Townsfolk had also put up a few lights. Posters hung everywhere announcing the arrival of a carnival. And on the edge of town, leaning against a fence was a dark figure.

Cetus adjusted the tie around his neck. His body felt strange, a result of the various disguises in place. Some were cosmetic. Some were technological. He'd been experimenting on it for days before applying it to himself. His skin was a deep, almost black, blue. Azure highlights outlined his brow and eyes. A few more were placed strategically in his now black hair. His eyes were little more than pools of black with pinpricks of white. His body was gripped by a white collared shirt and a pair of black slacks. The appearance was offsetting enough to cause many to avoid him. A couple walked across the street merely to keep from walking past him. That made him smile, revealing the shark's teeth that filled his mouth. Everything - other than his partner for this... fun - was in place.

"Flowers."
My designation is Persephone. What do you wish of me?
Cetus' smile grew wider. This was his favorite part. The world would witness this debut. The Magic Council could no longer ignore Dubhar's existence. This was also a great chance to try out his creations. "Create new persona. Name: Dubhar. Disposition: Draw up everything we have on Baird, Jester, Deam, and sufficiently similar characters. Mix them together."
New persona 'Dubhar' created. Link to current appearance?[i]
"Confirm and override current personality. Time set: 5 hours before reversion."
[i]Confirmed, downloading 'Dubhar'. Reversion in 5 hours.

Dubhar took a deep breath through his nose. Ah, what a wonderful day to be alive! The carnival was today. All they needed was his arranged musician to appear! Dubhar kicked up his legs. His hands came out of his pockets. "Hey! Don't stay out too late lovebirds! The Carnival is coming!" The couple hurried away. Rude. Whatever, they'd enjoy the show later. Now, where was Baird the bard? He was late! Dubhar tapped his bare wrist, shaking his head slowly. Tut-tut, the carnival should be on time! They needed to bring happiness to these people.

WC: 403

@Baird

Dubhar cackled wickedly as the music of a lute reached his ears. "The music sways the soul! Let wings grow and lift us into the sky!" He cried out. Several lingering people hurried away from him. The psycho chuckled to himself. They'd join the Carnival soon enough. The music and the clown would draw them in. It would wrap them up. Eat them alive until it spit them back out the other side. Burned up by the Carnival. Dubhar giggled. It was time to collect the bard.

The blue man skipped toward the sound of music. He saw a few people crowded around the bard. They were tossing jewels on him. What a waste, what a waste. Dubhar pitied these fools. Let them be swept away by the Carnival. Dubhar waited for them all to disperse. They'd all be meeting each other again. Jewels were worthless. His hands twitched. A black flame jumped to life in the palm of his hand. The Carnival should have started. The infidels should be burning. Dubhar brought the fireball up to his lips and blew. It went out, blowing smoke across a few people walking by. He gave them a smile as they coughed and glared.

Dubhar bounced over to Baird. Slinging an arm across the bard, the psycho patted his chest. "The swan is here! Let him sing his glorious song! Let fireworks unleash the night sky! The Carnival must begin! Let fun swallow this town!" He cackled, stepping away from the bard. All the pieces were in place. Ribbons of fire billowed out behind Dubhar. His blue hair transformed into ethereal flames wreathing his head. "The king of hell and his bard have arrived! Let the Carnival in his honor commence!" The fire exploded, rippling toward the houses. The black fire hungrily alighted upon the buildings. It started devouring everything it touched. "Come, bard! Play me some music!" Dubhar shouted as people started screaming.

WC: 323
TWC: 726
Total: 1158

Dubhar let a maniacal grin grace his face. Of course the bard belonged to no one. Whoever had said otherwise was an idiot. "I agree the king is such a bastard, claiming people like that. We should tear him off his throne. Build a new governing power of Hell: The Dictatorship of Hell. The Autocracy of hell. The Hellish Democracy." Dubhar clapped his hands. "A project for another time. Today is the day for the Carnivel!"

Dubhar thoroughly enjoyed Bairds first display of magic. Fire held a place deep in his heart. So beautiful and warm were flames, a perfect dichotomy of grace and danger. The world would eventually be consumed by flames. Of that, he was sure. For now, he let the bard take center stage. This night wasn't about him. It was about the Carnival. A beautiful masterpiece that would blanket the village.

The bard asked about the Carnival. Dubhar spread his arms wide and spun around. "Why, my dear bard, it is a Carnival of Understanding, of love, and the sharing of culture. The people of this village have seldom known hardship. I wish to grant them a better understanding of Pain and Suffering. They'll grow to Love it and the two of us will share a culture of trauma with them like they've never known." Dubhar cackled again. He tipped an imaginary hat toward Baird before sprinting off into the burning village.

The first people he came upon were a couple. The man wrapped his arms around the woman and they huddled against a hut. It wasn't burning yet. Dubhar would fix that soon. "Ah, young love! Such a warming sight!" The couple regarded him with fearful eyes. Dubhar gave them a grin. "Shall we put your love to the test?" The assassin grabbed the man by the throat and threw him into the hut. Snapping his fingers, black chains of fire wrapped around the man. They anchored him to the floor. A casual wave of Dubhar's hand set the hut alight. The dark mage looked at the woman. "Save him." He said before prancing away.

An older couple would be Dubhar's next Carnival game. He'd passed a few other villagers running to and fro. They looked like they were trying to put out the flames. Dubhar had zeroed in on the couple. They seemed like the classic 'always together' couple. Dubhar smiled snapping his fingers. A tongue of black flame wrapped around their necks, connecting them together. He politely handed them knives. "The flames will brun slowly through your necks, infecting your bloodstreams, and burning you alive eternally unless one of you kills the other. I can't wait to see how long you last. Have fun!" He left the couple staring at each other in horror.

Dubhar looked around after leaving the couple. Where had his bard gotten off to? He had need of music! These villagers were screaming so loudly. "Bard? Bard! Where have you gotten off to?" He shouted, looking around. "Please drown out the screams, bard man. They're are giving me a headache and quite frankly ruining my Carnival!" He stomped his foot. How dare they?! They should be laughing with delight! Reveling in the flames! Enjoying the music! This was the Carnival! By all the gods, didnt these people know how to have fun?

WC: 554
PWC: 1280
Total: 3092[/color]

Baird set quite the scene with his tunes. Dubhar wasn't quite sure if the saxophone was to his liking but a little grating of the ear was in line with the Carnival! The psycho pranced about, randomly lighting houses on fire. However, the people weren't appreciating his games. They screamed as more fire burst forth. They sobbed when he plucked them from the crowd. Some had the audacity to hit him when he tried to take their loved ones. Perhaps, he should enlighten them to the ways of the Methmother. They didn't deserve her embrace but their screams were ruining his fun. Even with Baird's delightful music, he could hear their screams.

The assassin snatched a man from the crowd. Well, not a man, more like a small child. A couple cowered nearby. Dubhar looked from the boy to the couple. The mother was in the features. The father, tense and ready to fight, was not. His evil grin stretched nearly to his ears. Sharp pointed teeth lined that smile. His blue flame of hair burned low near his skull. Carefully, the assassin set the boy down. He turned the young one to face his parents. "Now. I have in mind, a game. This one..." Dubhar petted the boy's head. The boy flinched away, terrified. "Will be the subject of that game... unless..." He pointed at the mother. She jerked back eyes wide. "You tell the truth about his paternity." The man shouted angrily but Dubhar saw it. The doubt, that little niggling in his brain that had probably haunted him since the child's birth. Dubhar petted the boy's face, his fingertips digging into skin. Shallow marks were left behind. The mother screamed. As Dubhar moved to repeat, she began babbling. She'd slept with multiple men that could be the father. She couldn't possibly know who the father might actually be. The assassin chuckled as the husband's face fell. He threw the boy toward the couple before moving on. Today was a good day. It was the Carnival!

A pair of twins caught his eye next. They seemed to be calmly walking through the panicking crowds. Their hands darted out to steal from those that passed them. Dubhar's eyebrow arched. They dared to steal during the Carnival? They couldn't have that. He worked his way up behind them. When the assassin stepped past, one of them slipped a hand into his pocket. The assassin grabbed the wrist. His fingers flexed and a strip of skin came loose. Blood spurted, coating his hand. "They say twins are one spare and one original. I hope you know which one you are." He said, hoisting the girl up. She dangled limply in his grasp. A blade flashed in the hands of the other twin. Dubhar giggled, pulling free a hand of white powder. He blew it in the face of his attacker. She coughed once and fell limply to the ground. Dubhar giggled again as he placed the sister next to her drugged twin. "Beg her to save you." He murmured. Black chains locked into place around the injured twin. Within arms reach of the drugged one, Dubhar created a jet black key. Then he surrounded the two with a ring of fire. No one would interrupt his game.

Amidst his merry making, the psychotic shark lost track of his musician. He spun each way to look for the man. Cupping his hands together, Dubhar shouted "Where are you, Bard of Song? These people seem not to be enjoying the Carnival! Shall we convene for a strategy meeting?" His nose picked up a peculiar scent. One of purity and justice. A scent that filled him with rage. He turned slowly to behold the angel that had descended from on high. Below it, the summoner stood in the street. He was a young lad, his magic probably unlocked by this event. His brow was covered in sweat and his left arm bore severe burns. Tears yet gathered in his eyes. A defiant look. One that Dubhar wanted to nurture, to strengthen until the lad came to face him again. Then he would utterly crush the boy. Flashes of light in nearby streets let the assassin know similar things were happening nearby. He hoped the Bard hadn't been caught by one.

The shark looked coolly upon the boy standing before him. "You overestimate your strength, boy. There is little that angel might do to me." The boy gestured with his right hand. The angel moved to attack. Dubhar snapped his fingers. A column of fire enveloped the angel. It lasted only a moment before disappearing in a flash of light. The boy looked on in disbelief. Dubhar chuckled, dusting his hands off. "I'm a God Slayer, kid. This level of being is nothing to be. I've eaten gods. Killed their servants, played with their priests. You can't even compare to my strength. Now, run along, little one. Come back when you're stronger." The boy raised his right hand once more. Dubhar moved, appearing behind the boy. His back pressed against the young man's. "I'm faster than you." He moved to a building and pulverized the brick corner with a fist wreathed in black fire. "Stronger than you." A man ran at Dubhar with a knife. The assassin let it hit. The knife broke at the hilt and didn't leave a mark. "More durable. Leave and face me when you're stronger." Dubhar grasped his attacker by the neck. His mouth opened wider than should have been possible. The attacker jerked, trying to escape. A thick pink purple mist poured from the man's mouth. It flowed into Dubhar's. When the assassin dropped the man, he was little more than a husk.

The shark man looked around. The boy was gone. The fires raged down the streets. The Carnival was in full swing. However, people weren't enjoying themselves. They weren't finding the love in their suffering. Learning was the whole purpose of this day. He really needed to find his music man. The bard would surely have a solution to this travesty.

WC: 1015 (2295)
Thread Total: 4742