blackbladebitch: (muahahaha)
[personal profile] blackbladebitch
[This goes up on Monday, before Sylvanas goes after Elric. It's gloriously public, because this is Elric's way of saying "publish and be damned, Ardent". Elric looks like he's in a good mood. An alarmingly good mood. Because he's in that cheerfully nihilist state of mind where he just doesn't care anymore.]

I have promised to Ardent and to Neil Howie a full accounting of what passed with our librarian dwarf. And so here follows the accounting. I expect that afterwards the wardens may petition for my demotion [unspoken: as they have for others recently], or ask that I be cast off at the nearest port of call, or that my sword be destroyed. I submit myself to your [massive irony] keen judgement and discerning tempers without complaint. [Read: I don't give a fuck what you think.]

That I am in possession of an enchanted blade called Stormbringer is known to some of you. Well—now it is known to all of you. It was a blade forged by Chaos in aeons long past in my own world, and it is my saviour and my curse. I have been able to survive without it here on the Barge, but many and long have been the years where I came to rely on Stormbringer for my strength—Stormbringer, and the souls that it drank.

Aye, Stormbringer is the blade that brought me the sobriquet "Stealer of Souls" in my native world. It accompanied me here to the Barge, though I thought it lost, and I have kept it secured by means magical and mundane in my cabin.

But when I heard that Narvin was missing and learned that Ardent might be responsible, I took Stormbringer up again, for I feared that Ardent might have magical means of protecting himself, brought from his own native world—we had spoken once of a metal called octiron, and I thought he might have at last found a means of shaping it into something dangerous. And as ill-luck would have it, I slew Ardent in attempting to subdue him, and Stormbringer drank his soul.

And that is why he woke from death as a mindless body. I restored his soul to him while the good doctor Svetlana watched, and I have expressed my regret time and again for what I have done, though he does not accept it. Consider this public statement as abject an apology as I may muster, and wardens, I ask you all to do as you will.

Be warned, however: I have tried to destroy Stormbringer. I have tried to cast it away. But it is indestructible and whenever I have cast it from me, it has always returned. None but the Lords of Chaos themselves may destroy it, I think, though I should like to see you try.

[He grins terribly at the camera. NO HE'S NOT DONE YET.]

Now, having said that—in the week since Ardent's death, there have been three attempts on my life—one by Drake Stone, one by Omega, and one by some boy who kept shouting about proving himself. I shall second Omega's entreaty: whoever is behind this [ARDENT], face me yourself, coward! Send not these unwilling puppets into my path, for I do not wish to harm them. I have had enough of this.

Aye, I begin to think I have had enough of the Barge in general.

[He sneers a little, and shuts the camera off.]

Spam

Date: 2011-05-19 06:57 pm (UTC)
darknessb4me: (you're an idiot)
From: [personal profile] darknessb4me
[Undeterred:]

I want to see it.

Spam

Date: 2011-05-20 03:25 pm (UTC)
darknessb4me: (noble)
From: [personal profile] darknessb4me
I had one. It didn't end well.

Spam

Date: 2011-05-20 05:34 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] blackbladebitch.livejournal.com
[And now it's Elric's turn to be O_O. He stares at Arthas, partly thinking that bringing him to see Stormbringer is the worst idea ever, and partly that maybe it might help both of them. Somehow.]

Very well.

[He turns on his heel to lead the way back to his cabin.]

Spam

Date: 2011-05-21 01:29 am (UTC)
darknessb4me: (lich king - draw sword)
From: [personal profile] darknessb4me
[Arthas follows him like a very stompy shadow :|]

Re: Spam

Date: 2011-05-21 02:44 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] blackbladebitch.livejournal.com
[Once in Elric's room, the albino locks the door behind them. He goes to the heavy chest at the foot of his bed and unlocks the eight padlocks that hold it shut, then murmurs a series of incantations in Melnibonéan. Then he pauses before opening the chest.]

Are you sure of this?

Spam

Date: 2011-05-21 05:23 pm (UTC)
darknessb4me: (stark)
From: [personal profile] darknessb4me
[Arthas' body language seems to suggest he's fighting the urge to bolt, but his expression is set.]

Yes.

Spam

Date: 2011-05-21 08:16 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] blackbladebitch.livejournal.com
[With some reluctance, Elric throws back the lid of the chest. Inside, Stormbringer lies scabbarded, cushioned amid folds of black fabric. There is a faint sound, like a bow drawn across a violin string, then silence. Elric makes no move to pick it up.]

Spam

Date: 2011-05-22 12:30 am (UTC)
darknessb4me: (two as one)
From: [personal profile] darknessb4me
[Arthas freezes as if suddenly paralyzed. A strangled noise that might have been the beginning of a word falls from his lips but he doesn't appear to be aware of it. The room has narrowed to a pinhole.

When he'd first seen Frostmourne, it had looked like salvation.]


What happens if someone else takes it up?
Edited Date: 2011-05-22 12:31 am (UTC)

Re: Spam

Date: 2011-05-23 02:20 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] blackbladebitch.livejournal.com
[Elric watches Arthas's face carefully.]

No one has ever tried. But I think it would not accept another master, not now.

Spam

Date: 2011-05-23 05:39 pm (UTC)
darknessb4me: (hello)
From: [personal profile] darknessb4me
[His face splits into a jovial grin and his eyes go empty and dark like a sinkhole falling in. He claps Elric on the shoulder amiably.]

Another master? Do you assume that's how it thinks of you?

Re: Spam

Date: 2011-05-23 06:27 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] blackbladebitch.livejournal.com
[Elric laughs, bitterly.]

I think I know better than that. It is simply a convenient word.

Spam

Date: 2011-05-23 11:08 pm (UTC)
darknessb4me: (eyes)
From: [personal profile] darknessb4me
Then what would happen?

Spam

Date: 2011-05-24 03:07 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] blackbladebitch.livejournal.com
Were another to take it up, it might turn on him. It may be said that Stormbringer has a will of its own.

Spam

Date: 2011-05-24 03:18 am (UTC)
darknessb4me: (pleasant)
From: [personal profile] darknessb4me
Well, that's a given.

[Arthas starts pacing around the chest, slowly, never taking his eyes off the sword.]

What does it do to you when you wield it?

Spam

Date: 2011-05-24 03:23 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] blackbladebitch.livejournal.com
It has sustained my life.

[Elric folds his arms and stares at the sword, not looking at Arthas.]

It drinks the souls of those it slays, and passes that unholy strength on to me. In so doing it has saved my life many a time. But it has drunk the souls of friends ... and of my beloved Cymoril as well. It is my strength and my curse.

Spam

Date: 2011-05-24 03:33 am (UTC)
darknessb4me: (beast)
From: [personal profile] darknessb4me
[He looks up sharply, and something that's been missing from his expression briefly makes a return.]

So all of those times when you were suffering from your lack of "medicine"...

Re: Spam

Date: 2011-05-24 01:12 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] blackbladebitch.livejournal.com
[Elric gestures to a nearby worktable, obviously much used, with many bottles and jars lined up.]

That was truth. These medicines and potions grant me strength and vitality, although compared to what I am given by Stormbringer...

[He trails off.]

Had I Stormbringer with me on those occasions, the fell beasts and men we encountered would have sustained me.

Spam

Date: 2011-05-24 09:26 pm (UTC)
darknessb4me: (leer)
From: [personal profile] darknessb4me
You should consider undeath. All the vitality you would want.

[He cackles briefly.]

And when you kill someone with it, they stay dead? Even here?

Re: Spam

Date: 2011-05-24 09:32 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] blackbladebitch.livejournal.com
[Elric offers no response to the first suggestion other than an eyeroll.]

Here, no. Ardent died and was revived at his warden's request, but he remained an empty shell until I went to him and revived him -- forced Stormbringer to give him his soul back.

Spam

Date: 2011-05-24 09:44 pm (UTC)
darknessb4me: (up)
From: [personal profile] darknessb4me
Quite a feat.

[He's studying Elric now.]

Could you get it to return any soul it takes?

Re: Spam

Date: 2011-05-24 09:51 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] blackbladebitch.livejournal.com
[Elric frowns, then shakes his head.]

I am uncertain. There are other magics at work here that permit it, though the sword be unwilling. I suspect it would be more difficult in my own world, where the will of Chaos is far, far stronger.

Spam

Date: 2011-05-24 10:04 pm (UTC)
darknessb4me: (out of the night)
From: [personal profile] darknessb4me
So if I gave it mine.

[He smiles, slow and chilling.]

It wouldn't be permanent?

Re: Spam

Date: 2011-05-24 10:06 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] blackbladebitch.livejournal.com
[A hard look.]

What is it you are asking, Arthas?

Spam

Date: 2011-05-24 10:20 pm (UTC)
darknessb4me: (rueful)
From: [personal profile] darknessb4me
My sword - Frostmourne - granted untold power to those who wielded it, at the price that the bearer's will would become subsumed to Frostmourne's own. Wasn't spelled out quite like that, but that was the practical gist of it.

[He paces to the other side of the chest, away from Elric, eyes back on Stormbringer.]

Power. Security. Untouchable strength - all for the toll of your own ability to feel guilt and remorse.

[He looks up and meets Elric's eyes again, and it's an act, though god knows who he's putting on the show for. He looks exhausted. And tempted. Very much so.]

Spam

From: [identity profile] blackbladebitch.livejournal.com - Date: 2011-05-25 01:31 am (UTC) - Expand

Spam

From: [personal profile] darknessb4me - Date: 2011-05-26 01:54 am (UTC) - Expand

Spam (feel free to stop him)

From: [identity profile] blackbladebitch.livejournal.com - Date: 2011-05-26 03:55 am (UTC) - Expand

Spam

From: [personal profile] darknessb4me - Date: 2011-05-26 04:56 am (UTC) - Expand

Re: Spam

From: [identity profile] blackbladebitch.livejournal.com - Date: 2011-05-26 02:11 pm (UTC) - Expand

Spam

From: [personal profile] darknessb4me - Date: 2011-05-26 10:17 pm (UTC) - Expand

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From: [identity profile] blackbladebitch.livejournal.com - Date: 2011-05-27 01:50 pm (UTC) - Expand

Spam

From: [personal profile] darknessb4me - Date: 2011-05-27 08:41 pm (UTC) - Expand

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