To the Four Corners!

[Lucian]

Some where, in an infinite darkness, there dwelled a consciousness. It floated through that void with narry a care in the world. There was no pain, no worry, no hunger, no need, desire or want. To some, that perfect darkness would have been a hell. Bound to a horrizonless solitude would have been the hermit Syth's dream, a twisted form of Heaven for a twisted soul.

But then the quiet was broken, like an inferno errupting or the sound of some one's dying breath, a pair of green lumicent flames penetrated the darkness. With contempt Syth rolled over away from them, trying to ignore the emerald light that those two seeking orbs cast.

"DO NOT TURN YOUR BACK TO ME BOY."

If Syth had eyes at the moment he would have rolled them in annoyance. This booming voice of a god and the darkness were all familar to him. He had seen them in his dreams, in his nightmares, in his fondest fantasies as a child. Granted, when your family goes back a ways, they have means of contacting you when they want. Especially when they're very old and very powerful.

"Wouldn't dream of it Grand Father, I only exist to do your bidding."

"YOUR TONE AND YOUR WORDS ARE AS CONFLICTED AS YOUR SOUL, YOU DO NOT DESERVE TO WEAR THE MANTLE OF OUR FAMILY NAME!"

"So you've told me every night for the last five years Grand Father, there's not alot I can do when faced with other Gods trying to kill me and my fellow adventurers."

A skull loomed into view, the two orbs filling the sockets as it's eyes. Making it very old, very power, and very dead.

"I KNOW ABOUT CALLIDUS, HE IS TO BE PUNISHED AS YOUR ASSISTANT IN A MORTAL FORM. TAKE HIM AND USE HIM AS YOU SEE FIT, BUT BEWARE. HE IS CALLED THE TRICKSTER GOD FOR A REASON, AND HAS EVEN EVADED ME ON OCCATION."

"You mean he's the one that cheated you and ran away with your scythe?!?!"

"SILENCE! YOU HAVE DALLIED ENOUGH IN YOUR SUBCONSCIOUS, GET BACK TO THE LIVING REALM AND DO WHAT YOUR DESTINY DEMANDS OF YOU!"

And in a snick of a blade or a rush of wind that came from no direction the skull, the green flames, and Syth were no more. . . .
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Being a god of sorts has it's perks, for instance, normal binds and bonds really don't have much sway over you. You never seem to bleed to death, and minor things like sunburns, frost bite, and poison don't really seem to effect you. Now, being cut with a magical blade that just channeled sever thousand gigawats of electricty from a Dark MAge's soul is another matter all together. . .

Standing up as the ropes fall away Callidus stretches a bit, slightly embarassed by the popping sounds his joints make after being shocked and bound like that. He may wear the guise of a child but that was to lure folks into a false sense of security, he was old, and for a change beginning to feel his age. Ah well, it was only going to get worse once he replentished some of the power this idiot mage used on him. Honestly, had that moron let go fully instead of worring about electrocuting his pirate friend he might have actually killed me. I wonder what he'll be like when he gets up. Ah well, irony is my supper and revenge is my wine!

Walking across the room, the thief picked up the dagger Syth had used so painfully to wound the god. The vile looking runes in it sparking to life with a blue ether as it awakens to the gods touch. Already coursing with power Callidus kneels down slowly, not keen to take a boot to the head from Ash in case she thought he was going to finish the mage off or something. Rolling back his sleeve, the godling made a few shallow cuts around the wrist, such things would normally slay a mortal man but only a bit of thick black liquid rose to the surface of the blades penetrations. With a final dab, the symbol of his office, a dagger through the heart, was finished. And dull blue glow filled the room, when the light subsided, all that remained was a tattoo as the wounds were gone.

"Alright now M'lady, this part is important, and I'll need your help because I can't do it. Gods are not ment to share their power willingly, don't ask why as explaining would probably cause your head to explode. Now I'm going to stand on the otherside of the room, take this dagger and drip the black blood of immortals on his tongue then stand back. Even that little ammount may cause a big reaction and as I generally don't do this with Magic Users the result could be a bit violent."

Taking the blade the pirate gave the boy a most quizzical look.

"Oh, you thought there would be more ceremony and all that? Naw, must of my kin are drama queens. They're all about the smoke and mirrors of the event not the actual event it's self. Attention whores the lot of them! Though you do wanna be careful when he wakes up."

Walking across the room, the demi-god of thieves overturned the table and promptly hid behind it. Dagger in hand Ash delayed for but a moment, for what could cause a creature that can't die to hide away from an unconscious man? Wiht a bit of trepidation the seawoman slid the flat of the blade across Syth's tongue and took several steps back. At first, there was nothing, it would seem like the god was just jerking her anchor, that is until the small bolts of black lightning started to spark off the prone Dark Mage's body.

Having seen magic go arye before, she wisely dove behind the barrier the Theif God had errected as the room filled almost to capasity with crackling black energy. A dull thunderclap almost knocked the two from their senses and when the dust cleared a very tall, very angry, but very whole Syth Thanatos stood before them.

"I believe there is much to be explained here, but it can be done on the road. Let's find my mount and get the bloody hell out of here." the mage growled.

[CC]

Seeing the dark mage standing tall and as arrogant as ever does spread a bit of relief to the pirate lass, and if it were not for other emotions taking over she would have possibly sighed in relief. But that relief certainly does not show on her face or through her stance. Instead, a look of frustration mixed with loathing creeps over her face and she strides angrily up to the thingyy man until she is staring him in the eyes. Her hands are at her side, clenching slightly and she glares at him a minute, her eyes stormier than usual and shooting daggers at him. She speaks to him in a low but even tone, "Yer an ungrateful whelp that I should ave left ta Davy Jones.... if this be all the thanks that I be getting then next time ye can die ye worthless bit of kelp!"

With that she turns around and looks at Callidus, "Alright boy, ye did well on yer first part o the deal, now get to tha forefront of this little group and lead us out of here. I want no funny business with yer worthless followers..." As if a sudden realization hit her she turns to the one follower in the room, the one who had led them to the area and who had gotten her equipment. She sighs and walks up to him, putting her hand on his shoulder, "I almost forget about yer prize..." her movement is quick and before anyone can react he is clutching his chest with a suprised look upon his face. Ash helps him sink to his knees and then lets him gently fall to the floor. It is gentle, almost caring, as if she is truly sad that she had to kill him... the blood pouring quickly from a dagger wound in his chest being proof that he would not live much longer. He gurgles slightly and then his eyes glaze over, gone.

She sighs and rubs the dagger on his shirt, cleaning it off, and replaces it to her boot sheath, "if he had told any of what happened here then we would be certain not ta get out of here alive. Better to tie up loose ends and if any be asking then ye can just tell him that he did not please ye. "

Striding over to the packs she roots through it all and then picks up all the useful equipment that she can carry. It does not take her long to go through the pile and she realizes that their other companions can gather what the need another time... until then the rest would have to stay here unless Callidus or Syth wished to take on any more. With a blank look upon her face she turns towards the Thief and waits for him to take the lead.

The boy sighs, "he was one of my better men..." the loos of which was not a terrible blow, there were always others who would step up to the frot, but that one was one of the few who were loyal enough that they would never even think to stab their lord in the back. That was one of the problems with dealing with thieves, though they tried to remain loyal to eachother, if it came down to it, most would kill their own mothers for a higher place in the ranks. It was a world that Callidus thrived on. He walks over to the pile and picks up a few things and in a smug tone voices his reasons for not taking more, "the rest have to think that i am still in charge, so it will not do to have me carrying more than I normally would. So you had best grab more, especially you, mage."