Planet Zar: Nexus

⦿ Revelry fills the Ivory Manor. The Ivory Prince sits upon his throne with Feoras curled at his feet. As is usual for him in this era, he has taken human form, and watches his servants and visitors with mild amusement.

⦿ The music dwindles as the party-goers notice the slow opening of the main doors, seemingly of their own accord. This isn't an unusual occurrence, but it takes just as long for The Prince to realize and his expression flashes from confusion to anger to concern.

⦿ A green glow spills like slime across the pristine alabaster floors. The Prince's concern grows long as the menacing shadow breaking the verdant light.

⦿ A great, grey wyvern-like beast crawls through the entry. It is eyeless, deformed, it's face smothered in scars.

⦿ It's Cassius, come home.

⦿ The Prince stands to greet his old, exiled servant. He'd sent Cassius to die to correct a blasphemy, a treachery, that Cassius had done to him. The Prince's powers were not limitless and it was easier to pluck a soul from the afterlife than to mold one from the void.

⦿ But here was Cassius, well enough alive. The Prince would have known if he'd died, he would have felt it.

⦿ Cassius' manner was not the obsequious servant The Prince was accustomed to. He stalked into the manor with teeth bared, saliva dripping. He snapped at any that neared him, but otherwise kept his eyeless gaze fixed on The Prince.

⦿ Or, at least, The Prince's feet.

⦿ "Cassius," The Prince whispers, stepping down from his dias to greet the creature.

⦿ Cassius flinches but holds ground. "I have a new master now."

⦿ The green glow grows brighter and something monstrous strides into the manor. The ivory ages to brittle yellow and crumbles in the monster's wake. Guests that don't scramble out of the way quick enough turn gaunt and twisted, flesh sundered to soupy goo - still alive, still thinking, but horrendously deformed.

⦿ The Prince feels real fear for the first moment in his life.

⦿ "It's taken Cassius a long time to remember how to return to you," the monster croons. It's voice is cutting to The Prince's ears, like venom pooling in his mind.

⦿"I removed his memory of the Manor," The Prince replies. He refuses to show his fear or cow to this new abomination.

⦿ At his side, Feoras snarls, but even he has the sense to fear the newcomer.

⦿ :: This gave me enough time to grow my power and sway him to obey his new master properly. :: says the beast :: He was very loyal to you, even in exile. It was foolish to squander him. ::

⦿ The voice in his head is even worse than spoken aloud. It shrieks through him, bursting and snarling along every synapse. The Prince tries not to cradle his head. He doesn't want to show weakness.

⦿ "Cassius," the beast says, softer now. "Destroy this place."

⦿ Cassius doesn't reply. Neither does he hesitate. He snaps his wings open and turns on the servants and guests. In moments the manor is filled with shrieks.

⦿ The Prince raises a hand to stop him - he created Cassius, he can destroy him just as easily, although it pains him to do so. Before he has a chance, the Beast teleports in front of him and is suddenly looming. The Green flames flickering off his body hurt in more ways than a simple burn.

⦿ :: He's mine now :: the beast snarls.

⦿ The Prince feels the tendrils of his power warp and twist, sputtering to green flame that rots everything it touches. He jerks his hand back and snaps his gaze to the Beast. Feoras snarls and snaps from behind him. He may have immunity to magic, but The Prince isn't certain this is magic in any proper sense. He doesn't want the tralvisk injured so he shoots him a mental command to stay back.

⦿ :: You would make an excellent servant as well :: the beast croons into his mind. :: Cassius has told me of your powers and you'd make a fine ally to the Balespawn. ::

⦿ "Is that what you are, then? Balespawn?"

⦿:: Gehassigkeit :: it hisses.

⦿ The Prince knows it's meaning immediately. Spite.

⦿ Is that why it brought Cassius back here? To spite the Prince? To show him it's powers can corrupt The Prince's finest creations?

⦿ :: We could do great things together. ::

⦿ "As a servant," The Prince snaps.

⦿ Gehassigkeit laughs - a terrible noise. :: Is that not how you treat your allies? ::

⦿ It isn't wrong. The Prince has done terrible things, selfishly. He's lived his entire life by his own whims, doing as he pleases and wielding his powers to create whatever he pleases. Places, people, populations. Twisting worlds to reflect his own desires. The Prince is suddenly aware he's staring into a mirror. This beast is a reflection of himself.

⦿ He casts his gaze to Cassius, who has killed most of the servants and guests. He shrugs off their magic, unaffected. The Ivory Manor is carnage and chaos. The Prince is not powerless, but if he lets down his guard against Gehassigkeit something terrible will happen to him.

⦿ He can try.

⦿ The Prince calls a burst of magic forward and shoves it at Gehassigkeit. The balespawn is thrown backward, surprise flashing in his eyes. The Prince concentrates and wills the Manor's Ivory to crawl up Gehassigkeit's legs. He'll turn the beast to ivory!

⦿ Gehassigkeit's expression turns to fury. He roars and jerks forward, green flame billowing from his mouth.

⦿ The Prince's concentration is broken as he shimmers out of the line of fire.

⦿ They battle, while Cassius causes carnage around them. Neither can achieve the upper hand and if The Prince turns his attention on Cassius he leaves himself open to Gehassigkeit's blight. Flame wicks up his side and he feels himself twisting into something wrong. He shoves all his mental powers into stopping the corruption, reversing it. It draws more than he'd estimated and he sheds the cloak of his human form and is revealed in all his glory as a four-armed, seven foot murdon - just as pale as his castle, with curling ivory fronds.

⦿ The Prince realizes he cannot win this fight.

⦿ It's selfish and cowardly, but he wants to flee.

⦿ With everyone else in the manor ripped apart, Cassius turns to The Prince.

⦿ The Prince wants nothing more than to feel Cassius' adoration directed at him once more.

⦿ But Cassius looks to Gehassigkeit, and when he turns his attention back to The Prince it brims with fury and hatred.

⦿ The Prince grabs hold of Feoras and teleports to safety.