A diminished man

[Leaving Hope]

* You could see the months of incarceration had taken their toll on the man. Frailty from undernourishment, disease, and a dying spirit had diminished him into a husk of a man.

Once proud and favored, the stormlord of Talos had bowed to no man or beast; chaos surrounded him, and destruction was left in his path.

During his first weeks, the Talossian had put up a fight, and the fire had remained in his eyes. But day after day after day of tedium, tainted food, and no visitors had taken its toll. At first, the other prisoners stayed away from him; this was the man that had murdered the Paladin of Helm, the Abbot's closest friend, and had the sheer balls to admit to it in court. But his health, spirit, and desire waned, and soon not even Talos would grant the miserable man his gifts. Had the Chaos Lord had forsaken him?

Despite his stay in solitary 23 hours a day, he could always expect to be abused by the other inmates during his one free hour with the general population. It began with taunts. It ended with far worse.

But it was at the hands of the guards that the inmate suffered most. Beaten within an inch of his life, and then healed enough to survive, the ritual of violence repeated day in and day out. This was his punishment for a man who deserved death, they said. He had escaped death by testifying, so they wouldn't kill him, they said.

There were days when it was clear he wished they would.

The guards laughed as the beatings began again. Agony and loathing were his companions in that dark solitary cell. They would never leave him. They would not forget him. He squeezed shut his eyes and gagged as the guards forced his face into his chamberpot.

They would never leave him.*

[wangxiuming]

Alyrian watches silently, invisibly ... and a slow smile creeps onto his face.

[Gamling]

Death may have been a better fate for this man,Nulinus says.

[Cadmus Runesmith]

Cadmus watches as the blight sickens the land, corrupting the people and tainting their blood. He walks slowly, his posture slumped, his eyes filled with a deep sadness, perhaps regret?

He had tried to save the land, to aid those in need, but in his ignorance he had merely aided in its destruction. His trust in the Stormlord Kemnebi had shattered the land and cost him the life of his dear friend.

He had lost the will to serve Helm, forsaking his calling he refused to even pray for aid...for what god would aid a man such as himself?

His once pristine armor was now covered in dirt and filth. He wanders aimlessly, the road taking him where it may. The darkness he had forseen was speading across the lands, sweeping away everything he had ever cared about in its wake.

The Arcanus Liberus, formed to foster the growth of magical knowledge in the lands now lay in turmoil, its leadership abolished its direction uncertain.
His former friends and companions abandoned him, painting him a heretic before the populace during the trial.
His faith shattered, his will broken, his resolve destroyed.

He kneels now, the picture of a broken man, the wind sweeping through his dirt stained hair.

The gates of the Necropolis loom before him, their dark embrace calling to him, demanding he end his pitiful existence.

His body shakes, his eyes well with tears, the emotions too strong for him to control any longer.

"Why have you forsaken me....I have not the strength to stand alone...."

[Leaving Hope]

[Cadmus'] body shakes, his eyes well with tears, the emotions too strong for him to control any longer.

"Why have you forsaken me....I have not the strength to stand alone...."

* A gigantic man wearing blue armor walks up behind Cadmus and places his mighty hand on the Dwarf's shoulder. *

You do not stand alone.

* Tyton's eyes raise from the sullen Helmite to the distant Necropolis. His gaze is determined, critical, and intense *

Kemnebi is paying the price for his crimes. He will pay a thousand, thousand times over before he leaves this life; and though that will never be enough, it's a start.

We cannot allow evil to take a foothold in our cities, in our streets; we cannot allow evil to take a foothold in our hearts. For if it does, and if we permit it to do so, are we any better than they are?

No, my friend, my brother in faith. I stand with you. And I say many more will stand with us before the end. Let the good come and pledge their support to you; lead them against this impending darkness, for it is His will, and deep down I know it is yours as well.

I stand with you, Cadmus of Helm.

[Leaving Hope]

* Deep within the Necropolis, another set of eyes flare purple with intensity as they gaze outward at the blue giant and the dwarf. *

Marshall your forces, brother. I would be severely disappointed if you didn't.

* Tifton, brother of Titon, looks to several of the Coterie and smiles a wicked, mischevious smile. *

There will be blood.

[Peridan]

*out of the mist comes a sinister shadow, whip lean and carrying a massive scythe and shield. Samael grins at Cadmus, his face different from its usual self and chuckles.

Seems I won't be getting a chance to kill you, Cadmus. The weakling here wishes to fight by your side far too much. So I suppose I'll take a backseat for a while, and let him stand beside you. But after this is over....

*His face reverts to normal, and Sam leans on his scythe and grins at Cadmus*

Cadmus....stop looking...like that...battle approaches....*he smiles*

I...can't let you...have all...the fun.....

*He draws himself up*

I stand.....with you...Cadmus....of Helm...

[Cadmus Runesmith]

Cadmus looks up at Tyton, his gaze meeting his eyes, then falling to the ground before his feet.

"I am responsible for the death of your brother....as much as Kemnebi, perhaps more."
"I fear to ask Helm for aid, how could he, who sees all, ever forgive my transgressions against the Church?

"I have not the strength to face Landaren alone." "Twice he has bested me in combat, and twice he has allowed me to live with my shame."

"How can I ever find redemption?"

[nickbeat]

"There ye Be Cadmus!" Dordleton nods to Tyton before speaking. He had been listening for a while to Cadmus as he seemed to get deeper in a funk. "I heard ye were troubled ta the point of just givin up... So ye made some mistakes. Now the whole city's fallin ta pot. That don't mean you give up all hope, along wit yerself..."

Taking in the state of the man, Dordleton tries to be kind but really it is just not in his nature. "Yer a mess! Get off yer funk and clean yerself up man and grab yer tools. We got work ta do."

[Cadmus Runesmith]

Cadmus nods to Dordleton, "Aye lad, perhaps you are right."

Dusting off his armor Cadmus looks to both Tyton and Dordleton, a look of renewed hope present in his eyes. He casts his gaze to Samael, a smile upon his dirty face.

"Thank ye lad...I had lost much hope in these trying times, but perhaps we can overcome this darkness together." "We must try, regardless of the consequences."

Cadmus' gaze lingers a second longer on the gates of the Necropolis, he then turns and begins to walk back to the city.

"I must speak with the abbot." He flashes a brief smile.
"And a cousin of mine at the Exigo asked me to stop by once the trial had ended." Flexing his gauntleted hand he dusts off his armor.

"Perhaps it is time to pay him a visit."

[whatchalookin]

Isaniel Ny'thin cast's a spell sending a Message to Cadmus.

"I hope that you will not let yourself fall like Landeran......there are many that will fight by yourside....Myself included. Now get off your knees your making your Kin look bad"

[ThePaganKing]

*Elric reads another missive delivered by one of his many spies and smiles.*

"It seems that Sundren is ripe for the plucking. I cannot believe Cadmus is in such sorry straights, I thought the man had more backbone than that? I may have to send him a message of support, now whether he believes me or not, well, that is to be seen."

"Things are definitely becoming very, very interesting."

[Vejuz]

Aresid stands and watches the broken man for a time, then silently turns heel and walks away to write a letter.

[Leaving Hope]

"I am responsible for the death of your brother....as much as Kemnebi, perhaps more."

"I fear to ask Helm for aid, how could he, who sees all, ever forgive my transgressions against the Church?

"How can I ever find redemption?"

* Tyton, a blunt man, looks at Cadmus directly *

Yes, you invited the man who killed my brother.
Yes, you trusted a man who revels in chaos.
Yes, you made an error in judgment.

Yet, you are not to blame for Kemnebi's dark heart, his actions, or his motives. You did not raise the man to be callous; you did not put him on his path or conspire to murder Tifton; you did not plot this idea. I have never once blamed you, Cadmus, though I grieve for you. The man responsible for this crime, the man responsible for robbing this world of a truly good and honorable soul, is in prison.

It is time for you and I to move past this trial, this loss of our brother, and defend against the impending darkness. It is time for you to be a light. It is time for you to shine.

Do this for Tifton.
Do this for forgiveness, and honor, and duty.
Do this for Helm.

[Gamling]

*Nulinus looks at cadmus sadly* I will be one to stand by you in the dark days to come.