Everyone knew by now, and no matter how few cared, there weren't many that would actually begin a confrontation over it. Those that frequented the Exigo Trading Post were often familiar with Karthus, and his self-declared ownership of the largest tree, nearest to the campfire. As comical as this appeared to a large portion of travellers, it was normally nothing more than that - for one such traveller, though, it became a catalyst for further conflict.
Mad Jack approached the tree with his hideous blade, and without reason, and without hesitation, he slammed the monstrous thing into the thickest of the branches, with Karthus standing but five feet away, having only the choice between flinging himself into the blade to stop it, or to watch helplessly. Karthus chose the latter, rather than the former. Angered beyond the scope of his patience, the self-proclaimed tree owner decided to take Jack up on his following offer, to "take a walk" with him.
Minutes later, in the crossroads, the consequences of Jack's actions and Karthus' excessive rage became fully realized. Just out of the sight of the Sentinals guarding the nearby outpost, Jack and Karthus stood; one with a tree-defiling blade, and the other unarmed. Just as Karthus reached to withdraw his sword, though, Jack revealed something that gave the angered woodsman pause.
"Your blade wants to kill me?" Karthus asked, in disbelief.
Jack went on to say that his blade had desires, and wants... and hunger. He implied that it spoke to him, and that it even went so far as to influence his moral reasoning. Suddenly, Karthus was more disturbed than he was angered. He pleaded for Jack to put the blade down, to simply apologize for his actions and leave it at that; no longer did the vengeful woodsman seek Jack's blood. It wasn't truly Jack to blame, was it? How could it be, when that monstrous weapon spoke to the madman's conscience. The sword was the problem.
In a hasted effort, Karthus summoned the roots beneath Jack's feet to seize his ankles - to immobalize him. If Jack was unable to move, perhaps Karthus might have been able to take posession of the cursed weapon, though the attempt was futile. In a growing fit of rage, Jack cut through the roots grasping at his legs, and let out of horrific battlecry before charging Karthus' position. In a final attempt to stop Jack without harming him, the unarmed earthcaster closed his eyes, and with great concentration, began to thicken the air around him and Jack, almost to the point of stone. In his rage, though, Jack forced his way through the final conjuration, and in only a few swings of his terrible weapon, cleaved through the thin layer of fabric covering Karthus' body, and deep into the flesh beneath as well.
As the life began to drain from his body, Karthus staggered back, conjuring more and more vines and roots to impede Jack's movements, but the mindless barbarian was on a rampage. As the distance between them closed once more, Karthus closed his eyes and pushed his focus to the skies above, preparing to summon a blast of lightning; but all he found was empathy.
Jack is not to blame... Jack is not to blame... J- Jaack s'not t- to blame...
Karthus' thoughts began to fade away as the final blow of the sword caused his beaten body to collapse. What happened thereafter, Karthus didn't know - not until awakening in a pool of his own blood mixed with misplaced empathy for a corrupted mind.
"I shouldn't have let him go..."
Mad Jack approached the tree with his hideous blade, and without reason, and without hesitation, he slammed the monstrous thing into the thickest of the branches, with Karthus standing but five feet away, having only the choice between flinging himself into the blade to stop it, or to watch helplessly. Karthus chose the latter, rather than the former. Angered beyond the scope of his patience, the self-proclaimed tree owner decided to take Jack up on his following offer, to "take a walk" with him.
Minutes later, in the crossroads, the consequences of Jack's actions and Karthus' excessive rage became fully realized. Just out of the sight of the Sentinals guarding the nearby outpost, Jack and Karthus stood; one with a tree-defiling blade, and the other unarmed. Just as Karthus reached to withdraw his sword, though, Jack revealed something that gave the angered woodsman pause.
"Your blade wants to kill me?" Karthus asked, in disbelief.
Jack went on to say that his blade had desires, and wants... and hunger. He implied that it spoke to him, and that it even went so far as to influence his moral reasoning. Suddenly, Karthus was more disturbed than he was angered. He pleaded for Jack to put the blade down, to simply apologize for his actions and leave it at that; no longer did the vengeful woodsman seek Jack's blood. It wasn't truly Jack to blame, was it? How could it be, when that monstrous weapon spoke to the madman's conscience. The sword was the problem.
In a hasted effort, Karthus summoned the roots beneath Jack's feet to seize his ankles - to immobalize him. If Jack was unable to move, perhaps Karthus might have been able to take posession of the cursed weapon, though the attempt was futile. In a growing fit of rage, Jack cut through the roots grasping at his legs, and let out of horrific battlecry before charging Karthus' position. In a final attempt to stop Jack without harming him, the unarmed earthcaster closed his eyes, and with great concentration, began to thicken the air around him and Jack, almost to the point of stone. In his rage, though, Jack forced his way through the final conjuration, and in only a few swings of his terrible weapon, cleaved through the thin layer of fabric covering Karthus' body, and deep into the flesh beneath as well.
As the life began to drain from his body, Karthus staggered back, conjuring more and more vines and roots to impede Jack's movements, but the mindless barbarian was on a rampage. As the distance between them closed once more, Karthus closed his eyes and pushed his focus to the skies above, preparing to summon a blast of lightning; but all he found was empathy.
Jack is not to blame... Jack is not to blame... J- Jaack s'not t- to blame...
Karthus' thoughts began to fade away as the final blow of the sword caused his beaten body to collapse. What happened thereafter, Karthus didn't know - not until awakening in a pool of his own blood mixed with misplaced empathy for a corrupted mind.
"I shouldn't have let him go..."
Comment