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[Arakad]

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The waves of the lake crashed against the banks around the small island that housed the castle. The soft mist swirled against the ground as it evaporated into the air causing everything in the early morning to have a settlement of dew upon its surface.
"I remember the stories of you my mother used to tell me... about the times you walked the banks of your castle, how the early mornings were the only time you found peace when the world had turned against you."
A dark gloved hand reached up removing the shadow steel mask that concealed his face, resting the battered piece of armor upon the bronze coffin before him.

"How many years has it been, Father, since I stood here at your final resting place - uncertain of the direction of this world."

The dark paladin took a step around the coffin, each movement sending soft ripples in the dim light around him. The blood red runes that marked his face gave a soft pulse beneath the soft Felucca moonlight. Each step giving a soft pulse, each pulse causing his scared skin to seem to move and crawl. Those ghastly blue grey eyes turned away from the coffin as he stared down at the sepulcher of chaos at the base of the coffin.

"You dedicated your life to a chaos greater than family, friends and even loyalties. I declared those years ago to never follow your footsteps..."

Those black clad hands clenched into fists so tight the talons beneath the gloves punctured the rough leather, giving indentations against the palm of the gloves.

"How I have failed ... I abandoned my loyalties... my family ... my children I had just come to love. In a desperate search of my mothers bloodstone, the Stone of the Eternal."

Turning about face, those grey eyees glared at the coffin before him.

"I have fought beside the Light and the Dark of this world, I have seen paladins cause the greatest of sins attacking the innocent and youth while watching Lich Lords love another more than their greed of power. I have witnessed Chaos like you have dreamed of. In this world of Black and White I will be the grey that stands between, Father. And ... "

Reaching into the folds of his cloak as he withdraws a stone the size of a fist - the soft garish glow of the stone emitted a mirror of the Felucca moon above.

"And with luck, your memory will fade while my Family never again comes to harm by hands like yours."

Those pale eyes focused upon the darkness of the tomb as the shadow servants began to manifest. The Lasombra blood boiling within him as he summoned up the Night Eyes and Hands of the Abyss. The powers used gave the bloodstone in his grasp a black stain upon its surface, yet the dark paladin gave little notice.

"You ... send word to those that need hear, the Lord of Blackthorn Castle and Duke of Nujel`m has returned."

[Arakad]

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He had been in retirement far to long, laid back in the throne upon the balcony of the castle. Those ghost grey eyes staring off into the distance over the eastern block of Britain. He could not remember the last time he had actually relaxed in his wife's arms.

The messages were sent, the replies given back ... the puzzle pieces were slowly fitting together.

~You are going to do it aren't you - you will forge the pact~
The voice was dark, gravely and at one time in his life sent shivers and chills up his spine. But now; these modern days, these dark nights, the demon within was a friend closer than his own soul.

"I will do what I must to ensure the safety of my family and my land; that includes taking guidance from the likes of you" Those quiet mutters slipped through his lips like velvet, the servants of the castle couldn't help but mutter to one another as they fussed over the bedroom and linens. why was the Lord back, why was he acting so strange and .. who was he talking to?

Arakad came to a stand, stepping to the parapet of the balcony he came to a kneel along the edge staring down at the waters beneath. He did not give notice that the old stone was starting to crumble, nor notice of the horrified looks from the servants behind him. No all he cared for were the thoughts flooding through his mind.

How was he going to complete his task, and even more so... could he uphold this masquerade even to his own wife. Though the worst thoughts that came to him were ... does his curse now pass on to his children?

Leaping from the balcony the man vanished into the darkness of the night - following the shadow paths back to Mazewood and to his wife's sleeping arms.