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[Arakad]

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Moonglow had failed, half its land fallen and claimed. And the man Jacob no more. Arakad was forced to remember by the woman they all said was his wife. And yet his memories came in spurts. His mind came in jumps and unknown revelations. He could feel an evil growing inside him ever since his mind began to ravel itself back together. Darkness swooning in the unknown depths of his soul until now never awakened until that woman forced him to "Remember..."

Vampire bats cried in the moonlight as the man now stood before the massive tower within Umbra; his mind still healing but he could vaguely remember the times spent in this building. Ascending the stairs, feet shuffling over the scattered hay spread out upon the cobblestone path before a horse made of silver. He placed a hand upon the horse barding moving a single chink of armor that sat out of place. "Who are you really, Arakad. And what drove you to this". A portion of the wall behind the faux horse armor pushed aside to reveal the hidden stair passage. Stepping over the hitching rope and around the armor, he made his way into the shadowed depths of the stair well. Gloved hands brushed over the tattered wall map that lined the wall as he quietly made his way up the dark stone stairs.

The shadows of the building seemed to pulse with unnatural life, scratching sounds and skittering voices in the darkness surrounded the man. "I'm not alone here am I..." opening the door, he allowed his eyes to gain focus to reveal a unique sitting area, benches in a circle upon white marble tile. His sapphire eyes catching sight of the only illumination in the darkness, pale and oblique - he turned to face the source, his feet catching the silence of the room with unnatural ease. Coming to a dark stoned table, he placed a gloved hand firmly upon a crystal ball. At first the ball had looked cracked, broken - but as Arakad touched its surface the glass swirled with life revealing a lush green land in its depths, creatures walked the surface of the land, cat-like and yet human or humanoid at the same moment. Living and thriving in this magical land. Quickly removing his hand from the balls surface he brought the same hand to the runes that branded his skin, the sharp angular and yet cat-like features of his face. "..family...". Turning from the balls presence as though the mere sight of it had pained him, he came to notice the outline of a door made of black steel just to the right of the table.

Attempting to push against the door, it would not budge. He leveled his shoulder against its surface and attempted to ram the steel but that only gained him in stumbling backwards roaring in pain. He placed a hand upon the doors surface shaking his head slowly "What lies behind you my friend..." whether it was the sound of his voice or the touch of his hand upon its surface, the door slid open with a soft sucking of wind being drawn upstairs. Pushing forward, he ascended the next set of stairs cautiously. Each step seemed to bring on a deeper darkness. But only momentarily - just as his feet reached the top stair, the window illuminated by non-existing light breaking the thick shadows.

Rounding the corner of the stair well he was shocked as the hall suddenly lit up in wall torches, illuminating the open balcony and curtain covered walls. A smattering of blood reds and shadow grey's gave an almost macabre feeling. The glowing sapphire eyes adjusting to this new brightness, he stepped forward to investigate. The floors were covered in a lush red carpet, brushing a hand over the wall curtains, he revealed the mounted axes, swords, spears, armor and bows hidden behind. Gloved hands going over the surface of each sharpened edge, each shimmering breast of armor. "What am I ...."

Passing the murals, the portraits and only giving a passing glance out the open balcony. Arakad stepped towards a door hidden behind a tapestry. Noticed only by the blowing breeze coming in from the cool night air. Lifting back the tapestry and pushing the door inward, he came to a small chamber not fit for even a walk way. Brushing away cobwebs and dust from the curtains that lined these walls as well, he revealed the opening into a grand sleeping chamber.

Stepping past the entrance way, he allowed his eyes to once again get attuned to the darkness. Almost unusual and unseemly at the same time. Looking over the unused bed, the weapons on stands and books of arcane yet now to him forgotten magic. The markings of chaos branded into the tiles of the floor... maps and novellas scattered across desks. Yet what stood out the most was not the items and materials within the room but the sound. The emptiness, loneliness, and unparalleled deafening sound of the darkness that encompassed the room. And the whole house for that matter.

The scratching and skittering sound from before became even louder here. Voices in the darkness whispering him a welcome home, the scratching of foot talons giving him an unseen sight of never felt terror. ~welcome home master.~

"who .... was I ...." a final mutter under his breath