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[she glares back at him, though evenly. she's wearing a more sensible trousers and button down with a bone corset, and she has a large sword around her waist that looks way too big for her.]
...Your creature is sniffing me.
...Your creature is sniffing me.
My page misled you. I am the best necromancer you will ever meet.
[she squints at the wolf, but if she's no longer squinting, she's less bothered.]
Your page says you're a king who plays a lot of games.
[she squints at the wolf, but if she's no longer squinting, she's less bothered.]
Your page says you're a king who plays a lot of games.
[ Niah is just chilling, well-behaved. Doesn't bark or bother. There's a glint of interest in Joonghyuk's eyes when she says she's the best. ]
"Supreme King" is a title of the strongest—the king among kings. Royalty has little to do with it. [ He doesn't care about that. ] Games were part of my old profession.
You are the only necromancer I've met.
"Supreme King" is a title of the strongest—the king among kings. Royalty has little to do with it. [ He doesn't care about that. ] Games were part of my old profession.
You are the only necromancer I've met.
So, the best. But if you meet another, I will still be the best.
[she frowns.]
What sort of "games" bestow such a title?
[she frowns.]
What sort of "games" bestow such a title?
[a pause.]
...Within reason. [it undermines her coolness but she feels the need to clarify, apparently.]
As for a trade, I will tell you something, but not everything. And I don't suppose you will tell me everything, either.
...Within reason. [it undermines her coolness but she feels the need to clarify, apparently.]
As for a trade, I will tell you something, but not everything. And I don't suppose you will tell me everything, either.
We did. Tell me what these games are, and I will explain in turn.
Importantly, the games listed on my profile are not the same as the "games" you think are tied to the titles.
[ He'd rather not mislead if he's not getting anything from it. A moment as he tries to figure out how to explain in layman terms. ]
The manifestation of the universe's will calls for the end of worlds, each made into a spectacle for the gods' entertainment. Their favorite story is a bloody one... The "games" focus on survival and competition. Every scenario had an objective, conditions, and rewards—failure often equates death. Only the strong survive.
They're similar to the killing "games" we've all experienced, but more people.
[ He'd rather not mislead if he's not getting anything from it. A moment as he tries to figure out how to explain in layman terms. ]
The manifestation of the universe's will calls for the end of worlds, each made into a spectacle for the gods' entertainment. Their favorite story is a bloody one... The "games" focus on survival and competition. Every scenario had an objective, conditions, and rewards—failure often equates death. Only the strong survive.
They're similar to the killing "games" we've all experienced, but more people.
And you are the Supreme King at killing for entertainment. You do have a leg up, then.
I would not call the trials and executions justice. They are their own means of killing.
[hmm. anyway, she's quiet for a moment.]
That wasn't insignificant, so. Where I am from, necromancy is - not common, per se, but the line runs through all of the noble houses. A skill expected of the heirs. My own house had grown poor, our numbers dwindled, and we were dying out, but I was born, the most powerful necromancer in generations, for the purpose of restoring its former glory.
When I was seventeen, the Emperor, our God, called upon all of the heirs to all nine houses and their sworn swords, their cavaliers, to compete for the chance to ascend and become one of his immortal saints. The competition was intense, at first one of study and great danger, wherein we would piece together the secret to immortality. Eventually, we came to realize we were not merely dying off in accidents, but were being hunted one by one. One of the old saints, thousands of years old, had returned for the purpose of preventing any of us from achieving what had been done to her. Immortality, it turns out, is a dreadful thing, and it costs dearly.
The secret to immortality is to sacrifice another person and consume their soul, burning it permanently within yourself as fuel. Three of us necromantic heirs solved it. One refused outright to do it. One murdered her cavalier immediately and became nearly the saint's match. But I was forced to do it when my own cavalier sacrificed herself so that I could kill the saint. Since then, I have been trying to undo what I have done, save her life if possible but if not, at least not spend eternity devouring her.
And I have solved it, what God himself could not do, but now I am here.
[hmm. anyway, she's quiet for a moment.]
That wasn't insignificant, so. Where I am from, necromancy is - not common, per se, but the line runs through all of the noble houses. A skill expected of the heirs. My own house had grown poor, our numbers dwindled, and we were dying out, but I was born, the most powerful necromancer in generations, for the purpose of restoring its former glory.
When I was seventeen, the Emperor, our God, called upon all of the heirs to all nine houses and their sworn swords, their cavaliers, to compete for the chance to ascend and become one of his immortal saints. The competition was intense, at first one of study and great danger, wherein we would piece together the secret to immortality. Eventually, we came to realize we were not merely dying off in accidents, but were being hunted one by one. One of the old saints, thousands of years old, had returned for the purpose of preventing any of us from achieving what had been done to her. Immortality, it turns out, is a dreadful thing, and it costs dearly.
The secret to immortality is to sacrifice another person and consume their soul, burning it permanently within yourself as fuel. Three of us necromantic heirs solved it. One refused outright to do it. One murdered her cavalier immediately and became nearly the saint's match. But I was forced to do it when my own cavalier sacrificed herself so that I could kill the saint. Since then, I have been trying to undo what I have done, save her life if possible but if not, at least not spend eternity devouring her.
And I have solved it, what God himself could not do, but now I am here.
[ He doesn't disagree. Without a word, he listens intently. His wolf seems to do the same. It's a bit sad, but Joonghyuk doesn't offer her pity. In the end, things are good?? ]
You've found the answers you needed. [ Tone implication: commendable. ] This is more than I expected to hear.
You've found the answers you needed. [ Tone implication: commendable. ] This is more than I expected to hear.
Don't patronize me.
[scowling a little, though she didn't really expect that reaction, either. when she's still so determined to hate him.]
I will leave here, and then it will be done in earnest.
[scowling a little, though she didn't really expect that reaction, either. when she's still so determined to hate him.]
I will leave here, and then it will be done in earnest.
[well, that's about what i expected but at least they made some progress goodbye.]
[ Spins the wheel of doors. okay i see
He opens this door and a creature sure comes out at them. While he sees one of the persons (the other can be Harrow's person) in its mouth is someone he knows, he takes out his sword and he's about to try to stab it. Does she TELL HIM HE SHOULDN'T? ]
3. You open a door and immediately hear a roar. Before you can see what's inside the room, a creature bursts out and screams in your face. The face inside the snake's mouth is someone you know from home. Their expression is a mixture of bloodthirst and terror. You get the sense that they want you dead. You sustain one minor injury, but the door slams shut on the creature before it can hurt you further. If you try to open the door again, it won't open, but you will hear your friend's screams from behind it.They can happen to be in this hallway together, all coincidence and not intentional.
He opens this door and a creature sure comes out at them. While he sees one of the persons (the other can be Harrow's person) in its mouth is someone he knows, he takes out his sword and he's about to try to stab it. Does she TELL HIM HE SHOULDN'T? ]
[absolutely not, she doesn't. she's going to pull out a knife and try to drive it directly into the side of the snake with a furious snarl.]
[ Nice. The snake hisses as it's stabbed in the side, then Joonghyuk's sword runs through its head. Despite what should be a fatal blow, it writhes and snaps at them. Its python teeth graze or prick them, drawing light trickles of blood.
It attempts to slither back. ]
It's trying to escape.
It attempts to slither back. ]
It's trying to escape.
[her knife probably did very little of that damage, but she'll try to slash it again before the door abruptly slams shut on it.]
I'm not sure whether it was even real.
I'm not sure whether it was even real.
Yes. A phantom can still hurt you. A ghost can bloody you. But it will also appear to you how it wants to appear.
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