11/06/2021
Xenialanankasménos was over 6000 years old. He had seen a lot, not as much as the ancient ones, but enough to know his way around, especially around mortals. He loved the way they gawked at his blue skin and orange wild hair, or his not one, but two sets of wings. One feathered, one like the wings of a dragon. His tail would often catch his opponents by surprise, rarely did adventurers look down.
Xenialanankasménos went by X in the mortal realms. A name had power where he was from, and one letter seemed already too much, but he liked the symbolism. An X to the illiterate was a signature, and could by symbolic nature, representing any name ever created, and so he was called by most, X.
The world of the Quasidivine was a fickle one. Full of deals, battles and betrayals. It did one not much good to be a one trick pony and so, he began trading in souls, the common currency for his kind and many other of the outer realm powers. It was in the interest of procuring yet another soul that he ventured to the Prima Realm, in a back woods galaxy, far far away from his own realm.
There he was summoned by one who thought herself powerful, with an offer for a soul, for a seemingly menial task. It was too good to pass up, and so he decided to answer the summons, par for the course.
Before him stood a striking woman, dressed in black with violet highlights, her hair was up, and intermixed with some form of feathered cap, likewise it was black.
She was indeed powerful, and her soul black, but her arrogance, like so many others would be the end of her.
X looked around and noticed the markings on the ground. Precise, flawless she was thorough at least, not a single mistake. As X looked around he took in the beautiful black onyx walls and surroundings. The walls looked as though they might hurt you, if you dared to go too close to them.
You have summoned X, and X has appeared stated X. (It was part of the game, play all humble and subservient).
Indeed said the Dark Queen as she eyed him with glowing eyes, yes indeed, you will do just nicely.
X had no idea what she was referring to. She did not even seem surprised at his appearance.
It is my understanding, that your kind value souls yes? Asked Kamodo
That is so, replied X
And so, for a soul that I own, you would do me a request? Asked Kamodo.
That depends on the request replied X slyly.
Good, said Kamodo. My proposition is that you sit in that chair, and I will give you a soul that I own. Offered Kamodo.
X was suspicious. He hadn’t survived 6000 years to not know when something was up.
On condition, he replied I search the chair first.
Be my guest replied Kamodo.
X searched the odd looking chair. It was made of metal, carved with ornate skulls and gems. After finding nothing he turned around. I sit in the chair, and..
I give you a soul I own yes, finished Kamodo.
Fine I agree said X, confident he could work his way out of anything this mere mortal could throw at him.
Done!!! Said Kamodo, with eyes ablaze. There was a rumble outside and the room shook.
Done? DONE?!!! THAT WAS HIS LINE! That was the line that QD say when they seal a deal, just who was this woman?
For the first time in a long time X began to feel….fear. However he kept his cool demeanour.
Well time to pay goaded X.
Not until you sit in the chair, stated Kamodo as she turned away.
X felt doubt as to that action now. But she said the word, the binding word. X wondered at how she had obtained that ability. Perhaps he had underestimated her.
Very well said X, I shall sit. As X sat he wondered if this had been a bad idea.
Sever! Said Kamodo as cuffs sprang from the chair entrapping the QD.
What the? Said a surprised X. RARRRRWWWWLLLLL howled X as he tried in vain to get free.
You lied, YOU LIED screamed X , you can’t do that, there will be repercussions, terrible terrible repercussions!
Kamodo smiled holding up a silver chain leading to the chair, and in her other hand a small shining gem.
Within this gem is the soul of a poor farm girl. She had never left home, nor even had a boyfriend, and now this soul that I own, is yours. Kamodo passed the QD the gem, but as his hands were bound dropped the gem in between his legs.
X was now starting to panic. He had been played at his own game.
And now, our dealing is over, our halves both fulfilled, I can get to work. Said Kamodo.
X began to struggle, he could not understand why he could not simply break free, it was as though the chair was unbreakable.
Kamodo took the other end of the chain and produced a key. As she placed it into a slot in the chair a panel showed up, containing strange dials and levers.
I suspect you are very old and powerful, yet not very well versed in technology. Stated Kamodo as she began to turn a dial.
X began swearing and struggling uncontrollably. He howled insults, hissed and growled yet nothing he could do would free him, and his powers, his powers why couldn’t he use them?
This might sting a bit said Kamodo as she pulled a lever all the way to max.
White light and pain shot through X, and year by year he felt his life essence being drained.
X remembered his last thought was, Clever gurl……….
Through a fog of consciousness X awoke briefly. In front of him, glass and water? A liquid, but not water, it had a slight glow to it. He was encased in a large tube, and before him another tube, with cables running from one to the other. A whitish light went from his tank, to the other, that of a girl, purple hair and perfect physique. As more of his life energy left him he passed out again.
He would awaken again, in a cage, made of metal plates, not of bars, but metal plates allowing him little view. He tried to stand but fell down. A voice called out in the darkness. X said nothing. His powers. His souls, they were all …Gone. The many years of his existence, robbed from him but how?
X was aware of some one moving around when he heard a gasp and a rattle. Suddenly his cage opened..FREEDOM!
X dived out of the cage and nearly lost consciousness again. He was weak, vulnerable. X looked around frantically ..a door way, light, it was escape. X ran toward the light and seeing a bag on a table grabbed it, hoping for something of value. X ran up the stairs and out of the bright white room, full of finery and jewels. Had it been any other situation he would have stopped, but now escape was priority.
X left the room and made his way to a stained glass window. He knew not what was on the other side but he hoped for freedom. With all his remaining power he used a technique called Body Slide and did a short range teleport to the other side of the window, immediately to find himself falling.
X managed to spread his wings and prevent falling to death but his landing was anything but graceful. He sat and hid in the bushes, contemplating his situation.
Just then he felt something, a presence, the same one that was in the lab, she was near. X felt nearly compelled to follow…a piece of his power lay within……THERE!
X watched intently, closing the distance on this person wearing armor. She then broached a carriage and got in, all the while X was a mere ten feet from her.
Drive! Said the woman in the carriage.
X grabbed onto the back of the carriage. He didn’t understand the connection between himself and the woman, but it served him to be leaving just the same.
His thoughts began to turn to anger as the nights cold chill wind hit his face, but he had to give it to that other mortal, she had certainly played a good game……
