The Magnan's open Challenge: Resurrecting Shadows

[The Magnan]

The Tower of Intent was mostly silent. As the Magnan made his way sluggishly up the steps. The top of the tower had statues positioned on all sides, some angel and others soldiers of ancient wars. He followed the voice to the centre. The tortures of climbing this impervious tower had take its toll, his body almosy crumbled in heap. But he knew they would come, and the voice told him that if enough blood spilled the salvation would come. He despised the voice, the temptation crushed him but he accepted it. Standing on ancient tower he felt a beat. A heart, a stone heart carved into the foundations of the Tower of Intent. The storm above him surged and rocked the sky with lightening glistening and striking the statues. The stone arms almosy detached and drove swords into the ground. Magnafire removed the ring of fire and cast it aside. The darkness swirled inside. Erif Angam was coming.

This is a challenge to anyone who either wishes assist in the awakening of Erif angam or stop it at all costs, the location is the tower of intent. You will be fighting Magnafire. Note that if you character ascended the tower, then they would also be slightly fatigued by what they fought, it is afterall heavily guarded.

[Mat]

Decimus hastliy climbed the steps of the cursed tower. He breathed heavily as he hurried to catch up to the one who had come before him. He knew that he didn't have much time, but he had to stop it. The statues on either side of the stairway seemed to stare down at him as he continued his ascent to the top. As he got closer to the top, Decimus could feel a soft throbbing in the stone, almost as if a beating heart were located with the tower. He wanted to pick up his pace, but he chose not to as he knew whoever was becoming Erif Angam would surely stand in his way. Besides, he was tired enough from the battles he had faced on his way up here. The vast amount of foes guarding this tower was surprising. He hadn't even defeated them all; Marius was still down there holding them off and giving him time.

He tightened the straps of his shield around his arm and drew his sword as he finally stepped up to the top of the tower. It was said that the Tower of Intent was one of the greatest structures in the land, and looking out at the immense view of the world around him, he understood why. But all that natural beauty was covered up by the dark and overwhelming sense of power eminating from the center of the tower's roof.
Decimus took a deep breath and relaxed, and as he walked out into the night sky he felt a little less exhausted. When he looked towards the center of the circle he stopped. In the middle was what looked like a big man in imposing armour, wielding a dark sword. Thunder crashed above him as he took another deep breath and entered a tense stance. Whoever this was, defeating him would be tough. He had heard the stories about Erif Angam's power.But he had to be stopped.

[The Magnan]

Magnafire struggled to remain stable but that was the whole point, relinquishing control of himself. Of promised power, the offer was too tempting. Impurity saw to the demise of caution, and Blade Edge fed on it, and fed him what he had been promised, the darkness overwhelmed him, dark veins formed on half his face, causing one eye's pupil turn black as the dark surrounding the tower. He felt the presence of the man who had come, clearly unaware of the situation unfolding, unaware of the legends surrounding not just Erif but shadows of Sycane. The tower had been at the vocal point of fate before now it was to be again. Magnafire had turned around, Blade Edge drawn, its blade licking up the flames that traversed its metal edges. It continued to guide his every thought. Blood would be spilled and it would feed the traitor within. Gods below, was this his destiny to descend into the chaos of Intent. The War of Intent was maelstrom affecting everyone, the Black Dragon Legion was fighting its brothers, fellow man to control Sycane and here he stood at the vocal point of the coming darkness.

The warrior scratch that soldier looked like a heavy of sorts, not baring his kind of armour but similar, and he saw the longsword, not bound but lethal. He raised his sword, he aimed to counter the mans strike and leave him vulnerable to assaults from projectiles like his fireballs.

[Mat]

Decimus charged fowards at the figure in the center, slashing downwards at him. His opponent quickly raised his sword and blocked his strike, but that was expected. Decimus could feel heat coming from the man's other hand, and he knew a fireball was coming. Decimus did not know much about this power he was fighting, but he did know that this man was a Magnan, and he remembered from previous encounters all too well what Magnans could do.

His shield was in place to block the fireball, but the force of it still pushed him back. Decimus tightened his grip on his sword and took a step foward. The Magnan seemed confident, but yet, at the same time uneasy. As if he were struggling with something inside himself. Decimus slowly circled his opponent, sizing him up and taking special notice of the dark sword his foe weilded. It was undoubtedly powerful, he had to be careful. He couldn't take too much time though, he knew that the longer this took, the more likely it was that his enemy would harness Angam's power. With this in mind, Decimus surged foward, launching a flurry of strikes with both his sword and his bladed shield, hoping to batter down his opponent's defenses and tire him down.

[The Magnan]

Magnafire first sought to remove the threat of the sheild, the defensive weapon becoming more of an offensive, and as he parried the flurries, making sure to avoid losing his balance he drove Blade Edge down as hard as possible aiming to collide with the shield and take it out of field.
I sense over confidence
Magnafire stepped back and whispered, "Me or him?"
Him, although he seems to know your kind. Is it remotely possible he has encoutered either Blood Burner or Black Dragon Legion or even the Dragon Tears
"Does it matter?"
No remotely but it intrigues me. His style is erratic and misplaced. I'm no-
"Blade Edge your overconfident."
There was no response from his bound sword but Magnafire was preparing to summon his dragon ability, but it take a couple of minutes to awaken fullly within and for the time being he would just have to dance.
He smiled under him helm, "The Magnan Dance is for moments like this." His stance changed, one foot moved forward and lifted slightly allowing him to move with ease to either side, he angled his sword down, and if the man struck above he could flick the blade up and if he struck down he could try to trap it. Magnafire was thankful for his training, Magnieve had told him to concentrate on all possibilities. And then with that Magnafire realised the statues could play an important role in all this.

I can feel raw energy building inside, a dragon nonetheless, Magnan i wish not for a premature ending.

Magnafire felt a chill run up his spin, Erif was in his mind.

[Mat]

Decimus took the Magnan's blow to his shield and grunted. This man was both skilled and strong, his shield now had a long scar in it running straight down the middle. His opponent stepped back and seemed to wait. Decimus took this time to breathe slowly and think. As he did, the Magnan shifted and changed his stance. Decimus wondered if he should use the shadow's gift soon. He would undoubtedly have to use it eventually, his foe was obviously superior to him without it, the only question was when. Timing would be crucial because if he used it too soon, he still wasn't sure if it would make much of a difference. But if he used it once his enemy was tired and fatigued...

Thunder crashed overhead and Decimus started into motion. He swiped low first, attempting another series of attacks, but as soon as he did the Magnan's dark blade slammed down on his own and locked hilts with it, trapping him in a deadlock. Decimus tried to pull it free but couldn't, the Magnan was stronger than him. Hoping to avoid any more fiery tricks his foe might have ready, he thought fast and put all his weight and force behind his shield and shoved against the Magnan in an attempt to push him away and break their lock.

[The Magnan]

Magnafire grimaced slightly as the man attempted to use his shield to forced his away, the spikes cutting there way through his armour but the armour did what it was designed to do, cushion and take the brunt of any impact. However, it had winded him and it could be seen on his way, and whilst the swords were deadlocked he had his chance and under normal circumstances he would have forced it up and drove it into the chest, but he was forced back, his stance remaining same as he dug in and pulled his sword back and this time took aim for the arm.

That's it patient unleash the dragon when i want you to-

"Magnafire, of the 7th Black Dragon Legion, my father is Magniek, my mother is Magnis, and I lived on firetop mountain with the rose field outside... so beautiful. Poisoned, destroyed, and lost. Not now not today. My mind. My mind. My soul. Our soul. Is one" said Magnafire.

Note itallics are Erif.

[Mat]

Decimus grunted as he succesfuly pushed the Magnan away, but an instant later his opponents sword was slashing right at him. Still unbalanced from pushing the other warrior away, Decimus had barely any time to react. He tried to twist out of the sword's path, but he wasn't fast enough. The Magnan's sword opened a long gash on his sword arm. He put his hand to the cut and backed up, trying to recover. He could feel it bleeding freely, and that was a problem. He had to stop it or he'd be forced to use the shadow's gift before it was time.Decimus clenched his teeth together as he understood what he had to do.

Still maintaining a distance from his foe, Decimus clenched the wound together with his left hand and grunted. It hurt, but that wasn't even the beginning. He had to use his burning grasp on himself to cauterize the wound.
Decimus couldn't help but yell in pain as he felt his flesh searing and melting together. But it was over quickly, and he soon regained his composure. It felt hot and sweaty underneath the helmet. He began to rethink his strategy now. He was going to have to use the shadow's gift soon. Decimus looked up and saw the Magnan seemed to just be standing there, and he thought he heard him muttering to himself.

He didn't take much heed of it and advanced foward slowly with his shield raised. He had no intention of being countered like before; He would let his opponent attack him this time.

[The Magnan]

Magnafire's eyes lit up, and he grimaced, as the fiery outline took shape.
'NO!
Magnafire ignored the cries of Erif and allowed the dragon inside to take shape above him, the flames writhing and hissing, as the lightening incased them. Finally the flames flung themselves forward, on direct course to the soldier, the jaws open, once it engulfed the knight, the dragon would explode. Magnafire dropped to his knees, his vision blurred by the lack of power in him. The climb had damaged him and Erif spoke, "Get up! this isn't over."
Magnafire tasted blood in his mouth, vile and sickening he rose on unsteady legs.

[Mat]

Decimus looked wide-eyed at the immense firey blast that was hurtling towards him. He raised his shield a little higher to block it, but the attempt was pointless. The dragon overwhelmed him and time seemed to slow down. He could see through the surrounding flames the magnan collapse to the floor, he could see every detail of the flame surrounding him. Then he was blinded by the sudden white flash of the explosion as the magnan's attack reached its peak.

Decimus felt disoriented and confused, and when he could see again he realized he was lying on the ground, face up. His only thoughts were of his helmet, which was blistering hot. Decimus slowly raised his arms and removed the helmet. His arms hurt just from that, and the pain continued as he turned over and tried to stand up. Using his sword for support, he shakily rose to his feet. His shield was utterly gone, nothing more than a melted and charred piece of metal. It was lying on the ground, the leather straps binding it to his arm were burnt off. From what Decimus could see, his tabard was no more than a tattered rag, patches were still burning here and there.

He could barely think, and before he knew it Decimus was laying face-down on the floor again. Decimus could see his opponent slowly rising to his feet.
It's time to let us in. He closed his eyes as he began to hear them. You need us now. Decimus cooperated with the powers, letting them in. As he did so, a faint purple aura began to encompase him. His eyes began to glow faintly and his breathing steadied a little. Decimus found the strength to push himself up again, this time without the sword. He took a step towards the magnan and staggered.

As he straightened himself, Decimus could see that his foe was tired, but still standing, as well. Clenching his sword, he continued to walk shakily towards the other warrior. Without the shadow's gift, he would not have even survived the blast. But would it be enough to achieve victory?

[The Magnan]

Magnafire/Erif stood to face the warrior. How he had surivived left both enbattled souls surprised. Erif shouted to the soldier, "So you employ shadow. Intriguing your practicully brimming with it. I'll make sure you end in the Corgraven's Shadow of Intent. the damn prison that it is." The necromancer laughed.
Magnafire's thoughts swam in chaos, "Listen, you have a good heart leave, me, he's too powerful. He has been infuzed with chaos beyond comprehension..." Magnafire mouth was dry, his body ached all over. Mostly due to Erif trying to take control.

[Mat]

Decimus could feel the darkness swimming around inside him. He despised using the shadow's gift, but sometimes he had no choice. But alongside the darkness he felt the strength that came with it. Decimus felt a little stronger with every step he took, and his focus slowly came back to him. He stopped, however, as the Magnan spoke. "So you employ shadow. Intriguing your practically brimming with it. I'll make sure you end in the Corgraven's Shadow of Intent. the damn prison that it is."

The voice sounded unworldy, and Decimus realized he was too late. Erif Angam was here now, he hadn't stopped the ritual in time. But then, another voice spoke "Listen, you have a good heart leave, me, he's too powerful. He has been infused with chaos beyond comprehension..."
This voice sounded normal, it was probably the original warrior that he had been fighting.
"If the original soul is partially in control of his body, then I may still have a chance to stop Angam before he grows too powerful", thought Decimus. He took another step foward and entered and entered a ready stance. Responding to the Magnan, he said, "I have to stop this! Theres no other choice now..."

The dark spirits inside him writhed in sadistic pleasure and gave him a little more strength. They felt like snakes inside his veins, but Decimus shoved the rising feeling of naseau back. Using his last reserves of strength, he charged foward and made a quick feint to the left but switched his momentum to a downward slash from above, aiming to catch his opponent off-guard and strike a blow to his shoulder.

[The Magnan]

The blow struck true, and created a gash in the armour on Magnafire's/Erif's shoulder, the blades point sliced deep into the shoulder blade. Blood seaped down from his shoulder, and droplets met with the stone tower surface. The following cracks of lightening overheard, cracked as each drop hit. The Tower's energy surged, creating cracks in the stone, and shaking vigoursly. Magnafire looked at the soldier, and raised the now Severance Edge, and swung in arc, aiming directly for the helmet of the man. He also stepped the side to avoid any swift counter, and remained poised to jump backwards. He began to notice a swirl of shadow above. In his head Erif cursed.
'The Shadows of Sycane are using this blood ritual to awaken themselves'

[Mat]

Decimus saw the sword coming at his head and barely reacted in time. He raised his sword high in front of his face and braced himself. His opponent's blow collided with his sword, knocking it out of his hands and sending it spinning towards the edge of the tower. Decimus staggered back and tried to think. Distorted thoughts and images passed through his head as the shadows writhed around inside him and fatigue wore him down. Thunder clashed above him and a bolt of lightening hit the tower, shaking the ground around the fighters and causing Decimus to collapse to his knees. He tried to clear his thoughts, but all he heard was the whispers of the shadows.

He could hear the magnan approaching, the heavy footsteps sounded like a grim countdown to his death. But the realization of his own inevitable defeat stirred Decimus into action. He stood up, pushing the whispers of the demons out of his head. He clenched his hands into fists, and when he reopened them faint trails of purple flames were moving across his palms. His burning grasp was the only weapon he had left, and he would fight until the end.

[The Magnan]

The explosion of dark energy spilled like an ocean into the world, and that split the souls of Magnafire and Erif Angam. As Magnafire fell backwards, the evil necromancer approached with the first incarnation of the sword Blade Edge. The Severance Edge was its opposite in everyway, it raditated both pure and corrupted evil but as Erif went to strike, the tower began to shake uncontrallably. Erif became his mist and disappeared along with many other shadows. Magnafire sat up, and muttered something like 'sorry'. His arms ached, and he could barely move. As bits of tower fell away, he got onto his unsteady feet and held out a hand of truce. There was a time to fight and then....

there was a time to survive.

(sorry about the shortness of this post)

[Mat]

Decimus stood ready to face the magnan one final time, when suddenly an explosion rocked the tower and shadows flooded out into the world. He struggled to stay on his feet, and managed to barely maintain his balance. Looking up, he could see a flood of shadows spilling out into the world. He stood there, motionless, "I failed..."

His train of thought was broken as the tower shook again, and Decimus could see bits of stone falling off along the tower's edges. The tower of intent is collapsing! he realized, and looked back towards his opponent. The magnan was rising shakily to his feet. He looked around and seemed to come to the same conclusion as Decimus, holding out his hand in a sign of truce. Decimus considered the hand for a few moments cautiously, but the tower began to shake again and he gripped it with his own, making peace with his enemy. They wouldn't be able to continue fighting while the very tower was crumbling around them. Their only choice now was to get off. He would worry about the shadows and Angam later. Right now he just needed to make it out alive.

[The Magnan]

Magnafire took one last look at Decimus and removed his helm, "There was nothing you could have done, stop Erif. It was inevitable and I was too...|" the Magnan wobbled as the began to tilt. "Listen, I know a way down but you need to move fast." Magnafire approached the edge of the crumpling tower and said, "Use the slabs..." he was cut off again as the piece he stood on, gave away. Quickly he search for a large piece of stone beneath him, and cautiously he jumped, every landing unsteady, but his descent was almost assured. That's if he wasn't crushed by the slabs above.

[Mat]

Decimus stood unsteadily and watched the Magnan descend down the crumbling tower. Everything inside his head told him that doing this was crazy, but he knew he certainly didn't have enough time to take the stairs down. And with that thought came the realization that Marius might still be down there. Decimus began to worry and turned towards the stairs, but then realized that Marius was much further down than he was, and he was probably almost out of the tower by now.

Decimus looked back towards the slighlty angled descent before him and jumped, landing on a jutting slab a few feet below. It cracked a little, and he hastily hurried down to the next one, following his opponent. Is he even your enemy anymore? It was obvious that this man was not the same one he had been fighting earlier. Now that Erif Angam was out he seemed... different. He put those thoughts out of his head for now. Moving down the side of the tower was no easy task, and he needed to focus if he was going to make it out alive.