Omens of the Second Cataclysm

[Roykagh]

Armandeigo walks in.

The regal air about this human is nauseating. An upturned

nose is planted square in the middle of his round, rosy

cheeked face. Brilliant locks of auburn hair fall delicately

around his face, giving him a feminine appeal. Wiry red lips

are pursed in a sour smile, as if there were a secret locked

away behind them.

His attire is fitting of royalty. A scarlet cape is hung over

his broad shoulders, clasped loosely at his neck with a solid

gold chain. A deep purple tunic graces his slender torso and

a sash with the hue of violet wraps seductively around his

mid-section. Blindingly bright white pantaloons with rigidly

starched creases encase his long legs. Polished riding boots

mount him firmly the space he stands on.

His hands are folded together in front of him, almost in a

submissive posture. Bracelets and rings and many other various

pieces of jewelry decorate the little bit of exposed flesh.

Even sheathed on his waist is a jewel encrusted dagger. His

neck is garnished with a small medallion depicting two stark

white angel wings.

Armandeigo chortles. 'To kill something is one thing. To leave them with nothing but questions, is another.'

Armandeigo draws a perfect circle in the air with his slender finger. 'The Cycle....'

Armandeigo looks to the heavens and says, 'This world has come full circle. What was born, must inevitably die.'

Armandeigo taps his chin thoughtfully and thinks out loud. 'Even if that which destroys it must perish as well.'

Meriumae lazily folds her arms and watches Armandeigo; 'There is a long time yet before this Cycle is finished.'

You say 'Everyone in these last few years has been a regular Damnil, you know that?'

Armandeigo chuckles at the sound of doubt. 'Your own husband has been told of the coming Cataclysm.'

You say 'He has! And we both believe it. Malchaeius apparently has an army to lead.'

Armandeigo nods assuringly. 'Much more than an army. An Eternal Army.'

Armandeigo utters the words, 'jiparl ghcandusiohp'.

Armandeigo's body surges with unholy energy!

Armandeigo says 'It is nothing but the Cycle to claim a simple soul. Or two.'

[Armandeigo slaughters two citizens of Val Miran.]

Armandeigo says 'But an entire planet? Yes, the Cycle true nature will be revealed.'

Meriumae hugs close to the gate to the south. A garden can be seen on the opposite side; 'Annnd...? A Cataclysm could not occur without the cooperation of all three moons.'

Armandeigo grins. 'Their cooperation comes in time. As all things do.'

Meriumae casts her eyes at the ground; 'What use am I to you, then?'

Armandeigo studies the area around him. 'It is your very existence that brings what is coming.'

Armandeigo chuckles, 'It is a glorious thing, to live. Without it, death could not exist.'

Armandeigo taps his chin thoughtfully, 'But to understand and envelop both. To exist, but not live. To be, but be unknown...'

You say 'Hey... I am living very happily, and when it is time, I will die happily. After I'm dead, I won't have the luxury of caring.'

Armandeigo nods sagaciously. 'Such is the way most mortal minds work. But what lies beyond death is the unknown for you.'

Armandeigo chortles, 'Death. Such a mortal idea. Your body dies...but you all have no knowledge of what lies beyond that.'

Meriumae elevates her gaze to Armandeigo's eyes; 'I'm not going to spend a single second of my time alive to contemplate what only the dead are obligated to contemplate.'

Armandeigo nods evilly. 'Which is why I will not just simply kill you all. Utter destruction is all that awaits.'

You say 'Destruction of *what* though?'

Armandeigo holds up a single finger. 'An idea.'

Meriumae points over the top of the gate at the garden; 'Ideas? Those flowers? These bricks in the road?'

Armandeigo grins. 'Life, death, they are all ideas.'

Armandeigo contemplates his next words carefully. 'To kill a living thing, is no feat. To kill an idea...to destroy the very basis of existence....'

Armandeigo rubs his hands together in a sinister motion. 'That is my purpose. It is why I was made.'

Meriumae takes a step toward Armandeigo; 'You... are insane.'

Armandeigo smirks dryly at such a ludicrous statement. 'Hardly.'

You say 'I don't have even a clue how you think you're going to... rework peoples' brains. How can you make them forget about their religions, about their gods.'

Armandeigo waves a dismissive hand at the notion of doubt. 'You are missing the very point. For eternity, people have died, their assailants hoping to put an end to their ideals.'

Armandeigo grins. 'Why not kill the idea, itself. With Aabahran destroyed, along with it will disappear all that is weak and mortal.'

Meriumae cups her temple with her palm; 'People actually *rely* on the things you're saying you're going to take away from them!'

Armandeigo cackles madly, 'And if anything is left, it will only be what was worthy and strong enough to survive.'

Armandeigo grins 'True Immortality.'

You say 'People will survive the Cataclysm for their beliefs.'

Armandeigo screams, 'THEY WILL HAVE NOTHING TO BELIEVE IN ONCE THEIR VERY WORLD IS STRIPPED FROM THEM!!'

Meriumae back against the gate and squints during the shout.

Her cheeks red, Meriumae grits at Armandeigo; 'They will *always* have something.'

You say 'Everyone has the ability to be creative. If I want to worship a grain of sand, I will.'

Armandeigo chuckles, 'Nothing, is in fact, a thing.'

Armandeigo says 'And that is all they will have.'

You say 'What will it matter, you ridiculous twit, if they don't even have *themselves* to worship?'

Armandeigo grins, 'It won't matter, once it is done. Your mind cannot comprehend the beauty of nothingness.'

Meriumae holds up a hand and takes a deep breath; 'Alright. Look, I'm... this isn't even a debate.'

Meriumae looks Armandeigo in the eye; 'I'm not helping you find the Elder Vampires.'

You say 'Your own scribes can do that.'

Armandeigo grins, 'I've bought the time I needed. They will now find me.'

Meriumae shrugs and puffs a sigh; 'Fine.'

You say '...But I'm done helping you. You're wrong, and you're crazy.'

Armandeigo taps his chin briefly, a knowing smile forming over his face.

You say 'Any creature that has any form of creativity will have something other than 'nothing' to worship.'

You say 'Unless you kill and destroy everything, even yourself, you will not succeed.'

Armandeigo yawns. 'Ca-ta-clysm.'

Meriumae tugs on her dress to smooth it; '...Cataclysm. There was one before. It was too feeble to wipe everyone out, why should this one be any different?'

Armandeigo digs a fingernail into his ear, then flicks off a small amount of dried skin. 'You have no Gods of Light to stop it.'

Armandeigo chortles, 'There will be nothing to stand in it's path of destruction. Nothing that can stop it.'

Meriumae groans; 'I don't care about the gods...! I don't even... I'm not going to be afraid of it!'

You say 'Fear is the only thing I care about, and I care not to have it.'

Armandeigo chuckles, 'You choose to ignore it. It's there, deep within you.'

Meriumae curtsies hurriedly to Armandeigo; 'I'm quite finished here.'

You say 'Count Armandeigo, good evening.'