Nikyodi's Second Vengeance

[Malchaeius]

The first time Nikyodi sees Kravian after her encounter with the Spider Queen...

Kravian tells you 'Alright, I'm on my way.'

Kravian walks in slowly.

Nikyodi lounges deep in the shadow of one of the palms.

Kravian looks at you.

Kravian nods, 'You wanted to see me?

The ever present smoke can be smelt. Nikyodi's eyes glisten from the shade.

Kravian slowly sits down next to you, a hand over his chest.

The Floating Gardens

Magicly infused into the wood, exotic plants grow out of the ship itself.

Flora from all over the lands thrives here. The smell of fresh flowers and

clean air is both refreshing and delightful. A running fountain in the

likeness of Galvatar Xebonn lies directly in the middle of this breathtaking

scene.

[Exits: west]

(White Aura) Kravian the Holy Knight is here.

You say 'Yeah. I wanted to see you.'

You say 'And I wanted you to see something.'

Kravian rubs his goatee, 'Hmm.’

Nikyodi leans forward a little, puffing on the pipe.

Light falls over Nikyodi's face. She has a new tattoo... or brand.

Kravian raises an eyebrow, 'What is that...?

Nikyodi stands up slowly and walks into the middle of the garden.

Kravian carefully watches you, 'Niky...?

The marking is that of a large black-widow spider. It is present on Nikyodi's lower face, neck, and bosom. 'See this?'

'The Mark of the Spider Queen', Nikyodi whispers.

Kravian gives a slight nod, still holding his chest, 'Hmm...’

Kravian says 'I thought...'

Nikyodi continues, interrupting, 'She found me.'

Nikyodi turns her nose up toward the ceiling and rolls her head on her shoulders a little. 'It hurts. A lot.'

Kravian tilts his head, 'Why the mark? I thought you hated everything that has to do with the drow.’

Nikyodi closes her eyes and puts the pipe away. 'So did I. But my opinion on the matter has been refined.'

Kravian rubs his goatee, 'Do tell...’

Nikyodi takes a deep breath and beckons Kravian to follow.

Kravian looks rather depressed... his mind elsewhere.

Kravian stands up.

You say 'Over here.'

Temple of the Cycle

This section of the ship smells of death and decay, along with the scent

of incense. An altar to the Patron of the Cycle, Lord Virigoth, is carved

out of large bones you cannot identify. There is a pulpet at the front of

the temple, for fiery sermons. In the middle is a sunken pit with blood

pooling at the bottom slope, suitable for sacrifices.

[Exits: east]

A podium of bone is here, beautiful and horrible at the same time.

Kravian walks in.

Kravian glances around, his eyes weary and presence very... detached.

Nikyodi circles the podium slowly. There's a woman bound to it by chains.

Kravian looks down at the woman and raises an eyebrow, 'Hmm...’

Something trails behind Nikyodi as she walks. It looks like vines.

'See this?', Nikyodi asks as she rubs the woman's head. She's gagged.

Kravian nods, watching everything carefully.

Nikyodi smiles crookedly. 'Her name is Tryxami.'

Kravian kneels down and looks at the woman, 'Hmm.’

Kravian turns to you, 'Why is she here?’

'Surxys found her hiding in Miruvhor', Nikyodi replies, 'He brought her here.'

Kravian says 'Hmm.'

Nikyodi kneels down and looks the woman in the eyes. She stares back, obviously afraid, but her breathing is inaudible.

Kravian stares at the woman, his eyes cold and stance rather firm... not like his normal self, 'To what purpose?’

'To die', Nikyodi says silkily. 'Look at those pretty, red eyes.'

You say 'Shall I tell you why, Kravian? Huh?'

Kravian shrugs slightly.

Kravian says 'If you wish.'

Kravian does not seem appalled at the idea of murder at all... rather.. neutral.

Nikyodi stands back up slowly and circles behind the woman. She squeezes the woman's shoulders. 'Because no one ever leaps anywhere in life, anymore.'

Nikyodi stares across at Kravian. 'I know how fatigued you are.'

Kravian says quietly, 'Do you?’

Kravian says quietly, 'I have not slept in three days. I have had much to think about.’

You say 'Yes? I know how the Abyss salivates at the idea of taking you.'

Nikyodi runs her hand through the woman's hair. 'I thought you would like to see me taking a long, long stride.'

Kravian grinds his teeth, obviously angered, 'The Abyss found someone else first.’

You say 'You lost someone close to you? Was it Palwen?'

Nikyodi veers her eyes away from Kravian as she waits for an answer.

Kravian snaps in a rather vicious voice, seething with hatred and pain, 'My son.’

Nikyodi inhales through her nose and nods. 'Korvious.'

Kravian clenches his fist and nods.

You say 'A parent separated from its own flesh and blood...'

The woman bound to the podium seems to be growing more afraid. Nikyodi glares at her.

Kravian bites down hard on his lip to remain silent.

You say 'Then observe as I speak for both of us, Kravian.'

Kravian nods.

Nikyodi kneels down in front of the woman and smiles gently. 'This woman murdered my parents when I was very little.'

Nikyodi looks down at a small knife that she slides from her sleeve. 'But... she, of course, drugged me first, so that I appeared to be dead.'

Kravian carefully watches you and the bound woman with his cold eyes. He makes no move to stop anything.

You say 'She presented my limp body to them moments before she cut their eyes out and bled them to death. One before the next.'

Nikyodi whispers into the woman's ear. 'They wept first.'

The woman's anger and fear can be heard through her quickening breaths through the gag. Nikyodi just seems to be amusing herself.

You say 'No parent deserves that. No parent.'

Kravian folds his arms across his chest, 'Watching.’

Kravian mutters something quietly to himself.

Nikyodi looks at Kravian over her shoulder. 'You didn't deserve your loss.'

Kravian says quietly, 'Save it.’

Nikyodi rubs the flat edge of the knife against the woman's cheek. 'These needless deaths are for whose pleasure? Huh?'

You say 'Do demons dance? Do saints enjoy weeping?!'

Kravian turns his eyes to the knife.

The peeling sound of flesh splitting fills the chamber as Nikyodi drags the knife across the woman's forehead.

Kravian remains motionless, watching the brutality of the scene.

The woman shrieks through the gag. Nikyodi sneers, 'Who benefits?!'

You say 'Who profits from Korvious? Who profits from my parents?'

Nikyodi produces another slash on the woman's forehead. She continues struggling against the binds. 'Who?!'

Kravian begins pacing in a semi-circular pattern, never drawing his eyes away from you and the woman, 'Why don't you take off her gag so she can answer?’

You say 'Why don't we?'

You spit in utter disgust.

Nikyodi rips the gag away, and the woman's first response is a raspy wail.

Kravian walks over swiftly and backhands the woman sharply, 'Don't you make a sound! ‘

'I am a priestess of Ll-...' - the slap pauses the woman. Nikyodi backs up a little bit.

Kravian growls, 'If someone innocent and good like my son was taken from this world, then you have no right to question anything.’

'You piece of filth!', the woman sobs, looking up at Nikyodi and Kravian, 'How dare you!'

The woman rights her head, blood running down into her already red eyes. 'I had nothing to do with your son! Nikyodi, get this man out of my sight!' she shouts.

Kravian takes his right arm, and turns his now blood red eyes to the woman’s, as he chokes her, 'Not another word unless you are asked a question.’

Kravian squeezes harder and leans in, whispering, 'Do I make myself clear?’

The woman's windpipe whistles and gurgles. Nikyodi watches from her flank.

Kravian says quietly, 'When I let you breath again, you had better give me the right answer.

Kravian holds the woman’s throat for a few more seconds before releases her and takes a step back, 'Not a word.’

Kravian nods at you, 'Proceed.’

The woman's arrogance begs to speak, but she does not. Nikyodi kneels down again.

You say 'Priestess of Lloth. That's right. Is this mark on my body not clear enough for you?'

Kravian folds his arms across his chest as he watches silently.

Nikyodi looks the woman in the eyes. She blinks them franticly as the blood makes them sticky. 'Huh? You know what it must mean.'

Nikyodi slaps the woman across the cheek. 'Debasement? Justice?'

You say 'Do you see me repenting? Lloth wants a half-blood to repent!'

You say 'And here you are, not a spell in Aabahran will save you! Watch as I take each deliberate step up the ladder!'

Kravian looks at you.

Nikyodi slaps the woman a couple more times. The woman's anger grows more fierce.

You say 'Tell me what I am, bitch.'

'Filth', the woman replies without hesitation. Nikyodi nods slowly.

You say 'And what's next on the ladder? Monster?'

Nikyodi's slaps become stronger, 'Monster, and then beyond that, something acceptable?!'

Nikyodi stops slapping the moment the woman begins to cry. Her tears blend with the blood, which has long run down to her neck.

At the sound of the cry, Kravian goes into a rage and slaps the woman himself a few times, 'Are you crying? What right do you have!?’

Kravian continues to be silent.

'Awww', Nikyodi taunts as she brandishes the knife again, 'Where is Lloth now?!'

Nikyodi grins and hisses, 'Listen to him! What right?!'

'Here we are, all alone, on a ship in the middle of the largest ocean known!' Nikyodi says as she stands and circles the podium again.

Nikyodi fans the knife from side to side, 'Where is the Spider Queen to save you now?!'

Nikyodi kneels down in front of the woman again. 'She's not here for you anymore. She will give me vengeance for those needless deaths.'

You say 'She will give me Miruvhor, and power. Filth. Like me.'

Nikyodi begins to chortle in the woman's face, tilting her head as she gloats.

Kravian takes a step back, watching.

You say 'Imagine -that-, you bitch.'

You say 'People like Korvious won't have to suffer any more. Filth, just like me. Not you, me. -ME-, changing the world!'

You say 'People like my parents! I will help them.'

Nikyodi sticks the knife into the woman's mouth and fish-hooks her with it. Her cheek bloats with the shape of the object.

The woman's crying grows more panicked. Nikyodi applies more pressure.

You say 'What are you going to do now? Pray?'

The mark on Nikyodi seems to swell with a faint glow. 'Pray to Lloth?'

Kravian looks at you.

A loud, slick slice sound fills the chamber, followed by the woman's agonized screams. Nikyodi sliced the woman's cheek opened.

Nikyodi wipes the blood off of the knife in to the woman's hair.

'Avenge every needless death', Nikyodi whispers as she begins to carve into the woman's chest, 'Let's put some spider legs on here.'

Kravian carefully watches the gory scene.

Carving... carving. Nikyodi covers the area where she works as she leans closer.

One of the woman's hands breaks free suddenly. Nikyodi wrestles with the skinny arm noisily, trying to cut at the same time.

The arm loses its grace and agility after a minute and finally falls lifeless to the floor. Nikyodi stands up with a jolt and throws the knife away.

As Nikyodi steps away, the woman can be seen partially gutted. The lacerations appear to make the shape of a spider.

Nikyodi sniffs a couple times. The whole front of her body is covered with blood.

Kravian turns to you, 'Hmm.’

Nikyodi takes a cigarette from a pouch and lights it. Her hands are shakey.

After taking a drag, Nikyodi exhales smoke from her nose.

You say 'I'm going to write a song about her.'

Kravian lights a cigarette of his own and takes a long drag, 'Hmm.’