Finally the days of torture were over. From being dismembered and put<br>
back together countless times to being stuffed in a jar typically reserved<br>
for jellies and jams, Zoichan has seen the end of his harrowed being. She<br>
brought him pain whenever possible. It was why Zoichan was allowed to exist<br>
after betraying Her, siding with Ordaran in his attempted coup. In his own<br>
mind, Anume's amusement was the last saving grace he had. Her gifts were as<br>
numerous as the creative ways she found to cause him agony, which left him<br>
loyal... Until...
It was the last straw. She took away the gift he had treasured the most. <br>
The gift of everlasting life, or death depending on how you see things. She<br>
made him human. Mostly at least. Then she branded him so that he would<br>
never forget who's he truly was. She forced him to experience emotions he<br>
long forgot, causing him to feel love, pity, amusement and even sorrow. <br>
There was no doubt in his mind that Anume had her hand in the death of his<br>
loved one, Lillithiri. So he began his plotting to remove himself from her<br>
service. He sought audience with demons and was rejected. He petitioned<br>
the Archfiend, and was ignored. He attempted to entreat Savants with known<br>
ties to those who would side with him against Her, but in the end he found<br>
himself once again disappointed in the results.
Then by chance, or by a cosmic joke, Zoichan's innermost desires manifested.<br>
Once again, like so many times before, he was ripped from the mortal plane<br>
and placed before an ominous divan. Out of options he did what he did best,<br>
standing as if he had the high ground and demeaned his Mistress to her face.<br>
Demanding that the brand be removed, and that he be free from her torture. <br>
Tempers flared, rage flew, and through it all a wicked smile remained on Her<br>
lips. The torture continued. His body ripped apart once again, assembled<br>
in a mass of bone and rotted flesh resembling more of an animal than man. <br>
Eventually Her amusement in forming him into various shapes and sizes<br>
subsided, and she moved to the main event. She reached out and caressed his<br>
neck, power flowing from Her very touch. Every ounce of willpower collapsed<br>
under the weight of her touch, as she increased the bond between Herself and<br>
Her familiar. Suddenly the malicious smile was gone from her lips, just a<br>
fraction of a moment before the room seemingly expanded and contracted at<br>
the same time. When Anume roused herself from being thrown back from the<br>
force Zoichan Anthala was still there, but now the thin grin was his as he<br>
vanished in a swirling mist.
Whatever caused the disruption of power is still unknown, assumed to be an<br>
oversight in the Dark Lady's spell to increase her hold over Zoichan. <br>
Though to this day Zoichan still has that thin grin upon his lips, believing<br>
that he finally bested her. Maybe, his confidence in the matter would<br>
waiver slightly, had he heard her words before she allowed her body to<br>
dissipate into shadow after his departure, a softly uttered, "Well, that went<br>
better than I'd have thought."
Aabahran