Author: Xunatar, Posted: Sat Dec 9, 2017 5:14 PM, Post Subject: The Mask Comes Off [Solo, R]

[This is to kickstart the new forum, so there will be mentionings of the recently archived Hollow Cradle used.]

A tick. It all started with a tick that came across the god. At first he had ignored it but the longer he went ignoring it, the more it ruthlessly stirred Xunatar until he grew annoyed by it. It took some thought and studying before he realized that the feeling that harassed him was the falling of a deity. It felt new, not only to him, but the one that fell was recently chosen by that insufferable Voice. It was either the enigma or the oddity, and though he briefly was familiar with either one, it seemed like the later had fell from grace. As unfortunate as it was, it was only the natural order that weeded out their kind and soon everything about the once chosen would erode from the thoughts of the people and would only hold true in the history books like the others.

As he enjoyed the view of the ocean from his balcony, the Lord of Lies then felt something quite as peculiar but different. Taking hold of the railing with both hands, Xunatar carefully leaned forward as this sensation felt more personal to him. His only ally at the time carried an air that was unmistakable and for a moment he was sad to see that Reaper go. Or as he would more so acknowledge later on, a part of her was gone. Dalanesca was still on her perch, but one of her domains had shifted. More changes were felt and soon a wave of dark energies coursed through his being. It felt like he was struck with lightning as he fell onto one knee, unsure of what was going on as the hours of the early afternoon were seemingly eclipsed by shade. The very sun itself was nowhere in sight for him and by the time he rose back up, he heard a strange voice echo into his ear. It seemed to be that of belonging to both a man and a woman in tone.

“Xunatar. You have carried the mask for much of your life and reign supreme in it briefly. But now….”

The god looked about, pondering if this was the Voice’s doing or not, but little time was given to the thought as the shadows run over towards and started to overtake his form while he was powerless to stop it. “The mask must fall. The mask must fall from your face and the your inner darkness must be explored. Be freed from the cage you locked it away in.” More and more, his form was stolen, enveloped by the shadows. Up his legs, and then his torso and arms and then his neck. The head soon after with his blue eyes being the last.

As he faded, the Ring of the Hollow Cradle fell, one island at a time. Each leaving their orbit and descended to the ocean below. The center isle would be the last to find itself landing in Nyella before they would all come together with it… The darkness spreaded across the newly made isle and chaos allowed for it to shift the structure into something completely different than before.

“Lord of Lies, you are no more. Now awaken…”

It would be several hours before he came to and slowly lifted himself from the floor. His head felt like it splitted open and he looked around before noticing that his home felt more… primal and less like it had before. It was completely dark before a blue flame erupted. And then another, and more soon came into existence as he gathered to the windows and peeked to see a city in the distance and that the rest was a massive forest and a night that didn’t feel natural. But it also did as well for some reason.

Deception was no longer among him as Xunatar felt it in his grip no longer. Instead that voice came to him one more.

“From the ashes of the Lord must come a King. A King of Nightfall.”

He rose his hand and by his will alone, the shadows around him moved to his beck and call. A strained sigh came from his lips as he explored the palace until he was at his throne. Somehow he had gained Dalanesca's former domain and it came to him. Deceit had been fun, he started to realize, but now it was time to start a new and to toss the mask he had crafted for so long…