Akon's figure can be seen making it's way down to the lake side. She is fully robbed and hooded in black and red, covering all of her features save for her hands and her lips. She makes it down to the lakeside, where she has seen Doran before, and looks left and right, seeing if he was there again.
Despite the pleasure Akon would usually get out of stalking up on a dwarf with his face submerged, only to be looming over him when he resurfaces, she chooses to keep her distance and wait momentarily for the dwarf to see her at a distance before she approaches. She calls out quietly, her voice soft, gentle, almost guarded. "Sir Doran Ironheart...?"
Doran snaps quickly to his feet hearing the voice of the succubus again while alone by the lake. His right hand instinctively reaches down to his side drawing blade from scabbard while his left wipes the water away from his face and smoothes out his beard.
"Succubus!" he curses. "What manner of witchery and deciet do you cast upon these shores?" Taking a defensive posture, Doran places his back to the water and scans the treeline until he notices the robed figure. "What do you want from me this time, creature? My dignity, my pride, my honor? Whatever it is," Doran spits, "It's not for sale. I'll not be barganing with your kind."
"And consort with filth that spawned from The Pit? You best have good reason to approach me, succubus, else you'll be leaving this place a foot taller." Doran shifts his stance slightly, shifting his weight slightly over his front foot and taking his blade in both hands preparing to lay into the creature. "Speak true, foul creature, unless you enjoy the taste of cold justice and righteous fury."
Akon can't help but chuckle at the blustering dwarf, a light smile coming to her lips as she speaks once more. "You come to seek those worthy of the path you follow, do you not? I come for I feel that there is one within this town that fits the roll above all others I've seen. He is a man of great values, and pure heart, and he has tasked me with something grave that he does not know how to handle alone. He was even humble enough to admit that he couldn't, and level headed enough to leave it in my hands. However, this task is not suited for one of my particular abilities. I was merely acting in a way that would protect him from the evil that would have befallen him. I was hoping you would be able to help carry out this task of freeing him from this curse entirely, seeing as you appear a rather capable paladin.
"However, for one who follows the path of mercy and righteousness, may I ask before you judge with a closed mind, you open your eyes to what really makes a man - actions. My own will speak for my true character. The Succubus, Ravinna, was defeated." She pauses, to be sure her words sink in. " By my own hand."
She then raises her gaze slightly, so that her eyes can be just barely seen from under her hood. "What such an act did to my body is...unpleasant, but what true man would judge one for the skin they bare?" She waits once more, before continuing with a definitive power to her voice. "I am Akon Nivarian. If you seek to use the power at your hands to bring good to this town, perhaps you can start with helping my friend with this task. If you are not able to do this, I shall continue my search to find one powerful enough, and of good enough heart to carry out this task. For only a man with no desire to bend evil power to his will, but only to cleanse it, is suitable for this. I had figured you would be willing, but I am not always accurate with my judge of character. If I am wrong, forgive me for bothering you, and I'll be on my way."
She folds her hands into the sleeves of her robe, her eyes still locked onto the stout man before her. "What shall it be?"
Doran relaxes his posture slightly, still on guard, but not as agressive. Slowly he walks to the log where his armor lay drying in the sun after being polished, keeping Akon in front of him. Seeing that she's not showing any signs of getting any closer, he sheathes his sword and kneels down and picks up his left greave.
"Sounds like a demon," Doran says, tighening the straps around his left calf and adjusting the piece of armor so that it fig snugly but didn't chafe or rub. "Hides in the shadows, and doesn't show her face,' he continues picking up his right greave and switching legs to attach it properly as well. "Talks of mercy and righteousness, the things a succubus would know I want to hear. Do you take me for a fool woman? Your city was set on by an Oneiros, a succubus, a crazed esper, and an urdek mad with power. I watched on powerless to help as the one called Rasiri changed from an Uordeq to an Empyrean before my very eyes, casting out a dark shadow of malevolence and greed. What proof do you have of any claim that you bested a succubus?"
Doran stands, and paces around briefly in a circle, making sure the fit of the armor was right before picking up a bracer and continuing his rant. "Why don't you come out of the shadows, succubus? Why won't you show me your face?"
Akon remains just as she is, the light breeze off the lake tugging at the folds of her robe. "I would have thought one such as yourself would know more about my race. I am an Uordeq, sir, and the daystar is harsh on our eyes. It hurts to see in such bright light, hence why I stick to the shadows. I hide my face now, however, because upon killing the demon, the darkness of such magic that she harbored twisted my body and left me deformed." She slowly raises her hands to either side of her hood. "If you want proof however, then you are welcome to see it." She says as she lowers the hood to rest down around her shoulders. She stands before him, just as before, though from her head protrudes two black horns. "And I said what you wanted to hear, because I came to who I thought was the right man for the job. If those qualifications ring true in your ears, then it would mean I was correct. However, judging by your reaction now, perhaps I did indeed err in my judgment. In which case, forgive me. I will seek another who's holy power is great enough, and who is willing to aid his fellow man without undo judgement. Good day, Sir Doran." Akon then begins turning away, readying her hands to pull her hood up against the glaring sun.
"Oh, I know all about how that bright ball of fury be harsh on the eyes, succubus," Doran mocks while tightening his other bracer and checking for fit. He turns and leans to pick up his tassets leaving his back exposed for the first time as Akon pulls down her hood. He glances quickly behind him to make sure she's still at her distance, seeing the horns protruding from her head, but not flinching the slightest bit.
"You think this is a joke, girl? Don't be running off quiet yet." Doran shakes and his tassets clatter against his legs. He turns around catching the sun off the corners of his armor, directing the glare intentionally into Akon's eyes. "I've laid to rest more demons, devils, and foul creatures of the dark in my years on the battlefield then the number of lies an urdek will tell before the sun goes down. By Istensia's grace, never once have I sprouted horns from the slaying of such creatures, and be it the day I do, I'll fall on my own sword. You've not slain a thing, girl, seems you've done something entirely.... different."
Doran paces back in forth, his brow arches and furrows as he curls his beard around his finger. Doran grumbles to himself in old dwarven tongues and stops. His dwarven demeanor returns to him as he stands definatly between Akon and the lake. "First things first lass, pull that hood tight while yer in town. Don't need to be scaring any of the younglings. Head back to town and find your man and bring him to me. We can all discuss matters together, and then we can see if he's worthy of my assistance. Now go, off with you!"
Akon's eyes squint as the sun glints in them, though her face remains stoic. As she was turned she looks back over her shoulder, pausing slightly as she speaks towards the dwarf. "Funny that. You brag of all your glorious victories against demons, and yet this particular demon was on your coat tail. Interesting though, that even one of your boasted ability could not best her...hmm?
"I know well that the Astral brought you her company. She attacked many, harmed many, temped many, in your clear sight and yet still survived. How impressive. Odd that you and her both were there, and yet....your blade didn't manage to end her? Now did it?" Akon lets her eyes meet the dwarf's once more, staring dangerously back at him.
"You see, not all demons are alike. Though I would hardly expect one of your particularly close-minded discipline to understand, this particular demon could not be killed by a mere blade. Ask Stiers, your supposed apprentice. Ask your fellow dwarfs. They tried it, and could not best her. You need not take my word for it.
"The reason you've yet to sprout horns is because you've never bested a demon of her power. Those that do, rarely survive the experience. It was no simple matter that some blade could solve. Indeed, when I destroyed her, my own life was at stake, a risk I willingly took, for the doom the espers see would have been even worse had I not. But I'm wasting my breath, as I often do with your kind. Your type has a knack for selective hearing, and hardly ever hear my words in the way they are meant." She shakes her head, scoffing. "I'll be more apt to believe your boasting when I see you prove your abilities. Both our swords have supposedly drank the blood of many foul and damned creatures. Difference is, I -know- that mine has." She continues, her tone bent in dark mockery. "I've already proven my worth to this town." She flashes her gaze back once more to him. "How about you damn well prove yous?"
She turns back to walk up the path, deliberately leaving her hood down, a pride and strength in her walk and posture. She calls back as she rounds the bend up the hill. "I'll return with the task, and by the immortals you had better be able to live up to your boasting, dwarf. I dearly hope not to be disappointed. The individual's life which is at stake happens to be important to me."
Akon returns much later, a large, long, wooden box toted underhand, and Zenphere following along behind her. She doesn't wear cloak, nor hood in the fading sunlight, her black tail swaying slightly to keep her balance as she makes her way back down to the lake. She looks back at Zenphere as they near the lake shore, and gestures for him to go first. "He should be down there. I'll be just behind you."
Doran stands at the lakes edge, lightly sipping from a small skin as he watches the sun set over the mountains to the west. He leans over and picks up a small pebble and flicks it gently, skipping it a few times and causing ripples over the water's still surface.
Still watching the sunset, Doran lightly grips his sword hilt and acknowledges the two approaching from behind. "Took you long enough, succubus. Don't you know that its rude to sneak up on someone like that, you might scare somebody."
Akon flashes her eyes dangerously over to the dwarf, but then looks back towards Zenphere calmly. "He's the one, Zenphere. Ask him as you will." She says shortly, keeping to herself. She keeps hold of the heavy looking box under one arm easily, watching from the tree edge. "I'll be waiting just here."
Akon narrows her eyes on the dwarf, seeming just as interested in the subject as Zenphere was, waiting for the dwarf's reply. Something about her seemed very protective of the man before her, and her attention was acutely focused on the matter at hand. Her gaze seemed to act as warning, a sign that this matter was of grave importance. Yet she remained as she was, at a slight distance, hand tightening around the long, heavy box under her arm.
"I'm sorry sir, but I know nothing of disenchantment, I believe you may have me mistaken for someone else," Doran says gruffly as he chucks another stone across the surface of the lake. "I stand defense, and keep watch over the darker things in the world. If you're looking for someone to remove an enchantment, I hear there's a growing mages collective starting to form in this town. Perhaps the one referred to as the 'Death Chicken' might be of service to you."
"Well, that's a horse of a different color, why didn't you say so in the first place?" Doran turns to the pair for the first time, taking stock and measure of the man standing before him while trying not to look at the horns prominently displayed on the sheriff's forehead. "I must admit, in the brief time I've been here, I did not expect to find anyone who would dare not succumb to the taint and corruption - tell me lad, what is your name, and why do you seek my aid?"
Akon walks up to the dwarf, moving the box in her hands as she does so, and flicking the latches open. "I've been keeping it for him, protecting him from it, so that the taint would not seep into him further. I've nightmares enough already, a few more wasn't going to be a burden to me, but it was effecting the King here gravely. The blade is outright evil, and my methods of clensing such a thing are....unpleastant to say the least." She opens the box, letting the lid open towards the dwarf so he could see the wicked blade. "I figured you would be the one most capable of such a task, and would be able to save my friend here from this evil. Don't touch the hilt, as it will only bring the blade to Zenphere's hand."
"So you're a king are you? Well, your majesty," Doran bows as deeply as his armor allows showing respect for the honorifc title. "How you came by such a thing is inconsequential - I'll leave you to detain your own internal demons. Though its few and far between that a sovergn lord would give up something as powerful as a cursed artifact, as they often prove to be as useful as they are tainted."
Doran strokes his beard contemplating the task at hand, "What manner of foul things are beset on this blade? One should know the manner of trouble one's getting into before charging headlong into the mouth of a dragon."
"Well, the wielder must be, or must be related to a god.. But if a god wields it with the evil powers it has, it shall make them turn very evil no matter how pure they were. It happend to my god.. And I stopped him.. As soon as a god takes sight of this blade is tempted to pick it up.. So please, can you help us?"
Akon glances over at Zenphere, looking him over slightly curriously, having learned much about him in these brief moments she herself did not know...king? Gods? Regardless, she looks back at the dwarf and steadfastly held the box open towards him, taking on a very grave and serrious nature. "Can you cleanse it....?"
Doran chuckles listening to Zenphere and looks over to Akon, "Looks like you might know something about turning evil. The vile taint smells like nothing more than a trick of a cunning succubus." He grasps Zenphere's arm with a friendly and knowing pat, "There are no gods lad, less you mean the Immortals, and few of them have been seen these days. Should you be worried about the taint of the blade, perhaps offering it to the Shining Knight, Lemesin, or her radiance herself, the noble Istensia. If the taint is so powerful that it turns the pure, the just, and the righteous down the path of evil..." Doran pasuses gathering a measure of what he's about to say and steeling his resolve, "I'll give up my charge, shave my beard, and no longer follow the ways of a paladin."
Doran nods at his mental commitment and continues, "Offer up the blade to the care of the Shining Knight, and I'll see to it that I provide you with a proper dwarven blade with an edge just as keen. What say you?"
Zenphere pulls his arm away with an uncomfortabl look on his face. "As kind as your offer is sir, I simply can't give it to you. It is a sword bound to my families blood. No one can wield it, as Fancy said, unless they are a god.. And these gods are gods you do not know of.. If you are willing to cleanse it I will pay you hansomley."
"Let me see that sword lad, there be no material other than the adamant that I can't break with Justice. She be made of the black rock and crafted in the finest furnace of Forgeholme." Doran draws his blade and presents it to Zenphere for inspection.
"There's not a thing that can break this save the will of the forgelord himself and I'll test yer unbreakable blade against it. Set yer faith in yer gods if you will, and place the cursed relic agasint that there log, and we'll see what she's made of."
Akon closed the box as the blade was taken and stood back a few paces, she glances then at the dwarf, and fell back further, a look of unease about her features, almost as if sickened... She watched on from a relative distance, though, waiting to see what would happen.
Doran wraps his hand in his oil cloth hanging at his waist and moves the sword slightly so that the hilt touches the ground allowing the cursed sword to bow under his swing. He kneels before the sword and speaks to the metals, "Purest steel and hardy ore, repel the taint." [empower prime] He turns to Zenphere and waves him away before taking his sword, raising it to his chest, blade upward to the sky, as if to salute and honor the weapon before him.
"May the shining knight guide my blade, let it strike true and cleanse the taint" Doran says and he swings forcefully down biting into the metal of the blade. Sparks fly as the powers of the prime compete with the taint of the sword, and as Doran chambered his blade at his side again, only the tiniest chip could be seen by the dwarves keen eye. A black glow enveloped the metals of the sword mending the crack.
Doran scratches his head in confusion, and then strokes his beard before offering Justice to Zenphere. "It worked lad... but the corruption is strong. Ye look like a stout lad and skilled in the ways of the sword. Do ye have what it takes to ruin a foes weapon as they be swinging it at yer face? If so, take lady justice here, and give it a crack while your defiled blade is still trying to heal."
At the crack of the bright light, Akon flinches and recoils, something animalistic flairs in her pupils. She huddles back, dropping the box and puts up her hands in defense, snarling slightly, hands held curled as if clawed. But her quickened breath subsides as the powerful prime infused blaze dies down, glancing from side to side, regaining her composure slowly. She jerks her head in curiosity, blinking intelligently for a moment, cocking her head similar to how a curious bird would about an obscure seed. She clears her throat, a look of sickness and disgust on her features, as she recoils further into the shelter of the trees and shadows.
Zenphere runs over to Akon and grabs her gently by the arm pulling her towards him. He makes sure she is okay, then takes the dwarves sword and nods. "Rahh!!!" Zenphere pulls back the sword and slams it into the blade. 'Ruin'. More sparks fly and the blade is only damaged by a little chunk, then heals itself once more.. "This isn't working.. There must be another way.." Zenphere hands the sword back to the Paladin.
Akon flinches again as she is touched, eyes narrowing down on Zenphere, as if trying to focus again on who he was. But she calms, and watches on again, seeming to have regained her composure. Her fingers twich and a few dark words mumble from her lips as she stairs on at the dark blade.
Doran takes his blade back from Zenphere, rubbing it down with his oil cloth before sheathing it again. "You've made good stride at the effort lad, but the taint is strong in this weapon." Doran kneels before Zenphere's sword and handles the blade with the cloth, refusing to touch it with his bare hands. Shards of white steel show pure and clean to the dwarf where the swords met, nearly invisible to the naked eye. "It's working lad - its just taking more time than you'd like. If'n ye be willing to fight the taint, this sword be a great weapon in yer arsenal, and I'd be proud to wield it. But if'n you're looking to cleanse it quickly, there is another way. If you're willing to pay the price...."
"What price?" Akon barks, her voice like a growl, snapping down at the dwarf. She walks forward again, like a protective dog with its hackles raised. "What price...." She says calmer, but still very defensively, glancing cautiously at Zenphere."Don't just agree blindly, Zenphere, I'm not having some town's member fall blindly into something grave, especially a towns member who happens to be as important to me as you are. Good as your heart may be, exercise wisdom with it." She looks back at the dwarf sternly. "....what price?"
"If this sword is truly dear to you, and cleansing it quickly means that much, the burden is devotion to a cause. To stand with honor, and live a life that is noble and true. To be a stalwart of justice, friend and foe alike - the eyes of justice are blind, and her wrath must be delivered to all who are wicked, regardless of allegiance. To stand with mercy - relinquishing petty squabbles of the past, protecting the weak and sparing the blade when it is unnecessary. And lastly, to live a life of sacrifice - to walk without pride, to give of yourself, of your purse, of your heritage; and should the event arise, your life."
Doran gives Zenphere time to think and continues, "I can introduce you to Irving the Pure - one of the most stalwart of our order, but it will mean a lifetime of dedication. Would you be willing to accept such a burden?"
The sun glistens off pieces of Doran's armor as they lay along side of a fallen log a few paces from the edge of the lake. The dwarf paces back and forth along the shoreline muttering incoherently to himself in an old tongue. Bits and pieces can be picked out of the ramblings, "goblins," "demons," "warlock," "succubus."
He reaches down to the water's edge and picks up a small pebble. He looks at it briefly, and closes his hand tightly around it, as if making a wish before skipping it across the surface of the lake before kneeling down and submerging his face and beard in the water.