05-13-2018, 08:42 AM
Erik stretched as the last applicant left the recording studio. Just as he had guessed, none of them could match Bill’s voice. The mindbreaker was still exhausted from his encounter with Sand Hawk, and he was almost ready to fall asleep in the middle of the afternoon. Erik got out of his chair and locked the door as he left the studio.
“I haven't gotten somewhere to sleep yet.” Erik thought to himself as he wandered through the city streets. His thought were interrupted by Gilgamesh’s commanding voice filling the air.
“The bandits are getting bolder.” Erik thought to himself as he rushed to aid his King. Before he could reach the wall, however, the ground in front of him seemed to explode, showering him in sand. As he saw the glowing green eyes staring at him, Erik quickly realised that it was not an explosive that had blocked his path, but he almost wished it was.
“Erik Vrell, we meet once more!” Sand Hawk cried as he drew another dagger from inside his patchwork coat.
“How do you keep doing that?” Erik sputtered incredulously. The bandit seemed to be anywhere where he could get sand. Sand Hawk chuckled at the psychic’s question, as if he were a child asking an obvious question.
“This is my invincible technique: Sand Veil. With this technique I can seamlessly blend into the sand, so I am hidden from my foes, but they are not safe from me, thanks to these thermal goggles I bought from Omnizon!” The bandit laughed as he tapped the green-lenses goggles. “Now, Erik, it's time to die, for I cannot allow you to interfere with Dudgeon’s mission!”
“So you're working with the bandits assaulting Gilgamesh?” Erik said, his expression turning dark. The psychic had given up trying to stay deadpan around Sand Hawk, it just wasn't possible.
“Well, not exactly, or at all, really, but if he does his job then that helps me!” Sand Hawk announced as Erik drew Mageslayer. The psychic slipped seamlessly into a combat stance, while Sand Hawk hesitated for a moment. Erik watched as the bandit moved into what vaguely resembled a combat stance, clutching his dagger shakily in his left hand. Erik realised that the bandit was right handed, and that Big Bill’s bullet had struck home in his shoulder.
The Erik closed in on Sand Hawk quickly, raising Mageslayer menacingly. The bandit raised his dagger in a clumsy attempt to parry, only to have his weapon knocked from his hand.
“Surrender now,” Erik commanded. “I don't like killing the defenceless and pathetic, and you just so happen to be both.”
“Oh?!” Sand Hawk said curiously. “What makes you think I'm defenceless?!” The bandit reached into his cobbled together clothing once more, producing another jagged, scrap metal dagger. The rusted weapon whistled as it came towards Erik’s neck, only to be intercepted by the tempered steel of Mageslayer. The second dagger was quickly torn from Sand Hawks grip, and was soon joined by the third blade. And the fourth. And the fifth. The bandit had a seemingly endless supply of knives, daggers and shivs in his coat, and was not shy about wasting them.
Sick of Sand Hawk’s frustrating fighting style, Erik lunged towards the bandit as he went for another blade. The psychic and the bandit tumbled to the ground as a dozen more daggers clattered to the floor around them, sorely tempting Erik to strangle the man.
“This would have been an easy battle had I not have been shot in the thigh earlier!” Sand Hawk exclaimed as Erik sprung up and kneeled on the bandit’s chest, preventing him from climbing to his feet. The psychic didn't care enough to give Sand Hawk an anatomy lesson, instead he was interested in exactly why he kept harassing him. Erik slammed his hand onto the man’s face as violet flames ignited in his eyes.
“You mind is laid bear before the mad god’s will!” Erik roared, the invocation sending a jolt of psi running down his arm and into the mind of the impossibly frustrating bandit. Amethyst light flared from the bandit’s eyes as a connection was forced between his mind and the priest above him, although it was hidden beneath his goggles.
The man’s mind was a mess, just as Erik had expected from someone who had been living in the empty desert for Gods knew how long. Erik attempted to steer his thoughts towards King Gilgamesh and the bandits who had sent him. Attempting to evoke the memory of him being sent to Nippur sent the man into a silent frenzy, a blur of thought flashing through his mind, disorienting the intruding psychic. Erik didn't relent, however, and pushed harder into his mind, trying to burst through the steam of thoughts keeping him away from the vital information. The priests tried every trick he knew, stimulating the pain centre, releasing dopamine, even trying to flood his mind with the suggestion of giving in until he relented, but nothing seemed to be working.
Erik was almost ready to give up when he managed to slip in through a crack he had missed before. It was incredibly minor, but Erik found that he could sense the raw emotion pouring out from the thoughts, although the thoughts themselves were blocked. A shock of sadness, fear and desperation struck Erik as he brought up the orders the bandit was given.
“I can work with this.” Erik thought to himself as he released Sand Hawk from his mental grip. “What happened to you? Why do you follow orders that you despise? And… Can I help?” With any luck, the incompetent bandit would lead him right to the ringleader.
“I can't refuse them!” Sand Hawk said, a hint of hope in his voice as he realised that the man he was sent to kill might be his ally after all. “We never wanted to challenge Gilgamesh, so they have captured my clan, and they'll slaughter them all if I don't stop Nippur from being rebuilt!” Erik’s heart raced as the gravity of the situation hit him, as well as a twinge of sympathy. A turncoat was exactly what he needed to get to the bandit’s self-imposed boss, and he was willing to help a man so dedicated to his people.
“Take me there, and I’ll help you free your clan.” Erik said as he stood up and extended a hand to the bandit. Sand Hawk looked at the hand, then up at psychic smiling down at him, before taking it gratefully.
“Sand Hawk, welcome to your salvation.” Erik said as he hauled the bandit to his feet. The psychic moved to go to the King before pausing. The King was mighty enough to pull himself out of the underverse, a few bandits would be child’s play to him. It was more important that Erik struck at the heart of Sand Hawk’s black ailers before it got out of hand.
“Let's go, then.” Erik urged as he sheathed Mageslayer.
“Of course!” Sand Hawk replied as he signalled for Erik to follow. “Just let me get my bearings and remember which way they were in relation to the sun’s position an-”
“Don't talk, just find them.” Erik suddenly remembered why he had been so ready to murder the man before.
“I haven't gotten somewhere to sleep yet.” Erik thought to himself as he wandered through the city streets. His thought were interrupted by Gilgamesh’s commanding voice filling the air.
“The bandits are getting bolder.” Erik thought to himself as he rushed to aid his King. Before he could reach the wall, however, the ground in front of him seemed to explode, showering him in sand. As he saw the glowing green eyes staring at him, Erik quickly realised that it was not an explosive that had blocked his path, but he almost wished it was.
“Erik Vrell, we meet once more!” Sand Hawk cried as he drew another dagger from inside his patchwork coat.
“How do you keep doing that?” Erik sputtered incredulously. The bandit seemed to be anywhere where he could get sand. Sand Hawk chuckled at the psychic’s question, as if he were a child asking an obvious question.
“This is my invincible technique: Sand Veil. With this technique I can seamlessly blend into the sand, so I am hidden from my foes, but they are not safe from me, thanks to these thermal goggles I bought from Omnizon!” The bandit laughed as he tapped the green-lenses goggles. “Now, Erik, it's time to die, for I cannot allow you to interfere with Dudgeon’s mission!”
“So you're working with the bandits assaulting Gilgamesh?” Erik said, his expression turning dark. The psychic had given up trying to stay deadpan around Sand Hawk, it just wasn't possible.
“Well, not exactly, or at all, really, but if he does his job then that helps me!” Sand Hawk announced as Erik drew Mageslayer. The psychic slipped seamlessly into a combat stance, while Sand Hawk hesitated for a moment. Erik watched as the bandit moved into what vaguely resembled a combat stance, clutching his dagger shakily in his left hand. Erik realised that the bandit was right handed, and that Big Bill’s bullet had struck home in his shoulder.
The Erik closed in on Sand Hawk quickly, raising Mageslayer menacingly. The bandit raised his dagger in a clumsy attempt to parry, only to have his weapon knocked from his hand.
“Surrender now,” Erik commanded. “I don't like killing the defenceless and pathetic, and you just so happen to be both.”
“Oh?!” Sand Hawk said curiously. “What makes you think I'm defenceless?!” The bandit reached into his cobbled together clothing once more, producing another jagged, scrap metal dagger. The rusted weapon whistled as it came towards Erik’s neck, only to be intercepted by the tempered steel of Mageslayer. The second dagger was quickly torn from Sand Hawks grip, and was soon joined by the third blade. And the fourth. And the fifth. The bandit had a seemingly endless supply of knives, daggers and shivs in his coat, and was not shy about wasting them.
Sick of Sand Hawk’s frustrating fighting style, Erik lunged towards the bandit as he went for another blade. The psychic and the bandit tumbled to the ground as a dozen more daggers clattered to the floor around them, sorely tempting Erik to strangle the man.
“This would have been an easy battle had I not have been shot in the thigh earlier!” Sand Hawk exclaimed as Erik sprung up and kneeled on the bandit’s chest, preventing him from climbing to his feet. The psychic didn't care enough to give Sand Hawk an anatomy lesson, instead he was interested in exactly why he kept harassing him. Erik slammed his hand onto the man’s face as violet flames ignited in his eyes.
“You mind is laid bear before the mad god’s will!” Erik roared, the invocation sending a jolt of psi running down his arm and into the mind of the impossibly frustrating bandit. Amethyst light flared from the bandit’s eyes as a connection was forced between his mind and the priest above him, although it was hidden beneath his goggles.
The man’s mind was a mess, just as Erik had expected from someone who had been living in the empty desert for Gods knew how long. Erik attempted to steer his thoughts towards King Gilgamesh and the bandits who had sent him. Attempting to evoke the memory of him being sent to Nippur sent the man into a silent frenzy, a blur of thought flashing through his mind, disorienting the intruding psychic. Erik didn't relent, however, and pushed harder into his mind, trying to burst through the steam of thoughts keeping him away from the vital information. The priests tried every trick he knew, stimulating the pain centre, releasing dopamine, even trying to flood his mind with the suggestion of giving in until he relented, but nothing seemed to be working.
Erik was almost ready to give up when he managed to slip in through a crack he had missed before. It was incredibly minor, but Erik found that he could sense the raw emotion pouring out from the thoughts, although the thoughts themselves were blocked. A shock of sadness, fear and desperation struck Erik as he brought up the orders the bandit was given.
“I can work with this.” Erik thought to himself as he released Sand Hawk from his mental grip. “What happened to you? Why do you follow orders that you despise? And… Can I help?” With any luck, the incompetent bandit would lead him right to the ringleader.
“I can't refuse them!” Sand Hawk said, a hint of hope in his voice as he realised that the man he was sent to kill might be his ally after all. “We never wanted to challenge Gilgamesh, so they have captured my clan, and they'll slaughter them all if I don't stop Nippur from being rebuilt!” Erik’s heart raced as the gravity of the situation hit him, as well as a twinge of sympathy. A turncoat was exactly what he needed to get to the bandit’s self-imposed boss, and he was willing to help a man so dedicated to his people.
“Take me there, and I’ll help you free your clan.” Erik said as he stood up and extended a hand to the bandit. Sand Hawk looked at the hand, then up at psychic smiling down at him, before taking it gratefully.
“Sand Hawk, welcome to your salvation.” Erik said as he hauled the bandit to his feet. The psychic moved to go to the King before pausing. The King was mighty enough to pull himself out of the underverse, a few bandits would be child’s play to him. It was more important that Erik struck at the heart of Sand Hawk’s black ailers before it got out of hand.
“Let's go, then.” Erik urged as he sheathed Mageslayer.
“Of course!” Sand Hawk replied as he signalled for Erik to follow. “Just let me get my bearings and remember which way they were in relation to the sun’s position an-”
“Don't talk, just find them.” Erik suddenly remembered why he had been so ready to murder the man before.
*The emperor of mankind yeets erik into a sun*
[Today 08:03 pm] Erik Vrell : Bruh
[Today 08:03 pm] The emperor of mankind : don't worship gods
[Today 08:03 pm] Erik Vrell : Bruh
[Today 08:03 pm] The emperor of mankind : don't worship gods