OOC: Three deaths? Did something go down in IRC that I missed out on?

Ahriman pondered the angel's words, and his glowing eyes burned brighter as he remembers what was written on the floor of his tomb. "You are wrong about one thing." He stood up, looking Marcus in the eyes. "Boris may be at peace, but Adric has unfinished business here. He's a scoundrel and a cheat, but his will is as strong as mine. If his body must die, I will grant him the opportunity to join me in undeath if he wishes. One Book to know them all, Two Book to find them, Three Book to bring them forth and in the shadows bind them. Though I think he would rather live if he has a say in it."

"The first two books are back in Ravenholt, Ahriman," Desmond said. "If the soul lingers the area and the body is still intact and the mind still freshly dead, the first two aren't necessary. Either way, placing undeath on a person should either be willed or forced; the latter somewhat criminal."

The stitcher gazed at the troupe's awakened members. He turned to Adric, "I'd have food but Ghan left it back at the royal vampire's when we fought. I don't know if we have much anymore but maybe..."

The stitcher rummaged through his pouch. "Would an apple suffice your need?"

OOC: Used this song for inspiration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdLSf79g66I

"Marcus..." Boris called weakly with little breath he has left, "... thank you... please, take care of Lissette..."

He realized that he still holds the picture of his family in his hands from his dream, gripping tightly on the photo to be sure he'll never let go. He turned back to Liss, who's in total anguish, and smiled for the last time. "Take great care of everyone... never let my passing bring anymore sorrow..." everything around him is fading, he hasn't much time left, "even if I'm no longer on this world, I'll still be beside you... watching over you..." his voice was breaking up, "because you'll always be my little Lissette..."

Boris...

He heard faint whispers from the shining light, familiar voices that ring in his ears. Four silhouetted figures emerge from the light with the smiles on their faces.

"Mom... Dad... Kuuli... Themba?"

Boris... it's time to come home, honey. His mother's voice was as heavenly as the last time he remembered.

His eyes watered up and overflowed, he'll be finally at peace, along with the rest of his family. After such a struggling fight along with friends, his adventure has come to an end. The liberation of his hometown, fighting alongside his dearest friends that have become the closest thing to a family he'll ever have, and enjoying the good times they all had during his lifetime. He'd only wish he would live long enough to find the final feather to resurrect Rea-Ala and bring peace the Lorial at last, but he have done as much as he could, and that should be enough.

Bobo, big brother, it's time to go home.

"I'm... I'm coming home..."

He closed his eyes and succumbed to the sweet embrace of his end, and ceased to breathe. His body ran cold. His heart finally stopped.

Ahriman nods and says "The Grimoires of Annwyn tend to change hands. I'm also aware of the morals. That is why it is up to the man himself to decide. But we should be prepared to relocate with urgency. Remember the beast that chased us here?" He looked to Borislav, who had now passed on, and he lowered his hood in respect. "Requiescat iin pace, Borislav. You died fighting for the sake of people you loved, and we will continue that fight in your stead."

Boris died with peace and happiness, however Adric's was quite painful as he fought against the clutches of death. He didn't hear anybody around him, his ears ringing as black dots formed around his eyes. He saw images of people from his past: People that he had cheated, or people that he had wished he could see again. It terrified him to the very core.

He had lost so much blood, and experienced so much pain, that his body was forced to eventually succumb to the inevitable under the guise of Marcus himself. However, a startling peace formed over Adric as he grabbed hold of Samson's paw, and Ravin's hand. He was ready to say goodbye. He wished he would say sorry for everything he had done. Apologize for his horrid acts on mankind. He wanted to say that he deserved to live on this world, and that he could change and be innocent.

But even he knew that was all a lie.

He knew this was the end. As much as he hated it, the time had come for him to take his final breath. He smiled. "I have committed more sins than the Devil himself. Yet, still....I never thought I would go out like this....so soon."

He closed his eyes, and his body grew still and cold.

Desmond watched as Adric and Boris passed on; their faces grew dull and lifeless as their souls fled the body. His instincts went to the book but he grimaced; he couldn't do it. The mere thought of it was heretical but he had to say something.

"Ahriman, we can save them," Desmond muttered. "I can jumpstart their hearts, you can heal them back; Marcus is here with his divine power. We can save them from death.

We can't just sit and watch while we have the power to do something about it..."

"No Desmond" Jessica said, "They... accepted their death. Some people just want to go through that natural process..." a few tears rolled down her face, she looked at Lissette. She was quite affected by Boris' death. Jessica wanted to comfort the poor girl and she approached her, kneeling next ot her and the man's corpse she said with a soft tone as she lied her hand on Liss' back "He was happy... Boris will be with his family now, I can promise you that his death won't be in vain, neither his or Adric'."

Desmond looked to Jessica confused. "We can reverse death while their bodies are still..."

The stitcher slumped back and went silent. He knew it was wrong but the options were there. Why can't they do it? Why should they accept death so freely when it came too early? Tears began to drop as he rubbed the bridge of his nose.

Samson limped over to the cold body of his friend. Friend wasn't accurate. Even companion suggested some amiability between them. Associate. Associate was the word for it. Samson winced as he moved and nuzzled Adric's clammy hand. He hurt, but he'd live. If Samson was the emotional sentimental type, he'd cry out and ask "why, why him, dear God, why?". Samson was not the emotional sentimental type. He was the emotional angry type. Samson smacked the hand with his paw and growled.

"Adric, you spiteful sunnuvabitch!" Samson laughed, bitterly "You just couldn't live wit da thought that I'd kill ya! Ya had to let someone else do it? Huh?" Samson laughed again, but that turned to small coughs after a moment or two. Samson felt fur pressed down on his back. He turned and saw the spectral vision of Adric behind him. Adric's wispy presence had on his tell-tale smile. Adric bent and looked Samson in the eyes. His eyes were still burning with his familiar fire.

"Samson, you ginger bastard, I live for no other reason than to cause you stress" Adric thought, "Well, lived for no other reason". Samson smiled, trying to conceal pain.

"So, pal, what's death like?" Adric's face fell to one of deep thinking. He looked into the space behind Samson, lost in deep contemplation. Adric looked bad and said curtly

"Frankly, it's quite overrated" Samson laughed. Adric continued, inspired by the approval "Honest. I saw the faces of all those I had wronged!"

"Pal, dere ain't enough room in the after-life for all the people you wronged" Adric's smile widened

"I saw Mountain. Spoke with fluency I've heard only from poets. Still ugly as sin, however. Oh, I also saw mother again"

"Oh, and how was dat?"

"She was still asking for handouts. Ungrateful leech, even in death" Adric shook his head smiling. "Saw Kraden too" Samson tensed up

"He's actually dead? Dat old crone finally bit it?" Adric shook his head

"Sadly, no. He's been keeping watch over the realm of death waiting for us. Probably with that stone he was so wonderfully proud of" Samson was slightly relieved, he still had someone in this world worth killing. Adric's eyes took on a steely resolve, as he spoke with the authority and tone that he reserved for sales. "Samson, sweet, terrible Samson. I will do everything in my power to return to the world of the living. And my promise to you, under Heaven, is that my first act as a living man will be to wrap my newly warm hands around your throat, and squeeze until you're as dead as I am now" Samson smiled

"Aw pal, you always know how ta make me feel bettah!" Samson looked at Adric once more, and asked him a question that he already knew the answer to. "Didjyou accept ya death?" Adric smiled wider than Samson had ever seen him smile before

"In the same way a slave accepts lashes. Inevitable, but unagreeable" Adric stood and glanced around and allowed his smile to falter for a moment. One, melancholy little moment. Samson was glad Adric didn't say anything that was truly on his mind. He didn't want to ruin his image of Adric. The stubborn, sultry, alcoholic, stubborn, blasphemous, conniving, wonderful person Samson knew was to stay just that. Adric smiled the most genuine smile he ever had, or ever would. "Well, I must be going" He began to walk into the ethereal mist, to return to the realm of the dead. Samson limped behind him, and called out.

"Going where?" Adric turned on his heel and looked at Samson as though he had just asked what color the sky was.

"Why, I'm not going to win back mortality by sitting around! There's many wonderful things to buy and sell in death, and capitalism doesn't end the same time ones life does" Adric bent down and scratched the top of Samson's head. "See you later, pal". With that, Adric disappeared. Samson sat in silence for several minutes. He turned and walked over to Liss, smiling as though he was not wounded, physically, emotionally, or otherwise.

"Whadya say doll? I'm ready to get that farm"

Using her good arm, Jessica hug Lissette tightier than ever... she waited a few seconds before saying "We should bury them, I'd like to pay them a visit when all this is over" she pressed Lissette softly against her, rubing her arm kindly.

Ahriman sighed "I guess that settles the argument. Oh well, I get the feeling we will hear about some necromancer getting scammed out of every coin his name. Maybe I'll be around long enough to see him return." He shrugs "I dont see why we cant bury them if time permits."

Marcus heard what Jessica had said and said boldly, "We don't have time for that. In my dream I was given a vision of a man who said something about Aunorgard being gone, and that they have an army closing in on our location. We cannot waste any more time over these two, we still have to finish this."

Incantation circles emanated all around them and steam belched out to release skeletons made of ice. Armed with swords and shields, they shambled towards the remaining members. A special circle glowed underneath Ahriman, and it flashed once before spears of ice erupted out of the ground, impaling the undead lich knight, hoisting him into the air. "Branch." A voice commanded and more spikes erupted out like tree branches. He flexed his hands and mist rolled in from the bordering sea, sweeping over the courtyard and obscuring everything in whiteness.