Razz is in a different place, a different time... A time when she knew exactly 
who she was, a time when she was known to her world, and a time when she 
possessed authority and controlled power... Yes, there was something before 
the river, and there was someone before the river... She had been alone, but 
not lonely, as she had loved someone, and that someone had, in turn, used and 
betrayed her and caused her exile from that world...

Razz is having another nightmare again, her head tossed and turned, and her 
eyes snapped open as cold sweat ran down her face. Her deep blue eyes flew to 
the side of her bed where Justin usually sits while she sleeps, but no one was 
there... Working up a strangled sob, Razz closed her eyes and 
screamed. "JUSTIN!!! JUSTIN!!! JUSTIN!!!"

Crulath appears, suddenly, distress plain on his face. "Dear lady, what's 
wrong?" He goes and sits where Justin would have been.

Razz opened her eyes and saw, instead of Justin, Crulath. Have you ever seen a 
small child who cannot sleep unless their parents are with them? Have you even 
seen that child waking up to find their parents gone? If you have, you'd know 
how the child would scream herself hoarse for her mother or father, and how 
she would not be pacified by anyone, not even a close sibling. Razz is, in 
many aspects, like that child. Tears welled up in her eyes as she continued, 
for a second or so, to scream for Justin, until it struck her that Justin 
would never come to her again, and she threw herself down in her bed and 
cried, refusing to face Crulath.

Crulath . o O ( Well, that worked well. Guess it's plan B. ).

Crulath turns from Razz, and shifts forms, appearing identical to Justin, and 
goes to sit back down. "Razz?" His voice is identical.

Razz's ears perked up abruptly at the voice, with disbelieving eyes she looked 
up from the rumpled pillow. Her lips parted in shock. "Justin?"

'Justin' nods. "Crulath brought me here. He thought I might be able to help 
you. Another nightmare?" He reaches out for Razz.

Razz was speechless as she stared at who she thought is Justin, then she threw 
herself into him, and sobbed in relief. "J-Justin..." She whimpered, and 
tightened her arms around him.

'Justin' puts his arms around her, holding tight, rocking her back and 
forth. "I'm here, now. Do you want to talk about it?"

Razz slowly calmed herself, a feeling of wrongness enveloping her. Justin's 
embrace... It feels... different... somehow. Pulling away from the man, Razz 
wiped away her tears and examined Justin's complexion carefully. "I- I'm not 
sure..." Razz continued to stare at Justin with careful scrutiny.

'Justin' looks at her with a bit of hurt in his eyes. "Maybe
right after waking up isn't the best time to share. . ."

Razz's face twisted, the expression is almost identical to the one that she 
had after seeing that image of Justin in Memory Park, only without the fear 
and horror. Slowly she pulled herself away from 'Justin', staring at him with 
wondering eyes. Justin never showed hurt in his eyes like that, and there was 
something different about the way he said his words... Unable to make any 
sense of this, Razz continued to watch him carefully without saying a word.

'Justin' stands up. "Maybe this was a mistake. Crulath warned me
you were upset, but I thought, maybe, you would trust ME. Obviously, I was 
wrong. Gareth was right about you. I shouldn't have let you into the Hall in 
the first place!" 'Justin' is furious now. He's shouting. "I hope I never have 
to see you again!" 'Justin' storms out of the room, leaving her there.

The door slams shut behind him.

Razz sat still on her bed, staring after Justin's retreating form with the 
expression of having seen something so utterly absurd that it cannot have been 
real. Tears forgotten, Razz slowly poked her head out of her room, looking 
around the hallways. "... What was /that/...."

The castle itself is huge, several hundred rooms, made of ancient
stone. The hallways are tall, cathedral ceilings. The floors have elaborate 
throw rugs, and pieces of art decorate the walls and tables throughout the 
castle. Out the windows is a beautiful view of the surrounding countryside, 
but it's clear that the castle is VERY high up, on a mountaintop.

The door creaks open, and in steps Crulath. He's shaking his head. "You know, 
dear, that you have been MOST observant. I never expected such resistance from 
you. Especially after you came here. . .But don't worry. I have JUST the thing 
for you."

Crulath begins casting a spell.

Razz's eyes widened in instinctive horror, and ran out the room.

As Razz tries to escape, a field of force blocks the door, and Crulath 
chuckles. "No no no. No escape."

Razz fell back as the door failed to give to her push. Turning a frantic eye 
on Crulath, she suddenly hissed like a trapped animal and unleashed a blaze 
spell in panic.

Crulath is struck with the fire, and his robes burn away. His skin smolders 
and burns, but he doesn't seem to feel it. He finishes casting the spell, 
creating fibers in his hands, laying them, from a distance, over Razz's face, 
and head. They make her quite tired.

Razz stumbled as Crulath's spell struck her. Holding a hand to her head, she 
tripped around some more before her knees just gave out from under her, 
causing her to collapse in a heap on the floor. It was as if her consciousness 
was being muffled by a heavy blanket, making it hard to think. "Wh-why?" Razz 
managed with her tongue, which feels as if it's growing thicker by the moment.

As Razz begins to fall asleep, and under the spell, Crulath
briefly reveals his true, Shrike form. The blades of his fingers
click-clack, and his face is a twisted, razor sharp grin. With a blink, he is 
an elf again, fully clothed, and smiling.

Crulath almost whispers: "For Delel, dear lady. For Delel."

Razz clawed one hand over the rugged floor, a gesture of her fight against the 
ancient's spell. It might've been a trick on her eyes, but she thought she saw 
Crulath's body change form before she lost consciousness 
completely... ::Justin... help me...::

Crulath bends down, and carries her helpless body to the bed, and lays her 
down. "In the morning, we'll see if you've learned to trust me yet. But until 
then, sleep, DEAR lady. . ." He leaves the room silently.



The morning comes, and the door opens. Crulath steps in on a still sleeping 
Razz, with an evil smile on his face. "Wake up there, dear lady. Let's see if 
you've. . .changed your mind." He shakes her, a little.

Razz opened her eyes, awake. Her eyes are dull, and her expression impassive. 
She looked up at Crulath without saying a word, silent and still.

Crulath continues to smile. "Looks like it. Excellent. Why don't we see if 
you're really as. . .calm, as you seem, hmm? Stand up."

Razz stands up.

Crulath looks her up and down, nodding. "Good. I wonder if you're still 
so. . .shy. . .Why don't you slip out of those clothes. I've got something 
better for you to wear, I think."

Razz remained silent as she raised her hand and undid the strings and tassels 
over her robe. Pulling them loose, she let the robe fall to the floor, her 
expression indifferent as she stood, naked.

Crulath smiles and nods, smile ever wider. "Perfect. . .but what to do with 
you? Hmm. . ." he pauses for a moment. Then his face brightens. "I know. . .I 
think Justin would like to see you so. . .peaceful. But we can't really have 
you in that old robe." He walks over, picks it up, and tosses it away from 
Razz's nude body. He it on the bed. "Why don't you go and put that on."

Razz stared at the outfit with dull blue eyes, and put it on.

Crulath admires Razz's new look. "Very nice." He takes her hand
and turns her around, to get a better view. "And I bet I know someone else who 
would LOVE to see this. . .Come here, and we'll be there straightaway." He 
motions for her to come nearer to him.

Razz, still extremely non-responsive, followed Crulath's gesture, whatever it 
may ask.

Crulath takes Razz into his arms, holding her close to him, and kisses her on 
her unresponsive lips. "Let's go, shall we dear?"

Razz made no reply, and merely allowed herself to be pulled and kissed. Her 
eyes are open, yet unseeing. There is no need for a reply, anyhow. There is no 
way that she can object.

Justin really /is/ up in arms over Razz's disappearance, although you'd have 
to be very familiar with his moods and attitudes to recognize 'up in arms' as 
in any way different from his normal mode.  He paces, currently, back and 
forth across the Rune Circle on the floor of the hall, eyes closed, thinking 
hard, seemingly.  Debating, internally, whom to call about finding Razz, since 
she's most definitely not anywhere within a day's ride of the tower.

There is a grand flash of light in the hall, and there, near the
entrance, stand Crulath and Razz, Crulath smiling. They look almost like 
Ghaleon and Luna, from the end of Lunar, if you know what that is. She's 
slightly smaller than he is, held very close. She is, of course, wearing 
something a bit different than her usual attire. Crulath looks down at Justin, 
and laughs.

Justin comes to a seemingly natural stop, opens his eyes, and regards Crulath 
and Razz with an expression so neutral as to almost seem 
disinterested.  "Well.  How very good of you to have found her for me, I was 
just about to call you."

Crulath smiles broadly. "Ahh, Justin. How quaint, that you think she is still 
yours to be had. Perhaps you should examine the situation."

Justin has been examining the situation, thank you, with every sense he 
possesses.  Even without getting into the psionics of the thing, she looks a 
trifle still, and anyone with any mind-sense ought to be able to feel the 
enchantment on her.  "Now, really.  To think that you'd stoop so low, 
Crulath.  Your winning personality wasn't enough?"

Crulath chuckles, and steps a bit away from Razz. Addressing her, he signals 
her to turn around in a circle. "Much better, don't you think?" He turns back 
to Justin. "You must understand, DEAR cousin, that she had a nightmare. And 
since she could not be calmed. . .I had to do SOMETHING, you see." He looks 
ALMOST apologetic.

Justin's emotion is almost showing in his expression, this is 
serious. "Console her?  Talk to her about it?  Bring her here and let me?"

Razz turned, her dull eyes gazing whatever's in front of her, submissive to 
Crulath's every demand.

Crulath sighs, and pulls Razz back to him. "Oh, I tried. I did. I even brought 
you to her, but she was. . .inconsolable. But she's just fine now. Aren't you, 
dear?" He turns the question to Razz.

Razz turned unseeing eyes up at Crulath. "Yes," she replied without a trace of 
emotion.

Crulath smiles and nods. "You see? She's perfectly happy here, with me. I just 
thought I'd keep you from worrying, dear Justin." He says that in a perfectly 
condescending tone.

Justin mutters a few phrases of angular spell craft, and the Rune Circle 
shines into activation.  "Yes, well.  I don't suppose you two would care to 
enjoy our hospitality here, since you've come all this way?"

Crulath chuckles, and strokes Razz's dark hair. "We would, but, you must 
understand, we have. . .other things, to do. My castle calls for me, you 
understand. Our chambers go unused." He nods knowingly to Justin.

Razz remains unresponsive to Crulath's touch, but her eyes, however dull, came 
slowly to rest on Justin, instead of blank spaces in air.

Justin shrugs elaborately.  "Ah, well.  Perhaps some other time.  I suppose I 
shall see you later, I sincerely doubt you had any purpose coming here other 
than to flaunt that in my face."  Pointedly, he returns to his eyes-shut 
pacing.  He /will/ have to call Mirai, then, she can find this castle for him.

Crulath smiles, shrugs himself, and takes Razz into his arms. "Let's go, dear. 
Clearly neither of us are as welcome here as I thought." He teleports them 
both back to the castle.

Razz parted her lips slightly, but did nothing more as the familiar scene in 
front of her flashed into non-existence...

At first sight, it's easy to mistake this helpless looking elf girl for a 
tavern dancer. Her small, slender frame is encased in a short, glittering red 
dress that is barely decent, exposing her slender legs and pale shoulders and 
accenting her curves. On her head sits a tiara adorned with bright red 
feathers and red sequins, while her arms are covered by a pair of long, 
matching gloves. The only thing in her appearance that would give you pause is 
her height. Standing at 5'4, she's still a tad bit too short for a dancer, 
even with the stiletto heels that she has on.

Upon closer inspection, you see that this elf girl has deep black hair that 
has been swept up under the tiara, and an adorable heart-shaped face. You 
pause at her torn left ear, wondering what accident had occurred there, before 
noticing her dull, blue eyes. They seem to be staring into a random blank 
space in air... it's almost enough to give you the creeps. Before you move on, 
you also notice an inscription over her forehead. Hmm, you can't make out what 
it means, if it means anything at all.

The alcove is lit from a single lantern, illuminating three strapping men, 
brigands by the look of them, in their twenties. Tied to a chair is a local 
village girl, she's beaten, badly, and crying silently. Her dress is torn, and 
she looks as though she's been abused more than physically. She has the fear 
of death in her brown eyes. The brigands are laughing and cheering as one of 
them kisses the poor, defenseless girl. She struggles, and is stuck across the 
face for it.

One of the brigands growls at her. "Look, whore, you're ours until we kill 
you. Just be quiet and enjoy it."

Crulath walks through the Temple, Razz in tow, examining all of the little 
places. "Now, dear, I hear tell of someone using this as a base of operations 
for a thieving ring. . ." He hears the brigand's last comment, and walks them 
closer, so Razz can see the poor girl.

Razz followed listlessly behind Crulath. She might as well be deaf and blind 
for all that she's reacting to the things around her... Her eyes remained dull 
as she sees the girl tied to her chair, abused and in tears.

The brigands, too busy in their. . .entertainment, don't hear the pair as they 
approach.

Crulath pulls Razz toward him, and stops before the alcove. The girl, poor 
thing, is being forced to perform acts she would never have done otherwise by 
the largest brigand, while the other two cheer him on.

Razz's eyes, however dull, suddenly narrowed. Slowly, in an almost convulsive 
movement, she turned her head around to stare silently at Crulath.

Razz asks: Why... do you... not help her?

Crulath turns to Razz, and nods. "We certainly should stop them, dear thing. 
Indeed." He steps forward, and clears his throat loudly. "You there! Stop that 
at once!"

The Brigands turn and laugh at Crulath. "YOU are going to fight US? 
Hahaha. . ." They swig a beer each and approach.

The lead brigand pushes his friends forward. "You two take care of the loser, 
I'm going to finish here. And then, maybe take the pretty thing with him. . ." 
He leers at Razz.

The two brigands advance on Crulath, drawing sharp knives, which glint in the 
dim light of the lantern. The girl screams, and is silenced by a 
sickening 'THUD' of something striking her.

Razz let her eyes down on the leader, a strange bright glow coming into 
existence around the elf girl. Her eyes are no long dull, but glowed in an 
other-worldly light. "Guilty," she pronounced, in a voice that seem to 
penetrate the walls of the room. "Violator, abuser, you have no right over the 
girl... your sentence is this." Razz raised one glove covered hand, and a 
blast shot forward and engulfed the man in a searing ball of light. His blood-
curding death cry was heard before he was turned into dust.

Crulath . o O ( Excellent, it is as I had hoped. . .she'll do JUST fine. . . )

Crulath decides not to mess around with his two brigands, so when they turn to 
see their leader's fate, he steps forward and crushes their heads together.

Crulath proceeds to then release the poor girl, and heal her. He bows. "My 
lady. I'm sorry we did not rescue you sooner. But you are free to go, now."

The girl looks up at him, still very frightened, and looks at Razz. She 
blinks, and runs from the alcove.

Razz's skin was starting to emit light wisps of smoke when the light faded 
from her form, but her eyes didn't quite return to their dull states. Raising 
a hand up to her head, Razz groaned and blinked. "What happened....."

Razz looked up suddenly, and saw Crulath beside her.

Crulath looks down at her, and starts casting his spell, again.

Razz did not hesitate, she turned and ran.

(they played cat and mouse for a while before Razz ran into a dead end)

Crulath uses his fields of force to trap Razz in the room.

Crulath begins, again, to cast his spell.

Crulath asks: Silly girl. Thought you could escape?

Razz screamed in Crulath's face in reply.

Razz turned, and tried to break through the force field with her most powerful 
magic attacks, to no avail. "Why are you doing this?!" She cried once again.

Crulath ignores the outburst and continues to cast his mind control spell, 
weaving strands of magic around the poor girl's head. "You're MINE, until you 
fulfill your purpose."

Razz clutched at her head and fell to her knees in a feeble attempt to fend 
off the spell. In tears, she cried over and over: "Justin!!! Justin!!! 
JUSTIN!!!"

Crulath finishes his spell, dropping her into the mindless sleep, just as 
before.

Crulath picks up the unconscious girl, slings her over his shoulder, and 
transports them both back to the castle.

Crulath enters their chambers, Razz still draped over one shoulder, and lays 
her on the bed. "And tomorrow, we'll talk about that display in the Temple."

The Next Morning. . .

Crulath enters the room, closes and seals the door, and gently nudges 
Razz. "Wake up, dear. I hope you've thought about what you want. . ."

Razz opened her eyes again, much like the last morning in which she had 
awakened under Crulath's spell.

Crulath smiles. "Good girl. Now then. . .Stand up, and go sit in that chair. 
We're going to talk, understand?" He points to a simple, though comfortable, 
chair in the room.

Razz slipped out of bed, dressed exactly the way she was yesterday. 
Listlessly, she walked to the chair indicated by Crulath, and sat down, her 
eyes set on a random point on the rugged floor.

Crulath lifts her chin. "Now then. Let's start with what happened yesterday. 
What did you do that that Brigand?"

Razz says: I killed him.

Crulath asks: How?

Razz says: With the force that is inside me.

Crulath asks: What force is that?

Razz says: I don't know.

Crulath sighs. "How did it get there?"

Razz is unmoved. "I don't know.

Crulath looks her in the eyes. "All right. What about these tattoos?" He holds 
up her arm, points to different places on her body.

Crulath pulls her gloves off, throws them at her feet, and points to her hands.

Crulath asks: All of these, what do they mean?

Razz remains still. "They seem to act as a seal to the force."

Crulath asks: Who put them on you?

Razz says: I don't know.

Crulath points at several bare patches of skin, covered in tattoos. "You must 
know. How could someone have done this to that body of yours without you 
knowing?"

Razz replied without a trace of emotion. "There is a seal on my past memories."

Crulath hmms.

Crulath asks: How are the seals broken?

Razz says: I don't know.

Crulath asks: Have any been broken?

Razz says: the seal on my past memories seems to have cracked.

Crulath strokes her cheek. "What causes the force to come out of you?"

Razz says: I don't know.

Crulath asks: Why did you kill the brigand yesterday?

Razz says: The force inside me manifested itself.

Crulath asks: But you don't know why it did?

Razz says: No.

Crulath asks: Has it manifested before?

Razz says: Yes.

Crulath asks: When?

Razz says: Someone tried to rape me.

Crulath asks: Where?

Razz says: In the forest outside of the tower of the Blades of the Red Heart.

Crulath nods. "It seems to come out when rape occurs. Is that a fair 
statement?"

Razz says: No.

Crulath asks: Why isn't it?

Razz says: The time before that, some students took my stuffies and refused to 
give them back. The force manifested in me as well.

Crulath says: I see.

Crulath asks: So, in times of stress, then?

Razz says: I don't know.

Crulath says: Well, it doesn't matter. I don't intend for you to leave this 
room for some time. We'll be busy.

Razz says: ...

Crulath picks up the gloves and sets them on her lap. "Put those back on, and 
go sit on the bed, wait for me."

The shadows below your feet begin to shudder, ripples running along their 
outlines, small fragments of the shadows themselves seem to break off and 
begin collecting into a small spot in the center of the room.

The fragmented shadows begin to rise up, their hazy outline slowly

solidifying into that of a man.

Teivin slowly stretches out, wiggling his fingers slightly to make sure they 
are set right.

Teivin peers quizzically at Razz.

Razz followed the order to the letter. Drawing the gloves back on, she 
obediently turned and walked back to the bed, and sat.

Teivin looks at you.

Teivin asks: Kidnapping?

Teivin tsks.

Crulath turns to Teivin. "And who are you, to interfere in my business?"

Razz's eyes remained blank as they continued to stare into vacant space.

Teivin glares flatly at Crulath, the darkness of the shadows roiling within 
the depths of his eyes, "I am the master of the world from which this girl 
removed the brigand, a death I had not been expecting."

Teivin looks at Razz quizzically, seemingly examining her form, "Interesting 
indeed..."

Teivin asks: Who is this girl?

Crulath chuckles. "I take it you were fond of the brigand?" He turns and walks 
over to Razz, puts a hand on her forehead, and tells her to lay down and 
sleep. He turns back to Teivin. "Nothing you need worry about."

Teivin waves his hand absently and a chair forms below him as he reclines 
backwards, "Fond of them? No, but they garnered a large amount of hatred from 
those they attacked, and I rather enjoyed their patronage." Teivin says: As 
for whether it's something I need not worry about, that is of my own concern.

Teivin purses his lips, deep in thought.

Crulath . o O ( Another. . .blast. I had hoped they were wiped out in the 
turmoil.)

Teivin says: One doesn't just kidnap others without calling some attention 
upon themselves...

Teivin peers quizzically at Razz.

Teivin looks at Razz.

Teivin says: She is a rather, cute, thing isn't she? Though she is dressed 
rather like trash.

Razz closed her eyes and laid back down on the bed, still.

Teivin clasps his hands together, "So tell me, why did you kidnap her?"

Crulath laughs. "She's no kidnapped girl. . .just a guest, of mine. As for her 
attire, that is again, none of your concern." There's a core of steel beneath 
his words.

Teivin chuckles softly, "Not kidnapped you say? her mind as blank as an imps, 
small threads of energy leading from her to you? Not kidnapped indeed, what is 
she then? A golem you created perhaps?"

Crulath looks at Teivin with a stone glare. "Perhaps you would care 
to. . .discuss this matter further, outside?"

Teivin smirks and the chair he is sitting on suddenly collapses in a puff of 
black dust which engulfs him. The dust slithers across the floor and along the 
bed, before reshaping into Teivin again, perched lightly at the foot of the 
bed, "Such interesting tattoos, if we went outside, how would I be able to 
examine them?"

Crulath raises his hand, and instantly MOVEs Teivin TO the other side of the 
room.

Teivin grins.

Teivin says: So I see, you're not just some poor slob..

Crulath says: Indeed, not.

Teivin tilts his head curiously at Crulath, peering at him with an unnerving 
intensity, "One of us then... Not one I've met, but not one of my world, this 
I know... Which means you were acting within my domain...Do you not know the 
rule of consideration my... young.. friend?"

Crulath chuckles. "No. But I assure you, we meant only to save the girl who 
was being tortured."

Teivin claps his hands together behind his head and leans backward against the 
wall, "Ah, torture, a girl you say? Hmm... My that would have been a fine 
patronage, the hatred of a young girl against that of those brigands... but I 
digress, torture does not interest me..."

Teivin asks: And you say, well actually you didn't, but this girl was able to 
kill one of them in a single go?

Crulath says: Indeed, she was. Though I cannot determine why. I, naturally 
finished the other two.

Teivin looks at the girl, "I know of this one... I've seen her before, but 
where oh where... Oh yes... The forest... with that... other man....Sigh, so 
many mortals, and so few do draw any attention."

Teivin taps his chin thoughtfully, "I was a squirrel that day I think... one 
forgets what one does to pass the time."

Crulath smiles, and waves his hand. "I find that a few are worth. . .dallying 
with."

Teivin asks: So true, but this one... You will tell me what you find, won't 
you?

Teivin grins.

Crulath smiles broadly. "Why certainly. One must always share knowledge with 
one's equals. . ."

Teivin taps his earring absently, "Ah... Well, I think I can live without 
those brigands, plenty of other sources of hatred... Ah, but a mortal worth 
watching, this I shall keep tabs on.. good day to you sir."

Crulath bows deeply. "Good day to you."

The light in the room dims momentarily as Teivin begins to lose form and 
shape, before collapsing into a formless mass of shadow, which quickly 
scatters in all directions.

Crulath returns to the bed, and wakes Razz again.

Razz opened her unseeing eyes at Crulath's touch, again.

Crulath says: Stand. I think I need to examine those tattoos more closely.

Razz said nothing, but stood.

Crulath leads Razz to the center of the room, and then seals it against others 
entry. "Now then, remove your clothes, then I will examine. It won't take 
long."

Crulath creates himself a notebook and a quill pen, with which to take notes.

Razz obeyed with no objections. Her hands drew off the long gloves that 
covered her arms and let them be discarded to the floor, followed quickly by 
the crown. Undoing the lace and sash on her small dress, she allowed the dress 
to fall to the floor, exposing her pale figure in its naked glory. Bending 
down, she drew off the heels on her dainty feet and stood once more.

Crulath sits down on the bed, and begins to take notes. Sketching the tattoos 
he can see, and noting their position. After a few moments, he orders her to 
half turn, so he can sketch others.

Razz turned, her eyes still staring at the vacant space ahead of her.

Crulath continues sketching her tattoos, and again asks her to turn a bit.

Razz turned again, her eyes still staring at the vacant space ahead of her.

Crulath rapidly reproduces her markings on his paper, and looks back up. "Are 
there any tattoos on you that I cannot see with you standing like that?"

Razz turned her dull eyes onto Crulath, and said nothing.

Crulath takes that as a no. "All right, then, Go ahead and dress, we're done 
with this part. You can be clothed for the next part."

Razz bend down and picked up the outfit again. First the dress, then the 
gloves, then the crown, then the heels.

Crulath ponders for a moment. "Actually, dear. You've been so cooperative 
today, that why don't you have something to eat and rest. No need to continue. 
We have all the time in the world." He creates a cart of food beside the bed.

Razz stared blankly at the cart, not reaching out.

Crulath looks at her. "All right." He steps forward, takes an apple, and holds 
it out to her mouth. "Eat. But be careful not to get any on your dress."

Razz continued to stare off into space as she parted her lips and took a bite 
out of the apple. Slowly, she chewed, and chewed, and finally swallowed.

Crulath adjusts the apple's position, and again orders her to eat.

Razz opened her mouth again, and took another bite. However, she seems to be 
even slower at it this time, and takes about twice the time it took the last 
time to swallow.

Crulath looks at her. "Must not like apples, huh?" He shrugs, and puts it back 
on the cart. He takes a glass of wine, and holds it to her mouth. "Drink."

Razz dipped her head slight, and parted her lips to take a sip from the 
glass... however, she fails to swallow, and it dribbled slowly out of the 
corner of her lips...

Crulath says: Look at you. . .spilled.

Crulath takes her head, and tilts her head back, opening her mouth.

Razz directed her mindless gaze onto the ceiling, and opened her mouth, now 
empty of wine.

Crulath pours a bit of wine in her waiting mouth.

Razz chokes, and her head jerks itself back down in reflex, coughing and 
hacking.

Crulath sighs, and cleans off her face and neck, where the wine spilled. "I 
suppose that you ought to rest, then." He lays her down on the bed, and closes 
her eyes. "I will come for you in the morning, do you understand?"

Razz turned the unseeing eyes on Crulath as he laid her down. Some how, a hint 
of sorrow seems to appear in those eyes, but it disappeared quickly. She said 
not a word.

Crulath stands, and leaves, resealing the room, so no one enters but he.



The next morning, in Razz's bedchamber. The door opens, and in steps Crulath, 
in his usual attire. He nudges Razz, to awaken her.

Razz opened her eyes, just like the two mornings before it.

Crulath looks at her, and appears to come to some kind of decision. Stand up, 
walk to the center of the room, and remove your clothes."

Razz rose from the bed, still dressed the way she was for the past two days, 
she even slept with the heels. Walking to the center of the room, she went 
about removing her gloves, the tiara, the sash. The dress fell to the floor, 
and she bend down to take off her heels. That done, she stood, her hair still 
upswept.

Crulath walks over to her, examining her entire body critically, before 
ordering her to let her hair down.

Razz raised her hands and undid the snap that held up her hair. Once done, her 
long, mid-night hair cascaded down to her chest, her eyes still staring into 
vacant space.

Crulath looks at her. "Sweep your hair back behind your shoulders."

Razz did so, and let her arms drop back down to her sides again.

Crulath nods. "Now, go back and lay down on the bed. Hair underneath you."

Razz obeyed, and went to lie down on the bed, mindful of the arrangement of 
her hair. On the bed she laid, on her back, completely naked.

Near one wall, a shimmer in the air begins, spreads to perhaps a man-sized 
form, and resolves very briefly into a smallish girl in a blue robe holding on 
to a tall, thin man in a red greatcoat.  Before her features can be made out 
in further detail, she shoves the man forward, and vanishes in a spray of 
sparks.  The man, apparently weaponless, lands in a crouch, stands slowly, and 
regards the scene with an expression of mild contempt.

Crulath says: All right. No more messing around. Spread your legs, wide.

Razz's eyes remained unseeing as she heard Crulath's command, there was no 
reaction other than her obedience. Shifting, she spread her thighs apart, 
exposing her pubic area to the cool air of the room.

Justin coughs, quietly, and dusts one tattered sleeve with the other.  'All 
right, no more messing around.'?  Gods, can't he even be bothered 
to /simulate/ respect?  Worthless excuse for a megalomaniac superpower. The 
anger radiating from his calm form is nearly tangible.

Crulath shifts forms from a clothed elf to a not-clothed elf, gets on top of 
Razz, and gets started 'saving Delel'.

Razz's dull eyes flashed as an impact from her body threw Crulath off of her 
naked form. Rising up on her own accord, the elf's head gave one compulsory 
jerk before she turned her glowing eyes on the fallen ancient. "Violator..." 
the divine voice accused. "Guilty." A bright flash exploded from her naked 
body and crashed into Crulath.

Crulath . o O ( Shit. That's really all I can say to myself. Shit. )

Crulath screams in more rage than pain, as the flash hit him. "Elven whore! 
I'll show YOU power!" Crulath roars, shifting to his newest adopted form: The 
Shrike.

Razz's skin started to sizzle as wisps of smoke could be seen rising from her 
form. "It does not matter what you are, justice comes to all beings, even 
gods." Raising her hands, a ball of crackling light formed before it crashed 
again into Crulath.

Justin smirks, very faintly, in amusement, as Razz, yes, just as he'd feared 
(hoped), let loose the Justice.  "Silence yourself, abomination," 
he...commented, really, almost conversationally, and then suddenly his 
anger /is/ tangible, in the form of a blade, and on its way towards the back 
of Crulath's head.

Crulath raises his four arms in defiance, as the ball smashes him through the 
wall. He falls through the hole, struck in multiple places, and is gone. Not 
dead, presumably. But gone, nonetheless.


(insert Razz loses sight, Razz being blind, and conversation before the Tree)


Justin blinks, and... sighs, quietly.  "...can't fault you for it, not then. 
Crulath /seemed/ like a good enough guy at the time, I suppose."  He steps 
nearer to her, places a hand on her shoulder.  "You needn't worry, though, I 
can't expect he'll be bothering us much any more."

There is a laugh. Almost maniacal, in fact. Borderline insane.

Out of the shadows steps a familiar figure. "Do you ever tire of being wrong, 
Justin?"

Razz's ears perked up at that, and she took a step towards Justin. Her face 
filled with unknown fear.

Justin really ought to have been expecting this, y'know...  He steps forward 
to put a protective arm around Razz, and offers Crulath a coldly neutral 
look.  "It's more fun than being right always."

Razz clutches at Justin's coat with her hands. Crulath is here... and she 
can't see...

Crulath asks: To be honest. . .I had hoped she'd be wandering about 
alone. . .but since you've been so kind as to stick around, Justin. . .I think 
I can find something for you to do. Would you two care to accompany me to my 
humble abode?

Razz says: No.

Justin scowls, briefly.  "Hmm.  You heard her, Crulath.  Take yourself off, 
maybe."

Crulath chuckles, at that. "Really, I must insist. It isn't the castle, DEAR 
lady, since you seem to have problems there. And since you added a new 
window. . ." He raises his arms, and teleports them to his new home.



"The thorn tree seemed to be made of the same steel and chrome

and cartilage as the Shrike itself: obviously artificial and yet horribly 
organic at the same instant. The trunk was two or three hundred meters thick 
at it's base, the lower branches almost as broad, but the smaller branches and 
thorns soon tapered to stiletto thinness as they splayed toward the sky with 
the awful impalement of human fruit. Impossible that humans so impaled could 
live for long; doubly impossible that they could survive in the vacuum of this 
place outside of time and space. But survive and suffer they did. Kassad 
watched them writhe. ALL of them were alive. And all were in pain. Kassad was 
aware of the pain as a great sound beyond hearing, a huge, incessant foghorn 
of pain, as if thousands of untrained fingers were falling on thousands of 
keys playing a massive pipe organ of pain. The pain was so palpable that he 
searched the blazing sky as if the tree were a pyre or huge beacon with the 
waves of pain clearly visible. . ." - Colonel Fedmahn Kassad, upon seeing the 
Tree of Pain


Crulath separates the two forcibly. Razz is tossed onto a bed, and restrained 
by some leather straps. Justin, on the other hand, is dragged, through the 
air, to the Tree of Pain.

Razz screamed as her grip on Justin was torn away. "JUSTIN!!!" she screamed.

The branches seem to reach out for Justin, as though they had

waited a long time for just such a victim. They re-arrange to allow Justin a 
view of the bed, as the terrible, razor sharp branch enters the man's chest.

Crulath steps up to Justin, and sharply cuffs him across the face. "Enjoy the 
new location?"

Razz feel panic overwhelm her, and she strained against the straps that held 
her down. Looking around wildly out of reflex, her elven ears strained 
themselves to catch any sounds that might alert her as to what's going on.

Crulath looks back at Razz. "Oh, the straps are quite strong, my dear. Due 
to. . .some extra precautions I've taken today, magic was out of the question."

Justin reaches for some means to combat the force bearing him upwards, but his 
train of thought is abruptly derailed by a ragged spike of metal passing 
through him.  The pain hits all at once, with such a shock that he shuts 
himself away almost instantly.  He vents one short, sharp, breathless cry, and 
sags, abruptly, seeming almost lifeless.  He twitches when Crulath strikes 
him, and hangs too-still again.

Razz's ears did not miss the hissing cry that Justin emitted. "Justin?!" the 
elf girl panicked, what - happened?!

Crulath looks at Justin and sighs. "These half breeds are simply worthless, 
don't you agree, Razz? Can't take the pain, have little magic. . ." Crulath 
shifts his right hand into Shrike form, and scars Justin's cheek. The hand 
resumes elven shape, with a trace of blood beneath a fingernail. "But he won't 
die. Not on my tree. Wonderful plant, the Tree of Pain. Wish you could see 
it." Crulath then walked over to where Razz struggled. "It's a pity, indeed."

Razz turned her head towards Crulath, a growing expression of anger appearing 
on her face. "Let me go! What did you do to Justin?!"

Crulath suddenly creates a knife.

Crulath walks to Razz, and slices her robe off her body.

Crulath says: He is. . .hanging around, to watch.

Razz uttered a stunned cry as she felt something tear her robe away from her 
body. "Stop!" she cried helplessly.

Crulath looks down on her, almost with contempt. "No." He makes a small, 
shallow cut, on her right arm, with the knife, while tearing away the shredded 
robe.

Justin's form flinches again as Crulath scores his face.  Wait, wait, though, 
until... yes, he's leaving him.  Overconfident, heh.  Slowly, very carefully, 
he begins returning to his body.  The pain is there, oh /yes/, but... well, 
pain is pain.  He raises his head to see what's supposed to be going on, and 
nearly cries out again as it becomes obvious what Crulath's after.  Damn it.  
There really isn't anything he can do yet besides hang and watch.  /Damn/ it.  
He seeks desperately for some point of leverage on the spiked branch, to force 
himself off. Somehow.  As though he'd be of any use after the fall, with the 
gaping hole in his chest.

Razz hissed as she felt the knife cut into her arm. If only she can see what's 
happening-!

Crulath laughs a bit. "And now, since you two are so close, you can share 
blood." He makes sure to get some of Razz's blood on the knife, and hurls it 
into Justin's thigh, where it makes a pleasing thud.

Justin could've just been struck with a tossed pebble, for all the notice he 
takes of the knife.  What's a little more pain, here?  Gods damn him, Crulath 
knew what he was about when he called this abhorrent tree into being.  Ignore 
the damage it's causing, just /push/.  Ignore the drop below, just /push/.  
With a truly sickening wrench, he forces himself to the last edge of the 
spine, and it snaps off, dropping him abruptly to land across a far lower 
limb, where for the moment he repeats his dead body act.

Crulath looks down and the fallen form of Justin and tsks. "Maybe you didn't 
understand the concept. Though I've never seen anyone get down from the tree 
before. Ballsy. Stupid, but ballsy. Very heroic, indeed. . .perhaps you are 
worth studying. But AFTER I'm done with the girl." He lifts him up again, with 
the same force, and puts him on a branch close to the one he was on. "Now, 
stay there, while I go relax, hmm?"

Crulath walks back over to Razz, running his hands over her now prone body.

Razz cried out again, and squirmed, struggling to get away from Crulath's 
hands. "Don't touch me!!" she shouted, half-demanding, half-pleading.

Crulath laughs, again. "You are MINE now, girl. I will do with you as I 
please." He leans down, and roughly kisses her. "Now then. About saving 
Delel. . ." The laugh echoes throughout the area.

Razz spat, and when she could not escape his kiss, sank her teeth into 
Crulath's lips.

Justin attempts to muster the strength to spit blood onto his tormentor, but 
with the lovely wreckage that's been made of his body he barely manages to get 
it two inches.  Good thing he wore red today.  Time to start over; this branch 
is much more wickedly barbed than the last, the going will be much slower, and 
more painful yet.  Damnable Crulath. Saving Delel. He's worse than any Nearith 
now.

Crulath howls in pain, and rears back, bleeding from his lip. Abruptly, the 
bleeding stops, and the lip heals. "No no no. No more foreplay." He shifts, 
nude, and looks down at her. A wave of the arms, and the straps binding her 
legs tighten, spreading her wide.

Razz doesn't understand what's happening, so to speak... No one has ever had 
the chance to inform her /exactly/ how one comes to bear a child. "What are 
you doing?!" she demanded.

Crulath laughs. "Oh. . .you'll 'see' in a moment. Now then."

Crulath steps forward, coming in between her legs.

Razz struggled, though one can hardly tell, her being bound so tightly. She 
doesn't know... but a female's instincts tell her that such actions are to be 
feared and repelled. "Go away!!!" she screamed, wishing that she can kick him.

Crulath begins the process, the only thing on him is a chain, with what looks 
like a rock hanging from it. "This shouldn't take too long." He chuckles, and 
relishes his 'duty'.

Justin forces himself towards the end of the branch, inch by inch, all deathly 
white and blood red and steely cold determination.  There's no way he'll make 
it in time, damn it, damn it all, but he's going to see how much Crulath likes 
his tree when he gets down.

Razz threw her head back and hissed in pain, her body jerking in rhythm with 
Crulath. Pain tore through her, invading her... where... why... how...she 
doesn't know... She cried, her anguish and pain forming a pitiful song.

Much longer before the elf girl had been born... the people had known pain... 
sorrow... and injustice...

What is justice? Justice... is the thing that responds to the people's 
cries... the ones that cannot be heard... the ones that become drowned out in 
power...

It is the people's will that formed the force that performs their justice...

It is the will of many... the will of those from another world... why, then, 
can it not protect one elf?

Razz released a long, whining whimper.... "Why...?" she asked, though it is 
uncertain to whom she is addressing her question.

Crulath continues violating her, almost at the point of laughing hysterically. 
He's nearly succeeded.

Justin gathers himself, and makes the final push, forcing all the power in his 
wrecked body to drive him away from the Tree of Pain.  Several moments of 
silent, almost pleasant freefall, and a sickening crunch as he meets the 
ground.  And then, by god, there's the un-mistakable glow of curative magic.  
And he forces himself to his knees.  And he staggers upright.  And he draws 
the naked, steely blade of the broken spine from his very chest, and 
advances.  This, all you lucky people, is what Justin looks like when he's 
really angry, and not even the will of a god can stand in his way.  Crulath is 
obviously occupied; it's almost too easy.  Justin's face loses it's twisted 
determination, all at once, goes blank, as he takes the final step, raises the 
blade naked in his hand, and brings it down with all the force left in him, 
into the back of the immortal's neck, severing the chain.

Crulath climaxes as the chain is cut, irrevocably finishing the job. It is 
only that sudden lack of occupation that allows him to notice the chain 
slipping away.

Razz whimpered and cried frantically, as Crulath continued to ram into her, 
violating her deeper than anyone had ever done... and stiffled as a sudden 
veil lifted from the force that is in her core. Her eyes glowed, and said 
nothing as a harsh beam of light made it almost impossible to see her form. It 
filled the room, searing with it's punishing wrath. Justice has come, and it 
comes alone... The room was silence, but the light filled everyone's minds, 
all that is suffering, hurting, raging, tormenting...

The rock, attached to the chain, falls, slowly. . .until it strikes the 
ground, and shatters, as Crulath screams in pure hatred. . .utter 
contempt. . .and the knowledge that the game is over. . .

Crulath frantically retreats from the girl, and disappears from existence, 
transporting himself to another place, before she can destroy him. . .

Justin sags forward, then slips down to the ground, almost laughing.  The game 
is indeed up, Crulath.  All Justin can do now, though, is hope against hope 
that Justice recognizes that he was working to uphold it.

Razz the straps were instantly vaporized, and the elf girl floated up in mid 
air, her eyes open to the sky. "I remember.... I remember... I remember..." a 
heavenly voice sang, and it was not the same condemning voice that had spoken 
before... and the light faded, and the elf girl dropped down to her knees, and 
her naked, abused body tumbled roughly off the bed, adding a couple more 
bruises to her slight form. Blood is still seeping through her legs, but she 
takes no notice. Her eyes are wide, but even if they had been able to see... 
it is likely that they would still appear as dead as they are now.

Justin is not quite so dead as he appears.  He maintains a death-grip on 
consciousness, long enough to force his body to bring itself back to operating 
condition, and makes several false starts at getting up. Finally, he manages 
to lever himself to his knees.  "G..ghhk."  Ech. No talk for him.  All he can 
produce right now is another mouthful of blood.  He takes hold of the edge of 
the table, and pulls himself standing, long enough to cross to Razz's side, 
then falls to his knees again.  This time, he manages speech, and begins a 
spell of healing for her.

Razz's ears snapped to attention as someone suddenly began chanting beside 
her. In her traumatized state she did not recognize Justin's voice, all she 
knows is that there is someone there... scrambling away the best she could, 
she pushed her back against the other side of the bed. "Don't come here," she 
whimpered, the first tears forming in her eyes. "Don't come here... DON'T COME 
HERE!" she screamed, sobbing, pleading.

    Source: geocities.com/razberryl