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Post by The Horned King on Oct 18, 2019 14:18:25 GMT
"Unstoppable warriors?" Maleficent repeated aloud. The evil fairy clutched the orb atop her stab firmly in contemplation. She'd summoned forth powerful allies to do her bidding, and her army of goblins stood ready to fight and die for her cause as well. Yet a true army, one fearsome and worthy of the might of The Five, had eluded her. If the Black Cauldron could do what the Horned King said it could, then perhaps the cauldron would be the perfect piece to complete the puzzle. Perhaps the Horned King's goals and her own did indeed overlap... if he could be trusted. Her blood red lips curled into a devilish smirk. "This Black Cauldron of yours," Maleficent said as she turned around to face the Horned King. "Tell me the extent of its powers. You mentioned the invincible warriors. How many can it create, and how does it accomplish such a feat? What use does it offer our goals of conquest?" "Ahhh... Interested now, are you?" The Horned King mused. Clearly, the possession of an army of immortal soldiers to do anyone's bidding would turn anyone would-be conqueror's head, even one as powerful as Maleficent. Perhaps the cauldron was more than just a goal of his to reclaim - a bargaining chip, one that could lead him to higher standing among those gathered at the castle. If he could convince Maleficent to aid in retrieving it. "The Black Cauldron was an artifact of great power in Prydain, one that could raise an army of soldiers the likes of which the mortal realm had ever seen - the Cauldron-Born. In my preparations, I had gathered body after body, corpse after corpse, filling them within the catacombs of my own castle, waiting for the right time for when the crucible was mine. Though it took me some time due to the incompetency of my minions, once the Cauldron was within my clutches..." The lich closed his hands for effect. "Oh... the true power that you spoke of... it coursed through my very bones. The power of a god at my fingertips... how I thirst for it again." He shook his head, realizing he was getting off track. "Upon placing a sacrifice within the crucible, the Cauldron would work its dark magic, reviving the countless soldiers' bodies I had amassed. The more dead that I had, the more that rose. Nothing could stand in their way... safe for the selfless muttering creature that jumped into the cauldron to undo its power." The king realized that telling Maleficent the weakness of the cauldron may not bode well in swaying her, but to not tell her the full truth of all that it is, caveats included, would simply be foolish. She had powers over the entire universe; she'd be able to find out one way or another. "However, if it were to remain here, at this castle tower, under the protection of the many who will reside here, none would be able to reverse its effects, and the Cauldron Born would be free to roam the many realms. Uncaring, unfeeling, fearless, and indestructible..." He made straight eye-contact with the dark faery. "And completely ours to control."
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Post by Maleficent on Oct 18, 2019 17:44:49 GMT
"Ahhh... Interested now, are you?" The Horned King mused. Clearly, the possession of an army of immortal soldiers to do anyone's bidding would turn anyone would-be conqueror's head, even one as powerful as Maleficent. Perhaps the cauldron was more than just a goal of his to reclaim - a bargaining chip, one that could lead him to higher standing among those gathered at the castle. If he could convince Maleficent to aid in retrieving it. "The Black Cauldron was an artifact of great power in Prydain, one that could raise an army of soldiers the likes of which the mortal realm had ever seen - the Cauldron-Born. In my preparations, I had gathered body after body, corpse after corpse, filling them within the catacombs of my own castle, waiting for the right time for when the crucible was mine. Though it took me some time due to the incompetency of my minions, once the Cauldron was within my clutches..." The lich closed his hands for effect. "Oh... the true power that you spoke of... it coursed through my very bones. The power of a god at my fingertips... how I thirst for it again." He shook his head, realizing he was getting off track. "Upon placing a sacrifice within the crucible, the Cauldron would work its dark magic, reviving the countless soldiers' bodies I had amassed. The more dead that I had, the more that rose. Nothing could stand in their way... safe for the selfless muttering creature that jumped into the cauldron to undo its power." The king realized that telling Maleficent the weakness of the cauldron may not bode well in swaying her, but to not tell her the full truth of all that it is, caveats included, would simply be foolish. She had powers over the entire universe; she'd be able to find out one way or another. "However, if it were to remain here, at this castle tower, under the protection of the many who will reside here, none would be able to reverse its effects, and the Cauldron Born would be free to roam the many realms. Uncaring, unfeeling, fearless, and indestructible..." He made straight eye-contact with the dark faery. "And completely ours to control." Maleficent knew that the Horned King was speaking so highly of the cauldron in order to fuel his own ambitions, but the fact that he included the cauldron's weakness in his explanation of the artifact boded well for his honesty. Either way, Maleficent wanted the cauldron. Already she could envision an army of the undead ravaging Prince Phillip's kingdom. The thought pleased her greatly, and if the retrieval of the cauldron would please the Horned King enough to shackle himself into loyalty, then it was a worthy investment on all fronts. "Very well then. The Black Cauldron will be our first objective. We shall retrieve the cauldron, and you, your majesty, will be its master. The armies it creates shall be all yours in exchange for allowing me the occasional use of them. I trust this will be agreeable?"
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Post by The Horned King on Oct 18, 2019 18:38:15 GMT
Maleficent knew that the Horned King was speaking so highly of the cauldron in order to fuel his own ambitions, but the fact that he included the cauldron's weakness in his explanation of the artifact boded well for his honesty. Either way, Maleficent wanted the cauldron. Already she could envision an army of the undead ravaging Prince Phillip's kingdom. The thought pleased her greatly, and if the retrieval of the cauldron would please the Horned King enough to shackle himself into loyalty, then it was a worthy investment on all fronts. "Very well then. The Black Cauldron will be our first objective. We shall retrieve the cauldron, and you, your majesty, will be its master. The armies it creates shall be all yours in exchange for allowing me the occasional use of them. I trust this will be agreeable?" The Horned King could not suppress a fiendish grin. He had thought Maleficent would desire far more from the he and the cauldron, but these conditions were far better than the lich could have imagined. Lending partial amounts of the Cauldron-Born to her for whatever dark schemes she was planning was a small price to pay to have his ancient tool of destruction back within his grasp. And while control of the cauldron was surely a stepping stone for the dark faery in the grand scheme of things, for his goals and desires to be the first attended to made the king reconsider his thoughts on Maleficent. She was betting the very first of her chips on he, one she had only just been trading sharp, underhanded quips with but just a few moments ago, and is now promising him the chance to return to his former glory. Perhaps partnership was possible, after all. "I find these terms most pleasing indeed," the Horned King replied. "I shall reclaim the cauldron, the Cauldron-Born shall rise once more, and all worlds will fear my might before long!" Quickly, however, he noticed a flaw in his speech, and added "Or shall I say... our might, O Mistress?"
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Post by Maleficent on Oct 19, 2019 5:32:06 GMT
The Horned King could not suppress a fiendish grin. He had thought Maleficent would desire far more from the he and the cauldron, but these conditions were far better than the lich could have imagined. Lending partial amounts of the Cauldron-Born to her for whatever dark schemes she was planning was a small price to pay to have his ancient tool of destruction back within his grasp. And while control of the cauldron was surely a stepping stone for the dark faery in the grand scheme of things, for his goals and desires to be the first attended to made the king reconsider his thoughts on Maleficent. She was betting the very first of her chips on he, one she had only just been trading sharp, underhanded quips with but just a few moments ago, and is now promising him the chance to return to his former glory. Perhaps partnership was possible, after all. "I find these terms most pleasing indeed," the Horned King replied. "I shall reclaim the cauldron, the Cauldron-Born shall rise once more, and all worlds will fear my might before long!" Quickly, however, he noticed a flaw in his speech, and added "Or shall I say... our might, O Mistress?" Maleficent grinned at the Horned King's change in demeanor. While he seemed genuinely excited, Maleficent knew better than to take for granted that the Horned King would remain loyal. All the same, she was most pleased that he seemed to have come around. Before Maleficent had an opportunity to speak further to the king about plans, Diablo flew down into the dungeons and landed atop Maleficent's staff. The raven cawed several times, his meaning plain: there was a new arrival. "Pardon me, your majesty, I've a new arrival at the castle to attend to. Perhaps you should seek out our other allies. Surely there are some among them who may prove useful for the quest for the cauldron." Maleficent had hoped to attend to her... "guest" in the dungeons while she was there, but with the Horned King ever present, Maleficent never had the opportunity. That would have to be saved for later. She was confident the Horned King could not find her "guest" on his own merits, but that didn't stop her from feeling uneasy at his continued presence there. She hoped he would adhere to her suggestions and leave the dungeons soon after she did. All the same, her departure was necessary. In a flurry of green flames, Maleficent vanished from the dungeon to return to the courtyard.
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Post by The Horned King on Oct 19, 2019 17:20:00 GMT
The Horned King watched the fiery green flames of Maleficent's departure until they died out, leaving him alone once again in the dungeons. Ever the busy-body, Maleficent seemed to be, having to manage the new arrivals, those still present, as well as the other members of her prophesied Five. Her prose and confidence in this plan of hers was strong, there was no untruths there. But... for how long can one, even as strong as she, keep up with everything under her gaze? The lich will surely keep watch on how things develop from here on.
However, with her promise of power to him, there was no need to be hasty. Lesser men use phrases like "patience is a virtue," or "good things come to those who wait" to assure themselves that they will get what is coming to them. The Horned King would wait, but he will seize what is rightfully is.
Maleficent's parting words then dawned on him. The king had been skulking in the damp recesses of the castle long enough, and if the cauldron was to be his again, some foot soldiers would be necessary to pave the way for his victory. Though he'd much rather teleport from this place to wherever his allies may be, the lich required more time to acclimate to the new castle and its various rooms and halls. The last thing he needed after his resurrection was to be entombed in the very walls of his new abode.
Following the torches once more, the sorcerer journeyed towards the exit of the dungeons, ready to recruit some able bodies for his mission. A thought did cross his mind in his last moments in the catacombs: how had Maleficent known that he was down here? King Candy, much like the lich himself, had come here on his own accord. The faery, however, had claimed to be waiting for others to arrive at the castle. She had asked for his name upon first arriving down here, so he doubted that she preemptively desired to speak with him before leaving the courtyard. Either she had simply not expected the Horned King's presence in this area of the castle yet...
Or there was something down here that Maleficent had come to see. Or someone.
The Horned King turned one final time upon reaching the door to the stairwell that lead back to the upper levels of the castle. While the thought of finding out whatever Maleficent was hiding down here was most appetizing, it was but just a suspicion, and he had already made up his mind to leave the dungeons for now. If there truly was something or someone down there, it was not going to be leaving any time soon. That much the lich felt confident in.
With that thought tucked away for later, the Horned King left the claustrophobic confines of the sprawling dungeons.
[OOC: May wait a while to see how other conversations develop, but watch your backs! The king is loose - he may be right behind you before you realize it!]
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