how the mighty have fallen

[khoyote]

So here she is. Back in this wretched, dark, dismal land. Land where so much blood stains the ground, where darkness looms over every soul, and where evil was brought to life and created much havoc throughout the country. What a fool she is to come back.

Ivory bitch has left these lands so many times and yet, like a sick disease, she somehow always ends up returning back. And for what reason? She has none. Well, maybe except for a longing within her that digs at her day and night. She returns for one last time as she knows that stepping back on these lands is basically a death sentence. After leaving without a sound or reason, dear dear Requj was seen as some of a traitor, but even worse, a heartbreaker. She left these lands not only leaving behind two young whelps to be raised on their own, but her mate, the original king of these lands. A creature with the darkest of soul that she somehow managed to break and make her way into. Oh how she must have hurt him when she left. Yet he never showed it probably. Instead he probably only became crueler and darker as he took on other bitches to bear his children, or at least that is what she tells herself to cope with the feelings. She splits at the thought of who the new Alpha is of these lands. Not a proper heir in her mind. A small snarl emits from her petit, aged muzzle.

So here she is, standing before the Shrine of Tartarus, her beloved, her stud, her dark knight. Surrounded by the fields of dust and grass, below the tall towers, she is an easy target but she really does not care. Alabaster fae still stands with a certain regalness that only a queen can hold, a stand that is bound to offend someone is hierarchy. She always had a certain Grace Kelly aura about herself. Yet how age has taken a hold of her. Although of the rare elvish wolf descent, a breed that rarely if ever shows their age, she looks like she has lived quite the life. Her frame appears to be withering away as she has grown thin. Her long glossy ivory pelt flows against the soft breeze as is brushes out the dust from her travels. Elvish marking of once chartreuse hue have now nearly disappeared against the white canvas. Instead they are just soft grey marks barely visible to the eye. All gone except for the ones along her face. Beautiful markings that only enhance her delicate feminine features.

Glorious orbs of neon green pigment, veiled by a mask of black, wrinkles, and crows feet, scan the lands before falling back onto the Shrine. Requj positions herself into a much more comfortable sitting position before the piece of artwork. She closes her lids, as always alert long lobes relax, she allows herself to completely zone out. Dangerous decision on such lands as you never know what is lurking around each corner. Memories flood her mind as recalls the glory days of Giaku, of her sweet, sweet Tartarus, and of how she fallen from having it all to being seen as worse then the scum of the earth.

Oh how the mighty have fallen.


ooc] this is so rough but thought i'd give it one last shot especially with a character that has so much history. hopefully some of you oldschoolers are up for a dramatic rp

[Felypsa]

If there was one thing about Giaku, it was that even their traitors did not stay that way for long. The pack had changed much since Tartarus’s demise; in many opinions, for the better. That did not mean that Amnesia, with her powerful hearing, picked up on mutterings of rebellion from the bloodthirsty soldiers who never had enough of a taste of war; or from nobles who complained that they were “letting” the Allies walk all over them. Lacrimosa had enough on her plate, being a young mother, but Amnesia predicted that Giaku would not stay in peacetime forever.

In fact, she counted on it.

She was biding her time, being the old, wise great-grandmother tutoring those young lives. She had already sunk her psychic claws deep into the mind of Lacri’s naive daughter, Dirge, but the boy…Ammunae…he would be much harder to manipulate. Amnesia could still do it. Whether someone liked her or hated her, she could always use that emotion against them. They never learned, she thought. They never learned that it was their volatile feelings that caused them to fall for her plans every single time. That she would always survive, the pillar of cold hard reason and logic.

Yet speaking of…Amnesia, walking idly through the land from which she had once been banished, caught a scent. Her blind eyes did not give so much as a flicker, but she did register some surprise, despite herself. Even a being such as herself, with such command over the events of the world, could not predict everything. And she certainly would have never expected that Tartarus’s estranged mate, Requj, would return here. Not after all that had happened.

Requj had many reasons to hate Amnesia. She had never trusted her, back when the demoness was posing as a beta of the pack. And then Amnesia had seduced Tartarus, given birth to the mighty Endymion, and brainwashed Requj into believing she was the mother. And now…would Requj know, or at least guess, that Amnesia had had one large paw in the murder of the leader of Giaku? She did not strike the final blow, but she was there, and she had meant for it all to happen.

If Amnesia did have one weakness, it was curiosity. She had an almost scientific interest into seeing how a meeting between her and the returned Requj would play out. But she had no fear, of course. Heavily charged situations did not bother her. She did not thrive on confrontation, either. She just wanted to know how Requj would react to seeing her, once again with a position of privilege in the pack in which they were both branded traitors.

Heavy white paws fell upon the earth as Amnesia stalked toward the scent, finally stopping a small distance away from her. She could tell where she was, even without sight. She was well familiar with the grave of Tartarus, even though she saw no point in visiting it. The Druin was dead. Where he was buried made no difference.

“It surprises even me that you are here,” Amnesia said, her voice soft, barely above a whisper, but it carried through the air, devoid entirely of warmth.

[khoyote]

As much as she tried to ignore all the whispers and rustling sounds that filled the Giaku lands, she just couldn't. Her long lobes just can't shut off as they are like soldiers, constantly alert and on watch duty.

My, how the times have changed, she wondered. She couldn't help but be curious of who the new King and Queen of Giaku were, or better, if there are grandchildren that bear her blood that roam these miserable lands. She wondered what has happened to her children, Marahis and Endymion. She heard whispers of their fate but like any mother, she refused to believe the rumors, although she knew deep down they were true. A heavy heart she holds.

Just when Requj was able to really zone out and just begin to block out the sounds of the land, it is when a voice carried by the wind reaches her hearkens. A voice that will always resonate with Requj. A voice so familiar and so old. Like the blinds being opened on the first day of spring, her lids opened up quickly revealing fiery chartreuse orbs as her dial twisted over her shoulder to see if it was true. If voice was connected to canine it belonged to.

and it did.

it took her a second to compose her mind, yet her facial expression never showed it. Why, this has become some sort of reunion. It made her giddy in a twisted, dark way. "It too surprises me that my weary old legs have dragged back to these old lands" Her voice still as soft and sassy as it always has been, expect with a hint of age.

When the female stood, it only exposed just how skinny and old she has gotten as she rotated her frame in a way that faced the blind albino bitch. Oh how she never trusted this figure, even when placed at the right hand of her man. Somewhere deep down, she just knew Amnesia was trouble. If only others saw through Amnesia's facade and felt that way too. "Why it feels good to lay eyes upon a familiar face. You old bat! You haven't changed a bit since the last time I saw you."

Requj's welcome to the other canine is no where near hostile, which is rather strange considering the history between the two and the whole Endymion situation. Yet, one should be careful for a friendly face and greeting can really be harboring an attack when least expected.

[Felypsa]

Amnesia tilted her head to one side as there was a pause, as if Requj were trying to remember her. It occurred to the blind albino that she did not even know what Requj’s state of mind was. She was alive, and seemingly whole (though she could not be sure, but she could hear the sound of all four of Requj’s legs), but was she sane? They had never really known why she had fled in the first place, aside from guesses that her small brain could not handle the pressure of her title.

The friendly greeting did nothing to satisfy Amnesia’s curiosity. It was puzzling, indeed, that Requj would choose such a familiar approach, but that did not mean that Amnesia would let her guard down. She could not trust the motives of this fallen queen. “I like to think not,” she replied, considering her comment about not changing. Amnesia had no reason to change; the only thing that changed were her plans. Endymion, for instance, who was supposed to be her greatest triumph, had turned out to be nothing but a monumental disappointment.

Briefly, Amnesia wondered what Requj would have thought of Endy’s choice to run away with a lover. Would the soft-hearted mother have pardoned him, even been happy for him? It hardly mattered. Requj had not been there to save or condemn Endymion.

“You, on the other hand…how is it you have come back here?” Her tail gave a slow flick, toward the grave of Tartarus. “You have found out that he is dead…but he has been dead for a long time, and his son and granddaughter have changed the face of Giaku very much since then. Your timing…does not seem to have much logic to it.” She paused again, letting that news sink in. She did not specify which son of Tartarus had risen to claim the throne, and she expected that the term “granddaughter” would catch her interest.

Requj did have a biological granddaughter, Amnesia remembered. Did she know of the existence of her daughter’s children? Amnesia herself had lost track of Marahis long ago. A shame—but then, perhaps not, for that poor, tormented soul had come dangerous close to instilling affection in Amnesia’s frozen heart. She was better off wherever she was—lost to the world.

“Why are you here, Requj?” Amnesia was certainly not the one to beat around the bush.

[khoyote]

Deep down Requj loved that she brought uncertainty to the wolf that
usually liked to pretend like she knew everything, including the future.
She felt like she slightly had the upper hand. Though she could be
completely wrong. She has, of course, gone a bit loony. She would play
out certain scenarios in her mind and then convince herself that they
are true, even though they are far from it. Being alone for so long can
cause any creature to go mad.

Requj listened intently as she fell back onto her haunches, sitting in a
comfortable yet regal position. Orbs followed the flick of Amnesia's tail
directed at the Shrine of Tartarus. Her focus fixated on the monument
as she traced each curve and edge of the statue in her beloved honor.
She still longed for him. Without breaking focus on the Shrine, she
responded to Amnesia's inquiries. "Sadly, the news of my Black Knight's
tragic end reached my ears by whispers in the woods. As painful as it
is to accept, it was a fate expected for a dark King." Muzzle coiled in
disgust as she swiveled her dial back at Amnesia thinking about what
she just said about Tartarus' son and granddaughter changing the
framework of Giaku. "Who is it now that claims to be the King and
Queen of this land? For if I am to hear that if it is a spawn that carries
the blood of Diabol in it's veins, this land might as well be claimed by
Shinkou." To say her voice only sounded slightly agitated would be an
understatement. Requj's disdain for Diabol stems way back.

This elvish fae has a lot of catching up to do as the only "facts" she
knows about the family tree of Tartarus is from what she gathered from
the gossiping birds passing by. She especially wondered what became
of her children and what the fates decided for them. She hopes that
somewhere out there, there is a kin of her's that still has the royal
blood of Tartarus and herself flowing in it's veins.

Focusing back on the pretty blunt question that Amnesia spit out at her,
Requj's eyes flicked with a hint of insanity as she answered. "Why, is it
not obvious? I think it's time that the grandchildren got to meet their
Grandmawmaw and see how a Queen really rules the land." What did
she mean by that last part of the sentence? Is Requj trying to take back
her seat as Queen of Giaku and overthrow the current leaders? At this
point, nothing is certain as this canine's sanity is far from balanced.

[/center]

[Aveilthé]

"If there is a problem with my bloodline, I would rather you discuss it with me."

The strong, authoritative voice ricocheted from the canyon's side. A long, dark shadow looked distorted as it grew on the ancient, dusty stone, and what appeared to be the owner of the shadow rounded a corner, her posture rigid. The Empress's head, sporting a crown of smooth, blue horns, gleamed underneath a speck of sunlight that dared grace the usually dark lands. The vertical pupils in her pale eyes grew thin with scrutiny at this stranger.

"It seems you know this stranger, Amnesia." Her pupils relaxed as she turned her muzzle fondly to Amnesia. "Be that as it may..." She glanced back at the wolf called Requj pityingly, but sternly. "...I will gladly answer or discuss with you any questions or concerns that you may have."

Call it arrogance, but Lacrimosa could sense that there was something off about this stranger, something that made the hackles on her back stand on end. Truly, she feared that the madness swimming in this wolf's head would be the cause of her demise, and Lacri, not wanting needless bloodshed this day, would rather try to save this wolf from doing anything foolish.

[Felypsa]

She was here because she had only just heard of Tartarus’s falling, and Amnesia inwardly rolled her eyes at Requj’s dramatic tone. Really, the elvish she-wolf had made herself too easy a target with all that waxing poetic that she did. But she was also not entirely to be underestimated, and Amnesia thought she sensed a slight edge to her tone when she asked about the current rulers of Giaku.

Before the blind wolf could answer, however, she smelled the Empress herself coming to her grandfather’s tomb, and Amnesia fell silent while Lacrimosa strode forth. She had already becoming more regal in these days, her voice open and powerful. Amnesia could sense the tension in the air and quickly calculated whether a confrontation would be a good thing or not. It could be: a chance for Lacri to establish her authority against an aged queen from a bygone era.

There was still some confusion that needed clearing up, and Lacri also left that to her. Amnesia gave a sigh. “Lacrimosa here is the daughter of Endymion.” She let that sink in for a moment. Amnesia realized that she never knew whether Requj had ever learned the truth of Endymion’s birth. Tentatively, she brushed her power against Requj’s mind, though the she-wolf could resist it—Amnesia was not trying very hard, mainly because she did not want to make a scene.

But it would make all the difference, whether Requj would accept Lacri as a viable heir, or try to resist her authority.

“Charon, son of Diabolic, serves as Regent, but he is not the direct ruler. Lacrimosa and her mate, Ammon, are.” That would probably not sit well with Requj, but Amnesia was not going to hide the truth from her. To Lacrimosa, the demon said, “This is Requj. She was Tartarus’s first mate—before Diabolic. And she is…the mother of Marahis and Endymion.” Now she would let that sink in for Lacri, who would view this previously unknown she-wolf as her grandmother. “So you see, this is an unexpected little family reunion,” Amnesia summarized quietly.

[khoyote]

Seems her return to these lands have sparked the interest of another. Better yet, another with some authority. This thrilled her. Why the old bitch still thrived for drama and conflict. Some things will never change. Elvish marked dial turned ever so slightly to the black and blue Druin that emerged from the shadows. Ahh, seems this new female did not like the tone in which Requj spoke about bloodlines and the current leader of the pack. Requj just simply watched as this Druin sized her up and even though Requj knew she was quite smaller, standing only at four feet, she wasn't about to start quivering or submitting. After all, she once was the one who tamed the heart of Tartarus.

Lobes followed along as formal introductions were made. This dark druin had a name- Lacrimosa, and apparently she now is the Empress that reigns these lands. Fascinating. The daughter of Endymion. Why her son produced kin of his own, yet sadly, not a male? She shook her thought away and pushed them aside to thin about later and focused back on what is happening. The elvish she-wolf took all of this in and let it marinate. She was grateful of Amnesia being here to untangle this confusing web and create a clear view of how they are all related to each other.

"It pleases my ears to hear you still acknowledge me as the rightful mother of Endymion." This was a way of her hinting at Amnesia that she knows the truth about their shared son, but this is a matter they will sort out later. Mama ain't happy. Turns out Requj has been aware of the the fact that Endy was really never hers yet how she came to this understanding is still a mystery. Poisoned by Amnesia's sick mind games when under the influence of fresh motherhood, Requj believed she whelped this albino druin. and like any mother would, she cared for him and raised him up until the day she vanished from these lands. "It's sickening to hear that a creature harboring the blood of Diabol actually has authority in these lands. Why any of those monsters are still alive to this day baffles me."

Intense chartreuse pools fell upon Lacri once more addressing the fae with a voice that challenged her authority, as Requj believed she is above this new Empress, "It seems to be child that I am your sweet, long, lost grandmother, so how about you show some kind respect to an elder. Who is this Emporer who leads alongside of you? I pray that he comes from a line of royalty and not just some commoner." Her old mannerisms are clearly on display. Nose wrinkled at the thought that the blue blood of Giaku might be tainted.

Oh it is about to get interesting.

[Aveilthé]

Grandmother?

"I see... welcome back to Giaku, then, Requj."

Lacri never knew her father, or what he looked like, let alone any of the family that he came from. She never could be bothered to learn... he was dead, and what did he mean to her? Almost nothing. She only knew that he was a Very Bad wolf, as her uncle used to say when she was a wobbly pup. "Very Bad" started to have meaning when she finally approached adulthood.

Lacri took her time to think, letting this fact process while she struggled to find the words she wanted to say. In the most Empress-like way she could muster, she managed to say, "Respect is earned, old one. I am not obligated to bestow respect to you unless you prove you yourself are capable of showing respect, too." She remained calm, cool, but her pupils were still slitted into the thinnest line.

"Would you like to meet my mate? Perhaps he could tell you himself."

[Felypsa]

Amnesia could not see the reactions of either she-wolf once learning the truth of their relation, but she could hear their tone. Requj’s initial remark intrigued her enough for those ears to perk up slightly. So, she had her answer. Requj knew. It made Amnesia wonder how she had learned the truth after all. But that was an inquiry for later. The elvish wolf’s phrasing made it seem like she was hiding the truth from Lacrimosa…and Amnesia was pleased with that decision, whatever Requj’s reasoning behind it.

Lacri’s response was more subdued, as if she were in shock. Perhaps she never considered that any of her family outside of her sister, mother, and uncle would have still survived. In fact, anything that had to do with Endymion was a mystery to her. Amnesia waited while Lacri clearly struggled with the revelation. What was the protocol for this? How was she supposed to react?

In the end, she gave a rather distant and cold response—perhaps she did not believe that Requj was who she said she was, or she did not trust her, for whatever reason. Amnesia tilted her head to one side and then realized it probably had to do with Requj’s remarks about Ammon, and maybe even about Charon. Instead of rising to the bait, however, Lacri seemed withdrawn. She owed Requj nothing, and Ammon was the father of her children.

The tension between the two she-wolves, the young and the old, thickened in the air to the point where Amnesia was largely ignored. She had no problem with that at all, but she felt the need to interject. “Requj is simply looking out for you, Lacrimosa, in the only way she knows how. She is a very old-fashioned wolf. She might not understand that one could actually love outside of their station.” It was impossible to tell, from Amnesia’s tone, whether she was siding with Requj’s ways or Lacri’s. Perhaps both; perhaps neither.

oOc| sucky post is sucky. sorry guys :c