Things Look Different on All Fours (NPC Demons/Open)

[Jerome Fontaine]

Entropic Chasm
March 1st, 2012
3:00 AM

It had all started as a simple want. Jerome had gone an entire month without going to Inferis. While he was enjoying the peace and serenity of the Smith household, there was an itch in the back of his mind. Right on the back of his head near where his hairline ended and the neck skin began. A bit of self doubt. A bit of insecurity. A small crack that was starting to grow wider and wider, splitting his confidence almost down the center. How could he had been defeated by such a measly little cut. He was a fighter, a slayer...unbeatable. Or was he? Was he really as good as he thought? Or was that all bravado and insanity that just rang out of his mouth? While lying awake, he decided on a simple ultimatum. He would train until the blood and sweat sealed the crack in the rock that was Jerome Belmont Fontaine. Even though he wasn't necessarily allowed to leave, he did. He made sure to leave a note about him going into town to pick up some things from storage. Because of his detainment, he could not work and therefore not pay for his apartment and was immediately evicted. He had a storage pod that his parents had paid for him in case he needed it. But he wasn't travelling all the way into D.C. for nothing.

He was riding in a cab when he got into proximity of the tear. He would've loved to see the cabby's face after Jerome winked and then mysterious disappeared in a puff of swirling black smoke. Around him sprouted small mounds of rocks and a darkening sky. It was rather early to be doing this, but nothing was gonna stop this crazy train. And here, Jerome was plenty crazy. His twisted grin was on the entire time as he whipped down small mountains and a few small demons he played with. Impish like little demons that he could pick up after a good lashing and started pulling off their limbs slowly, meticulously. Feeding into the god complex that was his mind. His thirst wasn't going to stop. As his teeth gritted and his hands bore hard against the handle of his Inheritance, he felt a surge of great force.

It felt like an immense amount of soul energy overwhelmed his body, forcing it to the ground with its tremendous weight with only his painful howls to signal this happening. His body felt the excess of pain, of negativity, of greed, of pride. His mind swam in the emotions that drove his necessity of power. Then he felt his body shift. His body began to actually grow, as if it were accommodating this new surge. Soon, as he tried to stand, he realized he could no longer keep balance. He felt to his side, writhing furiously as skin turned to hid, hair to fur, hands to paws. Then everything went dark.

Then, as he awoke, he brought himself to his feet...or paws rather. He felt different...scarred...almost old...like his dad. He lumbered with slow, stalking footfalls as he moved. Something caught his eye, a small shimmer. A puddle of muddy water just still enough to cast a hazy reflection. He could've sworn he saw...no...no, that wasn't possible...then again, he was in Hell. He took a glance into the puddle, then a wide eyed stare. He looked beaten, scarred, grey with splotches of dark black...and incredibly furry. A whiskered muzzle and a thick, luxurious main with his emerald eyes still in place, oddly human to this new feline body. But why was he like this? Was this...a new evocation? Another new portion of power his blood carried? Impressive. Now all he had to do was will himself to transform.

Nothing happened. He thought hard and nothing happened. He thought harder and still nothing. He began to pace with thudding paws, his brows furrowed displaying his confusion. His eyes stared hard at the ground away from the puddle. Then he sat, a small plume of dust kicked up from his tail. His head was low and his ears were down as he gazed at the ground. Then he had an idea. He could just go through the tear. He willed that and was greeted with a series of blue sparks, like a cage around his form that shocked him with unbelievable pain, growling and pining for release. As soon as he stopped trying, the racking pain stopped as his writhing and convulsing body lay on the floor. As he panted and made small whining noises, he realized it. Evocations don't carry over to Earth. He remembered trying, and failing, to bring Inheritance into his own apartment. But this...he couldn't undo it and was therefore trapped. And what was worse is that he couldn't figure out how to undo it.

A Lion in Inferis. He huffed with amusement at the thought and took his impending imprisonment with great stride. He had plenty of power, he could do anything. He shakily and clumsily took to all fours and breathed deep, then let out a fierce, predatory roar. A roar that had roamed over these lands only decades ago. To him, this was new. To Inferis, it was a familiar sound. A sound of death, a sound of fear. The sound of Cer'val.

[Jasna Iscariot]

There was a certain element to riding that made it so calm and peaceful and enjoyable. Perhaps it was the wind racing through one's hair. Perhaps it was the jolting bounce of your great steed's fast gallop. Or maybe it was the thrill of the chase, whether one was being chased, doing the chasing, or simply imagining a chase. Though in this case, the fun was in watching Piper snatch up unsuspecting Aviaxes and the occasional Fallen Cultist, feasting as he charged forth. It was certainly an odd sight, especially so, given how the Kelpie's jaw could unhinge like a snake to devour larger prey. Of course, Jasna had seen her faithful mount feed many times before, so it was only amusing to her, because it was like a game of Pac-Man, and everything was a blue ghost. GOBBLE GOBBLE GOBBLE.

In fact, the hungry Kelpie soon veered off to the side of the road, now to Jasna's curiosity, and started sniffing at the ground. It had caught a scent, one which was definitely peculiar.... And at that moment, the pair heard a loud roar, before Piper jolted off. Well, this just got a bit more interesting. Sooner than later, the demonic mer-horse bounded a corner and opened its greatly-fanged maw in preparation for another round of gorging; what did lion meat taste like, it wondered! But then, however, Jasna swung out a rope from her hand, catching a tree or something similar TO a tree with it, and pulled, which caused Piper to stop, just inches from Jerome, as if on a leash. And indeed, Jasna let loose a bit more rope before cutting it off and tying part of it around the kelpie's neck and rotting mane. "Now, now, Piper, use some decency! This thing... Well, doesn't seem like a demon, or I'd have picked up on it! You can't just eat lion-people! It's unethical! For shame, mister." And, as if on an afterthought, she turned to the lion-like thing who she presumed was a person, and extended a hand. "Hiya! Judas, Judas Iscariot the Eighty-First, t'is my name, though if you want, you could call me Jasna. Can you talk?"