A Spirit-Walk With A Twist

*RMR's mouth is opening and closing very quickly, he remembers this scene and it is not one he wants to relive, but he cannot make it stop and something almost forces him to keep his eyes open. He watches as the two men dueling with magic spells and staves continue, the younger man who RMR knows is himself, walks closer to them. He walks past the stone throne and hurls a spell at one of the two men fighting, it hits an invisible barrier around the man. The other man shouts to Rob.*

Hamilton: "Robert, you didn't need to come here, it's all under control."

"I wanted to help you, Master Hamilton, your enemy is a foul and sickening man after all."

*The other does not appear affected by these insults, the shadow Rob knows why, he is Scareye and he knew at the time that he wouldn't be killed. Rob can only continue watching, knowing in a few moments things go horribly wrong. The younger Rob runs into the fray with his staff, Scareye is being overwhelmed by the might of the two mages.*

Hamilton: "Very good Robert! You're a better mage than I"

"Don't say that Master, you taught me all I know."

Scareye: "Sorry to interupt your little reunion but I believe I am the greatest mage of you all!"

*With this Scareye catches RMR off balance and sweeps his legs with his staff, the young RMR falls down the multiple tiers and the spell he was charging fires into the ground, shooting him up further.*

Hamilton: "ROBERT! Scareye, you bastard!"

*Scareye is undeterred and uses the lapse in Hamilton's concentration as a way to get in a spell. Hamilton freezes for a second, as if he had been hit by a bucket of cold walter, his body jerks forward as Scareye's outstretched hand appears to seperate something from him, his soul, the frail link between the body and soul is severed by a second spell Scareye casts. Hamilton's lifeless form rolls backwards down the multiple tiers, the young Rob gets to his feet in time to see it land at the foot of Scareye's throne.*

"NO! NO! NO!"

*The young mage can do nothing more than stare in horror and repeat this simple word again and again, tears streak down his eyes and he suddenly is forced back into action by Scareye's next spell, he dodges it and then looks at Scareye in fury. He charges and the scene fades. The modern day RMR has a tear on his cheek, he wipes it away before Midnight notices. Rather than them returning to the present, another scene from the Ringmaster's past come into view.*

[OOC: Time out until tomorrow, with the exception of Midnight posting her reaction to the scene.]

[OOC: Time in!]

*The next scene is one of glory, there are fanfares sounding and huge crowds are gathered. There are chants, cheering and an orchestra is playing a stirring tune. Rob recognises it as the White Hills; capital of the Netherworlds, King Richard of Nether is being crowned after the great war was ended. The Ringmaster is there, Midnight recognises him as he looks exactly how he does now. He asks her a question*

"How long ago do you think this was?"

"Your feeling is correct, this must've been over a hundred years ago now, the Grail Wardens are truly the only society to boast they have discovered a way to slow the march of time. Drinking from the grail grants a life as long as one could ever wish and immunity to illness."

*He continues to watch this grand parade, which continues for a few minutes until the ceremony ends. The scene begins to fade but Rob can tell this trip is not yet over.*

"Do you do this often, Midnight?"

*Before Rob can speak the scene shifts into focus, a scene that will answer Midnight's question. Around them is a mountain, there is a large black dragon observing two men fighting. It is the end of a duel, the loser, Ringmasterrob, is badly injured. Scareye is standing over him. Scareye casts a spell which causes Rob to bow to him, Rob remains defiant*

Rob: "Scareye... you will never win!"

Scareye: "Well actually, I think I just have. Enjoy being my servant Ringmasterrob!"

Rob: "Scareye, no! don't use that!"

*Scareye uses the EoS (Evil overlord Syndrome) curse*

Scareye: "Well 'Ringmaster', you were a fine oppoent but I am afraid that I have won again. Your homeland will fall and along with it your precious King."

Rob: *In a monotone voice* "Yes sir"

Scareye: "With this curse you are now a good little boy. I am going to test your obidence, you are going to put a stop to a little Magic school being opened in the county of Wolfenden. If this school is stopped then there will be no more magical energy left in the area and it will be ours for the taking."

*Scareye gives Rob a mission to attack all staff and students of the boarding school when he is triggered. Scareye then casts a memory spell on Rob so he forgets his past. He then proceeds to implant a false memory into Rob. Rob speak again in a cruel voice.*

Rob: "I shall see to it that they will all pay, my lord."

*The large black dragon approaches Rob, as if testing whether Rob really isn't going to attack, seeing he isn't the dragon demands Rob bow for him. He does. The dragon laughs a harsh laugh, Scareye joins him. The modern day Rob watching shudders slightly, this is another painful memory for him. [ModNote: Ringmasterrob had previously relived this memory in the KMBS Forum thread Night Expedition.]

He wonders why such a sequence of memories have been 'chosen' by the artifact, perhaps extremes, extreme sadness, extrme happiness & pride and now extreme anger and shame. He does not comment on the scene, it's self explanitory. It fades and yet another comes into focus.*

"How long is this going to last? What has triggered this, Midnight?"

"You are correct, but since first seeing that memory I have been trying to leave to no avail. Perhaps this is like a river with its set course, it can be blocked but not entirely stopped, if you can endure it we must press on I suppose."

*The next memory comes entirely into focus. It is Dunnfalls, Rob is taking a well earned break. Rob is doing a spot of r+r by laying back and watching the river and the clouds.*

Rob: "I miss this, there was once a time when the Netherworld's were just like this but since Scareye's regime began again then we have lost more and more beauty. *A tear comes into Rob's eye for a brief second before he brushes it off* Still Scareye will be soon defeated as soon as I can gather more allies here in Wolfenden."

*Rob decides to cast a double spell to go off and keep an eye out on things, the double walks off in the direction of the village. The modern day Ringmaster knows what happens to this double, but didn't actually see it happen the first time round, he speaks to Midnight*

"We are about to see the origins of Visage" [ModNote: Some of this was previously seen in Peace And Quiet.]

*The double pushes its way through the undergrowth, whistling faintly. As Rob created it in a good mood, it too is cheerful. Then, as it steps around a large thorn bush, it notices something at its base. Well, Rob had instructed it to look around, so....

Reaching down, it pulls a small black casket from the undergrowth. Curious it opens the lid and...

In a moment, there is a flash of light, and the double vanishes, the lid snaps shut. A few moments later, a group of cloaked and masked figures emerge from the dark woodlands. One steps forward and picks up the box.*

"A success" it intones dully, "but will this be enough?The real Ringmaster is powerful..."

"It will."says another in the same, oddly flat voice, "We are no longer relying on some simple human assasins."

*For a while it stares at the box, tracing its outline with its long fingers. Then, quietly, the figures depart, and it is as if they had never been there. The modern Rob watches this with interest, though he recognises the men as henchmen of Scareye who were later killed when Scareye was, and he knows also that Visage too is gone, something about it interests him. He feels guilty that he created Visage indirectly and glad he no longer possesses the double spell.*

"Well, another extreme emotion, extreme peace, such a shame a momentary lapse of concentration spawned such a great evil. Is it over now?"

*His question is answered by another scene beginning to unfold*

"It seems neither of us can stop this, we'll have to keep on going. I don't mind you seeing it, it's not like you chose this. I wonder what the next delight will be."

*The new scene unfurls itself before their eyes. It is the scene of Rob's magical explosion, when he exited Wolfenden many months ago. He rewatches it happen, his power causing him to grow so much and then his disappearance in the explosion & Tom's disappearance too. He had been to busy feeling the immense power at the time to take notice of the scene, he observes with interest before the scene passes on. Another replaces it.*

*The final memory is on a totally different place, the Ringmaster is hurt and lying face down in a forest. Not the forest of Dunn, but another forest on a different world. The ringmaster slowly gets up and attempts to heal himself, his power won't work at all. His staff is heavy but he leans on it as he walks. Two men in robes different to his are a few feet away beyons some trees, talking in a strange language. Rob stumbles through the trees towards them and they look startled. Rob address them and they reply in his language. A short conversation ends in them offering him aid. They put his staff in a special storage container which shrinks to a very small size, they give it back to him with instructions of how to use it and he puts it on his belt. They also give him the all purpose cloth as his robes are torn a bit, he thanks them and they support him and carry him, but he passes out. The men speak quietly to each other in the strange language. The modern Rob learned enough of it to understand the two lines.*

"He will be perfect, I can sense something within him that will be very useful."

*Rob wonders what that means but has no further time to eavesdrop as the scene fades. He can sense the vision is now ending and they shift back into the Wolf's Howl, he and Midnight stand up and Rob sees, the shadow standing over him*

"Well, well, look who it is. I think it's high time I got rid of the extra." *The shadow indicates Midnight, preparing to attack*