(( OOC: You may join as you want, whether you were already in the tavern or were just coming in. You can just play the last part of my post off as some show offy bum coming into the tavern if you just want to play as you were already there. So no worries, post as you please. ))

The soft click of his boots lifted forth from the cobblestone walkways of the barren city as he continued along his way. The city seemed devoid of life during the dark night hours, but a few creatures would stray about in the dark alleyways. Though, they would make no motions toward Marius’s position, which in his view was the better judgment on their part. He was someone to be not taken lightly and he wasn’t afraid to show them exactly why. Passing under each of the dimly lit lanterns, fragments of his features would be illuminated, but would quickly fade back into the darkness that surrounded him. If he had his choice, he would snuff out all the light that plagued these lands, but that was not his order to carry out. For his main focus as of right now was to make sense of that old woman’s divination of him.

Releasing a frustrated breath of air, he tried again to calculate his thoughts, but it seemed hopeless as they always seemed to stray back to her worthless words. But if they were truly so worthless then why did they plague him so? Lifting his right hand to his head, he began to absentmindedly knead his forehead softly. What did she mean by her words, did she truly mean that he would die? Well, that much was a given, but from what…from who? Those were the answers he wanted….No needed. Dropping his hand back to his side, his eyes strayed cautiously across his surroundings, taking note to any and every shadow that he passed by. If the woman was trying to scare him, then she was truly succeeding, but if she was just telling what she knew to be true, then the only thing that he could think of was that his end would come from the hands of a light forsaken. The only problem with that is that there had been so many of them creatures around to even begin to gather who it could possibly be. The main ones that stuck out in his mind were two men…Roth and Kona. Neither of them he had met personally, but the rumors and stories he had heard of both were enough to make him sick. Though, it wasn’t a worried sick, but more of a disgusted sick.

Shaking the thoughts from his mind, he would pay the matter no more thought. Turning his attention upon the tavern only a few feet off, a simple grin crossed his slender lips. Perhaps a little down time could help him take his mind off the matter and who knows maybe he could come across some answers of his own in a place such as this. Surely someone would know something about these two men, or at least some of the others that were lurking around these lands.

Making his way towards the large edifice, his eyes traced from its violet slate roofing and down to its purple tainted windows. Whoever designed this place must have been secretly tapping into the alcohol when no one was looking. Shrugging the thought from his mind, he placed a single hand upon the handle and gave it a turn before pushing it open. A rush of smoke and alcohol bombarded his nose simultaneously as he pushed his way through the threshold and into the warm embrace of the taverns’ interior. It took him a few minutes to grow used to the change in lighting and the rancid smells that drifted around the area, but once he did he solemnly made his way towards the bar where he would take a seat. Placing both of his arms upon the bar, his eyes lifted up to the bartender that stood there waiting for his order. Offering the bartender a solemn wave, he spoke a few words, “Anything strong.” With that said the bartender placed a mug before him and poured him his drink. As he departed, Marius took the mug into both of his hands and stared down into the stirring contents of it.

Though, what if it wasn’t a light forsaken and perhaps someone he already knew? Impossible….Neither of the men he knew could even sink as low as to betray him in such a way. Yet his mind still strayed across Ethstar, Shain, and lastly Sephine… The most likely to turn on him would more the less be Sephine for he was her Master now and as they say, every puppet soon cuts its strings. Though, it had been nearly a year since the last time he had seen her and for all he knew, which must mean she’s long gone. Twas a shame though, she was his work of creation, she was his tool and his instrument and in return he offered her safety….Just then his thoughts broke at the sudden bang of the door, causing him to turn in his chair and take a look.

How dare they?! They'd stolen everything of hers...while she slept no less! Her spell had not detected anything, but she was certain of who it was. It was always them! Sure, the faces differed, but they were all the same. Creatures who lived and breathed after death. It was unnatural...and she'd made the mistake of..
A shake of her head was given, forcing that memory back. Her lips curled back in an angry snarl. Despite the fact that she tried to convince herself that it wasn't a conspiracy to torment her rather than outright kill her, faces of those who'd come to hunt her before swam before her eyes. Even in the time it took to get to the city of lanterns, she had managed to keep that rage going - an unusual thing for her. Typically, she let go of her rages as quickly as she worked herself into them.
So it was that she arrived at the tavern; hardly aware of where she was going. Perhaps she ended up there because it was the only thing well lit in this god-forsaken bit of land. Perhaps it was just an inate sense of direction - who knew? She certainly didn't care.
A hand stretched outward to shove against that wooden door. As it gave way beneath her ire, it flung inward. It knocked against wood with a resounding sound that reverberated back against her it seemed. She failed to notice that those within the tavern's walls had fallen quiet, each gaze turned upon her. Some were laced with fear, others curiosity. A few, even, were hardly recognizant of the fact that something had happened. Too drunk to notice or care.
She stood in the door; those blazing pools sweeping the interior. Her hair seemed to swim around her, flaring out from her shoulders like the dancing flames of a wildfire. Her lips were still curled back in a ferocious snarl, and those closest could probably hear the harsh intake of her breath as well as the growl upon its release. The spell she spoke was uttered between clenched teeth. The words so easily forming upon those lips, thrown forth in a hasty anger. It was second nature for her to speak those words; though they were usually done in a whisper to herself.
Her senses were flung outward, expanding like a flare of light to touch everything. Its bright fingers searched out the undead, seeking to expose them from the shadows - even if it wasn't a physical act; she'd know they were there. She'd know to watch for those who hunted her....

Staring deeply into the fiery gaze of this new entrant, a certain calm began to overtake him causing him to relax himself ever so slightly. A jeering grin seemed to snake across his pale features as his thoughts began to quickly travel through the caverns of his mind. From the looks of it this woman had been here on business and business alone, but the sheer expression on her face seemed to tell the whole story for him. He had the same type of look on his face from time to time when he found himself becoming victim to another. A burning hate…Almost like a want, no a need for revenge. Though, his grin would soon slip into a blank expression once more as his gaze caught the twitch of her lips as they seemed to utter some form of incantation.

Clenching his teeth together, he braced himself for what was to come and even went as so far as to begin gathering energy into the palm of his hand. Though, just as she finished uttering her incantation, a simple calm fell across the tavern, which caused him to stir uneasily. Glancing around for a moment, his eyes scanned each of the occupants for some sort of result of this woman’s spell, but found none to be present. Shrugging his shoulders, he dispersed the energy he had gathered in his hand just as quickly as he had gathered it. It had been one of his most commonly used spells, but he wasn’t quite sure what he could possibly do with his fire ball if she so decided to blow the entire tavern to pieces. Fortunately for him, she hadn’t been as brash as many of these others fools were to do such a thing. But yet, she still made him uneasy to an extent, something about her seemed to tell him that she was bad news and to stay away.

Although, he rarely ever listened to his better thoughts as often as he should have, but then again if she was going to try something else, he was prepared this time for he had just the spell to put all her spells at bay. At least to him anyway…But something still bothered him, what did she cast and why did she cast such a spell here of all places? She didn’t seem to be of the light aligned and she really didn’t seem to fit in all too well here either…..So what was her purpose here was she looking for someone and if so…Who? So many questions he wanted to ask, but he would put those on hold for the time being. As he simply watched this woman, his eyes slowly scanned across her entity before landing back upon her face where they would remain for the time being. Drawing in a deep breath, he decided it best to at least make something of this already stressful night and with that he offered her a subtle wave towards him and off to the chair beside him. Whether or not she would come though was another story entirely….

The calm decended over the inn, almost deafening in its silence. Now, everyone had stopped speaking, aware of the unnatural calm. They all stared at her; watched her in that uneasy silence. Spidery fingers of magic flickered against flesh and wood, seeking those who would do her harm - specifically undead.
Like a flame doused by a spray of water, it was suddenly gone. Those tendrils had retracted with an almost audible "whoosh", retreating into her core. A shudder claimed her spine and her teeth ground against each other.
And as suddenly as that magic was gone; she was calm. Her hair no longer wavered around her body like a raging fire, but lay against her back. Those eyes that seemed so alive previously now seemed...normal. Her skin tone returned to its usual tone. Her body relaxed and her fists unclenched. The anger that had been visible like a crackle of lightening in the air now disapated.
She was still angry, that much was obvious, but it wasn't the murderous rage that she held mere moments before. Fear no longer drove that anger. She breathed an audible sigh of relief as those tendrils of magic failed to make her senses tingle.
In that eerie silence that still lingered, she moved across the floor. She, herself, made no sound either and added to that uneasy feel. Soft soled boots picked a path around chair, tables and patrons toward the bar. Uncerimoniously, she flopped onto a barstool...the very one that she was beckoned to, in fact. Not that she'd seen the beckon. Too many thoughts still swirled in her head for her to notice such mundane things.
A weary glance was cast to the bartender, and in a voice that was more tired than bravado she ordered a simple fare of stew and drink. She'd tell him later that she had no coin with which to pay - places like this always needed kitchen help, and she could manage. As she sat there in contemplative silence, waiting for the keep to serve her food, a hand lifted to snake slender digits through those tendrils of living fire. Her breathing became less eratic. One eye was always kept on the door

(( OOC: Not too great of a post, but meh...What can ya do? Anyway, if you want you can take down the wouldbe bandit if you want. ;) ))

Crimson hues followed her as she made her way to the seat beside him, but just as she had taken up the seat, another would take the seat on the other side of him. Shooting a curious glance over to the other person, a certain unease washed over his entity once again, was this planned? Glancing between the two of them, he released an annoyed sigh and returned his gaze back to the woman. Whatever…Why did he even care anyway? If either of them were stupid enough to attack him then he would make them pay with their lives. Paying the other man little to no mind, he reached down to the pouch of coins at his waist and pulled it from its rest there. Placing the pouch of coins on the bar in front of him, he proceeded in digging out a few golden coins. Upon doing so he simply flicked his wrist, tossed a few coins in front of the woman, “Use those to pay for your meal, there’s no sense in working for it if you can get one for free.” Rarely did he ever offer anyone any money, but this woman intrigued him and if he was going to find out what he needed to know from her then it was well worth it.

Peeling his gaze from her, it would soon find its rest upon the mug in his hands. Lifting it to his lips, he took a long draught from its contents; enjoying the stinging sensation of his throat as the cool liquid rolled worked its way down. Placing the mug back down upon the bar, he released a satisfied sigh and returned his attention back to the woman. He was certain that his generosity confused her so he allowed her a brief explanation, “If you’re worried about the coins, consider it a gift. Though…” He paused for a brief moment, as his eyes trailed back to the mug in front of him, “What did you intend to do here tonight…..? It’s obvious you were looking for someone…something, but what did you intend to do when you did find what you were looking for? Surely you weren’t planning to start something here….That would be foolish, unless you knew you had someone to back you up.” Just then his hand twitched as his eyes caught the movement of the person on the other side of him. Glancing to the spot where his pouch once rested another annoyed sigh broke past his parted lips. Shooting a glance over his shoulder he simply watched as the man jolted towards the door, not bothering to make even the slightest movement. This was going to be a long night and a long night indeed…

The man who'd come up on his other side went unnoticed by Ja`el. Her mind was clearly on other things - such as the bowl of stew placed before her. Naturally, with the scent of it wafting up into her face, it took her immediate attention.
As the coins are placed before her, she regards the man next to her suspiciously. It wasn't everyday that someone was willing to pay for a stranger's meal. She reached out a hand and pushed those coins toward the waiting barkeep, who quickly stuffed them in a pouch somewhere. "What do you want?"
Obviously, to her mind, with the money came a 'favor'. While this could be a lucrative proposition in some cases, she did not like to be the one owing. She wondered if it were so obvious that everything had been taken - she didn't recall saying anything about not having any money. She glanced down at herself. Her clothes were a little worse for wear, but by no means did they scream 'no money'. She brushed absently at some flecks of dust on her legs.
“If you’re worried about the coins, consider it a gift. Though…”
She smirked at the idea, knowing full well there'd be something at the end of that. A gift, indeed. She took a bite of stew as he paused; might as well enjoy what she can when she can, right?
“What did you intend to do here tonight…..? It’s obvious you were looking for someone…something, but what did you intend to do when you did find what you were looking for? Surely you weren’t planning to start something here….That would be foolish, unless you knew you had someone to back you up.”
She chewed her food thoughtfully as he spoke his mind. Why he cared, she didn't know. Those dark eyes of hers remained settled on him as he spoke, watching him carefully even as she ate. She was in the midst of composing an answer when the man on the other side of him grabbed his money and ran.
Delicate brows rose over those dark eyes as she turned her head, watching the man make his escape out the door. "You're going to let him get away?"

(( OOC: Sorry I took so long posting. ))

Keeping his gaze locked upon her for a moments’ time, he watched silently as she took a bite from her meal. Normally he couldn’t have cared less if she ate or even accepted his offer, but if she was going to play her part in his game, then she would need her strength. Breaking his attention from her and off to the retreating bandit at the sound of her words. A scowl set upon his slender lips, and within seconds he would arise in one fluid motion only to bring his right arm out to a parallel base with the ground. A crimson glow resonated from deep within the palm of his hand and slowly spread its workings across his hand, engulfing it in a fiery inferno of flames.

Flicking his palm out to the door of the tavern, he would concentrate his full attention upon the door. Just then the door would erupt into flames, causing the bandit to falter dead in his tracks out of shear surprise. Quickly turning around, a look of fear transfixed upon his face, “H-hey…Look, if you want the coins back, then you can have them, I meant nothing by it.” A deep manic laughter reigned forth from the depths of his larynx at the very sound of the man’s plea. Did he truly think he was going to get off that easily, like hell he would. Bringing his hand directly off to the left, it would fall just where the man stood. Again the same deep red energy engulfed his hand, but he would progress no further as he heard people shuffling behind him.

Drawing his glowing hand in towards his chest, it would pause and immediately dart off behind him. Gracefully he would turn on the balls of his feet in sync with the movement of his hand, bringing a certain style to his actions. Spreading his digits apart, he would study the group of men through the spaces of his fingers, “Make another step and it’ll be your last…If you think I’m bluffing…then try me…” Noticing their non-complying nature he simply turned his hand palm up and brought it upwards slightly. In response a ring of fire seemed to lift up from the floor boards and encircle the crowd of people, “I warned you…” Just as he lowered his arm to the side and began to make his turn back to the bandit, something caught his eye. Unsure if he had the time to react, he simply muttered a spell that placed itself in his head, but it would appear to be too late, much too late. With a loud crack the man’s fist rammed itself forcefully into Marius’s cheek where it would soon come to a rest.

Blood slowly trickled down the side of Marius’s face and neck, causing a sick sadistic grin to take upon his features. Oh how he loved the feel of the warm crimson liquid against his heated flesh, there was nothing that could compare to it. Though, whether it was his or the man’s would simply remain to be seen. After a few passing moments the man’s hand quivered and swiftly withdrew back to his midsection where his other hand would clutch it out of sheer agony, “Damn you!” The grin remained prominent on his countenance as he slowly turned to face the man fully. At first glance his cheek would appear to have some form of disease to it, but to the trained eye it was very much that of stone. Lifting a solemn hand to his face he would place a single digit against the stone that rested at his cheek, “You almost had me too…It is a shame afterall, you would’ve gotten away, but now…” Bringing both of his hands just in front of him, he would position them palm facing palm, almost as if he were going to start a prayer, but maintaining a realm of space between his hands. Just then they collided together with a light clap and his right arm would sharply jut off to his side, before bringing itself hooking in sharply and to the jawline of the man. As it grew close to its collision with man’s face, it would become apparent that he had cast the stoneskin spell over his fist to make the impact that much more solid, which was just that…solid. But by then it was too late for the man to react.

Watching with intent eyes, he studied the body as it fell lifelessly to the ground, the neck clearly snapped at the spinal column, which caused the body to convulse a few final times before lying still. The same prominent grin seemed to grace his features as he rose to an erect stance once again. Turning his gaze to the flaming door, he simply lifted a lone hand and closed his fingers causing the flames to snuff themselves out almost like they never existed. Then turning his attention over to the ring of fire, he would simply throw his hand sharply downwards and with that the flames retracted back into the floorboards. Gasps and cries could be heard from the group as they stood staring down at the body on the ground with hopeful eyes, but alas it would do the situation no good. In a dark demonic tone he would speak, “Look…See what his greed has done him and for those of you that think you fair any better then stand and face me.” Finding no movements from either of the occupants he simply shifted his eyes over to the woman, Ja’el, “If no one has the guts, then sit back down you cowards.” With wayward grumbles the men quickly took their seats, but their eyes would never stray away from Marius, Not trusting him for what he had done and hating themselves for not being able to do a thing about it.

Making his way back over to the bar, he simply returned to his seat once again. Placing both of his arms upon the bar, he leaned forward in his seat to close the distance that separated the two of them to make sure she could hear him while the rest couldn’t. Staring deeply into her eyes, he would speak in soft words, “I know you don’t know me or even trust me for that matter, but I’d like to ask you to step outside with me for a moment. If you’re worried about coming into harms way, you needn’t worry, because if you proved to be an enemy of mine, you would be much like that man…” His eyes would stray off to his left for a fleeting moment, before returning their eerie gaze back to her, “But if you wish to remain here, then be my guest, but I should warn you. Now that they’ve seen you speaking to me, I’m more than certain that you’re public enemy number two and as far as I’m concerned I’m the only likely ally you have in this tavern at the moment. So, what’s it going to be, them or I?” Surely she wouldn’t be so foolish as to stay here in a place that more the less didn’t want her anymore than they wanted Marius. However, if that was the choice she would make, then she would have to face it alone…

She calmly ate her meal as he did his damage. She watched as he cast his spells; burning the door and a circle in the floor. She did nothing to hinder or help him - after all, he'd managed to get himself into this, he could manage to take the consequences. Her meal done, she set aside the bowl; leaving it for the terrified barkeep. The ale is taken up next, brought to her lips for a long draught of it.
"Impressive." she remarks lightly as he spears her with his gaze. Her own eyes roam over the fallen men, no emotion lingering within those depths. The men feared him, that much was obvious. It was rightly so - Marius had great power, and even more dangerous - he had control enough to use that power as he wished. Even so, the woman didn't seem afraid or too terribly impressed. Her own power was of a decent level, and naturally come by. She too, was of fire, so the heat of it was a welcoming thing rather than something to cause fear in her.
She didn't even flinch when he killed the man; merely watched as the lifeless body fall to the ground. The action was a little extreme in her mind, but it wasn't her problem, really.
She watched as he approached her again, brows arching slightly. Apparently, he was interested in her for something. She gathered he had a plan of some sort, though she couldn't fathom what he may have in store for her. Her gaze falls to his lips as he speaks, following the conversation easily enough though she only hears part of what he says. A nice trick she's learned from years of not being able to hear well.
".....If you’re worried about coming into harms way, you needn’t worry, because if you proved to be an enemy of mine, you would be much like that man…”
Her brows arched at his not so subtle threat. Though she's tempted to rise to his challenge, she refrains. No sense in showing her hand right now; she has the advantage of him not knowing the full sense of her power. What she'd shown before was simply temper, nothing more. She nods her head a little to that, acknowleging his threat with a touch of amusement.
"... So, what’s it going to be, them or I?”
Soft lips curled downward into a frown. He'd put her into a compromising postion, and she clearly wasn't pleased with that. She cared little for what these people thought of her - she knew none of them. Let their petty little tongues wag if it suited their purpose and gave them something to live for. Her narrowed gaze roamed over the room; noting the unease of the crowd as they watched the two speak. She huffed out an irritated sigh and finished the ale in her hand before placing it on the bar. She gestured toward the door, giving a nod of her head.