The war against corruption

[Yuno]

As Draelan nodded in understand he felt a hard thrust against the back of his head and then all went black.
He did not know what came next only that he felt himself being bound. For a long time he was out cold and no dreams came to him. When he awoke all was black. The little air around him was stagnant and he could sense he had been like this for many hours. His hands were bound together. He could feel himself sway with movement as the sudden reality of his gravity hit him. He knew with little doubt that he was hanging upside down, tied , and bagged.
He had to hand it to the test giver Harlequinns it was a humorous position to be in. He grinned lightly as he realized this was the first of many tests. Of course it made sense. The Harlequinns had near perfect control of their body. Sarina could have slipped this in near an instant he knew that. He struggled for a moment to untie his hands. But after several labored minutes the rope fell away. He heard it clatter downwards and understood as heat blazed upwards that landing on the ground would not be a good option.
He pulled the bag from his head and looked downwards. Indeed there was a pressure plate that if disturbed blew fire out. His duck would be roasted if he faltered. However, over to the right he saw a platform with a door. With a grin he reached up and began to undo his legs. It took much physical restraint and skill to finally sit hanging up right on the rope. He easily swung and jumped landing on the platform and crowed with pleasure. He moved to the door and punched the pad to open it.
His draw dropped as he looked at what lay before him. It was a maze. He began to walk forward certain of how to get through it. He wandered for hours and hours feeling angry and frustrated. There was no way to mark his path. Then he noticed it, the symbols that had been on the coin Sarina so casually flipped before marked the walls. He remembered her saying reality is how you view it. As if by thinking something could become true the symbols morphed before his eyes and suddenly he could see the clear pattern. He rushed forward along the path grinning at his good friend and fortune.
He came once again to a door and this time he was prepared. He strode forward into a room and there very casually sat Unaivel. That is..Unaivel sat with a deck of cards in his hand. “Come forward my boy. You need only pull a card. If it’s the right card I’ll let you go forward. If not im afraid the jig is up!’ Draelan watched him wearily as he walked forward and looked at the cards before Unaivel. “Which one is the right one?” he said grinning as Unaivel burst into laughter, “I cannot tell you that. I can tell you to remember all that you saw of the Harlequinns!” Draelan nodded looking down at the cards. A jester here, a dancing concubine there. ALL were wrong! He felt angry as he looked at them, “I will not pick any of these.” The man looked up and giggled, “Why!?” Draelan swept the cards off the table, “There is no right card and no wrong card! There are cards. Your hand is what you make of it. No one knows If a card is the right one until you play it!” Unaivel fell from the chair giggling as the door behind him opened with a crack and he waved him along.
Draelan moved forward with quick even and uneven steps. The smell of the air immediately hit him. It was thick, flowery, and somehow seemed to tell of lust and pleasure. He walked in the lighting was dark… He could see a bed there before him and he could see himself there twisting with pleasure on top of someone else. And the suddenly, he was in his own place. He looked down at the naked form of Sarina her chest and body beared beneath him as she groaned her impossibley patterned hair stuck against her sweaty body. Her voice moved up to him as he stared in astonishment mixed with horror and pleasure, “The lord of laughter demands much of his servants. But he does not demand you give this up. At least not of you. However, you must be aware that he is before lovers.” She grinned at him as he nodded his hand idly wandering down her form, “I understand. God before women.” She grinned at him rolling over on top of him as he fell through the bed.
He landed with a clatter on the checkered floor as he looked up at none other than the lord of laughter, “Well hello there my boy.” The lord said tossing a pair of pants forward at him along with a cloak, “I see you made it. My naughty daughter giving you clues!” he giggled at him and then sat up serious. “Well now. You’ve made it to the last test.” The Lord threw his leg over the side of the chair, “Tell me a joke that will make me laugh and cry.” Draelan blinked at him, “What happens when you cross Sarina with Slaanesh?” The lord grinned, “I don’t know. What happens?” Draelan looked at him quietly, “She becomes truly souless.” The lord looked at him with sorrow suddenly but slowly a grin formed. “I see she did choose well. And so did I.” Draelan had managed to clothe himself by this point as the Lord stood and walked forward to clasp his hand. “It is sad for me to say this. As I had so truly hoped Sarina would not lose the first person who she felt a flicker of emotion for…but I suppose it cannot be helped. Welcome to the Harlequinns.” As he hugged him Draelan felt a coin pressed into his hand and suddenly the room shook and he heard eldar voices, “He is coming out. He passed.” He opened his eyes to see the Master Jester grinning and patting his sweat covered head. “Good job.”
(He is yours again have fun reacting.)

[Esiphas]

Draelan blinked. No wonder there were so few harlequins! Those trials were... Nigh on impossible. Only the truly quick witted, the humourous and the sharpest of cunning could have passed it. He thought back to the trial of lust... Sarina, her form had been so tempting. How could he have possibly passed that. *Because i know what she is...* He thought. Looking back at the master jester, he grinned. "I am most amused. I didnt do a good jop, i lost my pants." He cracked a wide smile. "Thank our lord god he gave me new ones." His grin turned to a smile. "Now what is my position to be, oh master of the troupe?" His eyes were finally gaining runes again. From them, the Troupe lord could position him easily. One eye was the symbol of the harlequin itself, the other, a skull-like rune of comic death.

[Yuno]

The Master Jester grinned at him chuckling in good humor, a sound so filled with joy that it almost pained Draelan in contrast to Sarina’s own cold chuckle, “I am afraid to tell you that I lost my pants as well. They say the female Harlequinns have it worse off…but I must say it is not as easy on us men to have our desires put under us to resist. “ he grinned at him, “You shall be a death jester..” he paused suddenly his hand going to his com unit as he spoke into it, “She is..that is…well miraculous…what? What do you mean Ravenous? I see. You cannot mean that! It is nigh on impossible. No I know It has happened twice before but…you are certain?” he paused now and again as though listening and finally he nodded , “Very well. I shall be there presently.”
He turned to Draelan, “I am sorry. I would be delighted to have talked you through your weapon selections and uniform design. But Sarina has awoken…not herself.” As Draelan was about to protest her healing in a such a short time his eyes caught a nearby time keeper and he saw that since the war and the beginning of his trials over a week had passed. The master jester grinned, “My aids will help you. I must attend to this new matter. But I like I know Sarina would be am very proud of you.” With that he waved in good bye moving towards the door rapidly. Whatever had happened…he could see the worry in the man’s step.
He raced down the halls coming to a junction where fire seemed to be streaming down the corridor as more and more harlequinn guards gathered. “Cease fire and tell me the situation.” He commanded as the fire stopped and two of the harlequins spoke out, “Sir. The Solitare Sarina has taken the head doctor captive. We were trying to perform a routine exam on her…and she was not allowing us to touch her. She refused to take her clothing off. She became very hostile and emotional and then when I tried to calm her with an injection she hit me and dragged the doctor off. “ The man nodded, “6 of you stay..the rest of you to your posts now.” The harlequins obeyed nearly immediately as the jester walked around the corner he had to side step a shot as Sarina’s voice rang out, “Leave me alone.”
“Let the doctor go. You are unwell Sarina. You need help. I need to know what is wrong. “ he heard a low voice wobbling with self doubt, “I can’t. Just let me leave. Don’t hurt me.” The master jester quirked an eyebrow, “Allow me to trade myself with the doctor and speak with him.” It took several moments of you promises and promises before the doctor was allowed to trade. The two men stood before each other, “What has happened…I have known her a long time..she never resisted tests before.” The doctor looked at him, “I barely got to touch her..she attacked so quickly..but sir. I know one thing without touching her….she is no longer bereft of a soul. Whatever happened with those cultists..and the torture..somehow…the soul she naturally should have had at birth has returned. And all those emotions she did not naturally have as a child are drowning her so to speak. The effects are physically showing. You need to try to calm her because her body isn’t used to this.” The Master Jester nodded at him walking forward towards Sarina who was pressed in a small hospital gown up against the metallic wall sweating profusely and shaking. As he approached he watched her sink down against the ground the gun still in her hand as she began to pant.
He reached out to touch her and was met with a swipe from her hand that made him pull his hand back, “Please..you need to calm down. What will make you calm?” he watched her turn to glare at him, “Did Draelan pass?” the Master Jester nodded, “Indeed…you never fail to spot a good man.” She breathed out and then gasped back in, “Good…Im very happy.”

[Esiphas]

Draelan Nodded to the Troupe Master and Turned to the Harlequin Craftmasters. ''My weapon designs are quite Radical, but they suit me well. I require a Shrieker cannon, Standard Issue, with a Barrel length blade. Once you have that, skeletonise it, then place new armour upon it, lighter than stndard. Adjust the Handle position the weapon could be held as either a Two-handed blade or a Long Rifle, and then adjust teh blade so it runs along the underside of the barrel. As for my Armour, Standard Issue Death Jester Armour would be most aprieciated, though if you could Ajust the coat collar so it becomes an Opitional Hood, I would Apriciate it. Also, as a secondary request, I would also like a Powersword as an additional armnament. I was a Scorpion, and Close combat is as much in my blood as this is.'' Teh Weaponsmaster nodded, and moved of to create the extreeme bodys. Draelan checked himself in a mirror. How he had changed. He took out a small knife and sheared the back of his hair off at the neck, catching teh hairs and pocketing them. He then cut his fringe off, and took that too. now infinately more practical, he nodded and sat, waiting for anyone to return and give him his weapons, or tell him of Sarina's fate. Prehaps she would show herself.

[Yuno]

The Harlequinns nodded and waved him off, "It shall be prepared for you when we reach the library..you may go about..I believe your quarters have been arranged.

Elsewhere the Master stooped next to Sarina who seemed to be pressed closer to the ground and was still panting and writhing now and again. "Sarina..let the doctor come near he will not harm you. I can feel your emotional chaos...I could be wrong...but I think you are feeling every emotion you never had all at once...lust...anger..happiness..sorrow...and all the others." She groaned at him as he moved to take her weapon away and she reached out grabbing him by the arm and squeezing it hard pulling him close and moving to kiss him, "You know you've always wanted me...please..dont pull away." The master nodded slowly and quietly as his head moved back his hand holding her gun away now, "That maybe true..but you made it clear you respected my customs and were not interested..and if I take advantage of you now..you'll hate me. " she roared in rage and agony, "You'd rather die than help me." he shook his head quietly at her as he moved to straddle her holding her arms and legs down and turning "Doctor it is safe now." where seconds before she had been grinning now she twisted like a trapped animal sobbing to be let go. The doctor twisted a needle into her neck as she writhed and slowly she slackened her breathing slowing to within a little below normal limits. She blinked as the Master moved off of her and slowly lifted her limp frame up, "What did you give her?" the doctor was quiet, "I gave her a syrum we use to cut tyranid beasts from the collective...it should inhibt the connection between her mind and body. She can feel the emotions but her body will not react. They watched tears roll down Sarina's smiling face as the Master retreated with her to allow her rest.

[Esiphas]

Draelan nodded and stood up again. He strode down the wallways of the corridor, but the strides could have been.skips. He looked stranfe, a Harlequin in mattte green clothing, with runic eyes and half a smile on his face. "A death Jester eh? How fitting that i should be the one to laugh against death, when life has laughed at me so many times."

[hivetyrant103110]

(Just letting you two know that I'm still listening to this)

[Yuno]

(good this post should bring it around to every one's involvement.)

Time ebbed and flowed quickly as the separate fleets made their way back to the Eldar home world's. As every one went about their business Sarina was not seen or heard. Although it was clear the progression of her state was not improving. Draelan spent the voyage being trained by the death jester's in different dances and fighting styles. Even among they whispered of Sarina's state of poor health. The Master Jester seemed to be recieving pressure from the other heads of the Harlequinns to put Sarina down for good.

Meanwhile, among the others a flow of poor tidings were sweeping over. The dark eldar were attacking more frequently, and other worlds were seeing rises in slaanesh activity. It was clear the battle had only just begun. Unaivel's state of suspended animation was a topic as well among the various crews. Eldar do not like to see their heroes bed ridden.

[Esiphas]

Draelan brought the gunblade round again. Once mire it cladhed off of the steel of hid opponents blade. This te however, he initiated a jumping sumersault by pusing his opponents vlade down and trapping it beneath his, using it as leverage to spring himself up. Bringing out.his sword in mid-air, he twisted 180° round and landed, brought up the blade and placed it against the small of his opponents back. "Youre Dead." He said, with a twistedly sadistic tone, which sounded rather jotous. His opponent clapped. "I am indeed, Death Jester. You pass." The head of thee death Jester order turned to face him as he lowered his blade. Draelan gave a dramatic bow, suited to a stage preformance. Then he left, retrieving his blade and going to the mefical bay. There, he took up his usual position- standing by the doors in a sombre position, waiting for either the Doctor to chase hik.off, or for Sarina to leave. He wanted to talk to her, badly. But he couldnt.

[Yuno]

The doctor appeared at the usual time to look in on Sarina and he glowered at Draelan. "I see you are here as usual..." he sighed, "Look you can speak with her..but you need to be aware that her emotional state is very fragile and skewed..." With that he shrugged passing through the doors of the private room.

Inside Sarina sat in bed her arms and legs free as the restraints that had been trying to hold her were slipped and she sat in bed her eyes glittering as the doctor entered, "I thought you promised to stop slipping those..." he said with a sigh. She grinned at him, "I lied." he nodded, "And you ripped out your tubes i see. How am I going to medicate you now?" she glared at him, "I dont need meds!" she snapped as he moved over a needle in hand, "Yes you do." she leered her hand snatching the needle from his with such animal precision that he was taken a back, "Hand that over." he said sternly. She grinned, "No." he moved towards her a threat in his eyes, "Yes." She smiled at him, "Let Draelan in. And get out of my sight." he growled reaching for her hair only to find the needle in his arm. He hit the ground with a oomph.

Sarina only chuckled, "Draelan enter."

[Esiphas]

Draelan entered. Noting the unconcious Doctor, he sighed through his teeth. "You should stop knocking out your meficae staff Sarina. They are helping you." He pulled yp a sttol, and jumped atop it, balancing on one foot. "So... How are you? I hear your feeling emotioal, everything youve never had. A hearts a heavy burden, you know?" He tapped his own.

[Yuno]

Sarina leered at him and he watched a change pass over her as she suddenlygripped her head and he saw her fists clenching hard as blood ran from her hands presumbley from finger nails digging into skin. The moment passed and she looked up, "I am no longer myself if that is the question."

She sat glaring at the wall although slowly her expression softned, "I do not like this soul...I am not adept with it. It is not within my control. I used to be in control." She turned to look at him, "what did you want?"

[Esiphas]

Draelan atared at Saeina. "A soul inever under your control. A soul is how we feel. Its who we are, what we do. A soul IS control, yet it us freedom. Accepting.that is the first step." He looked at the roof. "As for what I wang.... Well i wantwd to see you. I may nkt be allowed any sort of relationship with you, but i still care about you." He lifted a hand. "And i heard you were ill. So i got you..." He pulled his finger, And from his sleeve, a bright burst of rare Eldarite dragonflowers burst forth. "You can take them if you want. If not... Well ill find something tilo do wuthbthem."

[Yuno]

She sulked at his explanation of a soul, " I do not like this then. I suppose I am no longer a Solitare." she grimaced as he went on shaking her head, "He chose you to have no relationships. Of course he did."she grumbled Although the flowers pulled out she smiled lightly accepting them from him and sitting with them on her chest and breathed in happily, "They are lovely......Thank you."

[Esiphas]

Draelan frowned. "All Solitaires have souls. All save you, Sarina. You are more a solitaire now than ever before. Do not wirry about these new feelings. In a way I almost envy you. Your old enough to.aprecuate the new feelings." He smiled. It loojed rather disturbing with the skull-rune on his right eye. "I dont want to keep you, if you have other things to do. But if you have the time... I do have one question."