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November 10, 1996 (logged and edited for clarity by Taisch)
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*** The defeat of the Black Cloud and the origins of the Cult of Io ***
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This is the man who became the Black Cloud:

Brude-Dark
Before you stands the remanents of a Blessed man. The common robes of the 
Order of Wormwood hang tattered from the skinny frame of this man. His flesh 
is pale-blue, dead looking. His face is strong and narrow, though somewhat 
dehydrated. His hair seems to be falling out of his scalp, as clumps are 
missing, revealing but patches of hair left. His jaw hangs losely open with 
monstrous sharp fangs, and his fingernails resemble talons. The only 
exceptional feature about this 'man' is the inky black energy radiating from 
his deepset eyesockets. No eyeball is apparent, just this core of radiant 
blackness. Furthermore, the eyes reveal something deeper to this creature. An 
expression of sorrow, welled up inside. You sense a powerful evil coming from 
this being, yet you see the sadness from 'his' eyes.

Armageddon weather report:
A steady drizzle covers the city in a miserable blanket of gray. At least it 
is a natural misery. No weird hallucinations, no shrieking demons, no sudden 
bolts of fire.

Market Square
The area where Commerce Street meets Cathedral Road is a busy commercial 
district. Big department stores and smaller shops peddle their wares, now all 
of local manufacture, with brand names dating from after the End. Fancy 
restaurants cater to the wealthy among the Damned, who make a point of 
appearing human as they shop here. Everything seems innocuous enough, until 
you notice that the items on the menu consist mainly of human flesh and 
blood, and until you come across the slave markets, where humans are bought 
and sold for demonic coin. The merchandise is dull-eyed and listless, but 
generally healthy and clean. They wear collars of steel, each marked with an 
ID number and a bar code.
Contents:
Brandis
Io
graffiti
Heads on pikes
Fountain
Obvious exits:
Almsdall Plaza <AP>  South <s>  North <n>  West <w>  East <e>  

Io
Looking back at you with a curious gaze is a young teenage girl. Her long 
locks of ebony hair trail in her face and down to her shoulders. Amber-brown 
eyes stare at you, trying to peer into your soul, if you have one. A small, 
rosebud mouth quivers slightly into a shy smile. She is skinny and petit in 
stature but none the less rather pretty.

She is dressed rather casually in an outfit of blue jeans and a soft, white, 
cotton shirt. She wears no jewelry except for a small silver band upon the 
middle finger of her right hand. Soft leather sandals complete the look.
Carrying:
Chalice of Ice
A crystalline chalice with 7 sides, with the names of 7 kings carved into it. 
It is filled with a strange reddish liquid.

Brandis
A tall, thin man, with short red hair and piercing green eyes. He is dressed 
in a black button down shirt and black slacks, with silver buttons which seem 
to catch the light nearby. He carries himself with confidence, but not 
arrogance...more of a calm assurity.

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The streets are fairly quiet tonight, perhaps a few more Guards than usual, 
but business continues as usual.

Io stands by the fountain, looking down at a black box in her hands. Within 
it lies the chalice of ice. She glances in the general direction of Brandis 
with wide eyes. She sighs nervously, looking back down.

Io sets the black box down by the fountain rim, continuing to stare at the 
chalice. She crosses herself, praying softly but fervently. She looks up to 
the sky as she does so, scanning the clouds.

The gray drizzle curbs your vision.

Brandis stands quietly deep within the shadows of a nearby alley, watching
Brandis mutters to himself, "I... put... trust... nothing, Io..."

Io lowers her head, blinking against the mist. She glances around the Square, 
then sits down on a bench by the fountain, the box by her side.

A streak of motion catches your attention from the west. A flash of black out 
of the corner of your eye.
You hear a few muffled shrieks, dulled by the rain.

Io glances to the west, rising hurriedly from her bench. Her face goes white, 
and she glances down at the box.

In the west, the gray seems to be dark, darker, black, even.
The streets seem emptier now. People are instinctively seeking shelter.

Io begins another hasty prayer beneath her breath, closing her eyes. She 
takes deep, calming breaths, then looks up to the misty skies. She whispers 
softly, "Thy will be done, Lord..." Then, she reaches down into the box and 
takes the chalice in her hands.

Brandis smiles slightly.
Brandis pushes his wet hair out of his eyes with one hand, keeping the other 
by his side. He watches Io closely, intently.

Io sighs as her fingers begin to go numb around the chalice, but she clings 
tightly to it. She looks up to the sky again, staring at the cloud. She 
begins to walk slowly to meet the cloud.

Black Cloud(#7739hp)
This is a most peculiar sight! Before you hovering in the air is a massive 
cloud, blackness without depth! It must be some 30' long and 20' across, but 
its so difficult to tell. You can't help but sense a tremendous evil about it.

The darkness resolves into a large black..something. Flashes of entropic 
force lash out and blast the sidewalk, the streetsigns, the street, the 
nearest buildings...into rubble.

Io continues to walk to the cloud, her hands shaking slightly as she does so. 
She stops for a moment and takes a deep breath, but continues onward.

Black Cloud steadies in its meanderings, and bears straight for Io.

Io begins to tremble as she looks up at the cloud, feeling rather small and 
insignificant against it. She continues to walk towards it though, holding 
the chalice before her.

Brandis instincively holds his breath, reaching into his pocket to grasp the 
parchment. He mutters to himself, "... not let..."

Io raises the chalice higher up, directly before her face. She cranes her 
neck as she peers up at the cloud, and she stops, letting it come to her.
Black Cloud sparks with black lightning, forming a mesh around Io and the 
chalice...
Chaos eats at Io, body and soul.

Brandis mutters to himself.
Brandis clenches his fist tighter around the parchment, his nails digging 
into the palm of his hand.

Io closes her eyes, whimpering involuntarily. She raises the chalice once 
more, high above her head, and cries out, "Into the chalice!"
The chalice is cold, colder than anything on earth, coldness spreading down 
her hand...

Darkness runs into the chalice, black lightnings scraping against the ice.

Io holds herself rigid, fighting down the tremors in her hands. She stares 
upward into the mists, into the chaotic darkness. Through gritted teeth she 
mutters, "As one pure of spirit, a servant of the Lord...go into the chalice."

Io's hand goes numb, as the cloud pours into the chalice. Ice spreads down 
the bones of her arm, ice clutches at her heart, ice turns her blood into 
a sluggish quagmire...

Black Cloud seethes and shrinks as it flows into the chalice.

Io's teeth chatter as she slowly, ever so slowly brings the chalice to her 
lips. She can barely keep the contents from spilling out, and she slowly 
begins to drink.

Brandis bites his lower lip. He seems obvious when blood begins slowly 
trickling out of the corner of his mouth.

As the deadly black cloud touches Io's lips, it draws forth from her every 
painful memory, every sorrow, every secret memory of violence enjoyed.
Io continues to drink as her body and soul are assaulted with ice and chaos. 
Tears stream from her eyes, only to crystallize and freeze down her cheeks. 
She doesn't stop taking in the darkness, desperate to do nothing but take in 
every last drop.

Io looks up to the sky as the tears pour down and freeze. Through her mind 
races all the painful and sorrowful memories of her past, and she struggles 
to hold on to the thoughts of Heaven and joy that she once had.
Even as Io's mind is harshly thrown into turmoil, her body cracks and 
crumbles under the strain. Icy crystals burst through fragile cell walls. 
Black ice butchers her...she drops to the ground.

Brandis leans forward, taking a step.

Io's soul struggles above her icy form, bending her will to reform her body, 
and keeping the darkness within it.
The entropic evil eats at Io's mind, jumbled memories of fear writing 
themselves over memories of joy. Confused thoughts of hate and violence 
intrude themselves on peace and salvation.

Io's mind continues to try and reform its body, allowing the evil to be 
formed with it in order to trap it.

Brandis struggles internally. The chances of him completing the five missions 
again is highly unlikely. But he knows he stands no chance battling the 
creature.

Black Cloud strikes out against Io's control, taking advantage of every 
momentary lapse to lash out at the surroundings...
A bolt of black lightning zaps Brandis.

Brandis's thoughts are rudely interrupted by a lightning bolt to the chest. 
How inconsiderate.
Not just his thoughts, either, but his heartbeat, breathing, and any number 
of delicate processes that keep a body alive...

Io's icy shattered remains slowly reforms and she takes a long, shuddering 
breath. She closes her eyes tightly, trying to sit up.
Io sits up fully, concentrating on gathering the darkness into her body.

Black Cloud roils and draws back, only showing as a black film over Io's eyes 
and mouth.

Io takes deep breaths, opening her eyes and looking around her. She closes 
her eyes again, and begins to weep.

Brandis shudders and loses control of his form.
Brandis's form seems to shift and alter.
Anathema staggers against the alley, his breath ragged, his eyes dilated.
Anathema blinks his eyes a few times, trying to focus on the scene before him.

The square is eerily silent, except for Io's and Anathema's breathing. Eyes 
watch from behind locked doors.

Io stares blindly ahead, tears streaming down her face. She begins to weep and 
her thin shoulders shake from it.
Io begins to slowly rock back and forth, chanting snatches of small prayers 
and children's rhymes.

Black Cloud is slowly, slowly, stilled. The pain and the memories retreat...

Anathema shakes his head, trying to clear the cobwebs.

Io's voice grows stronger, and the prayers become more coherent.
Simple things like snatches of prayer, children's rhymes, are heard afresh. 
They take meaning again, from the faith of those who speak them.

Anathema 's eyes widen slightly, seeing the cloud retreat. He slips deeper 
into the shadows, still watching

Io continues to rock back and forth slowly, bringing her knees to her chest 
and wrapping her arms around them. She weeps softly, bowing her head. She 
seems to be reciting a list of names, prayers intermingled with them.
Black Cloud softens, changes in nature, shaped by Io's thoughts.
Io continues to weep and pray, her thoughts concentrated on all of the ones 
she loves, living and deceased.

Anathema smiles slightly, Io's words reaching him.

The chalice blurs and runs, the names carved into its sides vanishing into a 
black puddle.
Io slowly looks up from where she held her head bent, looking up into the 
misty sky. Tears run freely down her cheeks as she continues to pray, her 
voice small and child-like.

Anathema smiles wider and chuckles slightly.
The chalice melts completely, leaving behind a pool of water that clears to a 
perfect mirror as it settles.
Anathema laughs harder, his emotions for the past few weeks finally coming to 
the surface.
Io seems to relax all at once, falling to the ground.

Anathema steps out of the darkness, laughing madly. He holds his hands up to 
the sky.

The air around Io seems touched by newness, by hope and life and faith.
Io lays on the ground, her head cradled in her arm. She stays that way for a 
long time, then slowly looks up at her surroundings.

Anathema rushes out into the street, laughing hysterically.

The drizzle continues quietly, muffling everything in its gray blanket.

Io looks up at Anathema as she tries to right herself into a sitting position.
Anathema does a cartwheel, moving over to Io quickly.
Io merely watches in silence, smiling after awhile.
Anathema reaches down, still laughing, pulling Io up. "I knew you could do it!"

Io is limp and relaxed in Anathema's arms, and she says, "Brandis..."
Io looks at Anathema in slight wonder, reaching one finger to gently touch 
the tip of a pointed ear.
Io says "You are not Brandis..."
Io slowly lets her finger trace over the domino, as if she had never seen one 
before. She says softly, "I feel so odd,"

Anathema chuckles gleefully. "No...no, I'm not
Anathema swings around in a circle with Io in his arms.
Anathema says "It's over!"
Io laughs in childish glee, clinging to Anathema.
Io slowly stifles her laughter to a warm smile, looking around the Square.

Shutters open, pale faces show at windows, a few hardy souls brave the 
streets again, wondering.
A few hesitant voices cry out questions. "What happened? What's going on?"

Anathema releases Io rather abruptly, turning and looking around.
Io blinks slightly as she is released, taking a step back and looking around 
at the people.

Anathema chuckles and turns and nods slightly to Io. "That's my cue...enjoy 
your glory, Io." He kisses her hand spftly.
Io stares in shock at Anathema, trying to call out to him..
Anathema turns and slips away into the alley.
Anathema shudders and reforms.

Io takes a step after Anathema. She tries to say something, but finds she has 
no idea what his name is.

A few awestruck locals drop to their knees before Io.
Brandis slips away through the gathering crowds, laughing.
They weep, "Great lady! You have saved us!"
Other have now emerged from their shelters, watching in stunned silence.

Io stares in shock, shaking her head..."No. It was not I who saved you."
Io takes a deep breath, trying to raise her voice, "I myself could do 
nothing. It was the power of the Lord that saved us all..."
Io says "The power of love, of friendship..."

The ones kneeling humbly in front of Io gasp, "No! We saw! You defeated the 
terrible black cloud!"

Io sighs deeply, shaking her heads, "It was the power of the Lord, my 
friends. I myself could do nothing."

The people listen worshipfully. The ones in the back watch, wide-eyed.

Io glances around the square, then tries to inconspicuously leave.
They follow Io humbly, "Let us serve you, great lady!"

Brandis slips deeper into the crowds, turning and yelling out. "You saved us, 
Io! It was your power!"
Brandis shifts into a generic human in the crowd. "All hail Io!"
They grab the name eagerly, "Lady Io!"

Io stops, raising her hands defensively. She cries out, "If you wish to serve 
me, then serve the Lord your God before all others! Follow the ways and the 
teachings of Christ as I have done!"
The followers follow Io. "Teach us, Lady Io!"

Brandis says "It was your power in the Lord that saved us! Where were the 
angels when we needed them! It was a human that saved us! Lady Io!"
Io stares out at the people, looking completely overwhelmed.
The crowd gazes at Io with complete and utter adoration.

Brandis says "Lady Io! Our saviour!"

Io sighs deeply, then shoots a look of shock at whoever called her the 
saviour. She calls out, "No! I am not a saviour! The Lord Jesus is our 
Saviour, I am merely his servant...I follow His will."

Brandis says "Yes! We no longer need the angels to help us! We can do it 
ourselves!"

Io cries out, "No! Were it not for the Angels, I would not be standing here 
today!"
Io says "We all must work together to rid ourselves of the darkness and the 
evil that always threatens to overwhelm us."

Brandis says "Yes! Lead us Io"
Brandis says "Tell us what we must do to work together!"

And so it began...
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