"Eat... Eat from the palm of my hand, do not be afraid..." And old man told Azirel, his hand reaching forwards. He was old and wrinkled. He resembled a prune, but something about him made you know that the prune was dangerous. He walked with a slight limp and his posture was arched over. He had hardly any hair and what he did have just barely covered the top of his head. His face was hard to make out, but when Azirel did see little glimpses of it, it was as if something in his mind was blocking the image from getting through to him. The man was wearing a nice suit, but something about it made him look real. It was somewhat like seeing the most beautiful flower but upon closer inspection was made of a foul smelling plastic. The man held in his left hand a chain, with crimson stains on it. It was familliar to Azirel, but he could not remember why. The chain was long and silver, it had a shiny, reflective look to it.

Azirel inched closer to the old man. Trying to make his way through his own confusion. He noticed his feet were wet and he looked down. The room was filling with water and mist. He ran now, chasing the old man as it faded into the darkness. He saw in the darkness the reflection of the chain that the man was holding, it was a snake. The snakes eyes were piercing and the moment Azirel gazes into them, the mist dissapeared, and the water drained until it was only about ankle-deep. The old man was also gone, he had dissapeared with the mist, and the chain-snake had too.

Azirel looked at his own reflection, and noticed it was not his own, it was that of a demon who resemble a red dragon who walked upright. Suddenly his confusion left and he remembered everything. Dying, going to Hell, The Devil, defeating Rahsmiir, going to the world called Arda. His head hurt and he was about to let out a scream...

Suddenly Azirel awoke, it was warm, but it was very dark. Under him was a surface that felt like cement, and covering him was nothing. No blankets, sheets, or pillows, just... Air. But it wasn't like Azirel needed blankets, for the middle of the night, it was rather warm.
He stood up and stretched... His head hurt. What happened? He asked himself. He noticed he was barred into a small room. The room had no furniture, no decorations, it was just and empty room, a prison. But why was he there? He had done nothing wrong.
Then he remembered, the desert...

A little while before he had been travelling when he got lost in a huge desert. He couldn't find his way and he was incredibly dehydrated. Then he was attacked by some monster and he saw the reflection of his demon side in it's eyes... Then there was the pain, and after that nothing. Then he had the strange dream and found himself in prison.

"Rahsmiir!" He whispered harshly to himslef. "It must have been Rahsmiir who got me into prison, and worst of all, I have to take the punishment!" He turned and noticed he wasn't alone... There was a humn lying in the corner.

The moment the other creature began to stir, Thoril awoke. He squinted, trying to watch it without letting it know he was awake.
It looked man, or angel, or perhaps half-rauko. He looked a little on the short side, but he wasn't scrawnily built. His hair was black and messy with red tips at the back and right side. His eyes looked like they had make up on them, perhaps to keep out the desert sun, but he had no other weapons, they were probably stolen like his own. The man had black pants that reminded Thoril of the pants that many adventurers might wear when travelling in the desert. He had a long crimson cape with black trimming that gave him a noble appearance.

The man walked about the cell, he looked confused and tired. He wondered about, trying to figure out where he was, most likely, and Thoril just watched. He didn't look so dangerous, so Thoril decided he'd get up. He got to his feet and got himself into a fighting stance in case he had to fight the other person.

"So, how did you get in here?" He asked.

The room in which Azirel was trapped in was not very big, so it was hard not to notice the man in the corner constantly stirring in his sleep. Azirel was looking for a way out when he heard the man pick himself off the ground.
"So, how did you get in here?" He asked.
"I'm not entirely sure..." Azirel said. "I don't exactly remember being captured"

Azirel examined the man, although it was dark, Azirel could see as if it was daylight. The man was a few inches taller than Azirel but he was rather scrawny. He had messy blonde hair and green eyes. He wasn't realy wearing a fancy outfit, it practically looked like a rag. He had no facial hair and no signs of ever having any.

"What about you?" Azirel asked.

Upon the other man's asking how he came to be in this prison he rolled his eyes and replied, "Caught for being a 'rebel', trying to spring some innocent people out of here, I've been in here for months." Thoril lifted his shirt a little, showing his scrawny frame, he was practically a skeleton, and he hadn't eaten a full meal in weeks.

"So, did you lose your weapons, or do you always wander around weaponless wearing that armour." He asked, quickly using his detect evil spell. The man himself wasn't evil... But something lurking inside of him was very evil...

The other human said that he got caught trying to break loose some other people and lifted his shirt, he looked starved, and he had bones sticking out all over. He reminded Azirel of a skeleton, and gave him the shivers.

"So, did you lose your weapons, or do you always wander around weaponless wearing that armour." The other guy asked. Azirel shook his head, already he was being smart. The man had a strange look on his face.

"So uh, my name is Azirel, what about you?" Azirel asked.

The sound of footsteps would be soon heard louder and louder as they approached the cell Azirel and Thoril were in, there were two wardens of the prison, followed by an strange man, dressed in unusual clothes. The reason of him being there was unknown and probably he liked to keep it secretive, he just came with a bunch of important papers from the higher authorities. The ones responsible with the stronghold weren’t too happy but they had to obey. A large man, one of the wardens walked over the door cell and unlocked it with one his very unusual keys. “Get up ladies, time to get out of here, you are occupying too much space anyway!” The door opened so the two men could walk out of there.

The third man, the one escorted by the wardens was Takezo, a wandering samurai or a ronin as most would refer to him, he wore traditional clothes from his home country which consisted in a skirt-like pants called hakama and a loose jacket of sorts, which both had the symbol of a phoenix in several places. At his left hip a sheathed, curved sword was idling. He looked like a very capable warrior with a very interesting fighting style. Takezo stopped somewhere a few feet away from the door cell as it was opened choosing not to advance further, he will just watch for now, he will meet the two prisoners really soon, so there was no point in hurrying the things to happen. His arms were hidden into the large sleeves of his kimono and his long black hair seemed to play around onto the breeze of the stronghold, the journey through the desert was tiresome but he didn’t show any kind of physical or mental fatigue. He only wished to leave the desert as soon as possible, knowing the threats which surrounded him there.
“Thank you, I will take it from here. I know the way out of this stronghold. Your assistance has been greatly appreciated” The man spoke, his voice radiating a powerful authority; as in reply the two wardens nodded their head and went back to their jobs.

((Ooc: I'm not such a great Roleplayer, so I'll have trouble keeping up with you in post length and description.))

Azirel heard a sound and spun around to see three men walking towards the cell.
“Get up ladies, time to get out of here, you are occupying too much space anyway!” One of the men said. He was a large man, probably a guard or something. The second man looked quite the same in build to the first, but the third was very different. The first man unlocked the door of the cell and opened the door, beckoning for Azirel and Thoril to get out.
Azirel didn't know about Thoril but he was comepletely clueless as to what would happen next. He stood up and looked at Thoril with a puzzled expression and walked out, looking back at Thoril when he got to the door. Then he turned to face the three men.

The first was dressed in an odd outfit, and personnaly Azirel thought it was very ugly. He was tall and bulky, and almost bald, but had some black frizz around the top. His skin was tanned from the desert sun and his eyes were hazel. His expression was cold and mean and looked like he wanted to strangle anyone who got on his nerves.
The second man was wearing the same outfit as the first, but his hair was much... More. It was red, an odd colour, but a natural one none the less. His skin was a similar tone to the first man's, and he was built similarily as well. His expression wasn't as mean as the first man's though.
But the third man did not resemble the first at all. He was dressed in an outfit that Azirel had never seen before. He had a katana at his side, he looked like a warrior of some sort... A samurai. His hair was long and black, and his eyes were brown.

“Thank you, I will take it from here. I know the way out of this stronghold. Your assistance has been greatly appreciated” The third man said, and the first and second left.
"What do you want?" Azirel asked.

((Ooc: That's about my best, not too bad though.))

Those brown eyes of Takezo would scan over the form and the face of the man who called himself Azirel, he would laugh at the man’s temper but remained calm, keeping his composure and a stream of positive thoughts. Though Takezo couldn’t tell why the other one didn’t emerge the cell room too. “What is your friend doing, why is he not coming outside?” The samurai figured that those two had worked a plan to try to escape, a diversion of sorts.
“My name is Takezo, and I’ve been sent here to offer you a better judging trial, a fair one. So follow me, you two will be out of this stronghold in no time.” His vision pierced through the man’s eyes as he waited for a reply and probably for him to react differently. He could see something very strange at this man but couldn’t explain exactly what it was; initially he was sent after Thoril on behalf of his village and the people who missed him greatly. Takezo decided that he will investigate the matter and promised that if Thoril was innocent like people claimed to be then he will do his best to get him out of there. He pulled some strings, talked to some people, offered his services now and there and in return he got those papers. On the other hand he wasn’t entirely sure about this Azirel, who he was and what did he do to end up here, maybe he didn’t deserve to be released.

“Why is that you are here?” The silence was once again pierced as the samurai talked again, addressing his question to the man who was just facing him. He showed no signs of hostility, and his hands were far from reaching from his sword.
With those being said and done, the oriental warrior turned his back to Azirel and began to walk slowly. “You both will do good and follow me, unless you want to end up in a cell again.” He started to walk slowly, so they could catch up with him, especially Thoril who wasn’t emerged from the prison yet.

Three strange men walked towards the cell, all of them ugly, the third not so much, though. The first one opened the door and told them to get out. Azirel walked over and beckoned for Thoril to come too. Thoril sat there, looking oddly at the men. The first and second men left.
“What is your friend doing, why is he not coming outside?” The third one said.
Thoril stood up. "I'm coming, don't get your kimono in a knot," He said. He walked over to the man and Azirel.
“My name is Takezo, and I’ve been sent here to offer you a better judging trial, a fair one. So follow me, you two will be out of this stronghold in no time.” The man said.

Thoril would have greeted Takezo, but Takezo probably already knew his name. Takezo was looking at Azirel strangely, Thoril didn't know why, but maybe he sensed the same thing as Thoril.
“Why is that you are here?” Takezo asked Azirel. Before Azirel answered he spoke again. “You both will do good and follow me, unless you want to end up in a cell again.” This time Thoril looked expectently at Azirel, as he folowed behind Takezo.

Thoril approached the two of them and Takezo spoke.
“My name is Takezo, and I’ve been sent here to offer you a better judging trial, a fair one. So follow me, you two will be out of this stronghold in no time.” Azirel nodded, he seemed relieved.
"Thank you," Azirel said. Takezo looked certain that Thoril would be set free, but not entirely sure about Azirel. Azirel gulped, he would never be trialed in his own world, he was the most powerful baron there ever was.
“Why is that you are here?” Takezo asked, but before Azirel could answer, he continued to talk.
“You both will do good and follow me, unless you want to end up in a cell again.” Takezo said, he spoke with much authority. He walked off somewhere and Thoril followed. Azirel quickly tagged along behind the two.

He caught up with them, as he led them through the prison. "Where are we going?" Azirel asked, trying to keep up with the two. "I understand we're going for a proper trial, but where? Before who?"

Takezo didn’t have to turn around in order to notice that the two prisoners were actually following him, like he requested to, they seemed to be full of question and he just smiled initially. “I don’t really enjoy this stronghold so we are going to leave it, I hope you are prepared for a long journey through the vast desert.” He turned left and climbed down some stairs, there were many of them so it would take a while before he will reach the lower floor.

Glancing over his shoulder he glanced at the two, taking into notice few of their traits, Thoril seemed to be skinny as he was not fed properly while held captive, and as far as for Azirel went he looked in a pretty good condition, obviously he wasn’t there for too long. A small almost sinister smiled appeared at the corner of his mouth as he continued to watch the two. “I will be the judge. Take your time, you can tell me why you’ve been thrown here once we are outside.” And that was about all he said, before falling silent once more, focusing on the stairs ahead. He didn’t have much to say for the moment so the silence had installed between the three men. Soon the stairs would end, and the samurai would step on another floor, then headed straight for the huge gates which led outside, the overpowered heath radiating in that area could already be felt, more and more as they approached the exit.

The three of them continued through the dimly lit stronghold until they came to a large staircase. “I don’t really enjoy this stronghold so we are going to leave it, I hope you are prepared for a long journey through the vast desert.” Takezo said.
"I have been through the desert once with slim to no water, I'm sure I can manage again." Azirel said. He felt a large bump on his head, it had a little bit of blood on it. As they continued down the stairs he noticed a stair with a bit of blood on it and some black hairs with red tips, they were his. Azirel was very observant, and his ability to see in the dark helped a little. They kept going down the stairs, there were so many it felt as if they were in the core of the earth.

Azirel decided to take the opertunaty to observe this Takezo person. He was dressed in very traditional looking clothing, he must have been rich or something. His sword was very beautiful, but it also looked wicked and dangerous. His long black hair flowed behind him. Azirel noticed that Takezo was also examining Azirel and Thoril.
“I will be the judge. Take your time, you can tell me why you’ve been thrown here once we are outside.” Takezo said.

Now they were almost out, standing before the towering gates of the stronghold, heat radiating from the desert sun and sand.

Thoril rushed through the stronghold, excited to be finally free.
“I don’t really enjoy this stronghold so we are going to leave it, I hope you are prepared for a long journey through the vast desert.” Takezo said. Thoril didn't really care, as long as he was going to get out of there. He rushed down a large stair case, taking the stairs three at a time. The heat pouring from outside restored Thoril's energy.

Thoril rushed ahead right outside and was tackled by two guards. "Ouch! get off of me!" He yelled, trying to yank himself free. He reached for his sword but realised it wasn't there. He punched one of the guards in the face and he came off of him, but the otherone quickly pinned him, disabling him from fighting back or escaping. "Let go!" Thoril yelled.

Takezo just continued to walk towards the exit, not looking over to the two ex prisoners, he studied them enough for one day, but in return he could feel eyes upon him, one if not both of them were sizing him up. Maybe it was Azirel, since the other one looked too busy at skipping through the stairs. Well, he couldn’t blame them at all, his appearance into the stronghold and their sudden release did seem pretty weird.

But soon the unexpected would happen, while Takezo didn’t pay too much attention to what was happening around, Thoril would get into trouble with two guards, and even punched one of him, it was a pretty nasty and unwanted situation for neither of them. Takezo shook his head and released a sigh, he was disappointed, all the efforts he made proved to be in vain, he traveled for so long to reach this stronghold and now everything was screwed up, a simple fact which initially looked like a formality now turned into a disaster.

The other guard managed to pin Thoril down and immobilize him, then instantly Takezo knew that his stay there will suddenly extended.

“Where are you taking him, and what do you intend to do with him now?" He asked while approaching the two guards, the punched one recovering from the shock, slowly gaining his composure. “It seems that this little guy right here is going back into the jail, he will be accused of attacking a guard working in this stronghold, he will spend many years behind the bars.” Takezo shook his head and sighed once more.

“I request a trial for this man, I will consider being his lawyer.” The two guards weren’t too happy but they didn’t have any choice, this stranger seemed like he knew what was going on around there and how to handle the things, few of the ones ending up there will ask for a trial. “He will be taken back in his cell till tomorrow at the sun rise when he will be judged, you still have time to change your mind.” And with that being said, they would probably carry him back into the cell, unless something else occurred. Takezo looked pretty disappointed about all this and also very angry at how the things turned up in the end. So close of getting out they were... His gaze moved over to Azirel. “You are free to go, I guess, but you could also stay for the trial, as a witness. I don’t know what I will do myself, I need to think about it.”

As they continued down the stair case, Thoril flew past them. "THORIL! WAIT!!" Azirel tried to stop him, but it was to late, he ran out the door and was tackled by two guards. Azirel winced as he punched one of them in the face as the other pinned him to the ground. "You idiot!" Azirel yelled. Damn, I can't let this idiot stay here for life, I don't even think he could last much longer being treated like this.

Azirel was about to do something stupid when Takezo asked “Where are you taking him, and what do you intend to do with him now?"
“It seems that this little guy right here is going back into the jail, he will be accused of attacking a guard working in this stronghold, he will spend many years behind the bars.” The guard replied.

“I request a trial for this man, I will consider being his lawyer.” Takezo said. Azirel looked slightly happiar at this, but the guards were reluctant.
“He will be taken back in his cell till tomorrow at the sun rise when he will be judged, you still have time to change your mind.” One of them said. Azirel looked at Takezo.

Takezo looked upset as he turned to face Azirel. “You are free to go, I guess, but you could also stay for the trial, as a witness. I don’t know what I will do myself, I need to think about it.” Takezo said. Azirel nodded.

Azirel turned to leave for his own selfish purposes before thinking. But then he remembered something. Greed, the first of his seven sins... Perhaps he could make it up, and become friends with this man.
He turned to face Takezo now. "I wish attend Thoril's trial, as a witness," then he turned to the guards. "Sirs, I wish to be taken to Thoril's cell, I shall spend the night there," Azirel requested. The guards agreed.
Then Azirel looked at the guards again. "And bring this man some food, he's starving," Azirel said. The guards rolled their eyes. "I'm not joking," He said menacingly. The guards agreed to this reluctantly, grumbling about how they're guards not maids.

"You idiot!" Azirel yelled at him, the sound was muffled by the massive guard on top of him.
“Where are you taking him, and what do you intend to do with him now?" Takezo asked.
“It seems that this little guy right here is going back into the jail, he will be accused of attacking a guard working in this stronghold, he will spend many years behind the bars.” The guard responded, struggling to hold Thoril down as he wiggled and squirmed and kicked and bit.

“I request a trial for this man, I will consider being his lawyer.” Takezo told the guard. Thoril sighed with relief but it quickly turned to a sharp grunt of pain.

“He will be taken back in his cell till tomorrow at the sun rise when he will be judged, you still have time to change your mind.” The guard said as he got off Thoril and jerked him to a standing position. He looked at Azirel with a gloomy expression on his face. He looked at his own feet, ignoring the conversation between Azirel and Takezo.

After a long, almost tearful pause, Azirel spoke and Thoril perked up. "I wish attend Thoril's trial, as a witness," at this Thoril's depressing frown became a barely surpressed laugh of joy. "Sirs, I wish to be taken to Thoril's cell, I shall spend the night there," Azirel said. The guards spoke among each other and finally submitted to Azirel's request. Azirel looked the guards in the eyes. "And bring this man some food, he's starving," Azirel requested, and Thoril's stomach rumbled. Then Azirel added "I'm not joking," in a harsh tone that even scared Thoril. The guards were complaining, but they brought the two of them up to the same cell they were in before.
"You two can have your weapons back in the morning, if the kid doesn't get thrown back in here for life, that is," The guard said as he closed the door.

Thoril walked over to the door. "It's a good thing you're doing!" He called, hoping Takezo would hear.

Azirel and Thoril were thrown into the cell that they were in before. After the door was locked Thoril rushed to te bars and thanked Takezo.
Azirel looked out a barred window judging by the position of the sun, it was around noon. Azirel had slept in really late, usually he got up around six or seven. Azirel looked at Thoril. "So, I never really got to tell you about myself," he said. "My name is Azirel Silversin, Ex-Baron of the Ashen Territories... There's something important I need to tell you, other than who I am. I have a demon living inside of me. He's the one who got me thrown in this place. Apparently he's a physical representation of my past sins and I have about 11 months left to make up for my sins, or else I'm going back to Hell for eternity," He blurted out. "Oh, yeah, and every time I see my reflection I transform into my demon half."
"If you want to tell me about yourself a little, feel free, I'll be over there writing in my journal in charcoal," Azirel said. He went into a corner with some charcoal and pulled his journal out of his backback and started scribbling away in the pages.

((OOC:If you want to see what he wrote, read entries four and five in his journal topic, journal entry two was written a few IC hours before this topic and entry 3 was written in between posts one and two in this topic.))