Description: Mahuizoh's passage shakes the world no matter where he goes. From the reclusive Oro to the mogul Kain, no man of power has been unchanged by his presence. The enigmatic figure has awakened perhaps the most dangerous force in existence on the planet; an Oro motivated and determined to step in and ensure that That Which Must Not Be, does not come to pass. What shall be the outcome of this strangeness?
Kain is not a happy person at the moment. Not since the moment he discovered there was an intruder in his home that he hadn't been able to sense entering. His interactions with Mahuizoh were just all around unpleasant, and now he's found that despite thrashing the man and buying him in concrete, he still seems to have been able to escape. It would seem those claims of being immortal were not without at least a bit of merit.
And since... whatever it is that was done to him, Kain hasn't felt at ease. The Aztec claimed he took a piece of Kain's soul, and Heinlein has dealt with enough mystical forces not to dismiss that. Unfortunately, it doesn't by itself offer many clues. Kain has been looking for more, though. There are books scattered all over his library on various occult matters, and he's acquired more in the hopes he might find something. But while it's an impressive collection, there's much about the occult world that isn't written down, and much that is written down is lies. Kain mutters to himself, running a hand through his hair for a moment before hurling the latest book aside, letting it smack against a wall and fall to the floor before he starts looking through another.
There has not been cause for Oro to interfere directly in the world within living memory. Well, excluding his own, that is. The legendary Hermit has remained aloof and outside of such events no matter how profoundly they have shaken the world; because the world will endure. Men may rise and fall, empires crumble and thousands live or die ... but the world will continue to be the world.
Except that now, that is not the case. This latest threat represents not just another madman or young braggart determined to make their mark, but a force capable of rewriting the very laws of what is. This... threatens the only thing that Oro holds dear; his own legacy.
So it is that Kain may, unfortunately, be irritated for a second time by an unwanted intruder. Oro's choice, however, is to announce his presence in a far more respectful fashion. Where Mahuizoh had assault Heinlein with his presence...
Oro clears his throat from his position, sat cross-legged in the doorframe. A moment ago he had not been there; now he is. As ancient and withered as ever, his voice is still quite clear as he asks:
"Is now a good time, young man?"
Kain's head snaps up at the clearing of Oro's throat, but to his credit he's able to assess the situation quickly enough that he doesn't immediately move into an attack stance. He's still not happy about an uninvited guest in his home, but this one will perhaps be less of a problem. Kain slowly closes the book he was reading and slides it aside, then rises from his seat.
"I'm a bit busy at the moment, but I assume you have a good reason for coming here." Well, probably. But if Oro just wanted to waste people's time there's plenty of other options out there, and probably ones that are easier to get a rise out of. And Oro is one of the few people out there that Kain can show some respect for. After all, their goals aren't so different.
Oro nods his head. He doesn't smile - now that he's close, he can sense the subtle ... wrongness in Kain's energy. The man is one of the most accomplished martial artists in the world, with an unusual aptitude for manipulating chi. And yet, for all that Kain is a seething wildfire, Oro can sense the... faintest trace of pollution in there.
"It appears I am too late." He muses, tapping at his chin. "But yes. I have a good reason. The man who was here a little while ago, the one who you fought. He represents... a danger unlike any this world has seen before."
The ancient monk allows that phrase to work its magic as he stands up. Were it coming from anyone else, that might be taken as hyperbole; but this is Oro. The man is not known for sharing his insight into /anything/, except grudgingly. For him to offer such words unbidden...
Kain frowns, tapping a finger on the surface of his desk. "I've certainly never seen someone do... whatever it is he did." And as Oro seems to have a pretty good idea of what's going on, Kain doesn't feel too inclined to hold back. The old man might be able to help. "He claimed to have taken a portion of my soul. I was too worn out afterwards to deal with him properly, even having broken him to the point where he couldn't move. I'd hoped to be able to deal with him later, but he's proven to be more mobile than I'd expected, even with broken limbs and his movement sealed."
"If I had reached you first, I would have warned you not to fight him. But, what's done, is done."
He is still fairly hunched, short even when standing upright, but now beady eyes can take in the library in more detail; and Kain, too. Wandering over, he seems to scrutinize the younger man with a critical eye. It is like trying to find the single flaw in a shining diamond; the one point where things do not turn as they should. Kain's power is impressive. Under different circumstances, Oro may even have considered him for his potential. Though... he suspects that the powerful man's strength has already forged his path so deep that any lessons Oro might offer would come too late, provide too little...
"He was not lying. He has stolen something from you. But, it may yet be returned. He is... a dark mirror. But he can be broken."
Kain's gaze becomes a bit sharper when Oro mentions that Kain might be able to get back what Mahuizoh took. "Can he now?" Kain would certainly enjoy doing so. He doesn't much care for people getting the better of him. "It seems like it will take a lot to do so. I gave him wounds that should have left him immobile for, at the very least, days. But he still managed to escape, apparently under his own power."
Heinlein's eyes narrow at the thought. "Especially unfortunate, according to what you've just told me. But if he thinks he's going to be able to hide from me, I intend for him to be sorely disappointed. What do I need to do to get back what's mine?"
Oro has a face which was made for frowning. Would that he had all the answers! Alas, the world is not kind enough to provide him with omniscience. But since his own encounter with the Aztec being, Oro has begun to formulate a plan. Unfortunately, acting swiftly is... not his strongest point, but it is coming together, slowly.
"That man has no power of his own." He says, raising one hand as he speaks. "He is ... in some way cursed. As he put it, he is weaker than no warrior." And then he raises his other hand, in perfect balance. "But he is stronger than no warrior too."
He brings his hands together in front of him, a smooth and gentle motion. "Therefore, we must find him. I will be speaking with another man to assist there. When we have located him, we shall pin him down, and ensure he cannot simply escape..."
And finally, those weather-beaten features twist into something like a smile.
"And we'll have him fight someone, weak, but with potential. His capabilities will be limited, and if he can even beat them... he'll be injured enough that one of you young men can step up to put him down."
What happens after /that/, Oro... does not illuminate.
Kain looks thoughtful for a moment. "Yes... I can see how that could work. It sounds like a plan worth trying." Especially since Kain doesn't really have one of his own. Yet, anyway. But he doesn't know enough about what Mahuizoh can really do to go making his own plans, and he wants back what's his. And in the event Oro's plan doesn't work quite right, well, there'll be quite a bit of power to throw at Mahuizoh. They can see just how much he can handle.
Still, even when you hope for the best, Kain knows that it pays to prepare for the worst. "If we aren't able to stop him, what will happen?" To Kain or the world, either answer would probably suffice. If something bad enough is going to happen to the entire world, Kain's own fate might well be encompassed by that, even if something particularly bad awaits him personally.
That provokes a burst of high-pitched laughter from the elderly figure. Sharp and piercing, the noise is... aggravating, to say the least. So mocking! It easily rivals nails down a blackboard.
Eventually the laughter does die down, and Oro considers the question seriously. Those strange black eyes of his focus intently on Kain, and he taps one finger against his chin.
Incidentally, the earlier notion that Oro's other arm was unbound? Must surely have been some manner of illusion. One hand only, though he waved that and his foot around in such a manner as to indicate roughly what he was talking about!
"Well. He will change the world." The old man says, at last. "Your power will be twisted. Perhaps consumed in the process as... fuel. I do not know ~how~ he intends to change the way the world works. But. I expect that it would be in a manner which would... not be pleasant for most of us."
Kain nods slightly. "I did get the impression that he has large plans other people are unlikely to care for. I think he'll find he's miscalculated, however." Kain smiles thinly, but his eyes are cold. He doesn't appear inclined to give Mahuizoh much in the way of mercy once he gets his hands on him. "I'm willing to work with you on this. Let me know once you've arranged whoever else you want to bring in, and we'll take care of him."
Heinlein then looks thoughtful for a moment. "I can keep an eye out for a potential weakling, as well, if you don't have anyone in mind yet." In Kain's estimation, that would cover a very large number of people. "And in the meantime, I will prepare. If he left behind any tricks when he took some of my power, I intend to discover them before it becomes too late."
Oro nods his head thoughtfully. It is tempting to take Kain up on the offer; but there is one person that Oro has in mind. Still. They might not even prove interested. Their path is theirs to walk, after all.
"We need to locate him." Oro says, "That is the first challenge. Then, gathering everyone there... there is someone I would like to bring, but, if you have others in mind, up to a point... the more the merrier!"
He sighs, then. "Though, the man who I think could be helpful the most is off making a fuss again. Young people today."
Kain drums his fingers on his desk for a moment. "As for finding him... I might be able to help there, though I'm not certain. Since he performed his ritual, I've been feeling... uneasy, at best. But since he escaped his confinement the feeling has changed. There now seems to be almost a directional aspect to it. It's difficult to explain. It's like having a headache that extends outside my body, and it seems to be worst in that direction." He waves his hand in one general direction.
"The exact direction has been changing slightly, but it seems to be absolute, rather than relative to my own position. From what he said, that man intended to kill me, so perhaps there are unintended consequences from failing to achieve that goal."
Oro hmmms thoughtfully, and nods his head slowly. "That would make sense." He says, "The man has a piece of you. So it is natural that your self would yearn to be whole again." He tuts! "Honestly! A bright young man like yourself falling for such a trick!"
He waves his hand vaguely, "But, do not be too hard on yourself. I will see what can be done, and be in touch. If nothing else... the next few weeks are likely to be, interesting!"
Kain will remember that remark, but he'll let it slide for now. Oro's helping him with a rather large problem, so there's no sense in driving him off. Also, while Kain is quite confident in his own abilities, he's also got a pretty decent understanding of just who Oro is. And there's a difference between being self-confident and being foolish. Only a fool would take Oro on without good reason.
"Very well. I'll prepare, and await your word, and any signs of what he might be up to." Kain's not quite as fond of interesting times as Oro appears to be, though. Maybe once his age gets into three digits he'll see the world differently.
"Indeed. Until we meet again, Mr. Heinlein."
There's more than one way to demonstrate power. This is something that the young and inexperienced have trouble grasping - though not of course, men like Kain who have grasped true strength. Mahuizoh had crashed into Kain's home and begun making a mess. Oro's passing...
Could not be more different. He opens the door to the library, closes it behind him, and then, it is as though he were never here at all. Not a single sign of his presence remains.
Except that when Kain wanders his home later, he will find the vase that the Aztec warrior had so carelessly smashed... replaced. Made whole once again, filled with sparkling water, and a single purple orchid, unique to the Amazonian rainforest.
Log created on 16:33:35 08/18/2012 by Oro, and last modified on 18:38:52 08/18/2012.