The man who is worth an army.

[ShadowOfEden]

(OCC: All those RP were made with FOL, I did not controlled him. )

The man was approaching the city of Qiao, the city where he heard that the man he was looking for was. The path was covered in corpses. All soldiers, all in blue uniforms, all stained in red. This was the exploit of the man he was looking for. In those days, a single man taking a city was remarkable, so the man wearing the cloak wanted to see this warrior and if he could, talk with him.

The people of city was looking as healthy as anyone in the richest capitals. They did not seem to be suffering to the reign of a tyrant. But the man had no time the enjoy the joyful market place, he hurried to the great castle where he was sure to find the one he was looking for.

The castle was huge, it was built for the use of a dynasty, his family and his closest friends. Now it was empty. A lot of rooms were in a mess, as if they were evacuated quickly. The man wandered in this abandoned dream for a long while, until he finally heard some noises. It was the sounds of running water then deceasing into steady drops. The man finally arrived to the place where the sounds came from : the main chamber. On a beautifully decorated throne was a man, his musculature was impressive and his fierce look was unique. Next to him was a bowl of water in which he was washing his blood stained face with. His blood stained armor lay on the floor, and the warrior sat still refreshing himself from the long day. The warrior had not seen the cloaked man, so he spoke:

Cloaked man: Are you the one who conquered this city, the one who defeated an army by himself?

His wide eyes opened with watering transparent water running from them, then suddenly flames were suddenly burning in his eyes. He had been disturbed yet again during his brief time of peace.

Warrior: Yes. Why do you ask?

The flames seem to die down as he stared at the strange cloaked man.

Cloaked man: I have come to talk with you. I heard of your exploit and I think you should be worthy of my knowledge.

The warrior then set down his bowl and grabbed a cloth to dry off his face, then flung it to the ground. The cloth was crimson.

Warrior: I am the fierce Lu Meng. I took this city by my hands and none will take it back if I do not want so. What do you wish to tell me? And firstly, state your name.

Cloaked man: Unfortunately, I cannot tell you my name. Now, this land that we call China was once occupied with wise people. Those men were worth 100 men of our time in both intelligence and power…<br>
Lu Meng: Yes, but also in these times of turmoil there are people of power who lack skill.

Cloaked man: But those men who had the talent, also had special powers. But it was impossible to use the power by themselves, so they had to rely on items, artifacts, to use their powers through.

Lu Meng: And how does that concerns me?

Cloaked man: Some of those artifacts are still intact today and with all their powers. I have made a map of the location of all of those I know of. I also have a book describing each of them, how to use them and their use. You have great talents and do not show the signs of a tyrant, with them, you could reach your dreams.

Lu Meng looks at the map.

Lu Meng: Those locations are pretty far, it would take days to reach them!

Cloaked man: Travelling by foot is indeed slow. Head to the woods east of Shou Chun, follow the path until you reach a large rock. There, simply wait. After that, go to the location of your desire. I will be waiting for you there.

Lu Meng: Why would I trust a stranger who I can’t even see his face?

Cloaked man: Because it is in your own interest.

While pronouncing those last words, the man turned back and walked out of the room. Lu Meng looked observed the map and rubbed his chin, then looked up for one last glance, but the man had already left.

[Flames of Lucifer]

Lu Meng trampled over the dead leaves that lay on the forest floor. With each step he took a soft crunch followed. It had clouded up since he left Qiao, and he had been running the whole way, eager to get away from Qiao incase the Wei forces came again. And moving at such a fast pace, not even cavalry would be able to find him, especially in the dense woods. He was tired of senseless killing, he needed something else he could do for a while.

Lu Meng rushed, with his armor on and his halberd fastened to his back, through the path in which the cloaked man had told him. The path was very hard to see, it was overgrown. He could tell that this path hadn't been used for years, and not a soul had been around for the longest time. He slowed down his pace as the path grew even more overgrown. He was way off in the east of Shou Chun, far from any humanity. Lu Meng then slowed down even more into a steady walk. Lu Meng stared around at the trees surrounding him. They were all black and bare, and their twisted branches extending outwards. There was no true way to explain the trees for the ominous aura that they brang. The sound of forest animals had also dissapated. "It was as if he were in unmarked territory, or perhaps there was a reason no one ventured though here," Lu Meng though to himself.

A brief gust of wind send the dead leaves into a swirl infront of Lu Meng, however he did not falter and walked through the small typhoon. Lu Meng squinted to keep dust and debris out of his eyes, and as he went deeper into the path, the darker and more overgrown it got. Up ahead Lu Meng spotted a large bolder, Lu Meng quickened his pace and came to the boulder in a small opening. He then surveyed the area only to see that there were not any other rocks, and it was as if the boulder had somehow gotten here. After sitting down, Lu Meng continued to survey the area, he surprisingly felt comfortable in the dark depths with the ominous aura surrounding the trees. Lu Meng took chest plate and unfastened his halberd and leaned it against the large boulder. Lu Meng then sat down leaning against the boulder to wait. He was somewhat confused with how vague the cloaked man was when he said to "wait here". Lu Meng decided to stay until sundown and wait for a sign.

[ShadowOfEden]

Lu Meng waited a long time, but the impurity of the place made him forget about everything on his mind. Time went by so fast, that he didn't notice that the moon was now high in the sky. Even if it was very late, a small opening in the tree allowed the silver light of the moon to lighten the area.


But then, Lu Meng was thrown out of his trance by a noise. Beside his own breathing, it was the only thing that could be heard. At the same moment, Lu Meng saw something coming his way. It was an old man, riding on a white steed. Lu Meng had never seen such a magnificent horse, it was very tall and it's color was of the purest white. The old man was covered white a long and white robe, he looked very old, but his eyes were young. The man then spoke:

Old man: It is not time for you to be here.

Lu Meng: A strange cloaked man told me to wait here, but I do not know what I am waiting for.

Old man: I see. Then allow me to introduce myself. I am the one who guide those who where defeated.

Lu Meng: What do you mean?

Old man: There is no more to say. Now, may I ask of you a simple question?

Lu Meng: Please do.

Old man: Is your soul lighter than this boulder?

Lu Meng stared at the boulder, then looked up at the man. After those words, dark flames became to cover the old man and his horse. The white robe became a dark cloak. The man disapeared under the cloak, but two blood red lights could be seen in his eyes. As the flames were around the horse, a similar transformation began...

After the man had seemingly dissapated the horse was still covered in dark flames. Its flourescent white coat turned into an ominous black. It was so dark that not even the moonlight reflected off of it. Lu Meng heard a clank, and it snapped him out of his concentration from the mesmerization the horse had made. Lu Meng strafed to see what it was. It was armor for the horse. The largest piece was the neck and head armor piece. It was glossy black with red markings over it. The neck part was in shingles so that it was flexible, and 4 other smaller pieces lay on the ground next to it. Lu Meng pick up one, at had outward spikes on the front, and it also had shingles for flexibility. After observing the black with red emblem horse shoes, which could trample any man, Lu Meng looked up at the horse.

The horse's flames had been distinguished, but still inside it burned with the fires of hell, like Lu Meng had felt about himself sometimes. Lu Meng gently petted the horse and it took an instant liking to him. After a brief moment, the horse was all in armor, with its spiked horse shoes. It was much more muscular and taller than any horse he had seen, Lu Meng put the last piece of armor on it, the saddle, then got on it. On the way out of the dense path, the horse trampled every bit of overgrowth down without a flaw.

Lu Meng acquired the horse from hell (speed 1/2 h/c)

[Flames of Lucifer]

A horse and rider burst from the thick forest of Shou Chun and out into the vast open planes. Lu Meng pulled back on his horse's reigns and brought him to a halt. The horse had run so quickly out of the forest, yet it was not fatigued from running at the quick speed and breaking through all of the overgrowth. After getting off his horse, Lu Meng walked in front of it. The horses black helmet covered the top of his snout all the way to the end of his neck. The only holes were 2 large eyeholes in which emitted red out of the indentions from it. Lu Meng patted the steel and his horse neighed then stood still as Lu Meng walked a few paces then sat down to observe the map.

It was now early in the day, but the sky was covered by clouds. Out of all the locations on the map, one could not be ignored. The city of Xian Ping stood out before his eyes, and he then decided to go there. Lu Meng's crimson armor rattled as he reharnessed his horse. He tucked away the map into the chest plate of his armor for safe keeping. His halberd was strapped to his back diagnolly so that it would not hit the horse for it was very long and heavy, not just any man could use the weapon of such dire. Lu Meng guided his horse in the direction if Xian Ping and snapped the reigns and the horse took off in a flash. If he hadn't been holding on, he would have fallen off of the horse. The horse ran even faster on the vast plains, such a speed in which Lu Meng had never felt.

After a few hours of riding, Lu Meng drew near to Xian Ping. Lu Meng looked behind him and the sky was near black. Lu Meng pulled out his map again, and the wind from the speed made it difficult for him to look at it as it ruffled in the wind. He located the exact location of the ruins, then set out.

An hour later, he had finally arrived. The ruins were that of an abandoned temple made of aging stone in the middle of woods, however, the woods were not as thick as the ones in Shou Chun were. In front of the temple was a small clearing, but everywhere else was plagued by trees. Lu Meng jumped off of his horse, there was no need to tie it because Lu Meng felt a strange bond to it, so he left it standing in front of the temple as Lu Meng began to ascend the stone steps.

[Flames of Lucifer]

Lu Meng walked carefully up the weathered stairs. Vines and over growth covered most of the steps, and the temple itself looked very weathered and unused in years. As he came to the top of the stairs, he looked out from the opening to see the sky grow darker. Lu Meng smirked while thinking to himself, then went inside of the temple. The large doors bolted his way to the entrance, Lu Meng tried to push them but they wouldn't budge. He then stepped back and got a running start and rammed the doors. The doors flung open unexpectedly easy and Lu Meng, still with his momentum, fell to the floor and caught himself with his hands. Dust flew into the old temple as Lu Meng looked up.

The temple was lit by torches, the torches seemed to burn eternally. Lu Meng turned back to the iron doors to see that they had been barricaded from the inside. He had hit it with such force the rotting wood gave out and the doors flung open. Ahead of Lu Meng was that torch lit tunnel, and another door at the end of it. Lu Meng glanced around, rather curiously, at the inside of the temple. As he came to the end, he tried to open the door. Again this one would not budge either, so he rammed the door like he had done to the entrance. The woodedn door itself broke on the upper half and Lu Meng fell in the room from the upper half of the door again not expecting it to break. The room had a stone cieling, but in the middle was a glass window enabling lit inside. Lu Meng stumbled to his feet and saw that this door was also barricaded.

The room was small, but until the dust cleared Lu Meng would not be able to see anything. Lu Meng walked carefully towards the light, then tripped on something on the floor. He then got back on his feet and observed the sand covered figure. It was a skeleton, Lu Meng jumped back surprisedly. He then understood. "This man barricaded himself in the temple... but from what?", Lu Meng kept thinking. Then the dust around the light had dissapated and Lu Meng surveyed the small podium arising from the floor and under the light. An orb was glowing in the light, and inside it was a mess of clouds, as if in the cloud contained a sky full of weather. Lu Meng grasped it with his hands, and looked inside. He observed it to discover that the dark clouds in the orb was the same ones outside.

He hurriedly went out of the temple with the orb in his hand. The temple itself seemed unwelcoming to anyone. Lu Meng climbed out of the room, then exited the doors at the end of the hall. Lu Meng closed the doors shut, he then pushed on them to see if they would open, they wouldn't budge at all. Lu Meng descended the steps while staring at the orb. He stopped halfway and looked at the sky. He then felt a strange understanding of the orb, and tried to command the weather from within. Lu Meng then felt stupid as he was wasting his time with the nonsense he thought he could do. A blinding flash of lightning filled the sky, Lu Meng looked up and three lightning strikes struck simultaneously, and evenly spaced with a purplish glow. He looked up in shock, in his mind that is what he commanded it to do.

He then hopped back on his horse and rode out of the forest satisfied, as with this orb not only could he master meteorology, but also control it.

[ShadowOfEden]

From the top of the temple, looking at Lu Meng and his horse walk away from the place, a man with a dark cloak stood. He has been watching Lu Meng since he left Qiao, to make sure he was worthy. He managed to pass through the first trial and even learn of the powers of the item very fast. The man was somewhat happy for meeting someone like him in those days.