To those that know him there are a few truths about Jack that constantly crop up in the day comings and goings of his life. The first. Jack is a curious fellow. Anything that interests him that would be considered out of the norm in his mind is something worth investigating, or exploring. Learning more about until his curiosity about the subject matter has come to an end. The second is somewhat linked to the first, Jack has an almost unhealthy obsession with blood magic. No one really bothers asking about this one. Blood magic is seen for most part in even the regular goings of the magic community as a perverse art that was in most cases more harmful than benifical on the user. Most of the time Jack believed that it earned this stigma due to the blood mages inability to deal with the constant wounding of oneself or even others that was required to ignite the magic. Blood Magic was a demonic art, and probably one of those few that should remain within the circle of demons. Very few other races had the ability to use blood magic to its full potiental. However even among demons. Jack was oddly fanatical about the magic. Perhaps this was down to the broad range of abilities that could be spawned from using blood as a main source. Jack did believe that, blood was life. Lfie was suffering and ultimately suffering was power. Unfortunatly experimentation on Blood magic was always limited, there was only so much blood in one body, and one could only inflict so many wounds upon their own bdoy before mass blood loss became a health issue. Jack of course never took it this far. Rather he used a much more amoral, yet effective way of gaining the blood he required for blood magic. That would be, dragging in other demons to the seat of pride, and draining them dry. Hanging them up on large meat hooks and placing a container at the bottom. Opening up the arterial points and letting that fresh warm stuff flow. This was an effective method of harvesting the materials that he required for his magical experiements. And was more than enough to make him one of the pioners, if not, the only piorness in the art. This was, probably one of the reasons hew as considered an outcast even among his own kin back in the days when they had actually been alive Hefore he had slew them all and became a proper out cast. They were all demons but, really. Demons find that sort of activity creepy. Jack becoming the magical equivalent of that weird ass guy in lab 13. The creepy nerd who researched too much, who did crazy things in gaining the materials required for his experiments. Most of the pride clan were all too used to killing. killing and devouring. But not leaving them alive to suffer and bleed out. They were Oni. But apparantly they wern't in the business of being overly cruel about death and their nature in the first place. The first blood magic technique he had taken on had been one that occured completely by accident. Discovering the ptency of the demonic taint in his veins. Something that even among other Oni was relatively rare. It had been little more than a simple cut on his sword, an accidenal nick whilst training that had set the blood flowing. A comment from Jowan about the dark properties of his blood. The oddly high level of taint. And thats when it had all begun. He'd found that by applying the blood to his sword he could turn it into a weapon of dark power. Increasing the damage it was normally capable of. After that. Began to experiements. First with himself. Then on others. Slowly but surely he began to udnerstand the power of blood. And once he udnerstood that pain and blood were the things that would break the barrier of that " wall" of progression. His powers began to increase dramtically. Each ability and art became so obvious. Progress upon an opponent starting with the simplest thing. His ability to cause a hemorraghing curse had only started with a simple power to tear the blood from veins without having to physically damage the skin. Intially it had been meant for himself. So that he wouldn't have to keep causing wounds on himself to start the blood flow. However after discovering how painful it as, how much damage ti would be capable of inflicting upon an enemy if used in a totally non benefical matter, Jump this in with a widened effect area and bing bang bosh there you have it. A powerful cursing technique capable of causing the enemy agonising ammounts of pain and causing them to leak blood for further spells to be cast using.
Jack had been however for the moment circling upon the outer edges of blod magic. Knowing that to touch upon the true inner power of blood and suffring, he was going to be conducting less spells. And more rituals. It was at this stage Jack began the formulation of the " Black Rituals". Powerful ritualisitic blood magi spells that required ritual circles and an enahnced ammount of power and blood magic to pull off. Often. They were complicated twists of other spells. The main example of this one being the Reverse Shadow Gate Invocation. The Shadow Gate invocation wasn't one of his spell rituals, but rather one of Jowans that he'd seen him perform on several occasions. The shadow gate invocation as described by Jowan was himusing his own magics to open a gateway to Sheol. The pit. A realm of nothing but darkness, and whatever nightmares lived in between. Using the shadow gate invocation .
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Jowan was capable of skipping long distances, a rather dangerous way of travel, but then when that was brought up Jowan always commented on how he liked to live dangerously. Prideful or just stupid Jack couldn't tell. Both was the likely answer. otherwise he wouldn't be dead right now. Regardless, Jowan was cpaable of opening up a gate from him to there using his own magics. But it was a different thing all together to open up a gate from there to here. Allowing whatever was in that realm to escape. The nightmares within the darkness seemingly all to willing to tear apart whatever foolish creature got in their way, it was marvelous. But of course that wasn't the only Black Ritual of his. Experiements had produced various ones with varying results and varying effects. Sometimes however blood wasn't enough of a catalist for the magic sometimes it needed suffering. Sometimes it needed life. Jack hadn't yet started using spells that would require a soul a life to be sacrificed for it to work. Whils such spells were no doubt in the more higher tiers of blood magic. Jack thought that such things would be too clumbsy, too slow, after all who had the time whilst in battle to pull out a knife , chant a long ass ritual and then make a sacrifice. Very few people thats who, unless he performed some kind of time freeze whilst pulling it off. But in the end it was just oo much effort to be bothered with. Rather Jack was workinng on increasing his own personal resoviours of magic to be buffed by blood magic as opposed to relying totally upon the power given by it. Using tit as a subfuel as opposed to a primary driving force. It made more sense to him. Growing powers of magic would mean that he would be able to pull off more powerful blood magic without using as much blood as would normally be needed. And for the most part, it was working. In its way the Oni that constantly fought aroudn the underworld were performing their own methods of blood magic. increasing their own power by devouring the flesh blood and souls of their opponents, taking in the life of another to increase their own strengths. In a way blood magic would key to the nature of demons as a whole. At least, thats what Jack liked to think. Lately he had been thinking about the possibilities of using the blood of different types of pysche demons as an ingreident with his blood magic.Blood was life, so would the life of another demon perhaps of fear or sloth produce similar effets to their naturual magic? Once again the curiousity of Jack was raised by such a thing. And thats where this story begins. Two weeks previously, Jack had made a deal with the heads of Sloth and Fear to make peace between them and pride, in exchange they would provide blood from their clan members to him for his experiements in blood magic. It had been oddly proposed by the leader of fear. The man was smart and knew just what Jack liked. And such a man who was willing to play ball like that was a man that Jack would like. And would have to watch carefully. Men who offered such things off the bat never did so without a plan for the future. And Jack had the idea that Jonah was more than likely going to look for some form of black mail to hit him with before withdrawing his little blood offering. Still. He'd watch Jonah and take advantage of their deal for now. And of course, use his help in taking down the glutton. Of whom he also planned to take a sample of blood. After all, such a creature with such power. He couldn't pass up the chance to study the effects of its blood upon his rituals.
Today, Jack was waiting outside for the first delivery of blood from the fear and sloth clans. Jonah and Gerren would be coming personally to make the delivering of the " tribute" as smooth as possible. He doubted it would go so well if it had been any other two from the clans. But then again, even if it didn't he was confident enough in his abilities to know that they posed to him no danger directly. And the intial fear on the first meeting from Jonah and Gerret indicated that the two didn't want to challenge him either. Good. It was better that way. The wagon pulled up, dragged by a Yokai spirit that by the looks of it served either the clan of fear or the clan of Sloth, on the front, Jonah, on the back. Gerret. Several other demons were also loaded on. By the looks of it they were going to be giving him a fresh supply. He grinned. Although, it would be slightly less fun considering he could use the uual equipment, but he would be getting a fresh product none the less.
" Gerret, Jonah..".
He nodded at both leaders, and they both responded in kind although somewhat grudgingly. The other demons in the back began to load off, Jonah and Gerret getting off themselves to come and meet him. Jonah extended his hand. Gerret looked at that hand with disdain. she was easy to read, Jonah not so much. All the more reason to keep an eye on him. Both Oni dropping hands down by their side, Jonaha dn Jack looked at one another, Jack itching up a quiet smirk. Jonah remaining passive and stone faced. " As promised " Said Jonah, indicating to the group in the back. Gerret grumbled. " No killing, just a small ammount from each, they volunteered for this". Jack tilted his head to the side and put on a false. Mocking sympathetic voice. " Aww...and such a shame that bravery doesn't increase the quality". For a moment, her eyes flashed with outrage, burning hate. She wanted to strike him. That much was obvious all around. Jonah placed a hand on hers, taking them intertwined. She took that hand, and gripped it tightly. Jack smirked. " My...such anger in those eyes...are you sure you arn't a rage demon in disguise?". She grumbled under her breath and Jack gestured inside with his head.
" Bring them in, we'll bleed them inside".
EXP:2252
