Hello

[Cardinal Aiyalin]

OOC: By the way.. I wrote you in my little forum area, but I don't know if you read that. Have you read the Belgariad and the Mallorean by any chance? I was just wondering if you had gotten this character from those books. It remarkably parallels the one named "Beldin" !! They are some of my favorite books, and I actually got my Jedi character's name. :)

IC:

Cardinal walks into the lower parts of his extraordinarily beautiful domain. Looking around, she appears to be alone. She pulls her black cloak tighter around her, sensing a presence but yet not seeing whom it belonged to.

"I am visiting each person's home and making sure I paid them their respects. You came to mine room, so I make sure to visit yours. It is a sight beyond expectation, absolutely beautiful."

[Evil Hobgoblin]

(ooc) I believe I answered your questions over AIM. :)

(ic)

The Hobgoblin leaps from his high perch and takes hold of the chandelier, swinging on it. He gazes at the newcomer who has somehow managed to look beyond the closet and find Hob's main lair.

"Is that so? Do you truly understand
The nature of the Hobgoblin that joined the Black Hand?
Have you learned to look beneath faces
And see what lies in those hidden places?

If you have, I welcome you
And my domain shall be yours too.
Hob is, was, and ever shall be
Friend to all with eyes that can truly see."

The Hobgoblin leaps off the chandelier and takes hold of some glowing crystals that are growing out of one side of the wall. Using them as a ladder, he climbs halfway down the wall, then jumps off, landing on a pile of gleaming gold coins. He ambles over to Cardinal in his simian way, then extends a hand as an escort.

~ Iffn' yer of a mind, lass, Hob can escort ye around to look at the rest of his home.~

[Cardinal Aiyalin]

**She inclines her head towards him

"Thank you, Hob, I'd like that."

**Then began to walk slowly away from where they were standing. She hesitated before asking her next question, but finally she went on.

"I have a rather large request, Hob. When I came to the Black Hand, I was rather unschooled in the ways of a Dark Jedi. I know some of the rudiments of the Force and the Dark Side, but I am in no way close to being a true Jedi. Jeseth was my master -- before he became a pansy. I am in need of someone to instruct me in the art of the Force, and I was hoping you would be able to help me. Particularly of interest to me is mind control, making someone my utter slave. I hunger for the day when I will be able to control the minds of the most powerful Force users. I will hopefully learn to develop this talent later.. but for now, I need the basics.

Will you consent to teach me?"

**She waits for his answer, hoping it will be to her liking.

[Evil Hobgoblin]

Hob ambles into the next room with Cardinal on his elbow, listening to her speak.

For a moment, the two of them stop while Cardinal takes in the view of the next room. It is unlit, and the entrance is cave-like, making it seem as though this room is merely a passage dug through the dirt to reach another part of the building. From out of the walls jut more crystals like the ones in the room before, but these ones glow an iridescent blue. By their light, a wide, bubbling fountain can be seen in the middle of the cavern.

Hob then begins to climb the wall of crystals, as though inspecting them for flaws. Apparently finding none, he leaps off the wall and lands on the ground, wandering over to the fountain and gazing into it. ~ Before Hob meditates t' see if the Shining Dark wills yer request be followed, Hob must ask a question. If Hob is t' train ye in the art of toyin' with others' minds, he must ask what ye will be willin' t' give him in exchange for takin' the time Hob uses for his own studies.~

[Cardinal Aiyalin]

**Bel gazes around the room -- the crystal's refracting the light, illuminating it in a gorgeous array of color. She ponders his question for a few moments, before they link arms again.

"I would be willing to do anything, Hob. If it is something specific, you need but to ask. If any of my siblings need anything, it is theirs. All they need to do is ask me."

[Evil Hobgoblin]

Hob scratches his bearded chin and slides out of Cardinal's arm. He dives into the room's fountain with a large splash, then surfaces laying on his back and staring up at the ceiling with defocussed eyes.

After a moment, Hob's mouth opens, filling with water, which he sprays upward in a fountain-like manner. He then speaks.

"Anything you require, the woman says
And so Hob looks into the future's gaze.
He sees from the future's point of view
And he now knows what he will soon do.

From future's point of view, it is yourself you gave.
From now on, you shall be Hob's slave.
If his commands you disobey
Hob shall simply send you away."

The Hobgoblin dives underwater, then pushes off the fountain's bottom and explodes out of the water, sending up a violent spray of water. He lands on the ground nearby and shakes himself off. He then stares directly into Cardinal's eyes.

~ D'ye agree to be Hob's servant, until such time as he should dismiss ye?~

[Cardinal Aiyalin]

**She stares at the grosteque little man swimming in the pool. He truly was a tetchedly seeming individual, but if there was anything life taught someone was to discount appearances. Many people would have looked at the man as disregarded him -- a disfigured body holds a disfigured mind, correct? She would not so readily do so, however, this little man had a few tricks up his sleeve.

**She would have to be cautious, yet, Cardinal needed to agree. Against all her better judgements, she opened her mouth. Bowing low to the floor, she kept her head down.

"Hob, I will surely consent to be your servant."

[Evil Hobgoblin]

Hob reached out a gnarled fist and laid it atop Cardinal's head in benediction. He muttered to himself and called upon the Shining Dark, linking the two of them through a one-way mental bond.

When the muttering is finished, Hob slams one fist on the floor. ~ It is done.~ he says. ~ Ye shall come when I call ye, and do as I tell ye. When Hob is finished with ye, ye shall have learned all ye needed t'know, or ye shall be dead.~

The Hobgoblin walks over to one of the crystal walls and begins to climb it, apparently inspecting them. ~ Begone, and return tomorrow for your first lesson.~

[Cardinal Aiyalin]

"Yes, Master."

**Bowing her head to the little man, Cardinal silently leaves the room.