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Post by skyman on Mar 6, 2011 19:21:20 GMT
*Directory to come*
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Post by skyman on Mar 6, 2011 19:21:54 GMT
(496) Skylarious: There isn't much civilization in Frinthuin, the old region of eastern Duen just to the west of Alvalora. There are vast swamps, sparse, stunted forests, scattered Anthraleb ruins, and remnants of the fruitful fields burnt by both sides in the war with the Meyids. It is the 28th out of 40 days in Khrinsmonth, the tail end of winter. The great purple-tinged moon is clear in the sky even now, during midday; during summer it will become more of a faint blur when it can be seen. Scattered hamlets remain, along with those farms whose owners had allies or weapons enough for protection. Ten years after the end of real hostilities, new farms are sprouting up too, though usually only as far from the remaining Meyid territory as possible; the Meyids continue to launch occasional small-scale raids. One of the few towns in the region that can even qualify for the name is Stragglecat, along the banks of the sluggish Hardbed River. (496) Skylarious: Stragglecat lives up to its name. It is built mostly along the west side of the river in patches and zigzags that give the impression of a slinking alley feline. Travelers from both upriver and down pass fetid latrines. Most of the couple of dozen houses are squat thatch affairs with no glass in the windows, both due to the expense and the usually balmy weather in the area. Today, though, the wind brings a bit of a chill and shakes the leafless trees. Some houses are built next to small tended gardens growing winter tubers, others beside the workshops of craftsmen, and a few more are clustered together near the triple story log-building built as a regional governor's residence during the Meyid occupation. The hastily painted sign in front reads INN, MERCHANTICE, AND MAYORS OFICE. In front of it a few empty stalls wait for merchants on market day. Across the water a mill and grain silo can be seen along with a few more houses. (496) Skylarious: Voices and trade work can be heard from inside the buildings, but outside there are only a few people, though it is midday. A pudgy guardsman, likely an ordinary townsman fulfilling his yearly service, trundles aimlessly past the buildings, clutching his makeshift leather uniform tightly against him. A couple of children toss rocks at the water and each other while a mangy dog watches impassively. A gray-haired begging friar sits against one of the abandoned merchant stalls, smiling nonjudgmentally and holding a bowl with a couple of coppers. (499) Hokulani: Hokulani is a young human woman, with brown face and black hair fallen just below her ears. First thing that came to you is the clothings she wears is of the Snow Clans that inhabit the Tundra. Her cream fur clothings consisting of trousers, coat and plush hood, with her hands and feet covered same cream furs with only rope binding the gloves and boots. Covering them are her pale armour which mostly contain hardened furs and ivory materials. On her back is a well worn backpack with bedroll and furry blanket rolled stacked on it. Lastly, In her right hand is a spear made from strange wood-like pole with severe sharp blade created from metallic stone. Still, she came to this town, drawn by the rumour of both attacks and ruins. Before she enters the inn though, she gave few coppers to the frair. (496) Skylarious: "In Yanetha's name, bless you young lady," croaked the friar. "You show her compassion." (496) Skylarious: *croaks (492) Maren: up along the western road into Stragglecat rode an imposing figure. Mounted on a sleek silver courser was a tall figure in full armour, with a well-made oak and iron shield strapped to his right hand, and a sword with a golden pommel sheathed at his waist. The visor on his helm was up, and as the figure rode closer one could see his strange eyes, blue but with a purplish tinge. From his neck hung a striking amulet - the golden spike from a crown, snapped off, set with a large ruby. Round his shoulders he wore a cloak in the colours of a Meyid officer, but with some distinctive features - part of the right side of the cloak had been burnt off, and a simple black patch had been sewn onto the back of the cloak to hide whatever symbol was beneath it. The figure rode up towards the friar, reaching up and removing his helm as he did. The rider was an elf, his aquiline features and pointed ears accentuated by his very short black hair. A long, deep old scar ran down from above his left eye all the way down to the bridge of his nose. The elf leaned down and passed the friar three silver coins. "Brother, you don't know if there are any priests of the order of Balxo about, do you?" (496) Skylarious: A motley caravan comes rolling into town. A fur merchant traveling with three of his own hunters, a Privan spice merchant with hulking guards, glaring at the rural surroundings as if he could transform them into a bustling city, a coach of travelers heading north and then west toward more settled places, and a few others who had joined together for mutual protection. (510) Evelynn: Evelynn is walking alongside her fellow performers, her dark brown hair is put up in a bun and her face is painted with black and white markings that give her face a rather amusing appearance. Her clothing is very basic, something you might see a peasant wearing only more colorful and tailored to be easy to move in. Around her rather muscular hips and across her chest and even on her back are many different sorts of weapons, knives, axes, hammers, even a few javalins. Casually juggling a few of the knives she observes the other people of the caravan which her troupe is a part of. (496) Skylarious: The friar's face lit up at the sight of silver. "Eheh! A most kind and generous elf-kind! No, no, sir, no priests of Balxo here I'm afraid. There was a man of religion inside the inn last I saw, but I could not tell his order, and he did not look warlike. Perhaps he would have seen whoever you were looking for." (496) Skylarious: *lights (499) Hokulani: Hokulani's eyes does not recongise the name of Yanetha, still she went into an inn. (492) Maren: The elf shrugged. "Thanks brother," he said, kicking his horse back into a trot. As he went towards the inn he glanced over at the caravan. (497) Kalika: A delicate looking young woman walked along with the caravan. Dressed in a simple unadorned red robe and carrying only a small backpack and a pouch, she was obviously no warrior or entertainer and had a somewhat absent-minded look to her, as if not overtly concerned with the town itself. (503) Yvette: Also in the caravan is a human woman driving an odd looking wagon. Dark red in colour with a pair of yellow birds, their wings open in flight painted on the sides, and with what looks to be a garden growing on the top. The other caravaners know her name is Yvette Feathertail, a traveling herbalist and trader. A sizable box on the top of the wagon serves as a nest for a magpie, currently sitting on the top of Yvette's wide brimmed hat, now pulled down over her face as she leans back, apparently napping as the caravan rolls along. As the collection of buildings comes into view, the magpie pokes at the hat to get Yvette's attention. "Yah Pica, I'm awake." The woman waves the bird off and sits up, dusting off her red cloak and picking up the reigns again. The magpie lands next to her on the driving platform as they follow the caravan into town. (496) Skylarious: The unnamed inn is perhaps not bustling, but surprisingly busy, and more welcoming than the out of doors. A crackling fire makes the air inside toasty (this building does have glass windows). Six of the clintele are guardsmen like the one outside, poorly fit into leather armor, though the swords at their belts and spears leaning against the wall appear well cared for. They are sitting at one long table, swigging ale and singing an old Frinthuin drinking song: "I'd trade one throne for two pretty wenches/I'd trade two wenches for three flagons of ale/I'd trade three flagons..." An attractive redheaded young woman barely manages not to drop the large platter of chicken she brings to them. (496) Skylarious: In a corner sits a man in solemn priestly robes. He is balding but young, with sharp black eyebrows, and he studies a book with total concentration. A girl of perhaps nine sits on the floor and gulps at a flagon and wavers drunkenly, with no one bothering to stop her. (496) Skylarious: A couple of long tables are empty. One door leads to the light and sound of the kitchen, another is closed, and a third opens to a staircase going up. (510) Evelynn: Looking at her troupe, Evelynn decided to let them know that she was thirsty and wished to visit the inn for a drink, something strong to take her mind of the trip and itself. Her troupe consists of 5 others besides herself, the twins Lazz and Sazz, brother acrobats who enjoy fire in all their performances. Tonk, the mutant human goblin man who is quite capable of lifting most of the troupe at once. The only other female in the group is known as Grandma Kat, her collection of birds and strange ability to summon them and make them do tricks always a welcome sight. Finally, the troupe leader, a very fat, jovial looking man by the name of Grasko, his mustache is long and thick and has a slight curl to it, he wears a top hat and niice clothing. Approaching him in particular, Evelynn waves at him and says "Im gonna get a drink". Barely waiting for an answer, she heads towards the inn. (510) Evelynn: Evelynn decides* to let them know that she is* thirsty and wishes* (492) Maren: once he had finished stabling his horse, Maren entered the inn and ordered himself an ale, seating himself at a table near the priest. He considered interrupting him, but decided that wouldn't likely lead to the best information, so he simply sat facing the man and drank as he waited for him to look up. (496) Skylarious: "Yes, yes, my dear! Drink to your heart's content! I know you can't catch knives without some drink in you!" says Grasko, as the caravan pulls to a halt and the members begin tying up their wagons, searching for trade goods, and planning their next move. (510) Evelynn: Evelynn skips and throws a hand up, acknowledging fat, friendly Grasko. She doesnt look back (503) Yvette: Yvette also pulls up next to the inn and starts tying her horses up. Once the two animals are secured, fed and watered, she climbs into her wagon and emerges out the back. "Alright, let (496) Skylarious: Maren recognizes the text in the priest's book as Old Anthraleb, though he cannot read it. The man mouths the words as he reads slowly, line by line. "Akthuhan, akthumar," he says quietly but aloud, and scratches his head. Then he looks up, eyes widening. "Oh! Oh! Phew. Ah, hello. Sorry, you startled me." He closes the book. "Is there something I can do for you, my son?" (503) Yvette: 's go get something to eat." She said, apparently to Pica, who lands on her hat as she enters the inn. (499) Hokulani: Hokulani glanced around the inn, only lingers at the young girl longest and frowned but for a moment. Instead, she went toward the serving girl and asked her, "Who in charge?" She asked in deep accented, more of northern taint. (492) Maren: Maren smiled. "Didn't mean to scare you. I'm seeking priests of Balxo, but I haven't been in Stragglecat for years and don't know where to look. I'm told there's none in town but wondered if you might know if there's any in the region, I want to pass a message to them." (496) Skylarious: The redhead looks Hokulani up and down interestedly. "Oh, Master Felbig runs the place, but he's meetin' with the mayor at the moment. I can get you a drink or some food if you like, or do you need a room?" (497) Kalika: Snapping out of her previous thoughts, the red-robed woman glanced around as if looking for something and, noticing the inn, walked inside nonchalantly. (499) Hokulani: She appeared to think over what the redhead told her and replied, "Drink, foods and room. What you got and what price?" (503) Yvette: Yvette walks up behind the serving girl as she's talking to Hokulani and puts a hand on her shoulder. "Hey there hun, how about some bread and soup for my friend and I?" She motioned to the northerner as she said this. "Oh, and some beer for my hat." Referring to Pica. "My treat." (496) Skylarious: "Hm. Priests of Balxo, eh? I haven't met any around here yet, but I think you might be in the right place. Warriors are gathering in Stragglecat, I understand, to fight a Meyid unit. If there are any such priests and they hold to the tenets of their faith, they will arrive here and support the people. I wish I could too, of course, though I have no strength of arms." (492) Maren: Maren's eyes lit up. "Meyids? I'll have to stay for a while then. Is anyone paying for us to kill those scum?" (496) Skylarious: The redhead nods at Hokulani and begins to speak when Yvette places a hand on her shoulder. "Ah, of course madam. Just four silvers for food and drinks for each of you, plus a bit of beer for the bird." She glances back at Hokulani. "And it's three silvers for a room. Enough space in there for two, or three if you squeeze in." (496) Skylarious: The priest nods solemnly. "From what I understand, the mayor is offering some sort of reward, although no one could quite tell me what it is. I believe he is meeting with the innkeeper at the moment, but he should be able to tell you more." (497) Kalika: Kalika - that was her name - looked around the inn until she saw the woman she assumed was the server. She glanced at the two other woman talking to her thoughtfully, as if sizing them up, and then spoke to the waitress ''Water, could I have some?". She had a slight accent which some would have recognized as Privan. (510) Evelynn: Evelynn approaches them, she starts to tap her foot as she waits for the serving girl to get to her. She thinks to herself "better not be one of those humans who thinks theres something wrong with being an elf". (503) Yvette: Yvette fishes around in her pockets, which, upon opening her cloak, she seems to have a great deal of, before finding some coins. She handd ten silvers to the girl. "Keep the change." She said smiling and turned to see the other two girls approach. (496) Skylarious: The serving girl narrows her eyes slightly at Kalika. "Sure, but water ain't free. A copper for a mug." She glances over at Evelynn and sighs slightly. "And you have an order too, mistress?" (496) Skylarious: Upon receiving the extra silver, the girl's eyes light up and her demeanor becomes friendlier. "Thank you kindly, madame! I'll make sure the chef don't spit in any of it." (510) Evelynn: Evelynn smiles and nods "Something strong, something sweet, something also that does not have spit. I do not like spit in my drinks" (503) Yvette: Yvette pauses at that but then just says "Thank you dear." (496) Skylarious: The server charges Evelynn a silver for a drink, and comes back with libations for everyone, spiced wine, ale, water, a shot of sweet brandy for Evelynn, and a glass of fine white wine as thanks for Yvette. (497) Kalika: Kalika reached in her small bag for a few silver coins and handed them to the waiter 'Some bread too, if you don't mind.' (492) Maren: "Money and dead Meyids! That's worth drinking to!" Maren finished his first mug. "Ale! Make it three actually, and a bit of meat to go with it." Maren glanced over at the other elf, as he rarely saw others of his race this far south, but said nothing. (499) Hokulani: Hokulani glanced at Yvette and looked at her with something indescribable in her eyes, "Thanks. I am Hokulani. What is your?" (510) Evelynn: Noticing the stare from another elf Evelynn smiles and responds "I can definitely drink to that!" Handing the silver to the girl, she walks over to the elf man. "May i join you?" (503) Yvette: Yvette took her drink and walked over to a table, one near the elf and monk. "Yvette, Yvette Feathertail. How'd you get all the way down here? If you don't mind me asking." Yvette sits down, but also keeps an ear on the conversation next to her. (492) Maren: "May as well do," Maren grunted, heading back to his table. (496) Skylarious: The priest smiles, pushes his book aside, and sips a glass of wine as the cleavage-heavy server brings Maren's drink. "Quite a lot of travelers for such a dangerous place," notes the priest. (496) Skylarious: He nods at the elf girl that sits with them as well. "Hello there, my daughter." (510) Evelynn: "Hey priest man. How are you doing?" Evelynn takes a couple of heavy glugs of her drink. (503) Yvette: As she sits down, Pica hops off of her hat and on to the table, taking some pecks out of the bread that Yvette holds out for it. (496) Skylarious: He titters nervously at her unapologetic glugging. "Oh, well enough, dear, well enough. I'd rather be back west, but the gods lead us to strange places sometimes." (497) Kalika: Kalika looked at both women again. Having already seen Yvette before with the caravan, she instead looked throughly at the fur-wearing, spear-carring girl with some interest. "Not from these parts, are you?'she asked obviously curious (499) Hokulani: Hokulani glanced around the inn, noting them along with these two elves. "Wander. Always walking, endless towns and lands. Too warm here. Foods are always plentiful." She smiled grimly. (496) Skylarious: After a few minutes bowls of hearty soup, crusts of flavorful but stale bread with raspberry preserve, and platters of chicken are brought out. (510) Evelynn: "Well father, what brings you here then if you do not wish it so? I hardly think Stragglecat is a place to build a monastary. Thats what you sort live in right?" She smiles and continues to happily glug and eyes all the food set to the table. (503) Yvette: "Not many people complaining about it being too warm in the winter." Yvette comments, grinning as the food is brought out. An obserant person would notice that Yvette's own outfit isn't winterized. "I guess that's one of the advantages of coming south. But what about someone used to warmer temperatures?" She turned to look at Kalika, taking a bite of the chicken. (492) Maren: Maren grabbed a chicken leg and took a large bite, wiping at his mouth with the back of his hand and belching. (496) Skylarious: "Haha," says the priest, rather than actually laughing. "Some of us, daughter, some of us. But many more travel among the faithful to spread the wisdom of the gods, or do their work in whatever ways we can find. Apparently Heshuxen has purpose for me here." (510) Evelynn: "And what purpose might that be? Could it be to bring health and wellbeing to the people of this town? Thats what my troupe is here to do i suppose" She laughs and downs the rest of her drink. Turning to Maren she asks "Why, i havent gotten your name yet, do you think you could share it with me?" (510) Evelynn: "My name is Evelynn, daughter of Alvalora (510) Evelynn: " (499) Hokulani: She glanced at Lalika, "My home is the Snow Bears." Hokulani glanced over Yvette's clothings. "You would not survive at Snow Bears from sunrise to sunheight." (499) Hokulani: Edit: would not survive any longer than from sunrise to sunheight. (497) Kalika: Kalika turned away from Hokulani to glance at Yvette. "Indeed, I'm not exactly from these parts myself. "she replied, her Privan origin again showing in her accent "We were both with the caravan, weren't we? But I don't think we've been properly introduced. I'm Kalika' (492) Maren: "Maren," he mumbled through his food. He took a drink. "You're an entertainer?" (496) Skylarious: "And I am Father Andrew. I will try to bring what comfort I can to the people here," he says. (503) Yvette: "Yvette. (503) Yvette: "Yvette." Yvette introduces herself and holds out a hand and then turns back to Hokulani. "And you might be suprised. I've got some tricks up my sleeve." (510) Evelynn: Evelynn leans far back in her chair "Yeah i entertain people, i also like to think i bring justice to those who deserve it, i havent been part of a group or military for quite some time now. I find myself having to try and help people in my own... secretive way" She winks at Maren. (499) Hokulani: "Tricks helpful." She softly replied, "Where is your homes, Yvette, Kalika?" (497) Kalika: "Well, not everyone can be a tough girl like yourself." Kalika smiled at Hoku "But we all have our talents, I'm sure' she said as she sat down with them. whispering to Maren, Evelynn, The priest does not seem to be lying, but he is holding something back nervously. (503) Yvette: "Yep." Yvette waits for Kalika to reply to Hokulani as she takes a drink of beer. (497) Kalika: "I'm from Priva. It is a wonderful place, but I don't know if you'd have heard of it." (492) Maren: Maren laughed. "Keep your justice away from me, I hate to think what I might deserve. Military? You mean you've been in a fight before?" (497) Kalika: edit: 'not sure you'd have heard of it' (503) Yvette: Yvette put her drink down. "Nope, but then, I'm no geographist. What brought you here?" (499) Hokulani: Hoku looked uncertain, "No, never heard of it... But then, never seen and heard of them" She gestured at at these elves. (497) Kalika: "The Snow Bears? Well that's interesting...I don't know of that either. Interesting."she replied "Doesn't sound too hospitable a place, though!"she smiled (510) Evelynn: "Have i ever! I used to serve in the Alvalora military before those... butchers killed everyone. Fucking Meyids" She spits in anger. Taking a moment to compose herself she notices the priest still looking a bit nervous. "What is it father? You seem like you havent told us your whole story/" (496) Skylarious: Andrew thought for a moment, furrowed his brow, and finally leaned forward conspiratorily, speaking quietly. (497) Kalika: Kalika glanced for a moment at the elves Hoku had been gesturing at before turning back to Yvette "One hears interesting thing sometimes about forgotten places here...It would be a shame for the knowledge there to be ignored" whispering to Evelynn, Yvette, Maren, Hokulani, "Well, there have been rumors of an ancient temple of our religion somewhere in the swamps to the north, on the border of Meyid territory. One of my colleagues disappeared seeking it out, and I'm trying to find anything I can about it. There could be great insights into Anthraleb religion there." (497) Kalika: edit: Kalika glanced for a moment at the elves Hoku had been gesturing at before turning back to Yvette "Well, one sometimes hears interesting rumours about long-forgotten ruins here...It would be a shame for such valuable knowledge to be lost, wouldn't it?" (496) Skylarious: The priest notices the conversation at the next table, and quickly straightens up. (499) Hokulani: "Snow everywhere, great beasts everywhere, sun hided it face half cycle. Yes... dangers everywhere but still home. Really missed my home." She wistfully said so, "Wandered here." (503) Yvette: Yvette nods and raises her mug in agreement. "Quite true. Quite true. I'm just here following the money myself, but I'm sure there'd be something worth trading in any ruins I might come across." She doesn't react to the priest's conversation. (496) Skylarious: A pudgy man in an apron arrives from upstairs. He slaps the serving girl lightly on the behind. "I see you're drawing the customers in again, Milly." (510) Evelynn: "Meyids..." Evelynn gets a look in her eye. She leans in and whispers something to the brother, just loud enough for Maren to hear as well. (499) Hokulani: She asked curiously, "Where Priva?" (497) Kalika: Kalika looked slightly nonplussed at Yvette talking about money. 'I guess one could see it that way if wealth was that they cared for. My homeland?"she turned to Hoku "It's not that far, south from here, across the straits.' whispering to Yvette, Hokulani, "Well Father Andrew, i think that if you needed some hired help, you couldnt do much worse then I, i am an expert bodyguard and im great at dealing with traps. Also, my fees are always quite cheap." She smiles at him. "you could do much worse then i* (499) Hokulani: She looked curiously, her fingers covered the sea and Priva and mentioned, "Over Great Water. I remember stories about how we orginally from. Elder Home...." She dug into foods paid for quickly. (496) Skylarious: The priest appears to have lost interest in secrecy, or simply to have forgotten about the nearby table. "I have little money, I'm afraid, and few others in my order see the opportunity here. However... if you find any helpful information for me, or are willing to protect me on my way once I have the location, I am sure there will be other items of value to travelers but not necessary for my studies." (496) Skylarious: The chubby inkeeper comes up between the two tables. "Hello lads and lasses! Welcome to Stragglecat! You can prob'ly see things aren't quite normal at the moment. We're preparing in case the Meyid bastards get too cheeky. But you're welcome to stay, and if you're interested in some earnings, the mayor wishes to talk to anyone as can wield arms upstairs." (492) Maren: "Excuse me," Maren said to the others, armour clinking as he stood and picked up his helm and gauntlets. After a moment's thought, he took a mug of ale with him as well and headed for the stairs. (503) Yvette: "Hey, with money, one can fund studies. Even you have to admit that it's a nessicary evil." Yvette took another drink. "I mean, money's only as good as what you can buy with it." She motioned to the food in front of the girls. She didn't seem that interested in the Priest's conversation. When the innkeeper came by she looked up a him. "I'll keep that in mind. Any particular room upstairs? Or maybe he's got someone in all of them. Would make sleeping a little hard I think." (510) Evelynn: "I will be back Father but for now im interested in justice" Snagging a leftover piece of meat, Evelynn follows after Maren. (499) Hokulani: She continued, "I know your home now. Like to visit Elder Home soon. Will need more metals." Once she polished off her food, she said "Much thanks." to Yvette and Kalika. She took her bag off and spent quite sometime went through it, looking annoyed. (503) Yvette: "Hmmm? Something wrong snowbird?" Yvette looked over to Hoku, a little intrigued by the look on her face. (499) Hokulani: She finally got the flute out, it is a flute with strange materials in same vein of her armour. "Need to play some tune." She then started playing it (510) Evelynn: Disconnecting from server... (510) Evelynn (exit): 14:47 (497) Kalika: "Oh, I don't disagree with that - wealth may be a good servant, but it is bad master."she said to Yvette. 'Wield arms? Not my kind of thing..."said the apparently unarmed Kalika "But I'm no lover of the Meyids myself and I wouldn't mind doing this town a favor...' (499) Hokulani: She played the flute long, it seems quite bittersweet tunes but hopeful. And eventually it end with a single dying note. (503) Yvette: "Mmmm. Quite a nice performance. Definatly worth dinner I think." Yvette said smiling. "But I think I'll see if I can't find mister Mayor. Could use a bit more jingle in my pockets." Yvette finished off her drink and stood up. "Either of you coming?" (496) Skylarious: Half of the guardsmen were in tears by the end of the song. A few tossed coppers to Hoku, and the innkeeper said "Yer room and next meal's on the house, if you're willing to play something a bit more lighthearted later to keep the mens' spirits up." (499) Hokulani: She looked thoughtfully at the guardsmen, "Thanks." She accepted the innkeeper, "I will play joyful memory later." (497) Kalika: "Quite moving."said matter-of-factly Kalika "Thought he innkeeper might have a point about the need for merrier tunes, these days." she finished drinking some water and stood up "You're coming with us, Hoku?." (497) Kalika: "You look like you could handle yourself pretty well in a fight. Well, better than me at least" Kalika smiled serenely (499) Hokulani: "Will see what he say." She followed Kaliaka. (503) Yvette: As Yvette headed towards the stairs, Pica flew up and landed on her hat again.
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Post by skyman on Mar 6, 2011 23:01:27 GMT
(126) Skylarious: The five guests headed up the stairs to the mayor's office. It was a large and well-decorated room, although in the rather harsh Meyid style, a relic of its past as the governor's quarters. Furs and stuffed animal heads hung on the walls. A painting of the windswept Meyid coast stood next to what appeared to be finely carved Elven cabinet. The Mayor sat at a makeshift desk, obviously not part of the ensemble that came with the room. He as a thin man but still somehow fleshy, with a massive underbite and keen, darting eyes. "Welcome, my friends," he said, spitting slightly due to his underbite. "Swords and spells for hire, are you? I am Mayor Blindelwelt." (127) Maren: "Maren," the elf warrior replied, stretching out a gauntleted hand. "I hear you're having problems with a Meyid infestation." (134) Evelynn: "My name is Evelynn, i will be a great asset to you in this endeavor." She also stretches out her hand. (129) Hokulani: Hearing that creatures introduced themsleves, "Hokulani." Hokulani gestured to herself with a spear. (124) Kalika: "Kalika."she said simply making a small greeting gesture with her hand (126) Skylarious: Yvette introduced herself as well. Blindelwelt clasped their hands firmly. "Pleasure, pleasure. Yes, the Meyids are quite a nuisance these days, quite a nuisance. It's nothing like the war, of course, not yet. But many of the old warbands are broken up into groups of brigands now, terrorizing travelers and raiding farms. We'd like to show them that this land is not all easy pickings. Do you fine folks have... experience with the Meyids?" (129) Hokulani: Hoku looked faintly confused, "No. But brigands die" in her simple heavy accented common speech, shaking her spear once. (127) Maren: "I've killed Meyids in just about every situation you could imagine, and a few you probably couldn't. Are there any particular brigands you need dealt with, or is there just a general bounty?" (134) Evelynn: "They are so easy to kill as well. Stupid oafs." She giggled lightly. (126) Skylarious: "There is a group that worries me. They seem to have more direction than the others. A lad from another village escaped, said they'd started to torture him, and were asking about any strange old items or devices he may know of. Stragglecat has been around a long time, and I worry they may think to look here soon." (127) Maren: "How much? Though I'm very fond of killing Meyids, pleasure alone won't feed my children," said Maren. "Neither will I, admittedly, but with some gold I could do if I felt charitable." (124) Kalika: "That's horrible."said Kalika matter-of-factly "It would be a shame if such things were to fall in their hands. They're not exactly scholarly in their interest..."she trailed off (126) Skylarious: "We don't have much money here, but if you can kill the three most important in the band you can have any of the Meyid items in here. They should be worth three thousand at least." He gestured at the painting, furs, and looted items. "I think there are seven in the band, not many, but they are dangerous." (134) Evelynn: "What if we can kill all seven?" (126) Skylarious: "Then you'll have some extra gear to loot. If the three are killed I don't think the band will be any more danger to us, so that is my concern. There is a female warrior named Cathala who I think is the leader. The boy who escaped said she has one blue eye and one gold, and one torn nostril. Her lieutenant is a berserker named Kresdin Crow-Laugh. And there is apparently a half-orc woman, a wizard, who should be killed as well, though I don't know her name." (129) Hokulani: ""Nice trinkets..." She looked around the room, "Means nothing. What about favour?" Hoku glanced at the mayor curiously. (126) Skylarious: "Favor?" The mayor raised an eyebrow. "Well we will certainly continue to welcome you here and help in whatever ways we can that don't put the town in danger. Did you have something in mind?" (129) Hokulani: Hoku nodded softly, "That fine." (127) Maren: "Whereabouts are these seven? Are we able to speak to the person who escaped from them for more information, or is he gone?" (124) Kalika: Kalika glanced at the items only casually, obviously not too interested in the material rewards. "They sound fairly distinctive."she said about the leaders of the band "As for me, I don't care much for the rewards but will try and be of as much use as I can. " (126) Skylarious: "The lad is in the care of the medicine woman. I think he would prefer not to relive his ordeal, and I doubt he has any more information to give us, though if you think it vital you could speak to him. The band was about two day's march to the north, on the other bank of the river, from what we last heard, preying on fishermen. You'll have to ask around or look for tracks when you get closer." (134) Evelynn: "I say we head out immediately and deal with these filthy trouble makers." Evelynn sits up on the table as she explains frankly. (129) Hokulani: "Kill brigands so they die!" She shook her spear fearsomely (127) Maren: Maren checked over some of the items in the room, trying to be sure they were worth what Blindelwelt said before accepting. "What other information do we have about these people? Do they have horses or are they on foot? What are they equipped with? Do they have any sort of base?" (126) Skylarious: The boxes contained all sorts of small decorative objects, figurines and replica swords and tapestries, mostly well made. The mayor nodded, obviously approving of Maren's interest in preparation. "They're not on horseback from what I've heard, and luckily they don't have any of those damned Meyid warbeasts. They're well armed, as Meyids usually are. Kresdin apparently wields a massive axe, and there are at least a couple of archers. Cathala herself wields a sword and shield, I think. There has been no word of a base. They seem to move about often." (134) Evelynn: "You just knife them and they die like everyone else." Evelynn smiles and nods happily. (124) Kalika: "It's the wizard I'd be worried about - do not underestimate the power of the arcane."warned Kalika "So there's no specifc place we should look?" (129) Hokulani: "Seven is big. Track them from destroyed home?" (126) Skylarious: "Well, the village the lad's from is farther north, so it would make your journey longer, but I could give you directions if you wish. You could also look for ransacked huts along the river." (129) Hokulani: "Too long. Better to find these seven fast." Hoku look grim as she glanced at others. (127) Maren: "Did you say they were last seen harassing fishermen? Where can we find them, north along the river?" (126) Skylarious: "Yes. The rumor I heard is that they were on the other bank of the river last time they were seen. But that news is a couple of days old." (134) Evelynn: "Well lets catch the trail before it goes completely cold, i say we start there." (127) Maren: Maren nodded. "I'll go get my horse," he said, heading for the stables (134) Evelynn: Evelynn skips after him. (129) Hokulani: She went downstair, put on her gloves and after short prep, ready for the journey. Still she glanced at the skies, trying to figures out the weather. (129) Hokulani: edit: At least it is not snow! (126) Skylarious: "Thank you kindly, my friends," said the mayor. "And don't come back dead." Downstairs, Father Andrew came up to the group and, upon learning that they had taken on the job, blessed them in the name of Heshuxen - "Although he is perhaps not the most appropriate god for this task." (124) Kalika: Kalika went silently downstairs with the others. (129) Hokulani: Upon on meeting others, "Rain tonight or tomorrow..." She told them... "But no rain after." (124) Kalika: "It is not altogether unfitting, as there will be death, though hopefully not ours."replied Kalika thanking the priest (127) Maren: Maren suggested to the others that they should travel up on the opposite bank of the river and keep an eye out for tracks. "What can you all actually do, by the way?" (126) Skylarious: The group was ferried across the river by a local. They headed north, Maren on horseback and the others in Yvette's cart or walking, and there was plenty of time for talk. (134) Evelynn: "Well i know my well around combat fairly well, i can hurl objects and i use poisons as well to deal with more dangerous foe." Evelynn balanced a knife on her finger. "How about you guys? How do you plan to take care of these brigands?" (127) Maren: Maren simply put the visor of his helm down and hefted his shield (129) Hokulani: "I fight... dangerous creatures... back home. People unfur and unplate" She show her wicked long blade on her spear. (124) Kalika: "Sounds like I will have to remember not to drink anything you'd offer!"said Kalika jokingly "As for me - well, I look like I would be out of place in a fight, don't? My interest lies with the arcane arts, and I know how to call on otherwordly creatures for help. That and a few, shall we say, practical applications of knowledge, some of which should be of use in the battle to come." (127) Maren: Maren rode slightly ahead of the rest of the party, keeping an eye out for any farms or huts on this side of the river where they could seek information (142) Skylarious: For that first evening, the few huts they came across knew nothing of the brigands, perhaps due to being under the meager protection of Stragglecat. The ride was uneventful other than a light patter of rain that began with the approach of darkness. (129) Hokulani: Once the camp was established, she settled down under cold platter, gazing at these stars softly. As if they spark something in her. (134) Evelynn: Evelynn passes out immediately, her small snores rise into the air from where she is sleeping. (134) Evelynn: Edit: Evelynn passed out (129) Hokulani: "Will watch dangers..." She glanced down from her stargazing and around. (124) Kalika: "I guess she's not taking first watch."said Kalika looking at Evelynn "Oh well." (142) Skylarious: The night passed uneventfully, and everyone was refreshed (if cold and damp) in the morning. The clouds remained, but the rain had stopped, and the party moved on quickly. whispering to Hokulani, Evelynn, Evelynn and Hoku noticed a faint stench wafting toward them from the light woods that stetched into the distance away from the river. It seemed to be rotting, more than what would come from a single dead animal. (129) Hokulani: Hoku sniffed at something, "Rotten smell ahead." She whispered to others. (134) Evelynn: Evelynn sniffed the air "Can you guys smell that?" She wrinkled her nose. (124) Kalika: Kalika did not seem to have noticed the smell. "Rotten?"she asked sounding worried (134) Evelynn: "It smells like it is coming from over there." She pointed toward the woods. (129) Hokulani: She nodded at Evelynn, "Yes..." (129) Hokulani: EDIT: She readies her weapon. (127) Maren: Maren looked at the others. "Want to look into this?" (129) Hokulani: [1d100] => [83] = (83) (129) Hokulani: Hoku nodded at Maren's question (134) Evelynn: Edit: She points towards the source of the smell which happens to be away from the river. (127) Maren: Maren trotted his horse in the direction the others had indicated, drawing his sword as he went (134) Evelynn: Evelynn followed after, a pair of knives drawn and readied. (142) Skylarious: They entered the light woods, stunted trees and scraggly bushes. Soon they heard the caw of a crow. Finally they entered a clearning, and a big mass of the birds took flight, revealing four corpses, a woman and three men, stripped naked, crawling with maggots and lying in pools of congealed blood. (124) Kalika: Before following the others, Kalika performed a short, rapid gesture and chanted an incomprensibile formulae, obviously casting some kind of spell. (127) Maren: Maren looked at the bodies impassively. "Anyone know how long they've been dead? This'd be a good place to look for tracks as well." (129) Hokulani: Hoku winced at these dead and starts looking for tracks... (142) Skylarious: It was difficult due to the rain, but a few muddy tracks could be made out heading away from the clearing, deeper into the woods. It was hard to tell how many people had made them, since there were only a few prints still visible. (129) Hokulani: Happy that she found the tracks, Hoku then glanced at these bodies with her eyes. (142) Skylarious: The bodies, though in bad shape, showed themselves to be muscular, scarred, and tanned. (124) Kalika: Though mildly unnerved by the morbid sight, Kalika steeled herself and got close to Hokulani as she knelt by the bodies. Muttering a few arcane words probably calling on some form of deathly spirit, she cast a minor spell on Hoku's to help her grisly examination. (129) Hokulani: Hoku went over, knelt down, accepting Kalika's blessing, prod at them, trying to figure out every details of these bodies. (142) Skylarious: The woman had been lying face down, which protected her face from the crows. She hade a square jaw and a missing tooth. Her eyes were half eaten by maggots, but one could be seen to be blue, and the other gold. Her nose was missing, and it looked to have been cut off by a blade. (129) Hokulani: "Cathala ..." She told them... (146) Evelynn (enter): 14:44 (146) Evelynn: Evelynn shook her head "Looks like someone did the deed before we could. Should we find out whos behind this?" (127) Maren: Maren laughed. "This could be a very short job," he said. "Is she the only woman there? The wizard is a woman too." (129) Hokulani: Hoku frowned... "Only three preys killed, still four others!" (142) Skylarious: There were neither other women nor half-orcs in the group. Although the men were muscular, they did not suggest the sort of strength a berserker with a greataxe would conjure up, either. (124) Kalika: "Just because someone or something killed them doesn't mean it will be friendly to us."said Kalika "Indeed, I don't see the half-orc wizard."she added agreeing with Maren (129) Hokulani: EDIT: four preys* (142) Skylarious: The people had been killed with slashing and puncturing wounds, although one man had severe burns on his arms. (129) Hokulani: EDIT: four preys, still three others! (127) Maren: "So Kresdin and this wizard fell out with Cathala, and maybe one of the others sided with them...did they fall out here do you suppose or were the bodies brought here? And why is Cathala's nose missing? Could the wizard have taken it for some arcane reason?" Maren looked over at Kalika. (142) Skylarious: There was no disturbed ground to suggest the bodies had been dragged that Hoku could see. (146) Evelynn: Evelynn pointed at some of the foot prints on the ground "Perhaps we could chase after them right now, im sure they cant be far ahead and with a weakened force... we will be able to dispose of them quickly. What do you think Maren?" (124) Kalika: "None that I can think of."replied Kalika "If Maren is indeed right and they fought with their formier allies, perhaps her nose was cut out of spite. Or it's simply one of the many wounds she suffered in battle."she shrugged
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Post by skyman on Apr 5, 2011 9:36:20 GMT
(385) Skylarious: The group stood about the clearing, discussing the bodies they had found, apparently of four of their Meyid targets, and the tracks leading further into the woods. (375) Kalika: "Could they be nearby?"asked Kalika "I think it would be wiser if assumed they were, just in case. Let me call forth someone who might be of use in the battle. Do not be alarmed, it is completely harmless. Well, to its allies at least...". Having said that, Kalika got some distance from the others and started to perform some kind of ritual involving chanting, gesturing and probably deep concentration. (391) Hokulani: Hoku merely frowned with a hint of concern. (382) Yvette: Yvette watched Kalika walk off. "Magic." She said, chuckling a little behind her sleeve. "Should be interesting." (375) Kalika: After roughly one minute, there was a ripple in the air adjacent to her, and something burst forth - a hulking, powerfully built humanoid with bluish skin, sharp claws and fangs and a massive horn coming out of its forehead. Its face - not too inhuman - looked fearsome but not particularly hostile, and it nodded slightly as it appeared, obviously understanding what was happening. (390) Evelynn: Looking up at it Evelynn smiled "Super cool. Lets take this guy and head out quickly after those brigands." (391) Hokulani: Hoku glanced at this creature over, "Good help!" she muttered. (382) Yvette: "Certainly he'll be of help." Yvette agreed, raising an eyebrow at Evelynn's choice of words. "Unless we need to make friends of course, but I don't think the Meyids will be interested in that." (386) Sleeping Dragon: Maren examined the creature Kalika summoned for a few moments and nodded appreciatively, then turned his horse towards the tracks, keeping his sword and shield at the ready. "Who can track?" he asked. (375) Kalika: "Indeed. Apparently they can't even get along between themselves..." Kalika said casting a passing glance at the rotting carrion (391) Hokulani: EDIT: Hoku stepped back for a moment, a surprise of expression on her face, her weapon was ready to be used at it. Still, she settled down, muttering, "Good help!" After hearing Maren's question, she went onto the track. (391) Hokulani: She told the others, "Easy to track for now!" (385) Skylarious: Hokulani looked closely at the tracks and they began heading northeast into the woods with the morning sun behind them. They made good progress following the tribal woman's skilled guidance. There were a few patches where rain and mud had mostly obscured the tracks, but she found small broken branches and crushed root plants, to get back on the trail. After an hour they found what appeared to be a small abandoned campsite with a cold firepit. (391) Hokulani: Hoku looked suddenly alarmed... "Someone there..." She whispered... she gestured with her spear at the specfic bush... (385) Skylarious: There was sudden movement in the bush and they could see a small humanoid form rushing away from the camp, and hear branches being pushed aside. (386) Sleeping Dragon: Maren charged off immediately after the small creature (390) Evelynn: Hearing and looking at what Hoku had to say, Evelynn immediately hurled a knife towards the creature. The knife left her wrist in a slightly awkward manner though and hit a tree about 20 feet off to the left. (390) Evelynn: Seeing failure in the throw, Evelynn ran towards the creature (389) Hokulani: "Hoku thrown a spear at specfic bush, and a deathcry groaned from the bush" (382) Yvette: Yvette had noticed the figure too, but didn't react to it until it began to run off. "Try not to kill it!" She said as Evelynn threw a knife at it. However, as she said this, she readied a crossbow. (375) Kalika: The hulking being summoned by Kalika earlier rushed at the small creature and grabbed it with its powerful arms, preventing it from escaping. (385) Skylarious: The eidolon lifted a small human boy out of the bushes, perhaps 12 or 13 years old with muddy woolen clothes and tousled brown hair. He squealed in fear. "Ah! Protect me Yanetha! Don't kill me! I'll give you my coppers! Ah!" (386) Sleeping Dragon: Maren dismounted and pulled rope from his saddlebags to bind the creature...then saw who it was and laughed. "What on earth are you doing out here boy? This is not a safe place." (382) Yvette: "Just a boy." Yvette commented, tucking her crossbow away again. (385) Skylarious: The boy's eyes rolled in fear. He glanced over at Maren then stared back at the hulking creature holding him. "I-I-I saw more warriors, and I was... just curious! Please don't cut off my nose!" (375) Kalika: "We mean no harm."said Kalika taking a few steps closer and commanding the Eidolon to gently drop the boy to the ground, which it did. (391) Hokulani: Hoku looked at him with kindness in her eyes, "Calm down.." (386) Sleeping Dragon: Maren put his rope away and sheathed his sword. "We're not going to cut anything off you. When did you see these warriors, and how many have you seen?" (382) Yvette: Yvette walked up as well. "I mean, do we really look that scary? Other than this guy..." Yvette patted Kalika's creature. (385) Skylarious: The boy looked slightly calmed by Hoku, and scrambled away from the eidolon and closer to her. "I saw 'em just yesterday, my lord, knight, sir. There was four of 'em. They was dressed in fur and armor, and one of 'em was a big hulking thing like... that!" He pointed at the eidolon. (386) Sleeping Dragon: Maren took his helm off. "You've been out here since yesterday? Where do you live? And what's your name?" (385) Skylarious: "I'm Ferret, my lord, and me and the other Lantern Lads live in a few places 'round here. I was just doin' a bit of foragin' when I found them bodies yesterday, and I wanted to know what killed 'em, so I snuck about. No harm, honest!" (375) Kalika: "You saw them yesterday you say?"asked Kalika "Were they wounded by chance?" (386) Sleeping Dragon: "I'm not a lord. What are the Lantern Lads?" (382) Yvette: "A group of orphans that live around here." Yvette answered, then turned to the boy. "Did you see which way they went?" (385) Skylarious: "Oh yes, me lady! Or... is it okay to call you lady?" He glanced back at Maren. "I saw them go into a cave last night, I can show you!" He was starting to look eager about the possibility of survival. (382) Yvette: "Lady's fine." Yvette looked to the others to see if they wanted to follow the boy. (391) Hokulani: "Good boy..." She ruffled boy' hair with her hand, "Ferret got tribe and home to go to..." (375) Kalika: "You'd us a big favour if you led us to the cave."said Kalika gently (385) Skylarious: The boy nodded gratefully and moved purposefully out of the camp, keeping his distance from the eidolon. As they passed the fire pit they could see burnt clothes, and made out the vestiges of the whip and flail symbol of the local Meyid general. It took a few hours, and morning turned into early evening, but finally Ferret brought them to an area of low rocky hills. He pointed up at a small ridge, and they could make out the dark entrance to the cave. (386) Sleeping Dragon: Maren glanced up at the cave. "How are we going to approach this?" he said, dismounting. "Sneak up or charge in?" (382) Yvette: Yvette also hopped down from her cart. "Well, our guide was right about someone living here at any rate." Yvette pointed to a pile of stones in front of the cave. "Not a natural formation that." (386) Sleeping Dragon: "They may not even be there at the moment...when did you see them go in last night Ferret?" (385) Skylarious: "Right at dusk... um, s-my l-mister. It looked like they'd just found the place." (386) Sleeping Dragon: "Smile mister? My name is Maren. Hoku, can you tell from the tracks if they've been out since?" (391) Hokulani: Hoku shook her head slightly, "Can see tracks... do not know if they are there or not..." She looked slightly worried by her suddenly failure of tracking ability. (385) Skylarious: "Can I go, Mister Maren?" asked Ferret hopefully. (375) Kalika: Kalika looked at the entrance of the cave thoughtfully. "He's been quite helpful."she said "Might as well let him go - he looks terrified, poor little thing. Unless you think there is something else to ask him about." (386) Sleeping Dragon: "It's probably best for you to find somewhere to hide," said Maren, pulling out a gold coin and handing it to the boy. "When I was your size, Ferret, wandering around in the woods on my own nearly got me killed by a boar. I'd suggest you give the habit up now while you're ahead." (385) Skylarious: The boy's eyes widened at the sight of gold, and he suddenly seemed less eager to leave. "I'll just hide in the woods out here. Maybe I can tell you more about the area when you're done." (391) Hokulani: She nodded with hint of approval at Ferret, "Ferret show us the cave... Thank you! What do you want?" She asked softly. (382) Yvette: Yvette just shook her head as Maren gave the coin to Ferret. "We could try waiting until nightfall and go in then." She suggested as she climbed back into her wagon, closing the small door that leads to the diving platform. (385) Skylarious: "Oh, nothin' madam. Although if you find any jewelry or anythin' in there, me sister would really appreciate somethin' to make herself look less drab, an' whatnot." (382) Yvette: Yvette emerged out the rear of her wagon. "Maybe we could set up camp a ways away where we can keep an eye on the cave from a distance?" (391) Hokulani: Huko smiled slightly... "Do you have an elder..." (385) Skylarious: "A what? Well the eldest among us are sixteen, then they've gotta leave." (391) Hokulani: She looked faintly annoyed at her grasp of language... "They lead the Lantern Lads?"... she appears to consider it for a moment before saying, "You done well, will see about the trinkets..." (391) Hokulani: Hoku glanced at others, wondering about the attack... "Attack now?" (386) Sleeping Dragon: "If they are in there then moving off might give them time to leave...Let's go up now. Ferret should hide." (385) Skylarious: "Well, no one really leads, but I suppose we listen to the older Lads. Thanks, madam." (385) Skylarious: Ferret nodded and moved to hide in the woods. (375) Kalika: Kalika waved to the boy as he went away. "Shall we attack now then? Any preparations you have to make before? "she asked the others (386) Sleeping Dragon: Maren tied his horse up and drew sword and shield. "Ready." (375) Kalika: "Do wait a bit for me - there is at least one spell I want to cast. I assume you all have light sources?" (382) Yvette: "Well, I have this." Yvette pulled the lantern that was hanging on her wagon off. (375) Kalika: Kalika laid her hand on the chest of the summoned creature with her - which had been looking at the cave entrance eagerly, as if looking forward to the battle. The air around it seemed to shift and blur for a moment, and then it was still again. (375) Kalika: "Attack the wizard first, if you can - and help the others in their attacks."she to it said pointing at the others. It nodded and produced a sound not too unlike a grunt in agreement.
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Post by skyman on Apr 5, 2011 9:41:26 GMT
(47) Skylarious: The group made their way up the low ridge toward the entrance to the cave. It was about eight feet wide and five feet high, although with the light that reached a few feet inside they could see that there was more space farther in. The small pile of stones they had spotted earlier was positioned right in front of the middle of the entrance, a little pyramid of rocks and pebbles. (58) Sleeping Dragon: Maren eyed the pile of rocks warily. "Do you want to have a look?" he asked Evelynn (66) Yvette (enter): 11:59 Attempting to assign the role of Player to (66) Yvette... (50) Hokulani: Hoku eyed at these rocks warily, attempting to figure out what it is for... (50) Hokulani: "Alarm maybe... or nothing..." Hoku considered it... (66) Yvette: Seeing Hoku's gaze, Yvette leaned close to her. "Probably a marker, either for if they get lost, or if they're expecting more people." Then, glancing at the cave entrance, Yvette pulls a small, squat bottle with a brown pasty substance out of a pocket. (50) Hokulani: Hoku nodded at the idea and glanced at the others with expectation. "Let go in now." (51) Kalika: Kalika looked at the bottle Yvette had pulled out with interest (58) Maren: Maren gripped his sword and moved towards the cave, moving around the pile of rocks. (47) Skylarious: The rocks remained motionless. (66) Yvette: Yvette smiled to Kalika. "A little suprise." She said by way of explaination and moved to hand the bottle to Evelynn. "You said you were good with poisons right? This should take someone down with just one hit. Try to hit the wizard with it, they study books all day so they tend to be weaker to these things." whispering to Maren, Maren noticed some dried blood and flecks of odd grayish skin or scales at the top of the entrance to the cave. (51) Kalika: Kalika's summoned creature followed behind Maren (60) Evelynn: Taking the bottle and nodding, Evelynn fell into step behind them. (58) Maren: Maren pointed his sword to the ground near the entrance. "Something's been fighting here," he said. On the ground was dried blood and flecks of odd grayish skin or scales. (47) Skylarious: The blood was at the top of the entranceway, along with flecks of grayish skin (47) Skylarious: *edit: The blood and flecks of skin or scales were at the top of the entranceway. (66) Yvette: "Hmmm... Well, maybe you won't need it. Still, keep it handy." Yvette said, mainly to Evelynn as she looked at the skin flakes. (51) Kalika: "We might have been late again..."whispered Kalika (50) Hokulani: Hoku looked at the dark passage with hint of annoyance on her face, "Light!" she looked askance at others... (66) Yvette: Yvette lit her lantern and set it down before readying her crossbow to fire. Holding the crossbow in one hand and the lantern in the other, Yvette nodded. (51) Kalika: "I could light something up with magic, if you prefer."offered Kalika (60) Evelynn: Evelynn said nothing, only applying the brown paste carefully to one of her better lances and continuing to follow right behind Maren. (60) Evelynn: Edit: Javelin (50) Hokulani: Hoku gestured Maren to go in first... looking fearsome with her spear at ready. (58) Maren: Maren headed into the cave (51) Kalika: Behind Evelynn, the eidolon followed, looking accustomed the darkness. (47) Skylarious: The group advanced into the cave. Their flickering light showed pitted gray walls with a melted, bubbly look. The ground was slightly crumbly but gave no trouble walking. After only a few yards they noticed markings on the wall, small paintings in red and purple of crude figures fighting and hunting with spears, bows, and axes, and one women with enormous breats and hips and children at her side. (66) Yvette: Yvette glanced at the paintings with some curiosity, but simply shrugged and waited for the others to keep moving. (60) Evelynn: Evelynn ignored the paintings altogether, her mind focused on taking a perfect shot as soon as she saw her enemy. (50) Hokulani: Hoku merely eyed the woman on the painting emotionlessly before moving on. (47) Skylarious: The group continued on. The cave sloped gently downward and eventually leftward. They went slow, knowing that the hill was not large enough for the passage to go on long, unless it veered steeply into the ground. (51) Kalika: Kalika paused for a few moments behind to glance at the markings on the walls, perhaps fascinated by what she thought could have been signs of long-gone primitive cave dweller, but then caught up with the rest of the group. whispering to Maren, The cave began to widen. Maren suddenly heard a sort of snorting sound, like heavy breathing, ahead in the darkness. whispering to Kalika, The eidolon put a hand on Kalika's shoulder to warn her that he had noticed something ahead. (58) Maren: Maren held up a gauntleted hand as the group began to move into a wider section of the cave. "There's someone up ahead," he warned. (47) Skylarious: There was a sudden bellowing snort that all could hear, like a huffing bull, and light filled up the cavern ahead of them... (66) Yvette: "Looks like they've noticed us too!" Yvette moved next to the wall and waited for an enemy. (51) Kalika: Kalika took a step back as her otherwordly servant moved in front to protect her and the others. (60) Evelynn: Evelynn looked around for the wizard. "Im gonna hit her, im gonna hit her" she whispered under her breath. (50) Hokulani: Hoku closed her eyes as if in prayer and opened them, looking calm... (47) Skylarious: Ahead of them was a great, hulking, gray-skinned humanoid beast clad in rags and bits of makeshift armor, and wielding a crude club. Its beady eyes stared at them with malevolence as it prepared to attack. (60) Evelynn: Evelynn whispered back, "Should i still save this one for the wizard? Or should i hit that monster right in the face?" (66) Yvette: "Save it." Yvette replied. (51) Kalika: "Of course, there might be no wizard left..."objected Kalika (66) Yvette: "Save it! That poison's almost no good on something like that." Yvette snapped back. (47) Skylarious: Evelynn moved forward and turned the corner, revealing the three remaining Meyids in the cavern. Ahead of her was a short but powerfully built man, with bare, battle-scarred arms. He wore a red-lacquered breastplate embossed with the whip and flail, and at his back was a massive single-bladed axe. His face was handsome despite a sunburned complexion, and his dark brown hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail that reached the bottom of his shoulder blades. (47) Skylarious: Behind him were two others. One was a thick-bodied woman with a grey-green hue to her skin that suggested orcish heritage. A mass of dark hair hung about her shoulders and covered much of her face, revealing only gleaming blue eyes and glimpses of white teeth. She wore a red and blue coat and trousers. (47) Skylarious: The other was a tall man, lean of chest but with muscular arms wrapped in criss-crossed strips of deerhide. He wore scale mail and a billowing red cloak, and held a bow near as tall as he was. (47) Skylarious: edit: and in his hands was a massive single-bladed axe (60) Evelynn: Evelynn quickly danced back and told the others what she saw. "There is a man with an axe, one with a bow, an an orcish woman, i think she is our wizard" (51) Kalika: The Eidolon rushed beside Maren to block the passage, casting an angry glance at the ogre (66) Yvette: Yvette put her crossbow away and pulled out a clay flask, tossing it once for weight as she stepepd behind Maren. (58) Maren: "Meyids! Come and die!" Maren shouted in challenge, rattling his sword against his shield (51) Kalika: Streaks of blue lightning flew from Kalika's gesturing hands to Maren, Evelynn, Hokulani and the Eidolon, the mystical energies filling them with arcane speed. (66) Yvette: As the flask came down from a second toss, Yvette saw the warrior come around the corner and quickly threw the pot at him, where it smashed open causing a small fireball to light up the cave momentarily. (47) Skylarious: "We'll sort out the dying part now, shall we?" came a harsh, accented voice in Common. The axe-wielding man came around the corner, charging forward with a huge grin on his face. The pot smashed against his chest, burning him, but he barely seemed to notice. He reached Evelynn and swung his axe in a downward arc, tearing into her. (58) Maren: "I'll make it quick for you," Maren said, moving up and slicing out viciously with his sword, moving with great speed under the influence of Kalika's spell. "You'll find it harder to fight when you're not stabbing your own companions in the back, I suspect." (58) Maren: edit: Maren's sword cut into the berserker twice (47) Skylarious: Blood now poured down to mix with Kresdin's burns, and though he showed no signs of faltering his injuries were grievous. (50) Hokulani: Hoku rushed forward seeing that Eve is heavily injuired, she grabbed Eve painfully but mystical aura surrounded Eve for a moment, making her slightly better. (47) Skylarious: The ogre lumbered forward, building up speed as it raised its club. Finally it smashed downward over Kresdin, hitting Maren's armored shoulder hard enough to send a terrible shock through his body. (60) Evelynn: Evelynn quickly drew her short sword and slashed up and across at the berserker. Both missed however and she stepped back to give some space to him. (60) Evelynn: Edit: Evelynn quickly drew her short sword and slashed up and across at the berserker. One slashed him across the shoulder, she stepped back after to put some space between them. (95) Skylarious: The half-orc woman appeared farther away in the cavern and began chanting and moving her arms in stiff but complex patterns. An orangish orb appeared on the cavern floor and rolled into Maren, searing him with the heat that radiated off of its spongy surface. (95) Skylarious: The archer appeard next to the spellcaster, and fired an arrow which pierced the eidolon's flank. (51) Kalika: The eidolon tried to finish Kresdin off with a vicious bite, but it was too eager and it missed its bark, barely. (51) Kalika: edit: its mark (47) Skylarious (exit): 15:01 (66) Yvette: Yvette threw another clay pot, this time aiming at the ogre behind the warrior. The blast of flame engulfed both of her targets. (51) Kalika: Kalika cast another spell, covering the ground below Kresdin's and the ogre's feet with a greenish, slippery grease. The berserker kept his balance, but the ogre slipped and fell. (50) Hokulani: Hoku saw that Maren is about to go down, grabbed him forcefully and muttered a single word, bright mystic but starry aura surrounded him. He still seen to be breathing butbarely holding on. (95) Skylarious: Kresdin laughed even as blood and burnt skin sloughed from him. "For the Emperor!" He swung his axe straight into Maren's chest, sending the elf flying back to fall into a heap on the floor. (95) Skylarious: The ogre lumbered to its feet and swung at the eidolon, but slipped just enough for its blow to go awry. (60) Evelynn: Evelynn stepped up where Maren was standing and plunged her shortsword right into his chest and ripped it back out. (60) Evelynn: Edit: Evelynn spit on his body as he dropped. (60) Evelynn: EDIT:: Evelynn stepped up where Maren was standing and plunged her shortsword into Kresdins chest. As she ripped it out his body she spit right in his face as he fell towards the ground. (95) Skylarious: The half-orc screamed in pain and rage as she saw Kresdin fall. She waved a hand and the flaming sphere leapt into the air toward Evelynn, who expertly dodged. The wizard waved the other hand though, said a mystic word, and two streaks of magical energy darted from her fingertips to strike the elf girl. (95) Skylarious: The archer showed no reaction to Kresdin's fall, but kept firing arrows methodically at the eidolon, one of which struck it. (51) Kalika: The Eidolon attacked the ogre, lashing out with its claws, fangs and horn, but in its fury all of its attacks went wide. (51) Kalika: Looking worried as to how the battle was going, Kalika cast another spell of slipperiness - this time it targetted the ogre's club, and the monster's clumsy fingers could not keep hold of it. (50) Hokulani (exit): 15:56 (66) Yvette: As the ogre dropped its club, another firepot from Yvette struck the beast as the woman backed up a bit. (95) Skylarious: Hoku healed Evelynn, while the ogre finally managed to pick up its club after struggling with its slickness. (95) Skylarious: Evelynn stepped up and lashed out twice at the ogre, cutting it in the leg. The beast appeared close to falling. (95) Skylarious: The orc continued to send the sphere after Evelynn, and meanwhile tried to infiltrate Kalika's mind with a spell, but the summoner was too strong-willed. (95) Skylarious: The archer fired at the eidolon, but couldn't get a clear shot around the ogre. (95) Skylarious: The flaming sphere disippated into the air as Evelynn dodged it once more. (51) Kalika: The eidolon savagely bit one of the ogre's arms and dragged the creature down to the ground where it was ferociously clawed and gored to a bloody death. (51) Kalika: As the spell of supernatural speed she had cast before fading, Kalika reinforced it and then, now hasted herself, rushed for cover behind her Eidolon, in a niche in the cave walls where her enemies could not see her. (51) Kalika: edit: 'was fading' (66) Yvette: Out of sight of the remaining foes, Yvette considered her options before moving towards the fallen Maren. Placing the lantern on the ground, she traced arcane symbols in the air and whispered acompanying words as a soft glow spread over Maren's wounds, closing some of them. (66) Yvette: Seeing Maren's eyes open, Yvette smiled. "Up and at 'em. We've still got two left." (58) Maren: the elf groaned and stood up. "In a moment," he said, moving out of the way of the archer as he knew he couldn't reach him without risking getting shot (60) Evelynn: Evelynn sprinted off along the side and hurled her javelin as hard as she could at the sorceress hitting her in the shoulder. (95) Skylarious: The half-orc's eyes were filled with fear. She frantically cast another spell and pointed at Evelynn, but it had no effect. (95) Skylarious: The archer continued to fire at the eidolon. An arrow struck it, and the summoned creature seemed about to fall, but a glow of energy moved from Kalika to the eidolon and it regained some vitality. (51) Kalika: The eidolon rushed at the archer, but the latter nimbly avoided its bite. (60) Evelynn (exit): 16:50 (51) Kalika: Moving with enchanted speed, Kalika moved behind her eidolon and conjured forth some eldritch grease again - both the archer and the wizard couldn't stay on their feet and fell in on the slippery cave floor. (51) Kalika: change: 'Moving with enchanted speed' to 'With enchanted speed' (66) Yvette: Yvette glanced over at the two remaining foes, now on their backsides. Getting up, she walked over towards them. "Seems like you've been defeated, I'm sure you value your lives. How about giving up? You'll at least get a chance to live longer." (66) Yvette: *Ignore... (66) Yvette: Yvette glanced over to the remaining enemies. Seeing them as no longer a threat, she looked over to Maren. "Looks like they've got the rest of them under control. Need something for those remaining wounds?" (95) Skylarious: Yvette and Hoku healed Maren further. (58) Maren: now well healed, Maren barrelled forward and slashed the archer heaviliy with his sword
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Post by skyman on Apr 5, 2011 9:41:56 GMT
(19) Skylarious: The axe-wielding leader, the archer, and the hulking ogre now lay dead or dying on the cave floor. The half-orc spellcaster was backing away with fright, though her hands still moved with precision as she cast her less effective spells. (16) Yvette: Yvette stayed back from the group around the mage, sighing a little at the killing the mayor had requested and they had mostly delivered. (20) Maren: Maren circled around the mage and slashed her heavily with his sword, unwilling to risk leaving a spellcaster up (18) Kalika: Kalika cast a spell to prevent the mage from retreating, but her willpower proved too strong and she avoided its effects. She did not, however, avoid the Eidolon dragging her to the ground and tearing her to shreds in a fury of biting, slashing and goring. Kalika managed to call it off before it reduced the head to an unrecognizable bloody mess. (18) Kalika: "It...gets a little carried avoid sometimes. But it's not bad, really." Kalika commented, though she tried to avoid glancing at the wizard's remains too closely. (19) Skylarious: In the midst of the carnage, before the wizard was completely killed, those nearby could hear her moan "Kresdin..." (19) Skylarious: As soon as the wizard died, the lights that had flooded the cavern went out. (16) Yvette: Yvette's lamp, sitting on the ground near the entrance was still lit and the woman walked over and picked it up to bring back to the others. "Well, it could have been worse..." She said, possibly in response to Kalika, possibly in response to how the whole battle played out (22) Hokulani: Huko glanced around at others, "Everyone are alive..." she said with hint of approval... (20) Maren: Maren cleaned his sword on the archer's body. Sheathing the blade, he rubbed his chest through his armour. He always felt strange phantom pains after magical healing, though it was preferable by far to the real thing. "Thanks," he said to Hoku. "I suppose we should go back to where we found those bodies before, get Cathala's head too as proof she's dead. Or maybe her nose will be enough alone...is that around here somewhere?" (25) Evelynn: Evelynn begins to loot the bodies quietly. (25) Evelynn: Seeing a very nice looking dagger, Evelynn holds it up "Could i have this?" (18) Kalika: As the others went through the belongings of the slain, Kalika watched them with some interest, focusing on detecting any magical energies. "That axe seems to have some faint magical power in it."she said nonchalantly pointing to Kresdin's weapon. She looked much more impressed when a small crystal cube was brought out - "There is...something to this." (16) Yvette: Disconnecting from server... (16) Yvette (exit): 12:41 (20) Maren: Maren scanned over the loot, picking up a platinum earring from Kresdin to give to Ferret as he had asked after jewellery. "Not a bad haul, we can put the weapons and armour up on my horse and sell it off back at Stragglecat. Should we move?" (18) Kalika: "Had some kind of magic in it but it seems to be gone..."said Kalika looking at a gold-and-sapphire ring "Probably a minor spell."she shrugged. "Let me take the crystal cube, I might be able to figure it out later." (22) Hokulani: Hoku looked closer at the ring but still could not figure it out with a shake of her head (22) Hokulani: "Let go..." She told Maren and others (19) Skylarious: The group gathered up the equipment as well as some heads for evidence of their deed. They made their way out of the cave, and found Ferret peering out eagerly from behind Yvette's wagon. He stared at their bloody garb and trophies. "By all the gods! You shore did get up to some fightin'!" (22) Hokulani: "They died when trying to kill us..." She told him simply, "No more bandits for now..." (22) Hokulani: "A gift for you..." She added warmly... (20) Maren: Maren put the weapons and armour they had looted up on his horse and handed the platinum earring to Ferret (19) Skylarious: Ferret's eyes widened even beyond their already round proportions! "Oh, thanks, my l... friend! My sister'll shore be pleased! Are you headin' back to town now?" (18) Kalika: As Maren loaded the looted equipment on the horse, Kalika examined the purplish potion they had found on Bradya more closely. "Why, who'd have thought...interesting."she muttered looking somewhat surprised (20) Maren: "That's the intention. What's the potion Kalika?" (19) Skylarious: "Well I'm gonna head off back home then. But per'aps we'll meet again! There's a member of the Lads in Stragglecat often, girl named Cowbell. Tell 'er 'The spindly spider catches a red fly' if'n you want to contact us." (18) Kalika: "If I'm not mistaken...a love potion."Kalika replied "Didn't she call out for Kresdin before dying? Even Meyids have feelings." she said with some gravity (22) Hokulani: Hoku glanced at Ferret sharply as he mentioned his sister, "What is wrong with sister?" She asked softly... (22) Hokulani: "Your help is useful and we will see each other again..." Hoku smiled at the Ferret with hint of sadness and went on muttering some farewall in her language. After Kalika mentioned about the potions, "Feelings in everyone... Joy, love, sad, revenge and grief..." she told Kalika (19) Skylarious: Ferret grinned, waved at everyone including the eidolon, and bounded off. (25) Evelynn: Evelynn stared after him wishing she had taken the earrings. (18) Kalika: "Looks like he might have been hiding something. Hopefully nothing too important."Kalika shrugged (22) Hokulani: "Everyone have secrets..." She thought for a moment... "Let go to Stragglecat..." (19) Skylarious: The victorious group made its way back toward Stragglecat, first reaching the river and making camp for a night, then spending two more uneventful days recuperating and making steady pace back to town. Nothing dared threaten them as they traveled, and they arrived at midday to find the town much the same as before. The lanky fellow manning the ferry to take them across the river to the main complex looked them up and down. "Good news for the mayor?" (25) Evelynn: Evelynn nodded vigourously "The news is nothing but good!" (19) Skylarious: He smiled. "I hope you showed them Meyid bastards no mercy. We can rest a bit easier here if they're gone. But we're takin' no chances. There're rumblings that there'll be a bigger incursion comin'." They reached the opposite shore, and indeed there were more citizens wearing makeshift armor and practicing combat on dummies. There was plenty of boisterous noise coming from the inn, however. (25) Evelynn: Evelynn looked at him in a very serious manner, hands on hips she replied "Any Meyids that come through here wont be leaving in a single piece. I can guarantee that." She looked towards the Inn (22) Hokulani: Huko nodded, "Do not care what they are... only that anyone that attempt to kill me tend to die..." (20) Maren: Maren glanced over at the Stragglers practising their combat skills. They looked fairly inept to his eyes, but Meyid incursions meant money for people like him. "Let's go talk to the Mayor and find out what he's heard. I'd thought the Meyids were busy fighting each other." (19) Skylarious: They entered the inn and found a rowdy group of a dozen mercenaries being entertained by Evelynn's troupe, who seemed to be barely keeping the men from drunken infighting. The mercenary's bore a company sigil of a black lion rampant, sometimes on shields, sometimes on tunics or scarves, and on one red-bearded man a forehead tattoo. Over in another corner, the Privan spice merchant whom Kalika had arrived with was making some tallies while his guards eyed the mercenaries warily. The serving girl, Milly, was moving about frantically with orders, though she paused to call out to them "Oh, that priest fellow was hopin' you'd speak to him when you arrived. I think he's in his room but I'll let him know you're here if you like." (19) Skylarious: *mercenaries (20) Maren: "Let him know, we're going to speak to the Mayor first," Maren called to her, taking off his helm. (22) Hokulani: Hoku looked at these drunken men suspiciously before following Maren and others to the Mayor's Office (19) Skylarious: They made their way up the stairs and found the Mayor scribbling a letter, which he immediately set aside. "Ah! Our valiant friends! You're all alive, so you have good news, I take it?" (18) Kalika: Kalika looked at the rowdy men with some uneasiness before going up the stairs with the others. (20) Maren: Maren pulled a few sacks out of his backpack. Round objects bulged within the sack. "Shall I tip these out on the floor or did you want to take our word that they're dead?" he asked nonchalantly. (19) Skylarious: Mayor Blindelwelt's eyebrows slowly migrated a couple of inches upward. "Ah. Yes. I suppose I'd prefer not to see them all, though some evidence of Cathala would be appreciated." They had Cathala's nose to present to him. "Good, good," he said, looking slightly green. "We are in your debt. You are of course entitled to your reward." He gestured at the furniture, art objects, and miscellaneous Meyid items that had been promised. (22) Hokulani: Hoku glanced around at these rewards, "I do not want them... but others wants them..." She gestured at others... (18) Kalika: "Will take some work to get them out of here."stated Kalika matter of factly as she looked at some of the heavier objects (19) Skylarious: "So, I don't suppose you plan to stick around here, my friends? We can always use more protection, and your lodging and food will be free, of course." (18) Kalika: Kalika walked close to assorted items which were their reward and checked them for any traces of magic, just in case. She turned aside from this for a moment to reassure the Mayor that she was nothing nothing dangerous. (25) Evelynn: "I think it is up to the rest of the party but i am definitely on board while my troop is still in this town" She looked at the items in the room. (20) Maren: "You seem to be expecting more trouble soon," said Maren. "I'd thought the Meyids were busy killing each other over who gets to be emperor, but on the way back we heard they were planning an incursion." (22) Hokulani: "And what with these men downstairs?" She asked curiously. (19) Skylarious: The Mayor nodded solemnly. "There are no specific threats to Stragglecat. But there have been heavy raids on the coast. It seems the Meyids in the area have been gaining more unity. I don't suppose you found anything hinting at their internal affairs? Letters, or sigils or anything?" (19) Skylarious: He glanced over at Hoku. "They are on their way to the coast to join the battle against the raiders. We offered them free lodging for a night since it would aid us to stop those raids... but that was perhaps a mistake." (18) Kalika: Kalika stopped her examination of the items "We did not have much of a chance to interrogate them or learn anything about their plans unfortunately." she said to the Mayor (19) Skylarious: "Ah. Unfortunate. Well for now we will simply remain vigilant. Do tell me if there is anything else I can do for you. Otherwise I must return to my correspondence." (20) Maren: "We'll have to arrange for the heavier items to be brought to us. I at least intend to stay in Stragglecat for a while, I'm not sure about the others." (19) Skylarious: "Yes indeed. We have plenty of strong lads here to take care of that." (18) Kalika: "I should stay here for as long as needed - I'm certainly not going to be able to find what I came here for with the Meyids around."said Kalika (22) Hokulani: "I plan to move on... but I will stay for little longer..." Huko looked determined, "These black creature men worries me..." She strolled out of the office, eager to rest. (19) Skylarious: Father Andrew was standing right outside the door, and he jumped when Hoku appeared. "Ah! Aha! There you are! Warriors strong and true. Might we all have a word in my room?" (22) Hokulani: Huko merely looked suspicious before answering, "I think Maren like listen to you? I would not mind to listen either..." She prepared to follow him. (20) Maren: "Lead on Father," Maren nodded (19) Skylarious: He brought them to his cramped quarters, where they arranged themselves sitting on the bed and one small chair. "Well, my friends, I am glad you have returned safely. Might I ask if you found any unusual objects on your journey?" (18) Kalika: Kalika silently went along with the others. (25) Evelynn: Evelynn walked along silently as well. (25) Evelynn: Evelynn looked at him "Last time we spoke you talked about a ruins you were looking into.. is that correct? Do you still need some help with this task?" (19) Skylarious: Andrew nodded. "Indeed. You are a sharp young lady. That is what this is about. I have found two out of three items that I believe are keys to a particular ruin. One was found on the body of a Meyid raider, so I thought perhaps you might have found the other. A crystalline object of some sort." (18) Kalika: "Well..."Kalika spoke up after some thought "We did find something that might fit your description..." (18) Kalika: As she said so, she took the crystal cube they had found from inside her bag and showed it him (19) Skylarious: Andrews eyes gleamed with childlike wonder. "That... that might be it." He pulled from his own bag two more items, a small pyramidal crystal and a spherical one. "I think it is! Finally..." (18) Kalika: "I did notice it gave off some kind of magic."she said (19) Skylarious: "Might I hold it for a moment?" he asked, offering his own items for them to examine. (18) Kalika: As Kalika handed the crystal cube to the priest, she looked at the pyramid and sphere, eyes glowing with interest. (19) Skylarious: Kalika could sense similar magic from Andrew's crystals as from their own. He turned the cube over in his hands. "Yes! Yes this is it! Oh, I must make preparations! An expedition will need supplies..." He looked up at them. "Ah. Of course it belongs to you. I am happy to purchase it from you if you would oblige, or to guide you to the ruins if you wish to come. I seek knowledge and artifacts of our faith, but I imagine there are other valuables for you." (20) Maren: "How far away are these ruins? I'd be happy to explore them but I don't want to be too far from Stragglecat in case the Meyids attack." (19) Skylarious: "Four days at a steady pace, two if we rushed on horseback, I would estimate. I do not think any large force of Meyids could reach Stragglecat in that time, but your concern is admirable, and caution may be warranted." (18) Kalika: "The ruins are the main reason I came here...and yet, I feel I could be of some use here against the Meyids, which are a more immediate threat. " (18) Kalika: "Although perhaps we might find knowledge there could be of use against them..."she trailed off, as if trying to justify her desire to visit the ruins (22) Hokulani: Huko considered the options before saying "Want find Cowbell but these... Meyids may want to find these ruins as well? Will help you." (19) Skylarious: "Consider it, my friends. I will trust your judgment. If you choose not to come with me, do tell me and I would gladly pay you well for the key. I am also more than willing to look at any other magical or mysterious items you have. I have some knowledge of such things." (22) Hokulani: She nodded at him before leaving the room, going downstair, glancing over these status of these men. (22) Hokulani: EDIT: She nodded at him before leaving the room, she muttered some strange words, only an starry aura appears for a faintest moment and then went downstair, glancing over these black creature men, she then starts playing the flute after taking it out (25) Evelynn: Disconnecting from server... (25) Evelynn (exit): 15:09 (19) Skylarious: The men ignored mostly ignored her music, but the alcohol was finally sapping their energy, with some of them falling asleep. One suddenly stood up and punched another over some imagined insult, but the red-beared, tattooed man broke them up, knocked the aggressor to the ground, and told him to go sleep it off.
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Post by skyman on May 22, 2011 18:48:25 GMT
[09:31:18] (235) Skylarious: A new day dawned, though one could hardly tell with the gray clouds that cast a perpetual gloom. Father Andrew, however, seemed cheery as he made preparations for their expedition. Evelynn had decided to move on with her troupe the next day rather than joining the expedition, so Andrew had contracted a local named Vaarel to come along, a quiet, almost dull seeming middle-aged man with thinning hair, who nevertheless apparently had knowledge of traps and devices. "Alright, my friends! Make what final preparations you can," said Andrew when they met in the inn's common room, "and we'll be off by midday!" [09:36:18] (243) Sleeping Dragon: Maren woke groggily, head throbbing from an excess of ale the night before, and went to sit in the common room, sullenly prodding a bowl of thick porridge with his spoon and unsuccessfully trying to focus his mind to think of a way that they could be contacted from Stragglecat quickly in case of a Meyid attack while they were gone. [09:38:37] (241) Hokulani: Hoku was already finished preparing for her short trip to the ruins. She never have much to prepare for since Hoku is always on the move. "Is wise one here? One that can make magic to tell us?" She told others... [09:40:49] (237) Kalika: Kalika did not have many belongings to organize - except for a few books - so it not take her much to be ready for their trip of the ruins. Though obviously excited at visiting the ruins, she agreed with the others on needing a way to be contacted if the need arose. [09:47:16] (235) Skylarious: The trio went to the wise woman's hut on the outskirts of town (Yvette stayed behind, preparing her cart for the trip). It looked much like any other hourse in Stragglecat, though the door was painted with fading red. The door opened quickly upon a knock, and they faced a petite, raven haired woman of indeterminate age--from one angle she would look twenty, from another fifty. She grinned widely at the travelers. "Ah, finally the Meyid-slayers arrive. Do come in."
There was a crackling fire in the hearth casting just enough light to see despite the covered windows, and the room was uncomfortably warm. The walls were lined with racks of herbs and spices, and vials of stranger things, blood and bile, scales and fur. There were no chairs, only soft sitting rugs scattered about. "I am Nahara," said the woman, still grinning. "What would you ask of me?" [09:51:37] (243) Sleeping Dragon: "We're going to be leaving Stragglecat for a while to explore some ruins," said Maren. "We wanted to know if you had any way you could contact us, so if the Meyids attack we can come back in time." [09:55:20] (235) Skylarious: "Ah! A wise plan, for a sword-bearer. Well, there are ways to accomplish such things. Easy ways, in fact, though some find them... uncomfortable. Others, of course, find the thought appealing..." she trailed off, gazing at each visitor in turn with round amber eyes. [09:57:02] (237) Kalika: "What are you suggesting...?"asked a slightly worried but still curious Kalika [09:58:46] (235) Skylarious: "I would not make this offer to anyone, but you seem invaluable to Stragglecat. One of your company must lie with me. Through this I can form a bond and send a warning across the gap separating our unconscious." [10:03:16] (243) Sleeping Dragon: Maren looked at the others and shrugged. "I'm nothing if not self-sacrificing," he said. [10:05:11] (235) Skylarious: "Very well, sword-bearer. You are more open-minded than I expected. We should be alone, then. I would wait for sundown, but no doubt you are in a hurry." [10:08:25] (241) Hokulani: Huko looked at them and nodded, and left the cottage, leaving them alone. [10:08:53] (243) Sleeping Dragon: "Well we're leaving at mid-day, so we'd better start soon or we might not be done in time," Maren said glibly. [10:13:19] (235) Skylarious: The others waited perhaps an hour before Maren exited the hut, blinking at the light of the outdoors. [10:17:42] (243) Sleeping Dragon: "Not a bad hangover cure," said Maren. He carefully checked to make sure that he still had all his things, double and triple checking his sword and the broken spike of crown he wore on a chain around his neck. [10:18:08] (235) Skylarious: He noticed nothing missing. [10:19:37] (241) Hokulani: "We will now know if Stragglecat under attack." Huko nodded, "Thanks" [10:20:58] (243) Sleeping Dragon: "We'll need to go tell the Mayor, otherwise he might keep some information to himself and we won't find out in time," said Maren. [10:21:33] (237) Kalika: "Hopefully it'll work out."said Kalika [10:56:18] (235) Skylarious: Finally, the six members of the expedition gathered together, shortly before midday, to begin the journey. "Let's make good time but not wear ourselves out," said Father Andrew. "We mustn't be exhausted when we reach the ruins." [10:56:57] (243) Sleeping Dragon: Maren nodded. "Will you be coming into the ruins with us?" [10:57:42] (235) Skylarious: "Indeed. My knowledge might be invaluable. Your swords and spells, my learning, and Vaarel's tools should keep us safe." [11:05:08] (235) Skylarious: The clouds started to disperse as the group made its way northward on the same road they'd tracked the Meyids. They talked little, focusing on riding, though slowing once in a while to let the horses rest and water. Finally, as night fell, they set up camp in the woods off of the road. Maren stood first watch as the others lay down to sleep. [11:07:51] (243) Sleeping Dragon: "Wake up!" Maren hissed suddenly about an hour into his watch, drawing his sword [11:32:12] (235) Skylarious: As the others were awoken by Maren's shout, two strange creatures burst into the camp. They were muscular, doglike creatures with scaly gray skin and patches of brownish fur. Their beady eyes searched malevolently, and their powerful jaws dripped streamers of saliva. One barked, a low sound like the cough of a dying man, and leapt at Maren. It bit him on the arm, and he could feel a painful tingling that he was able to ignore. [11:34:24] (235) Skylarious: Vaaren stared, wide eyed, then scurried on hands and knees behind a tree. [11:37:48] (235) Skylarious: The other hound charged toward the women starting to awake, and bit Yvette hard before she could stand. She could feel a tingling in the wound. [11:40:00] You must be either a player or GM to use the miniature Layer [11:40:12] (235) Skylarious: Andrew struggled to his feet, grabbing a cudgel from his pack and moved toward the hound that had bitten Yvette. [11:41:26] (235) Skylarious: Hokulani also scrambled to grab her spear and ran toward the hound. [11:43:39] You must be either a player or GM to use the miniature Layer [11:45:06] (237) Kalika: Waking with a sudden start, a somewhat terrified Kalika found the presence of mind to desperately leap away from the charging beast and cast a spell of haste on her closest allies, filling them with energy. [11:46:10] You must be either a player or GM to use the miniature Layer [11:48:59] (243) Sleeping Dragon: having waited for Kalika's spell, Maren attacked with magical celerity, one slice of his blade going wide while the second tore heaviliy into the beast's grey hide. Maren edged away, standing back to back with Father Andrew [11:50:48] (235) Skylarious: The hound followed Maren warily, snapping at him while trying to avoid his blade. Even before his eyes, however, some of the wound he'd caused it seemed to heal. [11:51:13] (235) Skylarious: Vaaren continued to hide. [11:52:57] (235) Skylarious: The other hound, hearing more people approach it, turned and tore into Hoku's leg. [11:53:38] (235) Skylarious: Andrew swung his cudgel ineffectually at the creature. [11:54:04] (243) Sleeping Dragon: "Circle round it, hit it from both sides," Maren advised Andrew and Hoku [11:55:45] (235) Skylarious: Hoku followed Maren's advice and managed to pierce the creature in the flank with her spear. [12:01:41] (237) Kalika: At Kalika's command, a stocky, vaguely man-shaped creature made of earth sprung from the soil and pummeled the beast with its heavy fists. [12:05:23] (243) Sleeping Dragon: Maren lashed out again twice with his blade, the first going wide and the second cutting deep into the creature's hide. It slid unconscious to the earth as Maren pulled his sword out in a spray of dark red blood. Maren turned and moved towards the other hound. [12:12:55] (235) Skylarious: Yvette fired a crossbow bolt that slammed into the nearest hound, almost knocking it down. [12:13:22] (235) Skylarious: The other hound staggered to its feet as it awoke from its injuries, and bit into the turning Maren. [12:17:25] You must be either a player or GM to use the miniature Layer [12:18:08] (235) Skylarious: The hound faced by the elemental moved away, instead going after Kalika and biting her hard. [12:18:21] (235) Skylarious: Andrew followed it, flailing with his cudgel, but could not hurt it. [12:19:42] (235) Skylarious: Hoke moved after it as well, and her blow was more effective. The spear jabbed into its throat, and the creature fell unconscious. [12:27:51] (237) Kalika: While the earth elemental pummeled at the now unconscious creature, Kalika stepped away wincing in pain and summoned a tiny orb of acid which she threw at the monster. Though not a very impressive spell, it seemed to kill it off for good. [12:29:08] (243) Sleeping Dragon: grinding his teeth through pain, Maren raised his blade twice more and hacked viciously down into the hound, sending it slumping back down to the earth. "And stay down!" [12:34:21] (237) Kalika: Seeing her acid orb prove itself particularly effective against the hounds, Kalika threw another at the remaining one, finishing it off. [12:36:25] (235) Skylarious: Hoku began to heal the injured. Father Andrew looked shaken but slightly elated. "Incredible! Heshuxen surely favored me in sending such warriors. We'll have no trouble in the ruins." [12:38:45] (243) Sleeping Dragon: Maren wiped his sword clean on the grass and sheathed it. "You alright?" he called to Vaaren [12:39:14] (237) Kalika: "I hope we don't catch anything from these bites..."said Kalika, with some suffering in her voice
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Post by skyman on May 22, 2011 18:51:55 GMT
(268) Skylarious: The group awoke the next morning after the skirmish with the strange hounds. Kalika felt strange and hot, her veins pulsing with uncomfortable warmth, but Yvette looked worse. She had a terrible fever and was moaning with pain. Andrew gave her a small poultice but had nothing more he could think to do. "I think she must get back to town." whispering to Sleeping Dragon, After the battle with the strange hounds, the group rested. Maren's trance was strange. Instead of the usual elven reflection, he had strange visions like human dreams, deep and surreal. He kept seeing flashes, images of his encounter with the wise woman in Stragglecat, but distorted. She ran her hands over him, but her hands were reversed, turned around on the wrist. She kissed him and her lips were cold like ice. But when he awoke he had a powerful lust. (272) Sleeping Dragon: Maren looked somewhat disturbed, having just woken from his trance. "Yes," he said somewhat absently. "Back to town." (268) Skylarious: "I can go myself," said Yvette. She looked pained but still perfectly conscious. "It is not far, and you don't want to delay this journey with the threat of the Meyids." (274) Kalika: "Not feeling so...well myself"stuttered a plainly suffering Kalika "But I'll manage, as I'm sure you will." (271) Hokulani: "Shame I cannot help." Hoku looked put off... "Be better soon..." Hoku told Yvette and Kalika. (268) Skylarious: Yvette nodded and rode off south, and the rest of the group continued on their journey. The day passed quickly as they rode hard, and Kalika felt her body tingling more uncomfortably. (274) Kalika: Kalika looked pretty miserable as her body was severely weakened and fatigued by the disease. However she managed to ride on with the others. (268) Skylarious: Finally they stopped at darkness came and Kalika grew fatigued, and rested until early the next morning. Kalika had enough strength to continue, and within a couple of hours they reached the outskirts of the ruins. The trees here were ancient and gnarled, casting darkness over most of the land despite the bright sun. Lumps of shapeless stone lay about everywhere, with the occasional recognizeable piece of statue. "Be alert here, my friends," said Andrew. "Strange dangers might lurk here." (271) Hokulani: Hoku nodded, keeping very close eyes on all surrounding. "Strange dangers happen all time." She muttered to herself (272) Sleeping Dragon: Maren glanced over the statues, thinking with disquiet that this was an easy place for an ambush. "Do you know of an entrance into the ruins, Father?" he asked Andrew (268) Skylarious: "It is just ahead, Maren." They rode on through the almost overgrown path, until they came to a gate. It was a tall iron gate with no grill to see through, etched with scenes of men with forked beards engaged in passing judgment, scribing scrolls, and performing rituals. It was rusted with time, though not so much as would be expected from iron as old as the Anthralebs. It stood alone, blocking the path, but with no walls to either side. "You can try going around," said Andrew. "But it won't work." (272) Sleeping Dragon: Maren dismounted. "Are we all going in, or is someone staying here to look after the horses?" (274) Kalika: Feeling slightly better after having rested for a while, Kalika looked at the etchings with interest. (271) Hokulani: Hoku dismissed these cravings as nothing. "Like to go in..." She told Maren... (268) Skylarious: "Let us open the gate first. I am unsure what will be on the other side or whether the horses might come," said Andrew. He rummaged around for the crystal keys. (272) Sleeping Dragon: Maren drew his sword and waited as Andrew opened the gate (274) Kalika: Kalika began her ritual of summoning, looking focused despite her illness. After roughly a minute, the hulking, beastly creature appeared out of thin air to join the party in their exploration of the ruins. (271) Hokulani: Hoku grimanced as she reided her weapon, ready to fight any small beasts that may fight them... She nodded at Kalika and very useful hulking creature. (268) Skylarious: Andrew moved up to the gate and murmured to himself. He ran his hands over the iron and found the slots in the mouths of some of the etched characters. The crystals passed through easily and disappeared. There was a rumble, a grinding of gears, and the gates opened... Light flooded out to them. Beyond the gate they could see a sky uncovered by trees, though if they looked around the gate the trees were there. The path on the other side was well-maintained cobblestone lined with ornamental shrubs and small statues and fountains. They heard birdsong. (268) Skylarious: The horses whinnied and looked nervous. whispering to Hokulani, The beautiful realm on the other side seemed very real in some ways, but if Hoku looked from just the right angle she saw the statues broken and scattered, the path muddy and overgrown. whispering to Sleeping Dragon, Maren's keen elf-eyes could see the cracks in the beautiful facade. He could see the statues absent or broken, the path overgrown and muddy, the darkness covering it all, though he could also see the illusion. (271) Hokulani: Hoku shook her head as if try to clear something... "Not real. These stone broken and path dirty..." She told others. (272) Sleeping Dragon: "An interesting illusion," said Maren, tying his horse to a tree. "I doubt they'll go in there." (268) Skylarious: Andrew nodded, still staring in wonderment at the beautiful scene. "Yes... illusion... of course. But convincing." He and Vaarel tied up their horses as well. (274) Kalika: "Illusion...?"asked Kalika, who seemed not to have noticed the glamour herself. (272) Sleeping Dragon: Maren strode through the gate and kicked a bit of mud from the supposedly well-maintained road in Kalika's direction. "We'll have to keep our heads in this place." (268) Skylarious: The mud suddenly appeared to Kalika when it crossed the plane of the gate. (271) Hokulani: Huko followed Maren into the gate of magic (268) Skylarious: Andrew and Vaarel followed as well. Andrew kicked at the ground, and they heard the scraping of his boot against cobblestone, though Maren also heard the squelch of mud. (274) Kalika: "I see."said Kalika "Well, I don't actually, but I get it." Looking a bit crestfallen at not having noticed it herself, she followed behind the others, casting worried glances around (274) Kalika: If we need a marching order...Maren's in front I assume, Hoku is behind, Kalika should be last(and the Eidolon would be just in front of her) (268) Skylarious: edit: ignore (268) Skylarious: The group moved forward warily. Soon they began to hear laughter and conversation, and as they got farther they could tell it was coming from a clearing a little off the path among some slender willow trees. They could not make out the language. "Old Anthraleb," said Andrew by way of clarification. He looked eager to learn more. (271) Hokulani: "Alnthraleb..." Hoku looked confused, "What is Anthraleb..." She glanced around at the surrounding, (272) Sleeping Dragon: Maren concentrated, trying to determine if these voices were another illusion or if they were truly there (268) Skylarious: "The Anthralebs are the people who once lived here, the first worshipers of our gods. There is so little known about them! All that we have are ruined structures and a few bits of writing..." whispering to Sleeping Dragon, The voices did seem hollow somehow, false, though if it was illusion it was illusion with great detail. (272) Sleeping Dragon: "There's something strange about those voices," said Maren. "They're...hollow. Be wary. What are they saying, Father?" (268) Skylarious: "I've... I've never heard the language spoken by its original speakers," said Andrew. "But it sounds like they are discussing... marriage? Something about wedding plans?" (274) Kalika: Kalika looked towards the clearing and chanted briefly towards it, casting a spell. "Useless."she said, disappointed "We're surrounded by illusions, I can't distinguish if these are too or not' (271) Hokulani: Hoku attempted to hear the voices to understrand what Maren meant. "Marriage? We be careful here..." She glanced around nervously. (274) Kalika: "This isn't quite what I expected..."muttered Kalika, though she sounded more intrigued than afraid or worried now (274) Kalika: She did however decide to be cautious, and cast a spell of protection on both herself and the summoned creature, making the air around them shimmer briefly and then be still. (268) Skylarious: The group edged off the path toward the voices. Pushing aside the willow branches, which they could feel with a hint of insubstantiality, they came to the clearing. There were three people there, around an ornate iron bench, like those in parks in great cities. They all had jet black hair and wore strange silk robes decorated with abstract symbols. A pretty young woman was sitting on the bench, wearing gold. Behind her was an older woman with similar features but a red and black robe, braiding the young woman's hair and chatting with her. Nearby stood a man with a forked beard wearing blue and black, examining a small ring. He interjected occasionally. They did not immediately notice the group approaching. (268) Skylarious: No one could tell if the people were illusions, though they could all now tell that the voices just seemed... off. Slightly more distant than they should, though perfectly clear. (272) Sleeping Dragon: Maren thought for a moment, then strode purposefully towards the three people, curious to see if they'd notice him. (268) Skylarious: First, the young woman looked up. She did not react with shock, but narrowed her eyes and spoke to the other two with a hint of anger in her voice. They looked at Maren, and shook their heads. The older woman said something. "I think she said... 'It's happening again,'" translated Andrew. (274) Kalika: Kalika looked at the scene curiously, as if she watching some kind of art or elaborate play. (272) Sleeping Dragon: Maren sheathed his sword. "Ask them what's happening again." (268) Skylarious: Andrew spoke haltingly in the language, and the bearded man responded. "He says... he doesn't need to explain things to illusions." The bearded man handed the ring to the older woman and began walking toward the group, pointing and gesturing for them to leave. (271) Hokulani: Hoku shrugged in respond, "Follow path now?" She muttered, gesturing to the path.... (272) Sleeping Dragon: Maren picked up a small stick from the ground and threw it lightly at the bearded man. (268) Skylarious: The stick landed to the side of the man, who continued to advance, pointing a finger and Maren and speaking angrily. (268) Skylarious: *at (272) Sleeping Dragon: "What's he saying? Ask him to pick the stick up." (268) Skylarious: "Er, I can't really make out the words. I think I heard 'arse.'" Andrew spoke to the man but didn't seem to get a response. The man was now gesturing wildly, while the women behind him had moved behind the bench and were backing away. (274) Kalika: Kalika looked like she was getting a bit tense now. She glanced at the approaching man with worry. "I know a spell..."she trailed off (272) Sleeping Dragon: [1d12] => [10] = (10) (272) Sleeping Dragon: Maren drew an arrow from his quiver and held it out to the man, fletchings first. "Tell him we're not illusions." (274) Kalika: Kalika turned to Andrew "And if they don't believe that, ask them what would convince them otherwise, perhaps." (268) Skylarious: Andrew did so. The man glared at Maren, but cautiously moved forward and reached for the arrow. (268) Skylarious: The man's hand passed straight through the arrow. He started gesturing and shouting again. "See, you're illusions, he says," translated Andrew. whispering to Sleeping Dragon, The man suddenly seemed more insubstantial to Maren, and the clearing darker. whispering to Sleeping Dragon, Behind the man, arranged around the bench in the mud, Maren could see unnatural mounds of earth. whispering to Sleeping Dragon, edit: three unnatural mounds (272) Sleeping Dragon: "Interesting..." Maren backed away from the man a bit, putting the arrow away. "Is it getting darker out here?" Maren's eyes were suddenly drawn to the mud around the iron bench. "Ask him what those three mounds are," Maren pointed. (268) Skylarious: Andrew followed Maren's instructions. The man continued to shout, looking somewhat fearful now. But the young woman at the back of the clearing slowly moved toward the bench and knelt. Suddenly the group could all see three mounds in the muddy earth. The girl whispered something, and the older woman moved up to kneel beside her. The man continued to gesticulate, his voice wailing and his eyes wide. (274) Kalika: Seeing the mounds, Kalika seemed to have been struck by a kind of revelation. "I think they might be real enough. Poor things..."she said with a hint of sadness (272) Sleeping Dragon: "We all have our ghosts...but it's not usually yourself." (271) Hokulani: "Yes..." Hoku considered this for a moment, "Shall we leave them or do something?" (274) Kalika: "Can you put them to rest?"Kalika asked Andrew "Some ritual, perhaps?" (268) Skylarious: "This is something I've never seen before, but I could try..." He was interrupted as the young woman stood and slowly walked up behind the man. She said something brief. "Father, come," translated Andrew. The man continued to mutter at the group, but let himself be pulled back. The girl took the ring from the older woman. They each lay down on one of the mounds as if preparing for sleep. The older woman said something: "Trapped in this dream... or cell, perhaps, the words are similar." The girl said one more thing, and they all sank into the earth. The bench disappeared, the willows turned into gnarled oak, but the mounds remained. "She said we may have the ring," said Andrew nervously, looking at the mound into which both the young woman and the ring had sunk. (271) Hokulani: Hoku glanced at these mounds uncomfrtabely, "Wary of digging into them..." (272) Sleeping Dragon: Maren picked up the ring and examined it. (272) Sleeping Dragon: edit: ignore (268) Skylarious: Vaarel silently pulled a small hand shovel from his bag of equipment and held it out for anyone who wanted it. (272) Sleeping Dragon: Maren took the spade and began to dig. (274) Kalika: "It would be unpolite to refuse, wouldn't it?" said Kalika looking down at the mounds (271) Hokulani: Hoku grimanced at the thoughts of disturbing the dead. (274) Kalika: Kalika pointed a finger at the mound and chanted softly, slowly lifting small heaps of earth from the mound and thus helping Maren with the digging. (268) Skylarious: After twenty minutes digging the soft earth (with Maren getting progressively muddier). They hit a harder layer: soft wood. After another hour they had cleared the dirt covering the coffin. It was once ornate but now pitted, ready to collapse. (271) Hokulani: Hoku stood back, readies her weapon just in case... (272) Sleeping Dragon: Maren put the shovel down, wiped his brow, and lifted out the coffin. (268) Skylarious: Underneath lay a moldering, shriveled body. She had been preserved somehow and wrapped in linen that was now degrading. She wore a gold necklace, a silver tiara, and a silver ring in the shape of two figure eights connected at each end. (274) Kalika: Kalika looked down upon the body and gestured again, casting a spell. whispering to Kalika, In addition to the aura of illusion, Kalika could sense three auras of enchantment coming from the three pieces of jewelry on the body. (274) Kalika: "All three are enchanted."said Kalika obviously referring to the dead woman's jewelry "Though of course she only told us we could have the ring..."she trailed off (272) Sleeping Dragon: "Anything you want there, Father?" Maren asked (268) Skylarious: "No, no," said the priest, looking slightly ill as he watched the body from a safe distance. "We may have to disturb some of the dead for important evidence, but this seems inessential." (274) Kalika: Kalika pointed at the ring and cast the same spell she had used on the mound before. Slowly the ring slid off the corpse's finger and flew through the air to Kalika's hand. (272) Sleeping Dragon: "Best to put her back then, if she wanted us to have the other trinkets she'd have told us," said Maren. Maren closed the coffin and lifted it to put it back into the dirt. (268) Skylarious: The ring at first felt like ordinary silver. Then Kalika felt a flicker of warmth, like a candle. Then the warmth grew stronger and more constant. It was a comforting feeling, unlike the fever she had been experiencing. (274) Kalika: "It's pleasantly warm..."said Kalika closely looking at the ring for a few seconds before handing it over to Andrew for checking (268) Skylarious: Andrew took the ring and turned it over in his hands. "Odd. You are right, it was warm when you handed it to me, but now it's gotten cold." He closed his eyes and whispered a few prayers to Heshuxen. "I feel... a spirit bound to the ring, and the power of bonding. I don't sense any malevolent power. But I think the spirit has bonded to you somehow, Kalika, judging by the warmth." (268) Skylarious: He held the ring back out for her. (271) Hokulani (exit): 15:33 (274) Kalika: Kalika nodded slightly and took the ring silently. (268) Skylarious: The warmth immediately reappeared. (274) Kalika: "If you say there is no malevolence...I trust your judgement."said Kalika before wearing the ring (272) Sleeping Dragon: Maren put the coffin back in the ground and began to push the earth back over it. whispering to Kalika, A moment after putting on the ring, Kalika began to hear faint words. They grew louder, and she recognized the voice of the ghostly young woman, speaking in Anthraleb. Her voice grew louder, and slowly it changed, until Kalika heard the words in Privan. "Thank you, Kalika. I am Mayalan. It is good to be out of that dank tomb." (274) Kalika: Something within Kalika seemed to have changed after she put on the ring. "I...hear her."she said
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Post by skyman on Jun 5, 2011 19:24:52 GMT
(810) Skylarious: The clearing was now gloomy and silent, save for the adventurers. "I... hear her," Kalika said. whispering to Kalika, "We can get out of here, together," said the voice softly. (807) Kalika: (whispering): "Can we Mayalan? How?"thought Kalika still slightly surprised, obviously not yet fully accustomed to the girl's presence in her mind (810) Skylarious: "Er, shall we go back to the road?" said Andrew. whispering to Kalika, There was a pause before the reply. "We can... find an opening." (811) Hokulani: Hoku nodded slowly (809) Sleeping Dragon: Maren finished scooping the earth back onto the coffin. "Can you understand what she's saying?" he asked Kalika (807) Kalika: "Yes, pretty clearly - I hear her just fine. "replied Kalika (807) Kalika: (whispering): "What kind of opening...?" whispering to Kalika, "An... hour opening." Mayalan's voice sounded a bit frustrated with her attempts to communicate. (811) Hokulani: Hoku glanced at Kalika with a hint of surprise in her eyes before heading back toward the road (810) Skylarious: The group moved back to the cobblestone lane and the bright illusion reappeared. Birds sang and small fountain statues made the pleasant sounds of water. After a few minutes of walking, they could see stone buildings ahead among bright pink cherry blossom trees, and they could hear the murmur of numerous voices. (807) Kalika: (whispering): "'Hour opening?'" Kalika seemed not to understand hat Mayalan meant "Could you rephrase that?" she thought kindly, not wanting to worsen her frustration whispering to Kalika, "A... time opening. A door in time, I think." (811) Hokulani: "These voices of dead as well?" She told others as Hoku considered these stone buildings. (810) Skylarious: The buildings seemed larger than any they had seen in the region, their flat stone tops visible above the trees, but they were mostly obscured. (807) Kalika: Kalika looked around absent-mindendly, obviously focused on something else. (809) Sleeping Dragon: Maren drew his sword again. "In all likelihood." (810) Skylarious: The lane curved after entering the treeline, so they couldn't see where it led. (807) Kalika: (whispering): "A door in time? That sounds amazing, if a bit...worrying. And to where and when would it lead to?" Kalika was obviously very interested, though there was an undercurrent of worry in her, as if she didn't want to stress the girl too much with her curiosity (811) Hokulani: Hoku readies her spear once more, looking at the treeline with suspiciousness. "Keep going?" whispering to Kalika, "I do not know. I must escape this place." (809) Sleeping Dragon: Maren kept walking (810) Skylarious: They entered the trees. The branches above made the light speckled, and the blossoms smelled pleasantly of spring. As they got closer to the voices they could make out the same language they had heard from the apparitions earlier. (810) Skylarious: There were many speakers, male and female whispering to Kalika, Kalika could make some of the words out, although there were too many talking at once for clarity. "Worship... service... book... tomorrow morning... the ball game..." (807) Kalika: (whispering): "Do you know what this place is? We..from our side of things, thousands of years have passed since your time. We came here to see what was left of your people. I would be happy to help you return to your time if there is indeed a way but...I'm sorry."said Kalika, trying somehow to get Maya to accept her current condition, unpleasant as it could have been (807) Kalika: Kalika focused on the voices for a moment (807) Kalika: (whispering): "Maybe if you help us understand what happened here it could help your return."she added as if to give some hope " Can you tell me what the voices I'm hearing mean?" whispering to Kalika, "I cannot go home. I know. But I must escape from here," said Maya plaintively. She paused. "The voices are... jumbled. But it sounds like they are waiting to enter the temple for service." (807) Kalika: "Something...about entering a temple for worship."said Kalika to the others, slowly. (810) Skylarious: Andrew lit up at that, and began to move forward eagerly. (809) Sleeping Dragon: Maren glanced at Brother Andrew for a moment, and as Andrew moved forward, went to follow him (807) Kalika: Kalika let the eidolon walk in front of her as they followed the others (811) Hokulani: Narrowing her eyes at these buildings, she nodded at Kalika, "That is useful!" as she went on to following them (810) Skylarious: They passed through the trees and came to an open space. There were two buildings, one as large as the manors of the great lords of the west, three stories tall, perhaps a thousand feet by four hundred, but simple and unadorned save for a few figures carved in relief, life size men with forked beards and women with flowing hair, each holding a different ritual object, a staff or a dagger or a bundle of grapes. "The gods," whispered Andrew. The other building was smaller, but still larger than any building in this region. It was circular in shape, perhaps three hundred feet in diameter, with only abstract designs for decoration. People milled about, dressed like the apparitions earlier, chatting pleasantly with each other. Two played a strange game on the green lawn, hitting a small feathered ball with a wooden paddle, back and forth over some sort of net. Among the people moved strange creatures, gray, squat (about two feet tall), two legged things with spindly arms and bulbous heads. They would approach the people and reach out with razor sharp teeth to bite them in the leg or buttocks. The people did not seem to notice, and there was no blood nor tear in clothing, but when the creature withdrew the person would seem fainter, more insubstantial for a moment. One of the gray creatures noticed the approaching adventurers and stared at them with wide yellow eyes before running off. The others noticed its flight and followed. The people in front of the buildings noticed nothing. whispering to Kalika, "Spirit feeders..." whispered Maya. "Do not let me near them." (807) Kalika: "Spirit feeders."said Kalika uneasily (810) Skylarious: edit: before running off to the adventurers' right, into the trees. (807) Kalika: (whispering): "I shall do my best not to. Should we...destroy them? "asked Kalika worriedly "Are they pests, monsters or something your people lived with...?" (809) Sleeping Dragon: "So what shall we do then?" Maren asked. "You can probably learn all about your gods just by standing here, these spirits don't seem to notice us," he said to Andrew. whispering to Kalika, "I do not know what they are or where they come from. But they would visit us by our graves and drain from us. My parents never noticed, and I only seldom did. They left scars in my soul..." (811) Hokulani: Pointing in the general direction where spirit feeders ran off, "Spirit feeders, what are they?" (810) Skylarious: "Well, we must enter the tempe, of course!" said Andrew, pointing at the larger building. "There may be knowledge there that..." he trailed off. (807) Kalika: "I'd deal with these ...things...first." said Kalika sounding eager to destroy the creatures (810) Skylarious: edit: temple (810) Skylarious: Suddenly a great gong sounded once. The people on the lawn began to finish their conversations and head into the temple. The game players tossed their paddles aside and followed. (809) Sleeping Dragon: "Into the temple then I suppose," said Maren as the people began to head into the temple. "There's no point running after them now. The only spirits they'll have to feed on will be going into the temple." (807) Kalika: "Hopefully you are right. "said Kalika "But next time we see them, we shouldn't give them a chance to escape." (811) Hokulani: Hoku nodded in agreement with Kalika as she is ready to follow them into the Temple (810) Skylarious: The group followed the people into the temple. The great archway had no door. Beyond it was a long hall with marble floors, flanked with many rooms. Some had open wooden doors, and they could see men with shaved heads sitting in meditation or prayer. Andrew glanced with interest at the devotional items inside, incense and figurines and ritual bowls filled with scented water, but continued to follow the crowd down the hall. Other doors seemed to lead into secondary halls, but they passed them by. Finally they reached a great circular room with mats arranged around a pedestal in the center. On the pedestal stood a tall and stern bearded man in a white robe. The people began to arrange themselves around him and sit cross legged on the mats, and he turned from side to side to watch his disciples. (810) Skylarious: There were only a couple of dozen people, but there were enough mats for a few hundred. (810) Skylarious: Light filtered into the room from windows in the high ceiling. (807) Kalika: Kalika muttered something and cast a spell of detection, expecting to find something relevant. "Nothing."she muttered "Other than the illusions..." (809) Sleeping Dragon: Maren stood and watched, feeling slightly ridiculous as he was highly unaccustomed to being unnoticed. He experimentally prodded one of the mats with his foot, suspecting another illusion (811) Hokulani: Hoku looked around, clearly uncomfortable to be in this kind of building and ghost whispering to Sleeping Dragon, Maren could see that the windows above were oddly insubstantial, as were most of the people, but the building itself and the man on the pedestal looked solid to him. whispering to Sleeping Dragon, He also saw the man glance his way briefly and react with slight surprise before turning back to his worshipers. (810) Skylarious: The man on the pedestal began to chant in Old Anthraleb, turning round and round to look at his disciples. (810) Skylarious: "On this day we gather to... give glory to the gods who have... bestowed our... something," said Andrew as he attempted to translate. whispering to Kalika, Kalika had understood the phrase, and know that the last word Andrew couldn't translate was "power." (809) Sleeping Dragon: "Can you tell us what you're chanting?" Maren asked the man on the pedestal conversationally. "And what are you doing here? This is a fucking strange place to hang around in." (807) Kalika: "Power."said Kalika translating "It is...power." (811) Hokulani: Hoku frowned thoughtfully... (810) Skylarious: The man turned toward the group and glared at Maren. "You are bold," he said in the common tongue, his voice deep and raspy. "I am surprised, elf-kind. But boldness is the cousin of foolishness. I will give you this one chance to leave my realm, or you shall be food like these hapless souls." (807) Kalika: (whispering): "I...assume this isn't how your priests were supposed to behave..." whispering to Kalika, "No... He is strange. He is not one of us." (809) Sleeping Dragon: "You're not dead like these hapless souls, but I can change that," Maren replied. "Who are you?" (810) Skylarious: The man grinned, and his mouth opened wider than seemed physically possible. His teeth were long and shiny white. "I am the shepherd of this flock. I keep their spirits from eternal destruction, and in turn they sustain me and my kin. You should not upset such balance. Not that you could, but I have little desire to feed on you... the freshly dead taste of too much blood and bile." (810) Skylarious: The people seemed to have noticed the group now, and they were looking back and forth from them to the priest with confusion on their faces. (807) Kalika: "Your 'kin'?" said Kalika with disdain "The beings outside are your servants?" (809) Sleeping Dragon: "I am sadly very adept at upsetting balance. Do you know what happened to this place?" (810) Skylarious: "My brothers and sisters and friends. We work in cooperation, unlike these once-human fools who will follow anyone who shouts loudly enough at them," he responded to Kalika. At Maren: "Nothing has happened here. Things have been the same since my ancestors of countless generations ago found innumerable souls soon to eternally perish, and saved a few. Now life goes on for them... well as close to life as they can get. Ha!" His laugh was like a braying donkey but with a low rumble beneath it. (809) Sleeping Dragon: "So your ancestors invaded this place and took it over?" (810) Skylarious: "Invaded? Now that is a sly elf word to make our shepherding seem villainous. I should kill you where you stand. You are already upsetting my flock. But I give you one last chance to leave." (809) Sleeping Dragon: "That's the second one chance you've given me. What do you know about gods?" (811) Hokulani: Hoku narrowed her eyes with troublesome annoyance, she glanced at the others wondering. (810) Skylarious: The man's grin had turned into a contorted grimace. "I know that if they exist you shall soon meet them. I do not think I will let your soul remain... my flock shall tear you apart." He gestured and spoke in Old Anthraleb. "Wicked ones," translated Andrew. "Invaders. De-destroy them!" The people rose up as if in a trance and charged toward the group, screaming wordlessly. The priest was chanting, and the people seemed to glow with a sickly light that had not been present before. whispering to Kalika, "I can stop them!" urged Maya. "But you must let me in deeper!" Kalika could feel Maya's presence trying to enter further into her mind. (807) Kalika: (whispering): Kalika sounded wary - afraid, even - for a moment, but she lowered her mental barriers and let Maya in. (810) Skylarious: The priest leaned forward and grasped his chest. He began to warp and change, growing larger, his skin gray, his head and torso bulbous, his teeth long and sharp, his arms spindly. His robes tore, and hung loosely over his form, a nine foot tall version of the Spirit Feeders they had seen earlier. He hopped off the pedestal and took a few steps back on his stork-like legs. (810) Skylarious: Clusters of worshipers rushed forward, screaming. A few punched and kicked at Hoku, fearless of her weapon, but couldn't get through her armor, while others attacked the eidolon ineffectively. whispering to Kalika, Kalika felt Maya's presence spread from her brain through her body. It was not a controlling presence, but she felt the tug of Maya's will, wanting her to raise the arm with the ring, and to speak Maya's words. (810) Skylarious: Kalika raised her ringed hand toward the nearest cluster of worshipers. She spoke, and her voice had a strange layering to it, like two voices speaking in unison. The words were in Old Anthraleb. The people began to falter, suddenly realizing what they were doing and where they were. The sickly light in them began to fade. whispering to Kalika, "By Yanetha, look into your hearts, feel her guidance! Awake!" (809) Sleeping Dragon: seeing one of the crowds pacified, Maren moved towards another and swung his sword in a broad arc at the spirits. As the blade cut through them, their bodies resisted like water rather than flesh. Their body parts detached and floated away in the air like flower petals on the wind, and the sickly light drained out of them (807) Kalika: The Eidolon advanced slowly and carefully, trying to avoid hurting or being hurt by the crowd, its sight set on the spirit feeder (811) Hokulani: Hoku gestured and muttered some words and instantly the spirit feeders is sourrounded by stars but alas, it does not make a difference for him.
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Post by skyman on Jun 5, 2011 23:29:34 GMT
(23) Skylarious: Seeing many of its minions fall under the sway of Kalika or under the blade of Maren, the Spirit Feeder gave a hiss-growl of frustration and ran around the pedestal toward the group, moving with amazing speed on its spindly legs. (23) Skylarious: The crowds (other than the one affected by Kalika) advanced on Maren and the eidolon. Ghostly hands bounced ineffectively off of Maren's plate armor as he shoved away the screaming "people". A dozen men and women swarmed onto the eidolon, though, latching onto it and weighing it down. (26) Kalika: Again, Kalika rose her hand and spoke in Old Anthraleb to the attacking crowd, her voice still echoing preternaturally as if she was possessed. (26) Kalika: edit: to the attacking crowd -> 'to the crowd surrounding her Eidolon' (23) Skylarious: The ghostly group almost immediately responded to Kalika's words, loosening their grips on the eidolon and stumbling back. They blinked and gasped as if awakening from a bad dream. (26) Kalika: Now freed from the grasp of the mob, the Eidolon attacked the Spirit Feeder savagely, but only struck once, tearing a gash in the thing's 'flesh' and shedding no blood but showing it to be hollow. (22) Sleeping Dragon: ignoring the blows of the flock, Maren stepped up to the Spirit Feeder and slashed at it with his sword, but swung wide (23) Skylarious: Hoku chanted words and looked upward, then with renewed vigor moved toward the Spirit Feeder. (23) Skylarious: The Feeder leapt toward the eidolon with anger blazing in its wide yellow eyes. It bit into the summoned creature's shoulder, leeching from its connection to the spirit world. At the same time it jabbed its fingers into the eidolon's chest, and short but deadly sharp claws extended like switchblades into it. (23) Skylarious: The pacified crowds hurried away from the battle, while the final unaffected group tried to leap at Maren and knock him down, without success. (26) Kalika: Returning to her regular self, Kalika cast a spell of haste on herself and her allies, filling them with speed and energy (26) Kalika: Though grievously injured Kalika's summoned guardian kept attacking, tearing large gashes in the Spirit Feeder body with its fangs and claws. (22) Sleeping Dragon: moving with great speed after Kalika's spell, Maren continued to hound the spirit feeder. His first swing nearly took its head off, but the creature raised an arm and Maren's sword hacked flesh from its shoulder. Maren pulled the lion-headed blade out and attacked again, but the blow went far wide. (23) Skylarious: Hoku moved to the side of the melee, spoke some words, and a cone of bright, nearly blinding colors burst forth from her fingertips toward the Feeder. The creature gave a bellowing laugh and ignored her spell. (23) Skylarious: The Spirit Feeder, with pieces of its empty body hanging loose from the cuts, backed away while swinging its long arms and snapping its teeth at the eidolon. It struck the summoned being, but Kalika used her own inner strength to keep it standing, though she was weakened. (31) KDL (enter): 13:45 (31) KDL: Disconnecting from server... (31) KDL (exit): 13:46 (23) Skylarious: The crowd continued to leap fearlessly at Maren, and one fat man managed to knock into him with enough force to make him stagger. (26) Kalika: Kalika gestured and cast a spell, conjuring a layer of slippery, unearthly goo below the Spirit Feeder, which was however able to keep its footing. (26) Kalika: The Eidolon clawed again, tearing another chunk of skin from the Feeder and revealing more of the emptiness that was the inside of its body. (22) Sleeping Dragon: ignoring the fat man, Maren continued to rain blows down on the Feeder, trading power for accuracy in the hopes of bringing the thing down. Unfortunately Maren held back too much and it just barely kept its feet, plainly badly wounded. (23) Skylarious: Hokulani moved with the speed of Kalika's spell around the other side of the creature. She jabbed at it with her spear, but it dodged to the side and swiped her with its claw, cutting a gash in her arm. (23) Skylarious: The Spirit Feeder stayed where it was, surrounded by the party. It bit into the eidolon's shoulder and the summoned creature slumped to the stone floor. Grinning, the Feeder swiped at Maren, and one of its clawed hands managed to find a gap in his armor and pierce his flesh. (26) Kalika: Grimacing at the sight of her eidolon's fall, Kalika quickly turned to the crowd attacking Maren and called out to them again in Old Anthraleb, calming them. (22) Sleeping Dragon: Maren stepped on top of the fallen eidolon and nearly tripped over it for his trouble, his sword lashing well wide of the feeder. Swearing, Maren brought his blade back around and this time it struck true. (23) Skylarious: For the first time, as Maren's blow landed, the Spirit Feeder seemed to realize that it might lose. "Damn you, elf-k..." Its voice quieted as it seemed to deflate like a popped balloon. Its eyes and tongue disolved with a sizzle, leaving just the skin, claws, and teeth like an empty, tattered costume on the ground. The ghostly people, already pacified by Kalika, blinked in shock. The ones Maren had felled stood up and picked up their body parts from where they had floated, reattaching them casually. They began to file out of the chamber, watching the group and the dead Feeder with fear or confusion. (23) Skylarious: Father Andrew was grinning ear to ear, almost as wide as the Spirit Feeder. "You... you did it! A... amazing! I didn't think anyone could slay such a thing, but you did it!" whispering to Kalika, "Thank you, Kalika..." whispered Maya's voice in her head, as her presence receded a bit. She was still there, but no longer channeling through her. (22) Sleeping Dragon: "A pity our discussion of theology had to end this way, I still don't feel I know anything about the gods," Maren said. Reflexively he moved to wipe the blood off his sword before remembering the creatures they had been fighting had not had any blood. (23) Skylarious: "Haha, well I am sure we will find something of the gods in here! Now we must search the place." (26) Kalika: Kalika rushed to her fallenn creature and laid hands on it, magically healing the worst of its wounds and letting it regain consciousness. (26) Kalika: edit: fallenn->fallen (22) Sleeping Dragon: Maren wandered over to the pedestal, tapping it with a gauntleted fist to check that it was substantial before he examined around it (26) Kalika: Having helped the Eidolon with her spell, Kalika glanced around, looking in the direction where the ghostly people had gone for a moment (23) Skylarious: The pedestal was mostly smooth stone, but with small ridges in an intricate design running around it. Maren found that one of the ridges contained a small metal latch, hidden unless one felt around for it. It seemed as if the latch was shaped to be pulled on. (26) Kalika: (whispering): "What do you think will happen to them now, Maya?"asked Kalika earnestly whispering to Kalika, "I don't know. Perhaps they will go to their graves and peace, or perhaps they will remain, but be free. Or maybe the other Spirit Feeders will still control them... I hope not." (22) Sleeping Dragon: "There's a latch on this pedestal," Maren announced, pulling it (23) Skylarious: Immediately upon Maren's pulling the latch, the pedestal exploded. There was no flame, only concussive force and shards of rock flying out in every direction. Maren's quick reflexes allowed him to cover his face and step back to minimize the impact, but he was still battered heavily. Now the pedestal was gone, and in its place was a flight of stone steps leading down into darkness. (23) Skylarious: "Oh my!" exclaimed Andrew, running over to Maren's side. "Are you alright, good fellow?" (23) Skylarious: "Shoulda let me look," said Vaarel dispassionately. (22) Sleeping Dragon: "I've had worse," said Maren. "I didn't think that thing would trap the pedestal it was sitting on. I think we could use some patching up before we go down there." (23) Skylarious: "I wonder if it even knew," mused Andrew. "It may be a Spirit Feeder trap, or an Anthraleb trap, though I don't know if their technology could still be working after so many centuries." (26) Kalika: Kalika looked worriedly at the heavily battered and bruised Maren and shook her head, saying nothing. She walked over there and looked down at the darkness the stone steps lead to (23) Skylarious: The stairs went on beyond the view of anyone standing above them. (22) Sleeping Dragon: "That repulsive creature and its ancestors have been here for fucking centuries, I would have thought they'd have set the trap off or disabled it by now if it wasn't one of theirs. Are you going to heal us Hoku?" (23) Skylarious: Hoku moved up to Maren and grasped his hand to transfer healing energy. (23) Skylarious: After healing the bulk of his wounds, Hoku moved on to the others. (22) Sleeping Dragon: Maren glanced at Vaarel. "Would you be so kind as to lead the way? Where lies one trap, may lie many." (23) Skylarious: Vaarel nodded without expression. He lit a torch, handed it to the person behind him, and moved down the stairs cautiously, looking at each step before he moved. The stairs led to a long stone passageway, large enough for two to walk side by side comfortably. There were moldy torches on the walls, unlit. After a hundred yards or so, they reached a large iron door, wrought with images of fork-bearded guardsmen wielding halberds. Vaarel moved up to examine the doors and found a strange, square shaped "keyhole". (22) Sleeping Dragon: "Anthraleb images?" Maren asked Father Andrew, curious to see if he recognised the image (26) Kalika: Kalika walked behind the others, casting interested glances at the images over the others' shoulders (23) Skylarious: "Yes, it seems so, though I've never seen anything quite like it," whispered Andrew. "Except for traditional battle scenes, humans are rarely depicted with weapons." (23) Skylarious: "Hmmm, doors would do some'n dangerous if I hadn't turned off the mechanism," muttered Vaarel as he rooted around in the hole with a metal tool. There was a click, and the doors swung inward. Inside was a chamber illuminated by the steady purplish glow of a large glass orb suspended from the ceiling. The walls were lined with tapestries, each with faded but still visible scenes of gods, battles, betrayals, sacrifices, and childbirth. Statues flanked the walls. "Each of the gods..." said Andrew. "But there's one I don't recognize," he added, pointing to the only figure not standing, a thin man in a conical straw had sitting cross-legged, an elbow resting on his leg and his chin resting on his fist. In the center of the room was a rectangular pedestal, about eight feet long, four wide, and three tall, covered in rich purple cloth. The tapestry directly behind the pedestal seemed to show a ritual being performed on the pedestal itself, chanting and burning candles. whispering to Kalika, "It is here," said Maya. "Here you can open the door in time and free me!" (23) Skylarious: *straw hat (26) Kalika: (whispering): "How? The ritual, perhaps...?" (22) Sleeping Dragon: "It's a shame Amar isn't here, he knows about gods." (26) Kalika: Kalika turned around to look at the chamber in wonder, and then stood still as if focusing on herself. (26) Kalika: Kalika chanted and gestured around the room, trying to detect magical energies. (23) Skylarious: "Amar? You will have to tell me about him," said Andrew, though for now he was distracted by going up to examine the sitting statue. whispering to Kalika, A magical aura of enchantment came from the orb above, and a stronger one of conjuration from the pedestal. (22) Sleeping Dragon: "Amar is my oldest son, he's a priest of Balxo. (22) Sleeping Dragon: Maren went over to examine the image of the mysterious god (26) Kalika: "There is magic at work there" said Kalika pointing at the orb and pedestal (23) Skylarious: Andrew looked up at Maren. "I forget how an elf who looks still young can have a grown son! It is good that you raised him to be a pious man." The sitting statue had a smile on his face, and his delicately carved eyes had a sense of mirth to them, but also a stranger element, as if the statue itself were carefully watching Maren and Andrew. whispering to Kalika, "I do not know, but perhaps. You must try!" said Maya. (26) Kalika: Kalika walked over to the tapestry behind the pedestal and examined it closely and carefully (22) Sleeping Dragon: "I didn't raise him, the priests of Balxo did that for me. It was more than fair as one of them had just saved both of our lives, I wouldn't know the first thing about raising a child anyway, especially not a half-human child." (26) Kalika: (whispering): "Don't worry, I should be able to do this..." (23) Skylarious: Andrew looked a little sad at that. "Well, the most important thing is that he was raised well. But I hope you see your son." (26) Kalika: "Candles, candles..."muttered Kalika examining the tapestry (22) Sleeping Dragon: "Well I've been trying to find him, that's why I asked you about priests of Balxo when we first met. Amar doesn't stay in one place very long, he takes after me. I'd be very careful around that pedestal, Kalika, if the last one we came across was any indication." (23) Skylarious: Andrew smiled. "Yes, sons are so often like their fathers. I will do my best to help you find him when we are done with this." He turned to Kalika. "Candles? I have a few, for my reading," said Andrew. "But it seems bright enough in here." (26) Kalika: "I've got a hunch." replied Kalika "Could you hand some to me? I might be able to perform the ritual portrayed on the tapestry. Though they might not be necessary." (23) Skylarious: "Are you... sure that's wise? The Anthralebs may have been pious people, and the ritual would not be evil, but... they dealt in powerful magics." He did reach into his back to get some candles for her, though. (26) Kalika: "It's for a good cause."said Kalika, not sounding overtly worried "Do stand back while I try, though. Just in case." she added (22) Sleeping Dragon: Maren stepped back, sword drawn and shield ready (23) Skylarious: Kalika began to chant in her own language, slowly placing three candles side-by-side, and lighting each with a word. The purple light seemed to play strange tricks, making the first flame a deep red, the second a rich green, the third a bright blue. Kalika walked around the pedestal three times, continuing her chant, and as she did so the candles gave off colored smoke, which interwove to create a tall archway of purplish mist. Through the mist they could vaguely make out a path, and figures like trees, or perhaps people with arms raised. whispering to Kalika, "Yes... I am trapped there," said Maya. "But be cautious if you enter. I have wandered lost for so long myself." (26) Kalika: (whispering): "There! I did it!"said Kalika slightly elated "Shall I go in to accompany you? Will I be able to go back?"she asked, as if the Maya last thoughts had worried her somewhat whispering to Kalika, "I do not think you need go in far, but I cannot escape myself. If there is a way for you to ensure you can find the door again..." (23) Skylarious: "W-what is it?" exclaimed Andrew. "It looks like another world through there..." (26) Kalika: "I shall attempt to go there and bring Maya...the girl we buried before...back home. I hope I can get back myself. I do not know if you can or should follow me - probably not."said Kalika sounding slightly nervous now (23) Skylarious: "Go in? By the gods..." (22) Sleeping Dragon: "What is that place? The land of the dead?" whispering to Kalika, "Not all the dead are there. Only some of us," said Maya. "But I am close. I can feel the door within yards of me." (26) Kalika: "I think it's the resting place of the Anthralebs."Kalika was a silent for a moment "But I cannot say I'm sure. Still, I must try." (26) Kalika: edit: change the first sentence to "It might be the afterlife of the Anthralebs, or their ancestral home or...I don't really know." (23) Skylarious: "Then be cautious," said Andrew solemnly. "Try to keep in sight of the door. I will go with you if you wish." (26) Kalika: "Your help would be welcome, but I cannot promise you we would be able to return."said Kalika sounding like she deeply appreciated the offer. Taking a few steps towards the archway, she put her ringed hand through it to see if she could feel anything. whispering to Kalika, She could feel only cool mist, and as soon as her hand went through, she could no longer feel Maya's presence in the ring. (23) Skylarious: Andrew moved up, smiling bravely, and grasped Kalika's other hand for support. (22) Sleeping Dragon: "How long should we wait for you? I don't suppose it would do any good to put a rope around you to pull you out in case." (26) Kalika: Kalika chuckled softly, though it could just have been an attempt to send the anxiety "I doubt ropes and otherwordly magical portals go well together." (26) Kalika: Kalika slowly and cautiously stepped through. (23) Skylarious: "Better to be cautious, though," said Andrew. He gestured to Vaarel, who handed him one end of a rope, and stepped in with Kalika, still holding her hand. whispering to Kalika, They were immediately engulfed in mist, and could see nothing beyond their faces except the shadowy tree-figures, which were too obscured to make good landmarks. Kalika heard faint cries in Old Anthraleb, which she could no longer understand... except that she heard her own name. Fumbling forward, she heard the cries grow louder, and suddenly felt another hand grasp her ringed finger, a delicate female hand. The girl spoke. "She is saying... 'You found me, you found me,'" translated Andrew. They turned, and could see the door nowhere, but they used the rope to guide them, and found themselves in the chamber once more. (23) Skylarious: Andrew and Kalika returned through the archway, dripping slightly from the mist, and behind them stumbled... a young woman of about twenty, the same girl whose shade they had seen before by the graves. She was naked, dark haired and pale skinned. She was wide eyed, but immediately gave a little shriek when she noticed that she was unclothed around others. She leapt off the pedestal and pulled the purple cloth off of it, sending the candles to the ground. The smoky arch disappeared. She wrapped the cloth around herself, and gazed around at the group. (22) Sleeping Dragon: "So you step through an archway and return with a nubile young naked woman? These Anthralebs must not have needed brothels." (23) Skylarious: "Are you calling me a... wait. I can understand your tongue," said the girl in heavily accented common, her consonants overpronounced. "And... I'm... alive?" She held up her hand to look at it, amazed by its tangibility. (22) Sleeping Dragon: "Are you certain it's only Anthralebs you can return from the dead through that archway?" (26) Kalika: "Not exactly what I expected, either." Kalika smiled softly at the girl (23) Skylarious: "I was lost there, in that mist, but I do not think all the dead are there. I met only a few, so I cannot say for certain." She spoke as if still in shock. She sat down on the pedestal, holding her makeshift garment together with one hand, and touched her shoulder-length hair. "It has not grown since I died..." (26) Kalika: "I thought I would either bring you back to your time a living woman, or the afterlife of your people."mused Kalika, speaking slowly as if not wanting to overwhelm her with too much talk after such as shocking event "I certainly did not expect you to come back...alive. Quite a surprise, isn't it?" (23) Skylarious: "The memories between my end and now are already fading. My old life is coming back to me... There was the poison in the air, and... oh gods, Dawyn died before me. Dawyn is dead, and instead of him I come back to leering elves!" (22) Sleeping Dragon: "Leering elf, there's only one of me," Maren corrected her. (23) Skylarious: "I wouldn't be surprised if there were more hiding behind you, with my luck recently. Well, I suppose recently might be the wrong term... over the last few centuries." (22) Sleeping Dragon: "That's one way of looking at your luck. Another is that yesterday you were enslaved by creatures that ate your soul for dinner and today you're alive and free." (26) Kalika: "Indeed, as surprises go, I'm not so sure this should be counted among the bad ones." (23) Skylarious: She paused. "True enough. And I should thank you. You killed the king of those beasts." She stood and moved over to give each of them a soft kiss on the cheek, seemingly an Anthraleb ritualistic gesture. "I am Maya. Thank you all."
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Post by skyman on Jun 12, 2011 21:37:28 GMT
(282) Skylarious: Mayalan had just given each of the companions a light kiss on the cheek as thanks. She embraced Kalika before stepping back to survey them all. "I do hope I didn't come across too ghostly or mysterious before. Being dead has a way of sapping your sense of humor." The shock had already faded from her face. She was pretty, though more in the way of youthful peasant girls, with some strength to her and a red-cheeked round face, rather than the slender elegance associated with the ancients in art. (283) Hokulani: Hoku looked at her with a hint of surprise, "No... But it is nice to have another friend..." She smiled for a moment. (282) Skylarious: Maya smiled back. "Things have changed. You all dress like characters in a play. And your skin tones are different than I've ever seen. Except for you, elf. Oddly enough you look the most familiar, though I'd never seen one of your kind in person. Armor, at least, hasn't changed too much." She paused for a moment. "Are you going to introduce yourselves? That custom hasn't changed, has it?" (281) Sleeping Dragon: "Maren of Liriel," said Maren, removing his helm. (283) Hokulani: Hokulani introduced herself, "Hokulani of Snow Bear" (288) Kalika: Though obviously pleased, Kalika said nothing, probably busy thinking over the implications of what had happened in the last minutes. (289) Skylarious: "F... Father Andrew of the Order of Heshuxen." The priest still sounded more shocked than Maya. "Vaarel," grunted Vaarel. Maya gave a little bow to them all, carefully holding up the cloth that covered her. "Kalika, I know you already," she said, smiling. "I am formally called Mayalan Enrathalielo Biyaban Quenn. Based on your names, I imagine it sounds long. Well, it sounded long back then as well, so I go by Maya Quenn." (289) Skylarious: "What are you doing in these ruins, might I ask? It is fortuitous, of course." (281) Sleeping Dragon: "He is seeking information about your gods," Maren indicated Father Andrew. "Of course searching for such higher mysteries is not necessarily incompatible with seeking gold and treasure." (289) Skylarious: "Gold and treasure sounds more appealing to me, personally. But I suppose someone has to care about the gods, and priests keep the rest of us from having to worry about it." Andrew gaped. Maya added: "Does anyone have some spare clothes, by the way? Or something to sew this up? If I'm going to be digging for treasure with you all, I'd rather not worry about you seeing my arse." (281) Sleeping Dragon: "I have extra clothes in my saddlebags," said Maren. "We'll have to go back to the horses." 281) Sleeping Dragon: "They'll be too large for you but will serve, I can render them arseless if that's your choice." (281) Sleeping Dragon: edit: will serve until we're back to Stragglecat (288) Kalika: "Didn't expect you to be the treasure-hunting type."said Kalika, amused. "Are you sure you want to come with us, though? It is dangerous, and it's not like I could bring you back again if anything happened..."Kalika trailed off, now more serious (289) Skylarious: Maya grinned. "Oh, I like you. You're a lecher, but a funny lecher. Let's go then, if it's alright with you." Andrew protested. "Can... can you at least tell me of this statue?" He pointed to the sitting man, the one he had been unable to identify.
Maya raised her eyebrows. "You've never heard of Boroso? He is the god of drugs and drinks. She how thoughtful he looks? He is obviously having some sort of drug experience." Andrew turned to stare at the statue with horror. Maya winked at the others and stifled a little laughter. Finally she said "Sorry, father, I don't want to torture you. Boroso is supposedly the first human being, who was once a brother to the gods but was cast out because they were jealous of him, something like that. I never quite understood why we worshipped gods that threw us out of heaven, so I can't say I bothered to learn many details." (289) Skylarious: She turned to Kalika. "I'm afraid you didn't get a very... accurate view of my personality in your head, Kalika. I wasn't in my usual state of mind. And you saw me before when I was preparing for my wedding. I was willing to settle down for Dawyn. But he's gone." She looked back at the altar. "I don't think he was in the same realm as I was. I would have sensed him, and found him." (281) Sleeping Dragon: "It's an odd human idea that, gods. You're usually a more sensible people than elves but when it comes to this idea of gods..." Maren spread his hands. "I'm sorry for your loss. Was Dawyn one of the two you were with earlier, who objected to me so strenuously?" (289) Skylarious: "No, those were my parents. Foolish, stubborn people, but I loved them... I wish I had replayed some memory with Dawyn, though. He was just a crafter's apprentice, but... Nevermind, now is not the time." (289) Skylarious: Andrew had looked away from the statue. He was shaken, but had gathered himself. "I wish he were the god of drugs..." he muttered. (281) Sleeping Dragon: "Just a crafter's apprentice? Does your lengthy name signify nobility then?" Maren turned to Father Andrew. "I'd not have thought you the type Father, life is full of surprises." (283) Hokulani: Hoku shook her head, "Do not understand gods... Shall we move on?" (288) Kalika: "That is sad. "said Kalika "Dawyn and your parents, I mean. Though I congratulate you for taking things so well, considering all that has happened. Hopefully there is a place for you in this world, too." (289) Skylarious: Andrew blinked. "What? No, I meant... Nevermind. Yes, let's get out of here." As they walked, Maya responded to Maren. "No, no. But before him I'd only been interested in great warriors and scholars. And they'd been interested in me, or at least had been willing to buy me some expensive things, and give me a fuck. Dawyn I could have actually imagined living with." Her tone was light, but there was some strain in her voice. She squeezed Kalika's arm gently. "I hope so too. But if I find it all terrible and kill myself, at least I'll know what to expect afterward." (288) Kalika: "Something is wrong...?"Kalika asked Father Andrew, concerned with his reaction to Boroso (291) FOTSGreg (enter): 13:26 (291) FOTSGreg: Disconnecting from server... (291) FOTSGreg (exit): 13:26 (289) Skylarious: "He is... Well, it is a different story of humanity's role. If what she says is true, it calls into question the importance and morality of the gods. But I am sure there is more to the story." Maya gave him a pat on the shoulder. "Well, if it's any consolation, your friend Heshuxen comes across the best in the stories I've heard. When the other gods are being blathering idiots, he tells them so." (289) Skylarious: They made their way up the stairs and to the great chamber where they had fought the Spirit Feeder. Maya glared at the empty skin on the ground. "I think I'll take that, so I can hang it up somewhere and use it for target practice." (281) Sleeping Dragon: "I've a bow if you want it," Maren offered. (289) Skylarious: Maya nodded. "I can shoot well enough. That will do for now." They moved on through the hallway. The spirits were absent. Maya ducked into each room, and eventually found some pins which she used to fasten her cloth into a robe. "I can wait on other clothes, if you prefer. Have you investigated the Imperial Office, yet? The smaller round building?" (281) Sleeping Dragon: "No. Imperial? Which empire?" (281) Sleeping Dragon: edit: ignore (281) Sleeping Dragon: "No, we came straight in here." (288) Kalika: "We thought the spirit feeders warranted investigation."Kalika shuddered "I wonder if the spirits will simply dissolve now or if they are back to...whatever they'do without the feeders being around." (289) Skylarious: "Well if you're looking for treasure, that's where to go. I don't know if it's still there, but there should be a vault, and perhaps other things worth taking in the offices of the governor and other officials. They won't need it now, in any case." She nodded to Kalika. "I'd like to kill those little bastards if we get a chance." (288) Kalika: edit: change Kalika shuddered to 'Kalika said sounding worried' (281) Sleeping Dragon: "We only killed the largest spirit feeder, the others may still be around," said Maren. "Let's examine this Imperial Office then." (288) Kalika: "It wouldn't surprise me if the vault was trapped or had wards or something like that."said Kalika as they walked (289) Skylarious: They exited the temple. The spirits were all gone, and the Feeders were nowhere in sight. The healthy trees had been replaced by stumps and twisted, sickly bushes. The green lawn had become gray. They moved over to the round building, which was patterened with intricate, abstract designs. Maya led the way in, though she stayed close to Maren and his weaponry. The large door frame had no door. Before them was a hallway curving off to their left and right, apparently tracing the circular outline of the building. Directly ahead was a rotting wooden door. They glanced inside, but there were only remnants of a desk. "The office of the secretary..." said Maya. She led them off to the left, glancing in further doors, but everything was empty save for bits of furniture and a couple of piles of moldering bones. Maya showed little expression. "These people are responsible for my death, and most everyone else's. The plague was only going to affect the spellcasters, but the governor and his men here tried to find a way to stop it magically, and unleashed worse." In the last room on the other side of the building they found a stairway leading up, and another down. "Up will be to the governor's office, down to the vault." (281) Sleeping Dragon: "Vaarel, check for traps," said Maren, indicating the stairs down (288) Kalika: Looking at the sick, twisted vegetation and desolate land, Kalika gestured and cast a spell to detect magic - or the lack of it. (289) Skylarious: Vaarel did so, and Maya joined him. They made their way down the stairs cautiously, and quickly reached a large, plain iron door. Maya and Vaarel looked at it together, consulting about the mechanism. (289) Skylarious: After a couple of minutes, they managed to bypass the lock, but the door still wouldn't open. "I think it has a magical lock as well. These usually need a spell of the right school to be cast at the door, but I don't know which school..." (288) Kalika: Kalika got closer and tried to get a good glance glance at the lock, in case there was anything that might be done about it. (288) Kalika: "I... guess I could try random spells."said Kalika not sounding very convinced of her own words "Although that could go horribly wrong if the lock reacts in some way to unsuccesseful attempts." (289) Skylarious: "I'll make sure to stand behind Maren, so he takes the brunt of any explosion," said Maya. (283) Hokulani: Huko glanced at the door warily (281) Sleeping Dragon: "I've taken the brunt of one explosion already today, I think that's enough," said Maren, stepping back (288) Kalika: "Tired...don't think I can do anything too significant..."said Kalika. She gestured and chanted, trying to detect something about the lock, but she did not seem particularly pleased with what she found out. (289) Skylarious: Kalika immediately felt a spark of energy jump from the lock to her body. It gave her a painful jolt but she remained standing. (288) Kalika: edit: remove the part after 'something about the lock' (288) Kalika: Kalika winced but did not relent, and tried another spell (289) Skylarious: The door swung open immediately. Inside was a room about twenty by twenty feet across, of plain stone. Against the far wall were three large iron chests, and against the left and right walls were tall iron racks lined with weaponry, armor, and decorative objects. (289) Skylarious: Most of the items were rusted, but some retained a sheen like they were newly forged. (289) Skylarious: Maya grinned. "I'd wondered what was in here... it took me a long time to find out, but now there aren't even any imperial agents to imprison me for it." (288) Kalika: "Careful, there could be othet traps." Kalika warned her (281) Sleeping Dragon: "The Meyids may revive that tradition if they can take over this area, I imagine they'd want this for their armies." (289) Skylarious: Maya nodded and stepped inside, checking the floor cautiously. As she approached one of the weapon racks, they all suddenly heard a strange sound, like hundreds of snakes hissing at once. They turned, and saw that a wave of little Spirit Feeders was rushing down the stairs, hatred in their eyes.
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Post by skyman on Jun 26, 2011 22:45:03 GMT
(13525) Sleeping Dragon: Maren moved towards the stairs and slashed out at the spirit feeders, sword tracing a broad arc, but he wasn't able to land a blow (13526) Skylarious: Maya grabbed a short sword from the racks, one of the few weapons that showed no signs of rust, and ran over beside Maren. She stabbed one of the Feeders but did little damage. (13522) Kalika: Kalika took a few steps towards the corridor and cast her hasting spell, enhancing the party's speed and agility. (13531) Hokulani: Hoku sprint toward Maren and touched him, muttering in some languages as if it in some blessing. Hoku then told him quickly, "You now got strength like Snow Bear..." (13531) Hokulani: edit: some starry patterns surrounded Maren (13522) Kalika: Kalika's summoned guardian moved beside Hokulani to block the corridor, snarling and growling menacingly at the approaching feeders (13526) Skylarious: Some of the Spirit Feeders seemed to compress, flattening themselves to a thickness little greater than a sheet of parchment, and tried to slip through the combatants. Maren cleaved one in twain, and Hoku and Maya stabbed into another, but some made it through to the back of the fighting, where they reverted to normal size. The feeders bit and scratched at the party ineffectively. (13525) Sleeping Dragon: Maren had no idea what a snow bear was, but he knew he was stronger. Laughter booming out of his helm, Maren lashed out at the spirit feeder in front of Maya. His blade traced a deadly arc, ripping the creature up the middle, scattering spirit parts. Stepping into the space the creature had stood a moment before, Maren then smashed another of the feeders, landing a heavy blow. (13526) Skylarious: Realizing she wasn't much use in the straightup fight, Maya rolled through the legs of the eidolon and leapt over a spirit feeder, spinning around to slash it from behind, removing its head with a single blow. (13526) Skylarious: As he fought his way forward, Maren noticed a particularly fat Spirit Feeder standing behind the others, trundling forward and grinning widely. Its claws were a foot long, and it clacked them together in anticipation. (13522) Kalika: Kalika focused on casting a spell while keeping an eye on the spirit feeder threatening her, but the distraction proved too much and she had to slowly back up against the wall instead. (13531) Hokulani: Hoku stepped forward to meet the enemies and casted her magic on them. It was brilliant starry field that cover all the enemies. it was like looking through heaven itself. However, only two monsters was knocked out while three still hold on. (13522) Kalika: Moving to defend Kalika and Maya, the eidolon literally ripped the nearest spirit feeder to shreds and advanced menacingly on the other still threatening the two women. (13531) Hokulani: Hoku noticed one feeder attempting to get through, and did a quick poke into it, killing it nastily (13526) Skylarious: Another Feeder tried to slip through, but Maren and Hoku cut it down quickly. The others continued to attack weakly, except for the fat one, which pounced at Hoku and latched into her flesh with both claws before biting down on her shoulder. She could feel energy draining out of her body. (13525) Sleeping Dragon: "Try me, bastard!" Maren snarled at the largest Spirit Feeder, hacking at it with his blade, cutting out two chunks of spirit-flesh. (13526) Skylarious: Maya hurried after the Feeder advancing on Kalika and slashed at its back, but missed. (13522) Kalika: Kalika backed off from the spirit feeder and conjured forth a small orb of acid which she threw at the thing, sizzling it slightly. (13522) Kalika: "Help Hoku, we can deal with this one!"shouted Kalika to her eidolon. The creature obliged, tearing the feeder threatening Hokulani to bits with its sharp teeth. (13531) Hokulani: Hoku winced at pain she suffered and stepped back and cast what appear to be starry field surrounding her. Quicky, her wounds seems to disappear but there is some bloods from her wounds on her fur clothings. She glared at extraordinary feeder with anger. (13526) Skylarious: The fat Spirit Feeder glared at Maren and moved into position to strike. One of its claws latched into a vulnerable spot in his armor and pierced his flesh, but he managed to twist and make the other claw bounce off his plate armor. (13525) Sleeping Dragon: spinning away, Maren lashed out with his sword, the first blow striking the wall and the second rebounding back to tear a hole in the fat Spirit Feeder's form. (13526) Skylarious: Maya slashed the Spirit Feeder beside her again, though the tattered creature still stood. (13522) Kalika: Kalika threw another small orb of acid at the feeder fighting Maya, dealing a minor burn which was luckily enough to down the previously wounded monster. (13522) Kalika: The Eidolon threw itself on the spirit feeder which had been attacking Maren, ripping and tearing it until not much was left. (13526) Skylarious: edit: remove last clause. (13526) Skylarious: The Feeder, feeling the eidolon's claws, widened its eyes and took in a deep gulp of breath. Its wounds folded back together as it began to expand, drawing in air. It doubled in size, growling... but then the Eidolon struck it once more, and it burst like a balloon, with a loud pop, and scraps of Feeder flesh floated everywhere. (13531) Hokulani: Hoku quickly moved around an eidolon and attempted to hit still fighting enemy but missed (13526) Skylarious: The last Spirit Feeder still standing, seeing it's larger brother destroyed, scampered away as quickly as it could. (13525) Sleeping Dragon: unable to catch the fleeing spirit feeder, Maren slashed down at the two that had been knocked out by Hoku's spell (13526) Skylarious: Maya, given speed by Kalika's spell, dashed past the others and down the corridor. A minute later she returned, holding the tattered Feeder's skin, and tossed it in a heap with the others. (13526) Skylarious: She smiled. "If there are any left, I imagine they'll be wary of remaining here." (13531) Hokulani: Hoku glanced around fight, "Keep watch then?" She told other (13522) Kalika: "If they have any wits, which I'm not sure they do."said Kalika "Well, that could have been much worse."she added with relief looking at the pile of feeder remains (13525) Sleeping Dragon: Maren piled the skins at the intersection between the stairs and the corridor. He frowned down at his sword. "Fucking strange, fighting these things with no blood," he said. (repost, was before Kalika and Hoku) (13525) Sleeping Dragon: "We'll want to rest, probably barricade ourselves in the armoury there." (repost, after Kalika) (13525) Sleeping Dragon: "Not that a barricade does much good against these things, I suppose." (13525) Sleeping Dragon: Maren went to examine the weapons on the racks (13522) Kalika: Kalika cast spells to check the weapon racks and chests for signs of magic. (13604) Skylarious: The weapons were in unusual Anthraleb style, with a reddish tint to the metal. The handles and hafts were hollow but strong, and the blades were thin but sharp with intricate, abstract etchings. Kalika detected magical auras on the short sword Maya had taken, on a heavy mace, and on a bundle of arrows, the shafts made of the same hollow but light metal. (13604) Skylarious: Two of the chests radiated magic as well. Maya and Vaarel checked them and found no traps, and opened the first two to reveal piles of coins, trinkets, jewelry, and gems. The third chest, which radiated no magic, contained a stack of books. (13604) Skylarious: Andrew started paging through the books gleefully. "Yes! Exactly the sort of thing I was hoping to find!" (13522) Kalika: "Books in a vault? Quite a find!"said Kalika "I'm sure Maya won't mind translating."she added smiling (13531) Hokulani: "Books are nothing to me..." Hoku dmissed it (13604) Skylarious: "I wouldn't put it past Maya to purposefully mistranslate just to frustrate me," said Andrew, though good naturedly. Maya grinned. (13522) Kalika: "Well, perhaps you'll find these trinkets to be more to your liking then."said Kalika to Hoku, not unkindly "Wouldn't surprise me if some of them had useful enchantments...." (13604) Skylarious: The party remained undisturbed as they set up protection, sorted through the items, and rested. (13604) Skylarious: After they had gathered their strength, Maya suggested checking the stairs up, the last area in the Anthraleb buildings they had not yet visited. (13525) Sleeping Dragon: "Hey Maya, lend me a hand?" Maren asked, indicating the straps on the back of his armour as he put it back on (13604) Skylarious: Maya nodded and moved up behind him to help. "You're an impressive fighter, Maren. We never heard stories of elves fighting like you." (13522) Kalika: Kalika, previously looking still weakened and dazed by her fever, seemed to be on the way to recovery thanks to some help from Andrew. (13525) Sleeping Dragon: "Most elves don't fight like me. One of the many reasons I find most of my kin distinctly unimpressive." (13604) Skylarious: Maya laughed. "Well if you got nothing else from your family, you got very cute ears. Although I can see why a warrior might not appreciate that." (13531) Hokulani: Hoku stood up, clasping her spear, still looking weary from the damages she suffered. "I like trinkets... easy to have and send." (13525) Sleeping Dragon: Maren snorted and pulled down his helm. "Not much else at all. Well, I got a few gold coins from my father the last time we saw each other, it was only fair recompense after he tried to arrest me." (13604) Skylarious: "It sounds like an exciting story. Though stories are often exciting to those who hear them, and unhappy to those who live them." She gave him a pat on the shoulder plate. (13522) Kalika: "We'll have a few more stories to tell when we get out of here. "said Kalika "Well, if we survive whatever is upstairs..."she trailed off (13604) Skylarious: They had no trouble surviving it; they found only a study, with a skeleton in moldy robes slumped over a desk. "The Governor or some lackey," spat Maya, kicking the skeleton over. His skull shattered, and in the shards lay a black band of some strange, flexible and shiny black cloth. On the desk was an open book that the man had been writing in, the words getting weaker and shakier. Inside the desk they found more scraps of paper with brief notes and letters. (13522) Kalika: Kalika cast a sideway glance at the skeletal remains before trying to get a look at the diary and notes. "Perhaps this could tell us about what happened here."she said (13604) Skylarious: Andrew gathered it all together with his other books. "Well, my friends. I think we have explored these buildings as thoroughly as we can, and I have enough to study for years. Shall we depart, or do you wish to explore the area more?" (13522) Kalika: Kalika looked around to see if there was anything of interest until she noticed the black band among the shards of the shattered skulls. She picked it up slowly and carefully, trying to avoid the bone. "This could be of interest..."she mused examining it for magic (13522) Kalika: edit: shattered skull, singular (13525) Sleeping Dragon: "I say we leave, get back to Stragglecat as soon as possible. I want to kill Meyids." (13531) Hokulani: Hoku shrugged, "If we got what we came for, then let us go home." (13522) Kalika: "I'm no lover of the Meyids, but there might still be something interesting - or useful - here."said Kalika "And we'd know - well, you would - when the Meyids are arriving anyway. I don't think it would hurt to spend some more time searching this place." (13604) Skylarious: "I'm looking forward to seeing what towns look like these days," said Maya. (13522) Kalika: "Any thoughts on this?"said Kalika showing the black band to Father Andrew "I'm hoping it's some significant item, if that bureocrat or whatever he was was wearing it." (13604) Skylarious: Andrew examined the headband, closing his eyes and whispering prayers to Heshuxen. "I believe this enhances the wearer's mental aptitude, and also allows the ability to communicate with the mind." (13522) Kalika: "Quite a find!"said Kalika obviously pleased "And I don't think he has much of an use for it, anyway so..."she said looking again at the shattered skull for a moment. (13522) Kalika: "If there are no objections, I'll keep this for now."said Kalika eagerly wearing the headband (13604) Skylarious: The group gathered together everything they had found and left the building. Outside, in the decaying ruins which no longer showed any illusion of comfort, they saw no sign of Spirit Feeders or spirits. They made their way back to their horses and the gates, and prepared to head back to Stragglecat.
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Post by skyman on Jul 10, 2011 22:05:52 GMT
(19643) Skylarious: The party had passed through the gates to the ruins by early evening, and began the trek back toward Stragglecat, laden with treasures. Maya smiled contentedly as they entered the outside world, breathing in deeply. "It smells different... more real than back there." (19643) Skylarious: She shared Kalika's horse. "Horses were rare in my time. Only the richest had them." whispering to Sleeping Dragon, Maren started to feel a throbbing headache. In his mind's eye he could make out some vague image, and when he concentrated he thought it was the face of Nahara, the wise woman, staring at him silently. (19639) Sleeping Dragon: "I hope you're a quick study, we need to ride quickly," Maren said, sounding suddenly alarmed. "Nahara is sending me a message, the Meyids must be on the move." (19627) Hokulani: Hoku frowned thoughtfully, "Then quickly to help them." (19627) Hokulani: She quickened the pace of her horse (19640) Kalika: "They are?"said Kalika worried "Then we'd best get to Stragglecat as fast as possible or there might not be much of it left." (19643) Skylarious: The group rode as quickly as they could. Within a few hours it had grown dark and they were still a day away. whispering to Sleeping Dragon, Maren's headache continued. (19639) Sleeping Dragon: "This is like having a hangover without the fun of the alcohol," Maren complained, riding on. "Why should some spell to contact people across distances leave you with a gigantic fucking headache?" (19627) Hokulani: Huko glanced at the stars and smiled slightly, "Sometime magic are like that... Shall we keep going? I feels much more comfortable and happy since it is now night." whispering to Sleeping Dragon, Maren suddenly saw Nahara's face swim forward in his vision, close to his eyes, and then her mouth open wide in a silent, angry scream. He felt his mind... tingle. And then he was filled with bloodlust and rage. (19639) Sleeping Dragon: Maren continued to ride at the front. As the night went on he became increasingly sullen, spitting vicious insults at anyone who spoke to him. Part way through the ride he removed his helm in disgust and rode on rubbing his temples with gauntleted fingers.
Abruptly Maren gave a scream of fury and wheeled his horse around, rushing at Father Andrew who rode nearest to him and bringing his sword whistling down. (19643) Skylarious: The sword hacked a great gash across the priest's chest. He gave a cry, and his horse staggered back, whinnying in fear as blood rained onto it, but Andrew managed to hold onto the reins with the last of his strength. (19643) Skylarious: Vaarel showed shock on his face for the first time since the group met him, but he wheeled his horse over beside Andrew. (19627) Hokulani: Hoku was surprised by an Elf's action and muttered some words before asking him to Stop! Her eyes simmering for a moment (19643) Skylarious: Maya leapt nimbly off the horse, rolling forward and leaping up next to Maren, trying to pull him from his horse, but he swung at her, slashing into her shoulder so that she fell back to the ground. (19643) Skylarious: "He's not himself!" she shouted as she staggered to her feet. "Don't kill him!" (19640) Kalika: Though shocked, Kalika had the presence of mind to cast a quick spell. From soil beside Maren sprung two small, roughly man-shaped forms made of dripping mud which tried to grab him, but splashed clumsily against his armor instead. (19639) Sleeping Dragon: "Fuck you! Did Viren pay you? BASTARDS!" Maren roared in fury, slashing down at Maya and one of the elementals. The elemental was hacked down while Maya remained up, though severely wounded. Maren tried to spur his horse to the attack, but was too consumed by anger to control his mount, so he backed away. (19639) Sleeping Dragon: edit: the elemental and Maya were both severely wounded (19643) Skylarious: Vaarel helped Andrew canter away from the fighting, clutching his wounds. (19627) Hokulani: Hoku settled down and mutered even more words and starry heaven surrounded Maren and his horse but alas, Maren AND his horse did not suffer any effects. (19640) Kalika: One of Kalika's mud elementals was however affected and collapsed into an inert puddle of mud. (19643) Skylarious: "Maren! Listen to me," called Maya as she stumbled away from him, covered in blood. "Some enchanter has control of your mind. We aren't your enemies!" (19640) Kalika: One of the elementals tried threw its muddy mass at Maren again, but proved useless. Meanwhile Kalika summoned a thick coating of eldritch, slippery grease around Maren's sword handle, but the elf managed to retain the weapon. (19639) Sleeping Dragon: "DIE!" Maren screamed, hacking down viciously at one of the mud elementals, slashing a glob of dirt from its body (19627) Hokulani: "No, you will regain your soul!" Hoku snarled as she commited same powers again that surround Maren, his horse and muddy creature and this time, a horse and mudboy is seriously affected. Alas, as for Maren... (19639) Sleeping Dragon: Maren tumbled from his horse with a wild cry, smashing into the ground awkwardly. Nonetheless his plate armour absorbed most of the fall and he began to scrabble to his feet (19643) Skylarious: "Maren! Stop! Stop!" screamed Maya frantically. (19639) Sleeping Dragon: "You stop...breathing!" Maren screamed, leaping to his feet and raising his sword. Kalika cast a spell of grease at his feet as he rose. He ignored it for a moment, rushed towards Maya then slid and skidded with a curse and fell over again. "DIE YOU FUCKERS!" Maren screamed, more curses pouring from his mouth...and suddenly they stopped and he looked at the blood on his sword. A new curse burst from his lips. "That fucking bitch! I'll kill her!" he roared. Stumbling to his feet, he dropped his sword and raised his hands in a peaceable gesture. (19643) Skylarious: Maya breathed a sigh of relief and slumped to the ground. Vaarel helped Andrew off his horse, continuing to watch Maren warily. (19627) Hokulani: Hoku, "Are you in your right mind? I am assuming you meant that unwise woman?" She asked softly as her relief clearly on her face (19627) Hokulani: She went over quickly to take care of Maya, taking hold of her hands and closed her eyes (19640) Kalika: Kalika preferred to keep her distance while the others now approached the apparently-pacified Maren. She dismissed the mud elementals with a gesture, and their muddy forms slowly sunk in the ground. whispering to Sleeping Dragon, Maren's headache began to fade. (19639) Sleeping Dragon: Maren nodded at Hoku, then knelt to examine his horse, hoping it hadn't hurt itself in the fall (19627) Hokulani: She then quickly rushed over to Andrew and winced at the terrible wounds he suffered and took his hands, closed her eyes, (19639) Sleeping Dragon: "The world would be a far better place if all you spellcasters would chuck your books away and pick up a fucking sword you know," said Maren. "I'm going to kill that fucking woman." (19643) Skylarious: The horse had luckily avoided breaking a leg, so it would likely be alright. (19643) Skylarious: Andrew gripped Hoku's hand in appreciation. "W... witch? How did she do this to you?" (19627) Hokulani: Hoku looked confused for a moment, "But I do not have books. Books can be useful as weapons I suppose if you use them to hit others." She went over to Mara once more (19640) Kalika: "I suppose we could have suspected something earlier." said Kalika shaking her head "That kind of...payment sounded a bit too convenient." (19639) Sleeping Dragon: "Before we left Stragglecat I wanted to make sure we could be contacted in case the Meyids attacked the town while we were away, so we went to speak to the wise woman Nahara. She took me aside for a bit and cast this spell so she could contact me, I didn't think it would also mean she could compel me to attack people. Maybe it was a side effect but if so a fucking warning would have been nice." (19627) Hokulani: and starry powers surrounded Mara once more, making her better. She then used her arts to help Mara better. (19639) Sleeping Dragon: "She could be a spy. Or just a cruel fucking bitch, I don't know. The next time we meet I'll thrust this sword into her," he said, picking up his blade, wiping the blood off, and sheathing it. (19627) Hokulani: Hoku told Maren, "I have no desire to hit you with my weapons. My weapons are only to hunt and kill. Still, at least you are fine. Shall we keep going." She smiled slightly. (19639) Sleeping Dragon: "The headache is going, I don't think it will happen again. If you're worried one of you can carry my sword..." (19627) Hokulani: "No... If we get attacked, you need it." She replied. whispering to Sleeping Dragon, Suddenly Maren heard Nahara's voice faintly in his head, only able to follow bits and pieces of her words. "...sorry...myself...ids...careful..." (19640) Kalika: "We'd best get to Stragglecat as soon as possible, hoping to avoid any other..."Kalika thought for a few moments "accidents...along the way." (19639) Sleeping Dragon: Maren helped his horse back up to its feet as Hoku's spell wore off, then remounted. "Alright." He stopped. "I can hear her. Sorry? You'll be a great deal fucking sorrier when I get my hands on you!" (19639) Sleeping Dragon: Maren stopped and thought. "The Meyids must be attacking, I couldn't hear all of those words but I heard 'ids'..we need to move quickly." (19627) Hokulani: She frowned and glanced at the stars, "Yes, we must!" She quickened her horse (19643) Skylarious: The party trekked on, battling fatigue and injuries. Day broke, and they rode more quickly, bleary eyed, toward Stragglecat. whispering to Sleeping Dragon, About an hour away from Stragglecat, as they rode on the west side of the river, Maren spotted something against the distant trees across the river to the east. A party of humanoid figures, at least a dozen... they rode horses and wore the furs of the Meyids and within their midst was some hulking four-legged grey beast. whispering to Sleeping Dragon, They were riding at a slow pace along the treeline, in the direction of the town. (19639) Sleeping Dragon: "There are Meyids across the river. They're heading for the town, there's some sort of four-legged grey beast with them. At least a dozen of them." Maren gestured surreptitiously towards them. (19643) Skylarious: The others in the party could make out the cluster of figures far away against the distant treeline, though they couldn't tell much about them. (19643) Skylarious: The party rode on quickly. Soon Stragglecat came into view. It looked much the same as always, though there were a few extra makeshift barricades around the buildings (not enough to completely block off the outskirts of the town, but merely defensive positions), with platforms for archers to stand on. They could see men on these platforms, and others patrolling the perimiter, and as they approached they saw that they were dressed in the scrapped together leather and chain of the town's conscripts. One of the archers on a barricade spotted the group and gestured, and they warily raised their bows as they watched to see who was approaching. (19639) Sleeping Dragon: as he'd been riding, Maren had drawn an arrow from his quiver, wrapped a discarded cloth from the previous day's rations around the arrowhead, and, for want of any lantern oil, had retrieved a bottle of wine from his saddlebags and poured some on the cloth. As he prepared to fire the arrow towards the town as warning, however, one of the guards noticed them. Shrugging, Maren stuffed the arrow away and began to drink the rest of the wine. "What's happening, soldier?" (19639) Sleeping Dragon: edit: he asked when they rode close (19643) Skylarious: "Ah, the Mayor'll be glad you're 'ere!" said the chubby fellow. "Lots of little parties of Meyids moving around the area lately. And a scout found a pile of burned bodies, some of 'em probably Meyids. Something's up, so we're preparing for an assault." (19639) Sleeping Dragon: "There's a dozen of them across the river there," Maren pointed. "With some kind of grey beast. Want a drink?" he offered the man a swig from the bottle of wine. (19643) Skylarious: The man nodded gratefully. "I could use it. Me nerves is shot." He took a swig, then gestured to another soldier. "Roofus, go send word to the Mayor, our friends is here, and they spotted some more Meyids." (19643) Skylarious: The man ran off toward the inn. (19639) Sleeping Dragon: Maren looked around at Maya, Kalika, and Hoku. "Don't put yourself out too much for this, however...if in the coming battle you get a chance to take any Meyids hostage, particularly anyone of rank, I'd be very grateful. I have some questions a Meyid soldier might be able to answer for me." (19627) Hokulani: Hoku nodded at Maren, "I will keep it in mind. Good luck!" (19640) Kalika: "I'll see what I can do, but don't put too much hope in it."Kalika replied "As for me, I think I'll want to summon my guardian, but some explaining to the people might be in order to avoid...misunderstandings. Do tell them it's on our side, and not the Meyids, if there's need to."
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Post by skyman on Jul 31, 2011 22:34:27 GMT
(27881) Skylarious: The group made its way through the makeshift barricades of Stragglecat to the inn. The servers were busily preparing packaged meals that could be taken out to the men during fighting. Up the stairs, the Mayor was speaking to a young girl acting as messenger. "And tell Griswold that he has to stop his Bellows from drinking any more NOW. He needs to be able to stand, at least!" The girl nodded and ran off. Mayor Felbig looked at the group. "Ah, you return! A welcome sight in troubled times. I hope you were successful. It appears you found a young woman out in the wilderness." (27882) Sleeping Dragon: "You know what these country girls are like when they see someone in full armour," Maren said off-handedly, raising his visor. "What do we know about these Meyids? Who is their leader? I'd heard there was a civil war there at the moment." (27881) Skylarious: "Well, that spellbook you traded to me, from the half-orc Meyd woman you slew, proved useful in that regard. A part of it was not just spells, but a diary. She talks a lot about her love of that Kresdin fellow. There was even some poetry. But she also discusses being sent by a General Abthrayl to find a defector with some information. The defector was going to another general, unnamed, but whose men wear the symbol of crossed bear claws. She speaks of the danger of his "mentalists", whatever that means. Our scouts have seen Meyids wearing the crossed bear claws." (27901) Hokulani (enter): 13:10 (27882) Sleeping Dragon: Maren shrugged. "I never did particularly understand human heraldry. Why would you want the enemy to know who you are? Would I be able to read this diary by any chance?" Attempting to assign the role of Player to (27901) Hokulani... (27881) Skylarious: Booting '(27887) Hokulani' from room... (27887) Hokulani (exit): 13:13 (27901) Hokulani: Hoku nodded for a moment, "Interesting..." As she dismissed the whole political tones in one quick word. (27881) Skylarious: "As you wish." He took out the book from his desk and tossed it over. "I would make sure you are rested from your ride and prepared for a fight, though. Or leave if you wish, I won't begrudge it. There's no telling when an attack might be launched. Our scouts estimate anywhere from a hundred to three hundred Meyids in the area. We have sixty recruits and around twenty mercenaries. So I suspect we'll all be dead by tomorrow." (27882) Sleeping Dragon: Maren opened the book and began to read it very quickly, trailing his finger over the page. It was plain he was not really attempting to absorb all of the information. "A desperate last stand then? I've done a few of those." (27901) Hokulani: "Battle... Last Stand..." She looked faintfully concerned at the prospect. (27881) Skylarious: Maren noticed the bit about the "mentalists": "His mentalists are cunning. I know they can get at you while you sleep, bend your magic to their will, so I have not been sleeping well lately. Or perhaps that is being so near to Kresdin. His presence sets my heart aflutter like a hummingbird that is all aflutter!" (27882) Sleeping Dragon: though Maren had not been paying that close attention to the book, he read that bit and nodded. "That makes sense," he muttered, closing the book. "Do we know where the main Meyid force is? We saw about a dozen across the river as we came in." (27881) Skylarious: A sweaty young man hurried into the room. "Oy, Mister Mayor! Blarney told me ta tell you that 'e spotted some Meyids with a different sigil. Whip and flail. There was a group of about thirty of 'em but 'e thinks there might be more. Theys comin' in from the southeast." (27881) Skylarious: The Mayor nodded thoughtfully to the young man. "Wait outside, I might have a message for you." He turned back to Maren. "They are congregating in loose groups, as Meyids like to do, but they seem to be spread out in a set of camps about a mile and a half to the east, across the river. That whip and flail sigil... That was worn by those you slew, correct?" (27901) Hokulani: "Two opposing clans?" Hoku asked out (27882) Sleeping Dragon: Maren ground his teeth. "It was. Maybe we should just let these two forces fight it out and then attack the survivors." (27878) Kalika: Kalika listened to Maren's reading. "Mentalists? That sounds...interesting. And I wonder that these sigils mean - if you are correct then finishing the survivors would be the smartest course of action, but if they instead decide to attack us together first..." (27878) Kalika: edit: 'had listened to' (27881) Skylarious: "My men aren't fit for any attacking, unless the Meyids are completely devastated. I think the barricades is all that gives them a chance. But I could send our mercenary friends to help. Of course, we don't know that they plan to fight each other..." (27878) Kalika: "Well, as for your men... I'm going to conjure forth some creatures to our aid - let them know, it would do no good for my summons to be mistaken as Meyid war beasts.' she told the Mayor. (27882) Sleeping Dragon: Maren paused for a moment and spoke, visibly getting control of himself. "If you have anyone with a gift for the gab, send them to speak to these whip and flail Meyids," he said, voice full of loathing. "Maybe we can find out who these bear claw Meyids are and what they want. Alternatively, or at the same time, send out a mobile or stealthy force to hit one of these small bear claw bands and take a few prisoners." (27916) Skylarious: "I'll help try to catch a prisoner," said Maya. The Mayor replied "You have the skills? I'll get you some light armor and send you with some scouts if you wish to risk it, but I have few true stealthy warriors. As far as negotiation... not many here are likely to be able to treat with Meyids. I can, but I need to be here." "I can go," said Father Andrew. "And at least try to get one of them to come back with me. It's the least I can do for this town." (27882) Sleeping Dragon: "I'm about as stealthy as a sledgehammer, but on my horse I'm fast," said Maren. "If you could lure a band near to the barricades, our scouts could head out and cut off their retreat and I could charge out." (27916) Skylarious: "Wait by the gates if you wish, but my scouts will have to take what opportunities they see... I don't want them to risk facing too dangerous a group. If they can catch a man alone it would be the best course of action." The Mayor called in the messenger and told him to go round up the scouts, while Maya went off to be equipped and Andrew to be taken toward the Meyid party. "Is there anything else you need? The guardsmen outside can help guide you to where your support might be most needed if battle comes." (27882) Sleeping Dragon: Maren went to speak to Maya. "They might be a bit too far out for me to charge after them...me, Hoku and Kalika could head out and act as bait. The group I saw earlier had twelve or more Meyids, they'd probably risk an attack on just three people. If you were somewhere nearby we could lure them into an ambush. Of course this depends on how many scouts we've got." (27916) Skylarious: Maya had spoken to the messenger. "It sounds like they're just sending three men with me. But if we wanted to plan a better ambush perhaps we could talk to the mercenaries?" According to the Mayor the mercenaries had their own tents by the river. (27882) Sleeping Dragon: Maren thought. "Mercenaries aren't terribly reliable, except for me of course," he said ironically. "If we can find any who particularly dislike Meyids it would be an advantage, they're less likely to go over to the enemy." (27878) Kalika: "The Meyids aren't the most popular folk around, so that shouldn't be too hard. However...I'm worried. Especially about these 'mentalists' that were mentioned earlier - they might be in town already, acting as spies or...who knows?"said Kalika sounding paranoid (27882) Sleeping Dragon: "I didn't want to say this around the Mayor, but they were probably responsible for what happened earlier," said Maren. "They bent Nahara's magic to their will and made me attack you. Thinking on it, we may want to go speak to her and get her to get rid of whatever this effect is so they can't do that again." (27916) Skylarious: The group made its way out of the inn and to Nahara's hut. The door was closed and the windows dark. (27878) Kalika: "As for the scouting...with this headband" Kalika pointed at "One can send mental messages at some distance to a specific person. That would be quite useful if we're going to organize an ambush or even just scout. However we should know beforehand who the person to receive the messages will be." (27878) Kalika: edit: Kalika pointed at the band worn around her head (27882) Sleeping Dragon: "Is that two-way communication?" (27878) Kalika: Kalika shook her head. "Nope, and it can't go farther than a mile, though that could be enough." (27882) Sleeping Dragon: Maren thought. "We could have Maya and the scouts about, I don't know, a quarter of a mile away, give Maya the headband. If they spot any tracks or something they could let us know, and we act as bait. Let's speak to Nahara first however." (27882) Sleeping Dragon: Maren knocked on the door. (27916) Skylarious: There was no response. (27878) Kalika: "We don't have much of a choice other than checking in." (27882) Sleeping Dragon: Maren saw that the door was not locked, so he opened it. (27916) Skylarious: The house was dark, the windows blinded, but light flooded in when they opened the door. Nahara lay curled up in a fetal position on the floor, shaking visibly. She raised her head slightly and blinked at the light. (27882) Sleeping Dragon: "Are you alright?" Server Administrator-> Kicking '(27901) Hokulani' from server... Removing dead client (27901) Hokulani (exit): 14:33 (27916) Skylarious: She moved her arms slowly into position to push herself up. She stayed on her knees for a moment before clambering up, and stood there swaying. "You're back... I'm glad you live. My mind is... cloudy." (27882) Sleeping Dragon: Maren glanced at the others. "I think the Meyids might have some ability to interfere with magic. Like earlier." (27878) Kalika: Kalika looked worried "That makes me very...uncomfortable. Better for you to keep a close eye on me, you never know. Though hopefully my kind of magic will not prove as vulnerable as others..." (27916) Skylarious: "Yes. Yes, he's been in my head," said Nahara. "He can be in anyone's head. But the magic was what he wanted." Her eyes widened at the sight of Kalika's headband. "That... Where did you find that? I'll trade for it. I have potions, and other items..." (27882) Sleeping Dragon: "He?" (27916) Skylarious: "I don't know his name. He appeared in my dreams. I saw his visage... bald, thin of face and cruel." She took a couple of steps toward Kalika, still staring at the headband. (27878) Kalika: "We have need of it today."Kalika said of the headband "But later on, I'll consider a trade. And now...It might not be safe for you put something like this on with these...presences in your mind." (27916) Skylarious: "No, no! That will protect me! Drive him out, I know it! It is of Anthraleb make... But if you will not give it to me, then kill him and free me of this." (27882) Sleeping Dragon: "Do you know where he is?" (27916) Skylarious: "He is with other Meyids. I know that he resides in a tent that glows inside. The crystal he uses to amplify his power is there. He looks into it, and it sends out light. Horrible light." She shuddered. (27878) Kalika: Kalika shook her head "Sorry, but I cannot risk handing the headband to you right now. As for the tent and crystal...if your vision is accurate, then we might be able to recognize and slay him, perhaps." (27878) Kalika: "I...do actually remember reading something about this, and it could indeed provide some measure of protection. "Kalika said seeming to have second thoughts "However...we need it for a plan of ours, don't we Maren?"she said (27882) Sleeping Dragon: Maren nodded. "Perhaps we could trade it when that's done." He turned to Nahara. "Is the spell you cast on me still...well, in effect? I don't want whoever this fucker is to be able to make me attack my own side again." (27916) Skylarious: "My mind is so cloudy... but I think it is ended. If you overcame the madness once your mind should be immune to it." (27878) Kalika: "That sounds reassuring, at least. However I still wouldn't feel fully safe until this - one of the Meyids called them 'mentalists' - is slain or at least rendered harmless. " (27916) Skylarious: "I think... I think if one of you wore that headband and we created a bond, I could help guide you to him. You would need to get to the camp, but then I think I would be able to sense more distinctly where he is. There is the risk that he might exploit the bond, but I think the headband would help." She staggered a little and sat down again on the floor from weariness. (27882) Sleeping Dragon: "We have another use for the headband at a moment, it might be an idea later. We should leave now, however, the Mayor has asked us to rendezvous with some reinforcements coming from the north to give them a bit of a nasty surprise. Farewell for now." (27878) Kalika: "We'll certainly keep this in mind however. Farewell." (27916) Skylarious: Nahara nodded silently and looked away from the light until they closed the door behind them.
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Post by skyman on Aug 7, 2011 22:24:54 GMT
(30623) Skylarious: The group made its way to the mercenary tents. There were two groups of sellswords. One large tent bore the sigil of golden fist, knuckles directed to the left. Inside could be heard discussion and laughter--particularly one wheezing laugh that sounded like it came from a dying mule. On the other side of the camp were a set of smaller tents surrounding a campfire. Around the fire were five lean, tall warriors (three men and two women) with long coal black hair and dusky, grayish skin. They wore leather clothing decorated with beads and the feathers of ravens and eagles. They carried bows, spears, and axes, and they spoke quietly and solemnly. (30622) Kalika: "Interesting... Golatha."whispered Kalika to the others as they saw the five warriors around the fire "Nomadic people from the western peninsula, a land of both ash and forests. Possibly related to your own people, Hokulani." (30629) Hokulani: "Hmm..." Hokulani considered the revelation (30624) Sleeping Dragon: Maren peered at the other sigil. "The sideways fist is common up near the goblin lands, not sure what company that is though." (30629) Hokulani: "Hopefully, they are on our side," She glanced at these two groups. (30622) Kalika: "It's the High Moon Slayers."commented Kalika (30629) Hokulani: Look of admiration and respects occured in Hoku's eyes and told her, "You know everything?!" (30622) Kalika: Kalika chuckled lightly but with a hint of pride "I know...a bit. We all have our talents, after all." she said "So...we're taking these mercenaries with us as help?" (30624) Sleeping Dragon: Maren nodded, as if he knew who the High Moon Slayers were. "I see. Well, these Golatha are out here so..." Maren started to walk over towards them. (30629) Hokulani: Hoku looked at them with interest in her eyes and followed Maren (30623) Skylarious: The Golatha didn't look up as the group approached, but then one of them, an older man than the others, wearing a single raven feather in his hair and simpler clothing, said "Steelsuit, Icewalker, Wordbound, and the Risen. Welcome. Join our fire." (30623) Skylarious: Maya looked rather nervous at that. (30629) Hokulani: Hoku smiled at that name, "That is good name." (30622) Kalika: "These are some...interesting names. Sounds like there's been some talk of us."said Kalika, slightly surprised but not unplesantly so (30624) Sleeping Dragon: Maren pulled off his helm. "My name is Maren, the suit is just a tool." (30623) Skylarious: "No," said the man simply, in response to Kalika. He looked up at Maren. "Steelsuit means more than what physical armor you wear. It is something of your spirit. Beyond that, I cannot say why I give you that name. Maren might be what your friends and family call you, but when you approach I see Steelsuit. My parents called me Vothan, but my true name is Owleye. My companions here are Blackbow, Hollowhorn, the Claw, and Wishneedle." (30623) Skylarious: "Welcome," murmured the others. One man did indeed carry a black bow. According to their arrangement around the fire, the other man, shorter than even the women, was Hollowhorn. The women, identical in all except the styles on their clothing, were the Claw and Wishneedle. (30629) Hokulani: "My name is Hokulani, but I like Icewalker better." She nodded at the others, greeting them. (30624) Sleeping Dragon: "You don't want to know what my family call me," Maren said with a smile. "We're looking for some fighters who hate Meyids." (30622) Kalika: "I am Kalika. Though Wordbound does have a...noble ring to it..."she said joining the others in greeting (30623) Skylarious: "Then perhaps you should try the other camp, friend," said Owleye. "We know little of Meyids except that they are dangerous. Hate requires personal acquaintance... though sometimes we are stronger against enemies we do not hate." (30624) Sleeping Dragon: "The less personal acquaintance you have with Meyids the better. I suppose I was being a bit flip. Truthfully, we need fighters who will fight Meyids and not change sides if things get difficult. Mercenaries are after all notoriously unreliable." (30623) Skylarious: "Well of that you should not worry. We only learned of the life of the mercenary when we came to the Countless Kingdoms of Duen mere months ago. We take payment because we must live, but we will not compromise our ethics for it. What is it you propose, though? Though I will not turn traitor, I do not wish to send my followers to likely death." (30629) Hokulani: Hoku looked slightly confused at the idea of mercenary, "Why do you need metals? It is easy to live off lands here." (30623) Skylarious: "We are not the only ones. We have more mouths to feed than hunters. And it is easier for one hunter to fell one deer than for two hunters to fell two deer. That is nature's law." (30624) Sleeping Dragon: Maren sat down, joints of his armour creaking. "We want to set a bit of a trap for some Meyids. We intend to ride out in a small group, with Maya here," he indicated her, "and a few scouts sneaking along behind us. The hope is that one of the Meyid war parties will come out to fight us, thinking we're small in numbers, and we can draw them back into an ambush and take some prisoners. If we can get some idea of who these Meyids are and what they want, it may prove easier to defeat them." (30629) Hokulani: Hoku glanced around, eyeing the weathers (30623) Skylarious: "That seems a worthy goal, and I believe you are wise in the ways of war. Our hunters are stealthy. We can risk sending two with you." He glanced at the others at the fire, and they all began speaking to him in their own language. "Alright, Blackbow and Wishneedle will aid you. Wishneedle speaks your language well enough; she can explain your plans to Blackbow." He gestured to the two, who went off to their tents. "They prepare." (30629) Hokulani: "Sky is calm for next few days..." Hoku sighed softly, "Shame, no sharp snows..." She glanced at these two and nodded, "Thank you for help..." She turned her attention to leader, "Supporting your clan with metals?" She wondered (30623) Skylarious: "We brought many with us. Many young, or old, or with illness. They need more than we can find in the wilds... the herbs here are different. The land does not speak to us as it did in the west." (30622) Kalika: "Hopefully your help will prove enough. I would not be surprised if the Meyads were planning something of their own...in fact, I would be surprised if they weren't.." (30629) Hokulani: She looked concerned at this, "I hope everything go well with your clan and your hunts." (30624) Sleeping Dragon: "So, Wishneedle, if you don't mind me being frank, what can you do? I'm assuming Blackbow there is an archer," Maren asked the Golatha who could speak their language. (30623) Skylarious: Wishneedle answered Maren's question when she returned before Blackbow. "We can all use the bow, though he is the best with it. I can fight with spear and handaxe. And they say the spirits... favor me? I always go on hunts that must succeed." (30623) Skylarious: Blackbow returned as well. Owleye said "Good luck in your task, then. And soon may we defeat the Meyids together." (30624) Sleeping Dragon: "So if you two go with the scouts, me, Hoku and Kalika can flush out some Meyids. You two will need horses," he said to his companions. "Let's see if we can convince the Mayor to lend us two, also should check with the guards by the barricades to see if they've seen any sign of Meyid parties scouting ahead of their main army." (30622) Kalika: "Shall you take the headband for a while, Maya?" suggested Kalika "You can contact one of us, Maren perhaps, if anything goes wrong."she added offering the item (30624) Sleeping Dragon: edit: ignore, we don't need to borrow horses (30623) Skylarious: "Aw, but I had hoped you'd give me a warning to run when you were surrounded by warbeasts!" said Maya, smiling. At the barricade across the river, a soldier reported about the Meyid activity. "Things've been getting busier out there lately. Ken thought he saw some men lookin' out from the branches of the trees over thar." He pointed at the edge of the treeline to the northeast. "And there have been more sightings of bands near the edges of the wood all day, but there've been times of lots of Meyid activity before that then calmed right down." (30623) Skylarious: Hoku healed the last of Maren's wounds as they prepared to move out. whispering to Sleeping Dragon, Maren also heard Maya's voice in his head: "Testing, one two three..." (30624) Sleeping Dragon: Maren smiled and put his helm back on. "Don't do that too much, Maya," he said to her. "I seem to keep ending up the volunteer to receive magical messages into my head, I think someone else can do this next time." (30623) Skylarious: Maya laughed. "I'll only drive you insane if you really make me mad. Did my voice sound okay? Sometimes I hate how my voice sounds filtered through magic." (30622) Kalika: "I survived having her in my head without going crazy, I'm sure you can, too. "smiled Kalika (30624) Sleeping Dragon: Maren mounted up on his horse and strapped his shield to his arm. "So," he said to Maya, "you and the others should follow behind us about a hundred feet away, keep out of sight. In case this magic stops working and there's an emergency, I'll shoot a flaming arrow into the sky." (30623) Skylarious: Maren, Hoku, and Kalika rode ahead of the others into the woods, side by side. Maya, Blackbow, Wishneedle, and the scouts followed stealthily behind. The group picked its way through the thin trees, looking about warily. whispering to Sleeping Dragon, Having gone a couple hundred yards into the woods, Maren began to hear something up ahead... low voices, and a snorting sound. He peered ahead and thought he saw movement, a humanoid body as well as flashes within the trees of a lumbering gray shape. whispering to Sleeping Dragon, they looked to be another seventy yards ahead or so. (30624) Sleeping Dragon: Maren casually drew his sword as he rode. "Some up ahead," he said quietly to the others. He continued to ride on, pretending not to have noticed the figures (30623) Skylarious: As they got closer, the Meyid group clearly noticed them. They voices group quieter but more urgent. Then the party could see through the trees the rush of bodies charging toward them, perhaps eight or ten on foot, and hear the crashing of underbrush as a big gray beast joined the charge. (30623) Skylarious: The group began moving back, hoping to draw the beast out ahead of the warriors on foot, but the lumbering creature lacked great speed and did not get separated from the Meyids. (30623) Skylarious: As the beast and warriors charged through the trees, Maren, Kalika, and Hoku cut to one side, hoping to circle around the Meyids and let the scouts hit them from the flank. Battle cries and the snorting bellow of the beast rang out as its gray, horned visage came into view alongside fur-clad Meyids...
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