|
Post by sleepingdragon on Dec 26, 2009 16:59:41 GMT
Sleeping Dragon: Sakura nodded, "I agreed. I also recognised them as Thymbal's brood." Confirming Rafael's suspicion. "Good thing I know the language after all." After glancing at Vachir's point, "She is wife who was given to hellhounds in exchange of power. Murder of darkest form."
"The madman would 'encourage' his minions by telling them to "Remember Murian", in case any felt like turning traitor to him. Also had them regularly beaten, to encourage their good behaviour," Rafael said with distaste. Sakura: Sakura looked thoughtfully for a moment, "Either way, we have to be even more careful. Never expect something like this to happen to be fair... Anyway, I am going back to sleep" She settled back, nursing her soft wounds. Vachir: "Might as well go back to sleep, hoping there aren't other packs of these things tracking us."added Vachir Idris: Rafael sat down & looked accross at Black Cat. "I have given up limiting my expectations. Strange and evil things abound in this world." Sleeping Dragon: Rafael and Black Cat returned to their watch, and no further strange and evil things occurred to the party that night. whispering to enrico, in the morning, Enrico made his way to the gates of Torath, disguised and carrying identity papers he'd forged the night before enrico: (whispering): Enrico carried himself like the dozens of craftsmen and laborers around him, blending into the crowd. whispering to enrico, Enrico was easily able to make his way out of the city and made for the river, heading downstream to try to find the others Sleeping Dragon: about an hour after sunrise, they spotted Enrico making his way down the river near the small copse of trees they had hidden themselves in Idris: "One of us could move up and attract his attention." Rafael whispered. enrico: "FINE HAIRCOMBS! TONICS TO MAKE YOUR MANHOOD SWELL! LOW PRICES!" - yelled Enrico while waving his hands. Idris: Rafael looked at the others in confusion. "On the other hand he may have gone mad." Sakura: "Or he could be followed..." Sakura considered the possiblity Sleeping Dragon: Black Cat volunteered to sneak out and attract Enrico's attention Vachir: "Or he's just poking fun at us."chuckled Vachir "Who knows? Should I approach him?" Idris: Rafael agreed. Sleeping Dragon: Cat sneaked out of the copse and threw a small stone at Enrico to attract his attention before making her way back into the trees enrico: As if nothing happened, Enrico moved towards the trees as if to take a break from the road and rest a while. Sakura: "Well, look like he got out quite safely then." She told the others... Sleeping Dragon: Cat waited for Enrico to enter the trees and then she came out of hiding and waved him over Idris: Once Enrico came close enough, Rafael asked him what had been happening in the city after they left. enrico: "Guards were all eyes, trying to catch firebreathing giants, or hellspawn, or giant octopi. At least that's what everybody thinks." Idris: Rafael laughed at that. "I'm sure you were most convincing Rico. We, on the other hand, had to deal with some unwelcome visitors last night." He showed the bodies of the hellhounds to Enrico. enrico: Enrico looked grim "First its hostile terittory, now its being chased by demons?" He shook his head in disbelief. Vachir: "And I shudder at the thought of what we'll find in the south..."added Vachir Idris: "We think it very likely that the Path set these monstrosities on us," Rafael added. Sakura: "On the bright side, it is mean that they considered us a group that is very dangerous to their nasty plans... We would be a beacon attracting every last of their murderous attempts... until we get rid of the Path." Sakura smiled confidently. Idris: "Bright side...." Rafael murmured. Sakura: "Never, what town shall we head for? Rannemort?" Sakura commented Idris: "If Paraz Ghent is really involved in the plot to have us arrested, it's a good place to start." Rafael replied, gathering his belongings. Vachir: "Might as well sort that out before worrying about the Blood Angel I guess." Idris: "Hopefully that is the link." Sakura: "Agreed." She finally gathered her packing and belongs. Idris: "There is the question of how we will get into the city," Rafael said as they moved off. Sleeping Dragon: the party left the copse and quickly made their way south towards Rannemort. They moved rapidly in the direction of the forest to the south of Torath, intending to cut across country on their way. They crossed the flat, fertile farming lands by the river and briefly found themselves on the road from Torath to the dismal peat digging town of Tellerthan. As they made their way off the road and towards the trees about a half mile distant, they looked towards Torath and noticed two riders, galloping quickly down the road. The two men wore the red-and-black tabards of the Kingdom Guards, and as they were riding at such great speed had not yet noticed them, though they would be on them very shortly. Idris: Rafael indicated the men and that the party should stop them. Idris: "One of us could run out, pretend to have been attacked by our group, something like that." Sakura: "Or, she can kill them..." Sakura quicjkly whispered back... Sakura: edit We* Sleeping Dragon: the riders continued to storm up the road towards them enrico: "Shoot for the horses! I take the one on the right - Enrico hissed" Vachir: "Shoot at the horses."said Vachir who had drawn his bow and looked on at the approaching horsemen Idris: Rafael reluctantly pulled out his crossbow. Sakura: Sakura pulled her crossbow, choosing right horse, "The right one..." She whispered Sleeping Dragon: the riders continued up the road. When they got to a little under a hundred feet away, the left-hand rider suddenly pulled up and shouted a warning to his companion, pointing towards the party. Idris: Rafael ran forward a little way, firing off a bolt at the rider who had not spotted them yet. It barely hit. enrico: Enrico tried to hit the same target, but missed. Sleeping Dragon: Sophia quickly ran forwards, hefting her scythe, and reached the side of the left-hand rider Vachir: Vachir changed his mind and decided to fire at the man rather than the horse - three arrows flew through the air, wounding him heavily and putting him out of the fight. Sleeping Dragon: the horseman, and the horse with the unconscious rider, both turned and fled swiftly. Ardrun and Sophia hacked at them as they went, Ardrun at the rider and Sophia at the horse, and though both were badly hurt, they were able to break away and stay on their feet, storming rapidly away from the party Sakura: Sakura tumbled forward to get better aim for the rider on the fleeing rider. She then fired the bolt, it arched it way across over hundred metres of the road and it hits, only to draw little blood... Idris: Desperately Rafael fired at the conscious rider as he fled into the distance, and was gratified to see him slump over his saddly, although unfortunately not fall from it. Rafael ben Efrim: edit* saddle enrico: Enrico moved up, aimed, and let a bolt loose. The projectile actually hit one of the horses, but barely drew blood. Vachir: Vachir fired an arrow at the wounded horse, bringing it down to the ground helpless, and then fired another shot which grazed the other steed Sakura: Sakura sighed for a moment as she re-loaded her crossbow and starts singing a nice song about how the archers are most fearsome soldiers in the world... Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael raced forward towards the fallen man and beast. enrico: Enrico fired off another shot, missing widely. Vachir: Nervously eyeing the escaping horse as he saw it run further away, Vachir let out a shout and fired two arrows. The projectiles pierced the beast's neck and send it sprawled to the ground, dead.
|
|
|
Post by sleepingdragon on Jan 2, 2010 18:00:05 GMT
Sleeping Dragon: Vachir's arrows pierced the neck of the fleeing horse, and it collapsed to the ground, leaving the party alone in the road enrico: Enrico raced over the horse to check the saddlebags. Sakura: Sakura merely lookrf disappointed at her empty container for her crossbolts. "I am out of bolts. Need to get some more." She muttered to herself. "Still, I wonder what is the message? I am so glad we managed to stop them as I was afraid that they might acutally flee us successfully..." She told others. enrico: *raced over to the downed horses Sleeping Dragon: one of the horses and one of the Guards remained alive Sakura: Sakura walked over to the still living man and looked at him carefully, "We will need to take them off the road you know?" Sakura asked Rafael. Edivad: Vachir approached Rafael who had been checking the unconscious messanger. Rafael ben Efrim: "We'll have to deal with the bodies quickly," said Rafael. "Bury them off the road?" Sakura: "After stripping them of meats..." She paused for a moment before going on "The horse I meant..." Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael gave her a strange look. "Time is of the essence." enrico: "Just drag them off into the woods, man. Do you have any idea how much time its going to take to bury two horses? " Enrico looked up from rummaging the messengers belongings. Sleeping Dragon: Enrico searched rapidly through the saddlebags. The two men travelled very light - each carried two days worth of food, a waterskin, a purse with a small number of coins, identity papers & tokens, flint & steel, several torches, and finally some pieces of paper bearing the King's wolf sigil. These papers contained the detailed physical descriptions of seven 'extremely dangerous rogue mercenaries and cultists' and warned Town Captains to be on the lookout for these individuals and to have them arrested on sight. Rafael ben Efrim: "One horse Rico!" Rafael said sharply. "The other is alive and could be made use of." Sakura: "Fair enough." She dismissed the idea... and glanced at Enrico as she helped to herself to more bolts. "Any finds?" Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael looked over the men's uniforms. "Take these and their papers. We may be able to make use of them." Sleeping Dragon: edit: six, not seven Edivad: "Looks like we've bought ourselves some time."said Vachir when he saw the papers containing their descriptions enrico: "Bloodthirsty cultits to be arrested on sight, the usual fare. Let's cut that dog's throat and get out of here." Sleeping Dragon: Ardrun and Sophia began the laborious task of moving the horses, dead and unconscious, off the road. Rafael ben Efrim: "The living guard does present a problem," Rafael agreed. "We can hardly take him with us. Unless we can get useful information out of him, I can give him a painless end." Sakura: "To be frank, I doubt he can give us any useful information, as we already got everything we need to know from the messages he was carrying" She said softly. Rafael ben Efrim: "He would have killed us, or taken us to our deaths," Rafael said. "And there is a greater cause that can not be risked for one man's life." Vachir: "Might as well kill him then." said Vachir "The more Kingdom Guards we kill now, the less we'll have to face later." Sakura: "Just give him something that will kill him." Sakura agreed. "We need to take them off the road though." She glanced around looking at these bloods. Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael took hold of the unconscious man's arms. "Help me drag him away from the road." Vachir: Vachir helped Rafael pull the man away Sleeping Dragon: the party moved the men and horses into the woods not far from the road and also covered up the bloodstains on the road as best they could Sakura: Sakura did her best to deal with the covering up aof all the bloods and strains. Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael attended to the wounded guard, opening a vein in the man's throat so that he bled to death quickly and painlessly. Sakura: "Off to the woods then?" She asked the others? Rafael ben Efrim: By now the wounded horse had staggered to its feet, and stood shaking and rolling its eyes, but Ardrun went up to it, speaking softly, and at last it allowed him to take the reins. Sleeping Dragon: the party cut through the forest and began to make their way towards Rannemort. It was a hot, muggy day, and the trees provided welcome shade. Around mid-morning it began to rain, making the journey a rather unpleasant one though the trees gave some shelter.
For most of the morning there were few signs of other humans - they crossed a game trail at one point which indicated some kind of nearby settlement, but they didn't actually see any other people. This continued until shortly after mid-day, when the forest stillness was suddenly punctuated with a sudden woman's scream of "HEEEEELP!" from up ahead, slightly to the right of the party. Birds scattered in confusion at the sudden noise. enrico: Enrico motioned for everybody to stay still and crept ahead to see what the commotion is about. Vachir: Vachir reached for his bow and arrows "Trouble again."he stated matter-of-factly Rafael ben Efrim: "This is very strange. Do many people live out here in the forest?" Rafael whispered to the others. Sakura: Sakura nodded as she readied her crossbow and loaded it. "It sound real!" Sleeping Dragon: Cat also went ahead with Enrico Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael crept through the trees keeping the two of them in sight. Rafael ben Efrim: add* after applying something to his blade. Sleeping Dragon: they crept towards the location of the noise, though stealth proved a bit difficult in the damp conditions as ground squelched beneath their feet. "SOMEBODY HELP! PLEASE!" came another shout.
As they went on they saw that the person screaming was a short, dark-haired woman in well-made but slightly dishevelled blue riding clothes. The woman lay on her front at the edge of a ravine, one arm stretched out and into the chasm. Three horses were tied to a tree a few feet behind her, whinnying uneasily. Sakura: "Someone ought to help her." Sakura glanced at her small silm body. "Well?" She asked politely at Ardrun and other male members. Sleeping Dragon: Black Cat ran over towards the edge of the ravine Rafael ben Efrim: At this sight Rafael moved up, still looking carefully about him. "What's happening?" he called to the woman. enrico: Enrico hung around in the back, crossbow at the ready. He eyed the surroundings suspiciously Vachir: Vachir surveyed the scene, looking both worried and suspicious Rafael ben Efrim: Ardrun ran forward to help the woman. Sleeping Dragon: The woman glanced back, eyes widening slightly as she saw the size of the armed group directly behind her. "My husband, he's fallen into the ravine!" she cried, as Black Cat hastily pulled out a rope and tied it to a tree, tossing it down into the ravine. "Help me hold this!" Cat said to the others. Rafael ben Efrim: Ardrun grasped hold of the rope. Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael moved forward and looked into the ravine. Sakura: Smiling with a hint of relief at the sight of Ardrum and Cat leaping to help the woman, she strolled forward, following them, still holding her crossbow ready to fire at the slightest danger that may threaten Ardrun and Cat. Still, she held the rope with one hand and attempted to eye the woman and the ravaine more closely. Vachir: Vachir took a few steps forward to get a better look at the ravine and at the man inside Sleeping Dragon: a battered looking nobleman clung desperately to a root about fifteen feet into the ravine, eyes bleary and hair matted with blood. As Cat threw the rope down the man reached out tentatively and took hold. "Hang on!" Cat called to him, and she, Ardrun, and Sakura began to pull the man up, his wife sobbing with relief as he came back up over the edge, looking badly dazed. Rafael ben Efrim: As the man appeared Rafael stepped forward. "I am a doctor. That looks a bad head wound. I will help if I may." Sleeping Dragon: the noblewoman embraced her husband tightly, still sobbing, but let go when Rafael said he would treat to the man. "I...I hit my head..." the man said distantly Rafael ben Efrim: "Sit down." Rafael instructed the man, indicating a large rock. "How did you come to fall in the ravine?" he asked as he busied himself with examining the wound. "And where is your companion?" Sakura: Sakura glanced at these horses and enquired after them, "What about to the third rider?" She wondered. Sakura: "And what is your name?" She asked afterward of them. Sleeping Dragon: "My name is Anna Genaris, this is my husband Philip," the woman replied, her husband too shaken to say very much as Rafael tended to him. "The third was our bodyguard, Mannas." She shuddered. "He's gone...he fell in the ravine, the edge suddenly gave way." Looking, the party saw that the edge of the ravine did seem to have collapsed, clumps of earth, rock, and root jutting out unevenly Vachir: "Perhaps it might be worth to give a look down and see if he's still alive?"said Vachir, though he didn't look too hopeful Rafael ben Efrim: "What were you doing so close to the edge?" Rafael asked as he bandaged the man's head. "You stopped here for a reason?" He looked meaningfully at the tethered horses. Sleeping Dragon: "We just wanted to have a look, we've been out for a ride," said Anna. She suddenly blinked and then looked away from Rafael, turning to Black Cat. "Thank you very much, if you'd not come by just then my husband would have probably fallen to his death." Rafael ben Efrim: "Where have you come from?" Rafael asked. Sleeping Dragon: "My father's estate is about a mile and a half that way," she pointed southwest, "near the village of Hardwood." Anna paused. "Who are you?" Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael smiled. "We help those in trouble." Sakura: Sakura nodded thoughtfully, "Indeed." Rafael ben Efrim: Ardrun took Cat's rope and tied it to his own, then let himself over the edge of the drop. whispering to Rafael ben Efrim, Ardrun climbed down into the ravine to search for the missing bodyguard. It took little time to find the man. Mannas lay dead by a tree root a few feet from the stream at the bottom of the ravine, his body smashed to ruin in the fall - head crushed, shoulders, ribs, and stomach covered in bruises. A battleaxe lay on the ground nearby, haft broken in half. whispering to Vachir, Ardrun and Vachir climbed down into the ravine to search for the missing bodyguard. It took little time to find the man. Mannas lay dead by a tree root a few feet from the stream at the bottom of the ravine, his body smashed to ruin in the fall - head crushed, shoulders, ribs, and stomach covered in bruises. A battleaxe lay on the ground nearby, haft broken in half. Vachir: "I might as well go."added Vachir putting his bow behind his shoulders and following Ardrun down the ravine Rafael ben Efrim: (whispering): As Vachir arrived at the bottom, he could see Ardrun bending over the body of a man. "The fall killed him." Ardrun said simply. Vachir: (whispering): "Poor man."said a disappointed Vachir looking at the shattered body of the man "Don't think there's much we can do for him now." he added Vachir: (whispering): "Think we should take bring his body above to bury him?"Vachir asked Ardrun Rafael ben Efrim: (whispering): For answer, Ardrun slung the dead man over his shoulder, stuffed the broken axe into his belt and started back up the rope. Vachir: (whispering): Vachir waited silently for Ardrun to reach the surface before starting to climb, not wanting to put too much stress on the rope Rafael ben Efrim: Ardrun appeared on the top of the ravine, with a much battered dead body over his shoulder and a broken-halfted axe stuck through his belt. "I have found your man," he told Anna. Vachir: Vachir climbed up the rope, following behind Ardrun. Sleeping Dragon: Anna shuddered and looked away from the body. "Poor Mannas," she said. "Will you come with us? I would reward you for your assistance, and my father is a generous man. At the least we can provide you with a fine meal before you return to your journey." Rafael ben Efrim: Having treated the husband, Rafael went to take a look at the dead man, just to be certain there was no foul play. Sleeping Dragon: the man's injuries did seem entirely consistent with a fall from the ravine, his head smashed in and his body covered with bruises Rafael ben Efrim: Having completed his examination, Rafael looked up. "We could accompany you to your home. Our time is limited however." He looked around at the others to see how they felt. Sakura: "We can help you along at least but I think I pass the dinner though. However, a drink would be fine" She perked up. Sleeping Dragon: "As you wish," said Anna, moving towards the horses, Philip following her, still a bit slow and dazed but able to move under his own power. "Would you tie Mannas' body to his horse?" Anna asked, indicating the third horse Rafael ben Efrim: Ardrun did so. Sleeping Dragon: Anna and Philip began to ride back towards their estate, with Anna taking the reins of their dead bodyguard's horse and leading it along behind her. "So who are you?" Anna asked again. "What are your names, at least?" Rafael ben Efrim: "You can call me Ben," Rafael said. enrico: "Master, I'll be with your horse if you require me" - Enrico said to Rafael before bowing out. Sakura: "Gemma." She smiled softly. Sleeping Dragon: "My name is Petra," said Sophia. Sleeping Dragon: Anna nodded. "What are you doing in the forest? Not that I'm not grateful you understand but we don't get very many travellers." Rafael ben Efrim: "We were travelling to Camp Cloven, but I believe we may have missed our way to some extent." Rafael replied. Sleeping Dragon: Anna laughed. "Happily so! You'd do better to stick to the roads however. Why are you going to Camp Cloven? It's not a very exciting place from what I know, just discontented slaves and trees." Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael's ears pricked up at that. "Slaves eh? Maybe we will find what we are looking for among them." He looked about him, and lowered his voice as if the trees could hear. "Our mission is very secret." Sakura: Sakura nodded solemnly, "It is an important mission and a secret one." Sleeping Dragon: "One better served by staying off the roads," Sophia added.
Anna looked startled, but nodded. "I see," she said, and lapsed into silence as they rode on towards the estate Sleeping Dragon: they made their way towards the Genaris estate, which proved to be a small colonnaded marble home roughly equal in size to the party's estate outside of Copperdell. The estate was placed atop a hill overlooking the small village of Hardwood, numbering perhaps twenty farms and small cottages, in a valley about a half mile from the estate. They could see a few people moving about in the rain, cutting trees or tending to animals.
As the party approached, a serving man opened the gate, poked his head out, and then gaped at the size of the party and the sight of Mannas' battered body. "By the Masters!" the serving man turned towards the courtyard. "Kelvin! Kelvin! Get Lord Aram immediately!" Sakura: "I hope Lord Aram don't consider us a threat..." She looked concerned only but for a moment. Sakura: She swhispered to herself Sleeping Dragon: the party came in through the gates and the serving man took the horses. About a minute later, another, younger servant returned, followed by a man in his early fifties with greying hair who bore a great resemblence to Anna. Lord Aram quickly strode over to Anna, embracing her. The two spoke quietly for a few moments as Anna explained what had happened
Lord Aram turned to the party. "You have saved the life of my son-in-law. Please accept my warmest thanks for your brave and timely intervention. You are welcome to stay here as long as you'd like, though Anna says you are in a hurry." Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael stepped forward. "Our time is short, but we would be glad to spend a little time here until we are rested." Sleeping Dragon: "Of course." Lord Aram's face went grim. "I must go speak to poor Mannas' widow, but you are free to have any food or drink you'd like, simply speak to Kelvin there and he'll serve you." Lord Aram instructed the other servant to carefully remove Mannas from his horse and to clean his body as best as he could manage. Rafael ben Efrim: Ardrun handed over the dead man's broken axe. Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael thanked Lord Aram and went to speak to Kelvin. Sakura: Sakura also thanked Lord Aram and hope to see Kelvin on the natter on wine Vachir: "Always remember we are in a hurry."quietly said Vachir to the others "Though it wouldn't hurt to ask the people here a few questions." Sleeping Dragon: Kelvin took the party aside to the dining area, a comfortable, well-furnished room on the second floor with a balcony overlooking the courtyard. enrico: Enrico remained with the gear and played a role of indentured servant Sakura: "Quite nice room..." She eyed the dinning area. Rafael ben Efrim: "A very well appointed house in all respects." Rafael agreed. "Is the estate long established?" he asked Aram. Rafael ben Efrim: edit* asked Kelvin Sleeping Dragon: "It is," said Kelvin. "The Genaris family has been established in this area for nearly one hundred years. Previously it was the ruling family in this area, however the revenues of the estate have declined since the glorious King Darragan took control of all logging in the area and he seems content to leave the running of Hardwood to whichever overseer he puts in charge of those operations, presently one Hildon." Kelvin's voice was thick with disapproval Rafael ben Efrim: "I imagine they do not perform that duty as well as one who belongs here." Rafael said, nodding understandingly. "We have seen how poor overseeing can create terrible trouble. In Copperdell for instance." Sakura: Sakura nodded for a moment before asking "Indeed, I hope there is no strange activities in the area to trouble you?" She asked with hint of concern. Sleeping Dragon: Kelvin sneered. "The Kingdom Guards are not always most efficient at controlling the rabble. Fortunately, we have no such troubles in this area, the serfs are content and the slaves are kept under close control. Since the southern frontier was strengthened there have been no problems with monsters, there is only one patrol unit of Guards left to maintain order." Rafael ben Efrim: "You have been fortunate," Rafael said. "But these troubles in other parts of the kingdom are not accidental. Some evil people delight in sowing seeds of mayhem and destruction." Sleeping Dragon: Kelvin looked confused. "I'm afraid I don't know what you mean, but we have little information on what's occurred in Copperdell." Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael looked around then lowered his voice, "We are unable to say much but there were some very strange people involved in the uprising. You have not heard of any strange goings on in Camp Cloven or Rannemort have you?" Sleeping Dragon: Kelvin now looked very alarmed. "No, none at all. What do you mean?" Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael shook his head. "The less you know the better."
|
|
|
Post by sleepingdragon on Jan 9, 2010 18:21:37 GMT
Sleeping Dragon: Rafael looked around then lowered his voice, "We are unable to say much but there were some very strange people involved in the uprising. You have not heard of any strange goings on in Camp Cloven or Rannemort have you?"
Kelvin now looked very alarmed. "No, none at all. What do you mean?"
Rafael shook his head. "The less you know the better."
Kelvin laughed nervously and said nothing. Sakura: Sakura sighed thoughtfully, "Nothing seems to happen here then. Nice and peaceful..." Rafael ben Efrim: "I am sorry if we frightened you," Rafael said to Kelvin. "We have become unused to quietude." Sleeping Dragon: Kelvin nodded. "Yes, yes, a very quiet place, the death of poor Mannas today and Lord Philip's escape are the most noteworthy things to occur in some time. It is very fortunate, they have not been married long at all and Lord Aram would have been most wroth if he had died." Rafael ben Efrim: "I am glad that we were able to assist," Rafael said. "I am sorry that we will not be able to stay." Sakura: Sakura nodded regretfully. Sleeping Dragon: shortly afterwards the party were served a fine meal of beef served with delicate pastries and well aged wine, easily the best meal they had eaten since the feast in Torath, an eternal six days before, when they had been the guests of the Kingdom of Torath rather than its most wanted fugitives.
Time was still pressing, however, so the party ate quickly and then set out, Lady Anna thanking them again for their assistance. They turned away from the small village of Hardwood and returned to the rough track of the forest. Travel was unpleasant, for the rain had grown heavier while they were indoors, and the hot, muggy temperatures remained. Sweat and precipitation soaked their clothes in equal measure.
Though the forest was still very sparsely populated, the area around Hardwood was marginally more settled. At one point they passed a trio of hunters struggling with the carcass of a deer, who greeted them warily before continuing on to their hamlet. Then, about five miles to the south of Hardwood, they crested a small hill and found themselves overlooking a large Torathi lumber camp, located in a secluded dale about a mile to the east. Distantly they could perceive the figures of slaves moving in the rain, distinct in their canary yellow uniforms, cutting or carrying wood under careful guard from overseers. A small motte-and-bailey castle had been constructed on the largest hill in the dale, above which flapped the red-and-black banner of the Kingdom. Around the base of the hill was a scattering of slave hovels, as well as a small stone building, presumably the home of the overseers. Rafael ben Efrim: "We do not need to go near the camp." Rafael said as they watched. "Unless we have some special reason." Enrico : "Nothing but lumberjacks over there. Unless you want to comb every single slave camp looking for Catherine and her buddies, I suggest we move on." Sakura: "Or since we are the enemies of this Kingdom, we can always free the slaves from it terrible captors..." Sakura thoughtfully mused, "Still we do not have time." Rafael ben Efrim: "Those slaves should be freed," Ardrun said, his eye on the yellow forms. "We can not pass by." Enrico : "Save the noble notions for the freedom fighters and chanting holy men." - Enrico chuckled and continued to walk. Vachir: "Starting a slave rebellion?"asked Vachir "I would normally not be against this, but remember we will also have to deal with the Blood Angel..." Rafael ben Efrim: Ardrun gave Enrico a baleful look. "Some slaves may join us." he said. Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael looked thoughful. "It would be right to free them, and it might cause a diversion as well." Sakura: "We cannot draw the attention of the enemies at the moments..." Sakura answered, "Are you acutally seriously considering attacking the camp?" Black Cat: Disconnecting from server... CosmicHorror (exit): 20:40 Sakura: "and a fort!" She pointed at the castle. Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael sighed. "I think we must save freeing the slaves until we have dealt with the Crimson Path. Then we will return and change everything." Vachir: "Hoping we suceed in dealing with the Crimson Path and the thing they are trying to call forth." added Vachir sullenly "If we don't, there might be nothing left to change." Rafael ben Efrim: "Let us go then!" Ardrun said, suiting his actions to the words. Sakura: Sakura sighed for a moment at Ardrun's back and kept going. "Are you people are capable of changing everything..." Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael looked serious. "There is so much wrong in the world. We have to try." Sleeping Dragon: the party passed by the logging camp and continued on their way to Rannemort. Beyond that point they saw no other sign of people in the forest, as they swung in a southwesterly direction. Though it became slightly cooler as the day wore on, the rain continued and indeed grew worse as night came on, and the party were eventually forced to rest for the night at the edge of the forest, near to the hills around Rannemort. Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael pulled his coat closer around him and settled down for the night. Sleeping Dragon: the party took their usual watches, cautious after the attack the last night, but nothing occurred and morning came peacefully. The rain had ended during the night, leaving the sky clear and bright. Rafael ben Efrim: In the morning, Rafael made his ablutions and prayers. He looked up at the sky as he returned to the others. "A fine day at last. How will we approach Rannemort? They will be ready for us no doubt." Enrico : "I'll go in first. There is no doubt that the upstanding citizens there are in a dire need of some well made haircombs and spiritual aids." Sakura: "We could go in as different people, but how to deal with Ardrun and Sophia." She glanced at the two gaints... Rafael ben Efrim: "Someone could disguise themselves with the guard uniform," Rafael said. "We might be able to convince the authorities with a false message." Sakura: "Some kind of revolt in the lumber camp? But that would meant that the messanger would only get dragged along back to the camp..." Sakura considered it Enrico : "Perhaps we need to draw out a portion of their guards, supposedly to ambush the horrible fiends that tried to torch the Capital. The guards will get ambushed instead." Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael considered this. "Not if he was exhausted and injured. If a desperate messenger arrives with a sweating horse and his clothes cut about...They would hardly take him with them, but they would have to take it seriously and send a force to deal with it." Rafael ben Efrim: He nodded in agreement at Enrico's words. "We'll make description of those setting the slaves free match the wanted." Sakura: "Enrico seems to be most ideal man to send as messenger. He got execellent talent after all." She uttered it as statement of fact. Sakura: "Still, it seems too riskly at the moment." She shook her head, "I would say that just send Enrico and Cat ahead to scout ahead, disguised." Rafael ben Efrim: "There are only three dozen guards in the town," Rafael said. "They will either send too small a force or leave the town with too few defenders." Vachir: "Three dozen guards?"said Vachir "We've fought much worse, haven't we?"he added sounding hopeful Rafael ben Efrim: "If we fight in the town we will warn the cultists though." Enrico : "I say we lay an ambush for the expeditionary force they are bound to send." Sakura: "And we need to ask the captain containing his source of informations..." Sakura muttered Rafael ben Efrim: "Indeed. There are many questions we need answers to." Rafael said with a cold smile. Sleeping Dragon: as the party made their way out of the forest and into the gently sloping hills surrounding Rannemort, they quickly discovered that their debate was unnecessary - for the town of Rannemort was on fire. Clouds of smoke rose from burning farms and other buildings. The clouds diffused as they rose up, and in the upper reaches of the cloud the sun refracted off the smoke, turning the sky a blood-red hue. Rafael ben Efrim: "I think the Crimson Path got there before us," Rafael said grimly, watching the smoke rise. whispering to Sakura, glancing up, Sakura realised with alarm that something more sinister than a mere optical effect was causing the red colour in the sky...the sky was in fact actually turning red Sakura: Her eyes glanced at the sky, "The sky is in fact turning red!!!" in alarm. Sakura: She cried out in alarm Enrico : "What the? Lets get closer!>" Sleeping Dragon: looking carefully they saw that the strange colouring in the sky was not simply caused by the fire - even when they looked behind them, in areas far away from the town, a faint red colour was beginning to mix in amongst the blue, like blood in the water Sakura: Sakura shivered at the sights. Rafael ben Efrim: "We need to get down there!" Rafael exclaimed. "Maybe we can stop this still." Vachir: "Who else?"said Vachir echoing Rafael's words "But I'm not going to be grateful to the Path, for one.." Sakura: She took up her crossbow and loaded it with a bolt, "Yes. Quickly! Time to run in!" Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael glanced up at the red sky as they moved towarss the town. "Does this mean they have begun the ritual here?" Vachir: "But where?"said Vachir casting worried glances at the reddening sky "If we find them before it is completed, perhaps we can disrupt it" Sakura: Sakura merely shook her head, "No idea.. Rafael" Rafael ben Efrim: "I don't know. All we can do is hope. And pray..." he added. Sleeping Dragon: the party hastily rushed down towards Rannemort, abandoning stealth in favour of the greatest possible speed. As they drew near they passed the burning husks of dozens of farms, now nearly completely burned down. Indeed almost every building was ablaze, even the Town Captain's stone residence, though looking, they thought they could see a few barns around that building that remained intact, though with sparks flying around them it was unclear how much longer they would remain so.
Bodies of serfs lay here or there, torn to pieces and covered with huge claw marks, or with throats ripped out, some so deeply that their heads flopped nauseatingly backwards, clinging to their bodies by the merest threads of flesh. There were no signs of any weapons.
Then they came upon the Kingdom Guard barracks, which was the most badly damaged of all the buildings, as if it had been the first set ablaze. At the scorched remnants of its front gate lay a pile of bodies. Six were Kingdom Guards, their armour smashed to pieces, but there was also another body there. It was about seven feet in height, its features vaguely froglike, with grayish-green skin and strong legs. A spear had been shoved through its chest and it had fallen forward onto it, shaft broken and the spear sticking out through its back. Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael stopped and examined the creature. Sakura: Sakura also looked at the strange creature Vachir: Vachir looked slightly shaken by the sight "They were not killed by men or beasts! What could have done all of this? Demons?"he asked to the others sounding worried. Then he looked to Rafael and saw that he was examining something - the monstrous body of what had probably been one of the aggressors. Vachir: "I don't know what this thing is, but it looks like at least it can be killed by weapons."commented Vachir after a few seconds of surprise at the sight of the corpse, sounding like he was trying to sound hopeful Enrico : Enrico pulled out his crossbow, keeping at the ready, Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael looked up at the sky meaningfully. "They may be mortal but this is not a natural event." Sakura: Sakura frowned, "It seems we got a cult who consort with demons as well..." She explained what the monster is, "They are called 'Orrusks' They are common fighters in the Demon armies. Powerful in strength and toughness, they can leap and swim great distances. Still, I am surprised to see them since they are more commonly summoned in the Teeths and other islands since they are used to ambush their foes' ships." Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael frowned down at the body. "They do appear more suited to water. Can we find the centre of this red light?" Sakura: "Happily, they are susceptible to our weapons but they are still tough." She paused for thought. "Good point..." She glanced around. Sakura: with her weapons at ready. Vachir: "How long ago do you think they were killed?"Vachir asked Rafael, pointing to the dead Torathi Guards Sleeping Dragon: there was no discernible centre to the strange red light, and in the midst of the flames it was difficult to tell. They did notice that there was a small number of barns around the burning Town Captain's residence that were not yet ablaze, though there were sparks flying around them and it was unclear how long they would remain untouched. Sakura: "Maybe we should have look into these barns to see if there is any still living souls in them?" Sakura told them quickly. Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael nodded and slipped forward quietly. Vachir: "Living souls in them? I doubt it. I'd be more concerned about some of these demons still being there. Let's keep our weapons ready." Enrico : Enrico tried to maintain silence while moving forward, but was clearly shaken by all the things happening around him. He kept bumping into things and hitting his gear against each other while walking. Sakura: Sakura followed Enrico but despite making noises, she felt that she is going be fine with hiding. Sleeping Dragon: the group made their way towards the few buildings which were yet untouched. They were located just to the east of the burning remnants of the Town Captain's remnants. There were only two barns that were yet unburnt, near to a small field with five foot high corn, in the centre of which stood a pumpkin headed scarecrow that surveyed the carnage dumbly.
The barn directly behind the cornfield was untouched, but that could not be said of the building to the south of the field. Oil-soaked kindling had been piled round it, and, though none had yet caught fire, sparks from nearby fires were now very close. Over the crackle of flame they could hear screams of terror from within the barn. They approached the building, rushing up a narrow strip of grass between two burning buildings. Enrico : Enrico rushed up to the barn, weapon at the ready, and tried opening one of the doors. Vachir: Vachir approached the barn with bow and arrow, gazing around as if he expected demons or other hideous creatures to burst forth from it. Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael was close on Enrico's heels. whispering to Vachir, as the party rushed forward, Vachir peered into the cornfield and saw that there was one of the frog-demons ducked down within the corn, eyeing them viciously with bulbous eyes, long black tongue licking the air as it prepared to leap out of the cornfield at Rafael, who was at the head of the party Vachir: "Demon!"shouted Vachir calling out to Rafael and the others as he fired an arrow at a shape hidden in the cornfield Sleeping Dragon: screaming with rage, the demon bounded up out of the cornfield, frog-legs flexing as it hurled itself into the air. As it came down it snapped over top of Rafael's head, biting heavily into Vachir's arm, teeth dragging down as Vachir tore free. Sophia had time to shout "There's another one!" in time for this second creature to also spring out of the field, biting Rafael heavily and leaving bloody tears in his dark black coat. Sleeping Dragon: Sophia stormed forward, attempting to emulate their foes and leap forward to avoid their long grasp, but each of them bit out at her as she came in and tore into her flesh. Angrily Sophia lashed out with her scythe, smashing the damaged demon heavily. Sleeping Dragon: Black Cat sprang forward, rushing past her companions and hurling herself through the legs of the wounded demon. As it turned to try to find her she pushed up with her hands, vaulting over the fence into the cornfield, whipping out a dagger in mid-flight and jabbing the demon in the back. Vachir: Gritting his teeth against the pain of the bite, Vachir unleashed a volley of arrows at the frog-horrors. One of them, pierced by two projectiles, was felled to the ground, while the other was only slightly wounded. Sakura: Sakura snarled a warning in the chilling language, and start singing about demonslaying. Rafael ben Efrim: Meanwhile Rafael had been studying the creature and tried to distract it but it was too sharp for that. He did manage to hit it lightly. Sleeping Dragon: the demon lashed around it with teeth and claws, tearing at Vachir, Sophia, and Rafael. Only Rafael was struck, taking a scrape along the arm. Rafael ben Efrim: Ardrun rushed forward and although the frog-thing snatched at his flesh he ignored it, wounding the thing. Sleeping Dragon: Sophia stepped forward, raising her scythe high and bringing it sweeping down. The first sliced across the creature's front, and the backswing flashed up at its throat. The scythe blade looked as if it might decapitate it, but the frog demon jerked back and the blade simply sliced heavily across its face. Sleeping Dragon: [1d12] => [7] = (7) Sleeping Dragon: edit: the blade sliced heavily across its face, sending it bleeding to the ground. Enrico : After the demon dropped to the ground, Enrico rushed forward. Sleeping Dragon: Black Cat sprinted forward to the front of the barn surrounded by kindling. "There's crates piled in front of the door! Help me move them, quick!" she shouted to the others Sakura: Sakura quickly ran toward the barn bypassing Enrico but not Vachir Sakura: by leaping over the two fence that bar her way Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael sprinted up beside Vachir. Rafael ben Efrim: Ardrun ran alongside. Sleeping Dragon: Sophia also darted forward Enrico : Enrico raced forward to help with the crates. Sleeping Dragon: Black Cat grabbed a crate and hurled it aside Vachir: Vachir ran beside Enrico and strained to help moving the crate Sakura: Sakura rushed along the outside of the barn and finally reached the crate, determined to help the others to move the crates out of the way Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael moved round to grab a crate but he couldn't get a grip. Rafael ben Efrim: Ardrun leaned in between Vachir and Enrico and lifted one of the crates easily with his long arms. Rafael ben Efrim: "Come out." Rafael called. "The door is clear." Enrico : Enrico opens the door, crossbow at the ready. Sleeping Dragon: the door opened to reveal nearly twenty peasant men, women, and children trapped within the barn, banging their hands on the walls and screaming. At the sight of the party they surged forward, jostling chaotically for a moment until the largest of the men shouted to let the children out first, which they proceeded to do in a roughly ordered fashion.
|
|
|
Post by sleepingdragon on Jan 16, 2010 16:50:01 GMT
Sleeping Dragon: the surviving villagers made their way out of the barn, shock and relief etched on their faces. Several broke down in floods of tears as they stumbled out, throwing themselves on the grass. enrico: Enrico went out to scout the surrounding area for any more demons. Vachir: "Perhaps we should ask them what happened." suggested Vachir in a hushed tone to Sakura and Rafael when he saw the villagers leave the barn "Although I don't except them to know much." Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael went to treat the injured. "What were those things?" he asked the villagers. Sakura: Sakura approached the largest man who gave the orders and asked him quite simple, "What happened?" Rafael ben Efrim: While the others talked, Ardrun started pulling the oil soaked kindling away from the barn. Vachir: While Sakura and Rafael tried to talk to the shaken villagers, Vachir decided to go and check the other barn Sleeping Dragon: the villagers were still in shock, but Sakura and Rafael were able to calm them. "Captain Ghent, he's gone mad! He brought those things on us, they were taking orders from him...they were talking about a ritual and a temple somewhere." whispering to enrico, the sound of laughter could be heard from inside the second barn whispering to Vachir, the sound of laughter could be heard from inside the second barn Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael caught Sakura's eye. "Was he the only human being involved with them? No others?" enrico: (whispering): Enrico attempted to peek so as to get a good look of what's going on inside Vachir: "I hear laughter from inside there!"shouted Vachir after having approached the barn "Might be one of those madmen, or even another demon." Rafael ben Efrim: "Captain Ghent was ordering the demons," Rafael said. "That is a familiar name." Sakura: "There must be other people helping Captain Ghent..." She mulled before Sakura glanced up at Vachir's words and frowned at potential danger. "Yes, it seems he is the member of the cult after all." Rafael ben Efrim: Ardrun got some of the villagers to take over removing the kindling and came around the corner of the barn. whispering to enrico, Enrico looked inside the barn to see a terrible scene. Inside the spacious barn were six demons, a large man in chainmail who bore an axe, and four people with ropes round their necks. One of the demons, a hideous, spindly creature with long red clawed hands, stood atop the hayloft with these four captives. The demon stuck a sack down over the head of one of the captives.
"Watch now," the man said to the other three, "as your friend dies, and thus in your last moments you may contemplate the inevitability of humanity's own destruction. You there," he said, waving his axe at Enrico, "why not come and join us?" Sakura: She did however try to find out more about this temple and ritual among the villagers they managed to save. enrico: Enrico peeked into the second barn and recoiled in horror as a voice from inside adressed him. Sleeping Dragon: There was a loud laugh from inside the barn. "Come on then! Death awaits you!" a man shouted. Rafael ben Efrim: Hearing this, Rafael slipped accross and stood behind the barn door, throwing a dagger at one of the demonic shapes lurking within. As he ran he called to Ardrun "Burn the barn down if you can." Sleeping Dragon: as Rafael reached the barn he realised why that was not necessarily a good idea. The barn was spacious, with horse stalls lining the eastern wall and a hayloft on the western wall. Atop the hayloft stood a spindly demon with long clawed hands, and four peasants with nooses round their necks. The demon had pulled a bag down over the head of one of the peasants. Black Cat: Cat ran next to Rafael and threw a dagger at one of the large demons. enrico: Enrico wildly fired off an arrow at one of the demons and moved back to reload. Sakura: Sakura raised her crossbow and yelled at the villagers, "Go!" to tell them it is better to leave when they can. She started singing a song of great quests of her party since so far. Meanwhile, her eyes looked like they can be very nasty for demons. Sleeping Dragon: the frog-demons rushed forward, biting at Rafael and Vachir, one tearing a chunk from the Jeth's shoulder. Vachir: Vachir retreated from the advancing demon, shooting an arrow which grazed it as he did so Sleeping Dragon: Ghent pointed his axe at Rafael. "So it's you! Have no fear, soon your flight from the Kingdom Guards will seem like a pleasant day trip!" Rafael ben Efrim: For a moment Rafael felt a cold horror creeping over him at the vile cultist's words, but he thought on the One, and steel entered his soul. Sleeping Dragon: Sophia came to the fray, leaping in suddenly to try to catch the frontmost demon off-guard. It saw through her attempt and bit at her as she came in, ripping into her arm. Breaking free, she slashed out with her scythe, shearing deep into the frog-thing's grey-green hide Rafael ben Efrim: "Get that kindling round the barn over there!" Ardrun ordered the villagers, then he charged forward, slashing at the demon right over Black Cat's head. Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael drew his scimitar, and watched for his chance to catch the demon out. Rafael ben Efrim: As Black Cat distracted the demon he slashed at it from behind, mortally wounding it. Black Cat: As the demon began to fall from Rafael's attack, Black Cat jumped onto its back and drove at the demon behind it, driving her dagger into the creature before bounding off before it could reach her. enrico: Enrico fired another bolt at the hideous, towering creature, but missed. He stepped back, hands shaking. Sakura: Sakura found the human and yelled at him, "Ghent is going to die. La la la" She sung few words in demonic language mocking him of how weak he is beforeing returning to second verse of the quests." Sleeping Dragon: the demon in the doorway bit at Sophia and clawed at Rafael and Black Cat, wounding Sophia. Rafael dodged narrowly, while the claw aimed for Black Cat struck the side of the barn. one of the demons within the barn climbed up onto the hayloft. Vachir: Vachir rapidly unleashed a trio of arrows at the approaching demon, two of which cut through the thing's neck and slew it. Sleeping Dragon: Ghent stepped forward, brandishing his axe though watching Sakura warily Rafael ben Efrim: "There's a babau in there!" Rafael said suddenly. "Very sneaky. Cold iron harms it, but it damages ordinary weapons." whispering to Rafael ben Efrim, "There's a babau in here too!" a vicious voice hissed somewhere in Rafael's head Sleeping Dragon: the creature laughed and pointed at Rafael, and suddenly inky darkness fell over a large area of the barn Rafael ben Efrim: Ardrun launched himself forward through the darkness, slashing out at Ghent but missing widely. Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael ran in behind him, trying to sneak in to attack Ghent but he could see the cultist eyes on him. Sakura: noper Rafael ben Efrim: As Black Cat tumbled behind Ghent, Rafael's scimitar flashed out from the darkness, wounding the cultist badly. Black Cat: Cat dashed behind Ghent, drawing his gaze away from Rafael, ducking and weaving between the demon's attacks and struck the man with a strong blow before disappearing back into the darkness. enrico: Enrico drew his rapier and moved towards the melee. Sakura: Sakura rushed into bran to aid her follow fighters and yelled out in demoniuc languages crusing them and they will pay the prices. Sleeping Dragon: two of the demons clawed and bit around them, damaging Sophia, and then the one on the hayloft reached out and shoved one of the hanging villagers over the edge. The man sailed out into the air and sailed straight into Sophia, who staggered with the impact Vachir: Vachir leapt into the darkness, tumbling to get a better look at his foes. He fired an arrow at the demon behind Ghent, however it was lost in the darkness and struck the barn's walls instead. Sleeping Dragon: Sophia stepped forward and struck Ghent twice with her scythe, but the Town Captain of Rannemort remained on his feet, though clearly badly wounded Sleeping Dragon: Xagoth suddenly flickered and vanished from sight Rafael ben Efrim: nice Sakura: Sakura shouted out, "Babau teleported! Can be anywhere! Very powerful! Seems he left Ghent to die to report!" Sleeping Dragon: Ghent laughed and hacked at Sophia vicously, tearing large rents out of her armour, then stepped back, shooting Ardrun a vicious glare Rafael ben Efrim: Ardrun felt his heart falter, but he stepped forward with a fierce snarl, swinging his sword with such force that it tore through the cultist's neck. Ghent's head spun away, a look of astonishment on his face. With a horrible smile Ardrun spun and slashed at the demon standing beside him. Rafael ben Efrim: As Cat moved around behind the demon Rafael took advantage of the distraction and swung his sword, hitting it with a solid blow. Black Cat: Cat moved behind one of the demons, distracting it so that Raf could strike before striking it herself and then retreating back into the darkness enrico: Enrico moved up and jabbed one of the demons with his rapier, puncturing him. Sakura: The song from Sakura have omiously changed songs that spark dark and great battles against the demons. It shook the demons slightly. She strolled toward the area which seems more brighter... Sleeping Dragon: the demon on the hayloft jumped off, sailing over Sophia and Ardun nimbly and landing in the darkness behind them. It bit at Sophia, but missed badly. Another demon assaulted her, but she dodged two blows and the other caught on her armour, while the third demon struck Ardrun, who was lightly wounded. Vachir: Taking a step back, Vachir fired another three arrows. One flew wide in the darkness, but the other two struck the nearby demon, wounding it. Sleeping Dragon: Sophia felled a demon with two powerful swings, then stepped up to confront another Sleeping Dragon: Xagoth suddenly sprinted out of the darkness, slamming into Vachir and grabbing for his bow, but Vachir's form was blurry in the darkness and the babau's claws closed around darkness whispering to Vachir, "Hmph. Pity, I would have liked to see you try to fight with your hands like a proper warrior." A voice spoke in Vachir's head CosmicHorror (enter): 23:10 Attempting to assign the role of PLAYER to (2735) CosmicHorror... Rafael ben Efrim: Ardrun stepped back and swung mightily at the demon, killing it with enormous blows, then turned to cut savagely into the remaining frog demon. "I've got this, help Vachir!" he shouted to Sophia. Black Cat: Cat rushed at the remaining large demon, driving a dagger into it. Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael moved through the darkness and wounded the demon. enrico: Enrico danced up and stabbed the remaining demon into what could be ascertained as an armpit. Sakura: Sakura can only make out babau and yelled at it in the demonic language. She rushed toward to hayloft, trying to get onto the hayloft. However as she jumped and finally caught the edge, as she eyed the man who is dying. CosmicHorror (exit): 23:36 Vachir: Eyeing the demon with hate and taking a step back, Vachir fired at him. Another arrow was lost in the dark, but the other two struck him squarely - one almost cut through his neck and could perhaps have killed him if the archer had a bit more luck. Sleeping Dragon: Sophia slashed and took one of the demons down, then advanced quickly on Xagoth whispering to Vachir, "Was that supposed to hurt?" Sleeping Dragon: the babau stepped up and attempted to grab Vachir, but the archer nimbly avoided him Rafael ben Efrim: Ardrun ran out of the barn and tried to grapple the babau but the demon just slithered through his arms. Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael ran over to the hanging villager and cut him down. Black Cat: Cat ran behind the remaining demon, discarding her fighting knife for a slightly different looking one on the way, but was unable to strike at the demon through the darkness. enrico: Enrico raced over to the hogtied villagers and started cutting their bonds. Sakura: Sakura helped the villagers on the hayloft to free themsleves, "Are you alright?" Sleeping Dragon: the villagers nodded in frantic relief, though they were unable to speak. Vachir: Vachir fired at the babau again, but only one of his arrow struck, dissolving against the disgusting slime covering the creature. Sleeping Dragon: Sophia slammed into the babau, driving him out of the darkness Sleeping Dragon: the babau stepped nonchalantly into the edge of the fire spreading from one of the nearby buildings, ignoring the flames as he clawed at Vachir, who evaded the attacks Sleeping Dragon: Ardrun moved back into the barn and picked up a hoe that was leaning against a wall Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael grabbed up Ghent's axe and ran outside. Black Cat: Cat moved towards the demon and stabbed it with her dagger. The blade bit deep into the creature but quickly disintegrated as the creature's acid corroded it. Cat lept back into the darkness, another dagger in hand enrico: Enrico grabbed a rake and moved up. Sakura: Sakura rushed toward the enterance of the barn and fired a bolt from her crossbow, which merely pmissed Vachir: Moving away from the demon's claws, Vachir fired at the horror. Two of the projectiles struck, digging deep in its flesh before dissolving, but the third flew wide into the roaring fire. Sleeping Dragon: Sophia drew a sledgehammer from her pack and swung heavily at the demon, but missed widely. The babau struck out with three blows of its own, but all missed Rafael ben Efrim: Ardrun ran to where the babau was standing in the fire and tried to hit it with the hoe, but to no avail. Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael dropped the axe, pulled out his crossbow and fired at the demon, but the bolt did nothing to it. Black Cat: Cat rushed in and drove another dagger into the demon before backing into the darkness again enrico: Enrico rushed in, swinging the rake through the air like a maddened windmill. The wild twists and feints took the demon off balance. Sakura: Sakura rushed through the darkness and out on other side. She found the Xagoth standing in the fire, reloading her bolt. Vachir: Two of Vachir's arrows were lost in the fire, but one stuck the demon doing some damage before being dissolved. Sleeping Dragon: Sophia hammered the babau heavily with a wild swing of her maul. The creature turned to flee into the fire, but Ardrun smashed it on the head with his hoe and the babau fell Rafael ben Efrim: "This is one time we must finish it off." Rafael said, coming forward. "There is nothing that will hold it." Vachir: Vachir shouted victoriously as the demon was brought down. "Hack it to bits."he said "It's a demon, don't think mere ropes or chains could hold it." Rafael ben Efrim: Ardrun went into the barn and fetched a spade. He brought it down sharply on the demon's neck to sever it. Sakura: "And we must presumed that he bought news of our arrivals to someone else. Still, we should search Ghent's body?" She glanced at Enrico.
|
|
|
Post by sleepingdragon on Jan 23, 2010 16:07:02 GMT
Sleeping Dragon: Ardrun went into the barn and fetched a spade. He brought it down sharply on the demon's neck to sever it.
And we must presumed that he bought news of our arrivals to someone else. Still, we should search Ghent's body?" Sakura glanced at Enrico. Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael returned inside to see to the villagers. Vachir: Vachir rapidly etrieved some of his still-useable arrows and went back to the others. "What now?"he asked Vachir: edit:'retrieved' Sleeping Dragon: the villager that had been hanged was still alive, having been cut down in time, but the rope had cut deeply into his neck. The other three were all unaffected physically, though they were plainly traumatised and in deep shock enrico: Enrico began to methodically turn out Ghent's pockets, while keeping a worried eye on the slain demons. Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael did what he could for them, while talking calmly. "We have fought these evil cultists before and we will hunt them down now." he told the villagers. Sakura: Sakura nodded, "We are their worst nightmare!" She smiled confidently. Sleeping Dragon: the villagers stared wordlessly at Rafael with glassy eyes, one of the men sobbing and shaking still with terror Sakura: Sakura raised the questions for the villagers, "Now, can anyone would please explain about this temple and ritual?" Sleeping Dragon: eventually Sakura was able to calm the villagers and bring them round while Rafael dealt with the injuries of the one who had been hanged.
"Captain Ghent said that they were going to go to a temple in the Cloven Lands," said the eldest of the villagers, a weather-beaten man of around fifty. They were talking about a 'Great Ritual' that was causing the strange colour in the sky...they were talking about ways to get there through the Cloven Lands." Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael looked up at that. "There was no mention of a city was there?" Sleeping Dragon: "No, nothing of a city, just a temple, hidden in the hills. Let me think," the man paused and thought. "They mentioned some landmarks. There was something about a 'medusa tree'...a 'backwards stream'...what else was there?"
The man who had been crying composed himself. "A weeping stone," he said. Vachir: Vachir listenend intently - and worriedly - but did not say anything. Vachir: "The Cloven Lands?"said Vachir "Know anything about it?"he asked turning to his companions "And these landmarks sound ominous..."he added Sleeping Dragon: "The Cloven Lands are a hard place to get through," said the eldest of the men. "I used to be a tracker for the Kingdom Guards, when I was young and this frontier wasn't as clear as it is now, I went into them a few times. I can help guide you." Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael nodded. "The names must mean something. We will have to consider that as we travel. Thank you," he added, bowing to the older man. "We will need to leave, time is short." Sakura: Sakura explained what she know of Cloven Ranges, "A series of steep and irregular valley along with cliffs and sharp rocks. There is black silt fust which travellers can get into troubles with. Still these black silt make soils in Rannemore more fertile and at least explain the name of Ironwater River since it is metalic taste if mixed with river." Sakura also gave her respect to eldest man, "We will need all the helps we get. Thank you." Vachir: "Any of you good men have some spare arrows, for hunting perhaps?"asked Vachir to some of the other villagers "I'll pay you well for them of course." Sleeping Dragon: the elderly tracker extended a hand to Sakura. "I'm Willit," he introduced himself. "I had some arrows in my shack but I think it's been burned down, we might be able to salvage a few..." Sleeping Dragon: Willit rapidly led the party back to his small shack, which had, as he anticipated, been burned down. Searching amongst the ruins he found six usable arrows which he gave to Vachir, and a spear which he took for himself. "Not that I'll be any use fighting," he said wryly. "Those years are long gone." Vachir: "Thank you."said Vachir taking the arrows from the old man and offering him some gold coins as compensation "Do not worry, we should be able to handle that. Just lead the way." Sleeping Dragon: Willit took the coins and put them in a pocket. "How fast are we going to move? Way Ghent made it out, the longer this Great Ritual goes on the worse it gets. Something about an angel, though not one of the benevolent sort." Rafael ben Efrim: "The Blood Angel," Rafael said. "So things will get worse as the ritual continues? That is no surprise. We need to stop them as soon as possible." enrico: How far away are we from the site of the rite? Sakura: Sakura frowned at this, "So it seems the Ritual is ongoing. We really do not have time to lose here! Lead the way. How far away is this location? Do you know?" Sleeping Dragon: "From what Ghent said it's within a day's distance, I'm not sure precisely how far...depends on our luck in the Cloven Lands. If we get lost a few times - not impossible - it could be longer." Rafael ben Efrim: "We should hurry then. Maybe we can make it by nightfall." Sleeping Dragon: the party set out, leaving the burning remnants of Rannemort behind, and hurled themselves into the Cloven Lands, forcing themselves to hustle despite their wounds and fatigue from the day's battles.
The Cloven Ranges were a barren place. Cliffs criss-crossed the landscape seemingly at random, the hills were steep and treacherous, and everything was covered in a very strange black dust. Any movement sent the dust kicking up in choking clouds of black soot, leaving their eyes stinging and watering. As the party raced towards the Temple, the redness in the sky intensified and spread, an arcane aurora blotting out every cloud. Any creatures that might have populated the Cloven Ranges had fled its approach - the party were entirely alone.
after about three hours, the party began to wonder if they had taken some poor turning somewhere. Willit was muttering to himself and they nearly got themselves trapped at the top of a cliff, but Vachir and Sakura assisted the old guide and they were able to avoid any hazards. Then they came upon a very strange tree, gnarled with many branches, which, from a distance, looked like snakes blowing in the wind. "Medusa tree?" Willit wondered aloud. Sleeping Dragon: as they slowed slightly Willit let out a breath. "Been a while since I moved like that," he said, gasping. He glanced at the horse which Ardrun was leading. "Would it be alright if I rode?" he queried. "Can't keep up with you lot, but then you won't be able to run all day either when you're fifty-nine." Sakura: Sakura smiled slightly at him, "You only but have to ask." She nodded at Ardtun to help him to mount the horse in case. Rafael ben Efrim: "Of course, you must use the horse." Rafael insisted. Sleeping Dragon: "Thanks," Willit said, mounting up. He glanced at Rafael for a moment and sighed. "And sorry. You're Jethi, aren't you?" Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael nodded. Sleeping Dragon: Willit paused. "Like I said, I was in the Kingdom Guards when I was young. The Overseer...King he is now...he, well. You know what he ordered us to do. And I...did things I shouldn't have done, to your people. I'm sorry." Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael looked up at the old man for a long moment. "You know I can not grant you forgiveness for the harm you have done to someone else. But it is hard to admit such a wrong, and for that I respect you." Sleeping Dragon: Willit gave a stiff nod and kicked the horse into motion. Sleeping Dragon: they continued on, the red in the sky deepening in colour. After another hour they came upon what was surely the backwards stream - a strange stream that seemed to be flowing uphill Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael frowned. "An optical illusion surely? Water must always find its own level." Sakura: Sakura glanced at it and nodded, "It is opitical illusion." Vachir: Vachir gave the stream a concerned look, as if he somehow had expected its peculiar flow to come from some fell sorcery, but he seemed to believe Sakura's explanation. Sleeping Dragon: the party sped on, soon passing the final landmark, the 'weeping stone', a smooth, time-worn boulder that constantly discharged a thin trickle of water. Nearing the end of another hour, the party looked ahead and could discern a ruined section of wall distantly ahead of them, through the black dust. enrico: Enrico motioned the party to stay quiet and creeped forward to check it out. Vachir: Vachir waited with the others, but he kept his bow ready, in case the others should return bringing with them something dangerous Sakura: Sakura merely prepared her crossbow, ready to be fire at slightest event. Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael drew out a dagger, ready to throw it. Sleeping Dragon: Black Cat crept ahead with Enrico. Sakura: Sakura asked old man, "Are you alright?" Sakura: She whispered* whispering to enrico, Enrico and Black Cat stealthily moved up towards the wall. The crumbling wall surrounded a large ruined courtyard, filled with rubble, large boulders...and tents. There were two tents, by the northern wall, and in front of one stood a heavily armoured man in red-enameled armour wielding a sword and shield. Scrabbling along in the courtyard there were also four dretches, small demons Enrico remembered they had fought in Beggar's Flow. At the far end of the courtyard there was a set of steps leading up to a broad, marble-tiled pavilion, with a stone awning supported by columns made of some mysterious red stone. Lounging on these steps were four more armoured men, two standing by a set of bronze doors leading into the Temple itself, and a fifth man, unarmoured and in red, around whom were gathered a number of animated skeletons wielding curved swords and small shields. enrico: A look of consternation passed Enrico's face as he peered from across the wall. He turned and indicated that there are 6 men, several demons by grimacing like a buffoon and "other", for which signs and making faces did not suffice. Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael looked serious. "Six humans plus demons and something strange. Bad odds." he whispered to the others. Vachir: "'Other'?'"asked Vachir in a hushed tone "I wonder what that might be." Sakura: Sakura moved sliently and taking pain to hide as well toward them. Sleeping Dragon: they crept up towards a large courtyard which was encircled by a crumbling wall. The courtyard was full of rubble & large boulders, but there were also two tents near the northern wall. One man in red-enameled armour, wielding a sword and shield, stood by the tent. There were also four dretches, creatures they had fought previously in Beggars' Flow when they first clashed with the Crimson Path. At the far end of the courtyward, a set of steps led up to a broad, marble-tiled pavilion, with a stone awning supported by columns made of a mysterious red stone. Upon these steps were four more armoured men, two standing by double bronze doors leading into the Temple itself, and a fifth man, unarmoured and in red, around whom were gathered a number of animated skeletons wielding curved swords and small shields.
As the party approached, Sophia, the least adept at stealth in the party and moving at the rear of the group, caught herself on a stone hidden under the black dust. She stumbled forward, managing to prevent herself from falling, but making loud noise as she did. One of the dretches looked towards the party and gave a screech of warning. Sleeping Dragon: the skeletons on the pavilion raised their swords and rushed down the stairs towards the party Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael slipped through the ruined doorway and hurled a dagger at one of the dretches, hurting it badly. Sleeping Dragon: as Rafael's dagger struck home, the red sky roiled above them. There was a hideous screeching noise and a bolt of sickly blue-green lightning smashed down from the sky and blasted down into the ground by the tents, singeing the warrior who stood by them. Sleeping Dragon: the unarmoured man on the pavilion raised a staff and levelled it at Rafael. A bolt of arcane force fired out, but blasted into one of the crumbling gatehouses to Rafael's side Sakura: Sakura told other quickly, "That lightening happen is because blood are shed! There will be more!" Vachir: "Thunder from the sky!"shouted Vachir as he moved behind Rafael to get a better look at the battlefield, sounding displeased that it was the result of arcane forces rather than a divine intervention. Quickly recognizing the unarmoured he saw man as a sorcerer, he aimed for a moment and fired a single arrow, wounding him. Sleeping Dragon: Black Cat rushed into the courtyard, flinging a dagger at the armoured man and then hastily retreating. As the dagger struck him lightning smashed down again from the sky, blasting down not far from one of the skeletons Rafael ben Efrim: Ardrun charged up to the injured dretch, wildly swinging his blade and slicing it nearly in two. Greenish-black blood spattered in an arc from the creature. Sleeping Dragon: lightning arced down, smashing the ground not far from the wounded warrior enrico: Enrico, brandishing his rapier, moved up next to Ardrun. He poised himself to attack whatever got closer. Sakura: Sakura looked fearsome as she moved toward Vachir shortly and started singing long song about how they met every single Crimson Path cultists and they laid slain, every last one of them." Sleeping Dragon: several of the warriors moved up to engage the party, while the two near the doors drew bows and fired at Vachir. Both missed, though one only very narrowly. enrico: A champion emerged from a tent and Enrico launched himself like a rabid mongoose at the enemy. The rapier's point glanced off the heavy armor, barely scratching the enemy. Sleeping Dragon: Sophia moved up between Black Cat and Enrico, hefting her scythe Sleeping Dragon: two of the remaining dretches moved forward while a third pointed and the air around the party was filled with bilious, disgusting gas. The party were hardened, however, and none were affected by the terrible smell Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael sneaked up behind Enrico and Ardrun, slashing one of the champions, wounding him despite the armour. Sleeping Dragon: as Rafael did, a bolt struck down in the midst of the skeletons, blasting one of them to bits Sleeping Dragon: the remaining skeletons advanced. Several threw themselves at Rafael, attempting to slash him with their scimitars, but he dodged their blows Sleeping Dragon: the sorcerer glared deep into Vachir's eyes. He felt a momentary panic come over him, but shook it off Vachir: Fighting both the fear and the noxious fumes, Vachir took a step forward towards his companions and unleashed a trio of arrows at the fell sorcerer. One flew wide as Vachir's fingers shook with fear, but the other two pierced his chest, sending him sprawled to the ground, helpless Sleeping Dragon: Black Cat darted in, rolling in past the guard of one of the warriors. Stabbing him viciously in the back with a quickly drawn dagger, she then rolled away, lightning crashing down onto the stairs as she drew blood. Rafael ben Efrim: Ardrun took a step back, using his long arms to reach a skeleton which was menacing Rafael. It smashed into a thousand shards of bone, and Ardrun swung round and cut one of the champions to pieces. Sakura: Sakura ran along the wall, out of that smelly cloud and glanced at the wall in front of her, she then climbed over the wall quickly. When she saw Dretch and Champion, she screamed at them in Abyssal and it was taken back with fear but the knight was also taken back but he managed to shurg it off, if not lightly enrico: Enrico sommersaulted around the dretch and stabbed it viciously in what might have been the liver. The skewered creature squealed hideously and died. Sleeping Dragon: the cult champions moved up and attacked. One narrowly missed Sophia, while Enrico and Rafael took heavy blows. the two bowmen fired at Vachir, missing, and then dropped their bows and strapped shields to their arms Sleeping Dragon: Sophia smashed her scythe down on a dretch, slaying it instantly, and swung through onto one of the nearby warriors. Her scythe bit deep into him, and as his blood spilled lightning smashed down smote one of the tents, setting it ablaze. Sleeping Dragon: the remaining dretch advanced, striking Ardrun, but he absorbed the puny strike
|
|
|
Post by sleepingdragon on Feb 6, 2010 20:38:13 GMT
Rafael ben Efrim: Seeing the skeletons moving up on him, Rafael spun and tumbled away, leaping up behind the Dretch and slicing it deeply with his scimitar, so that it fell gouting black blood. Sleeping Dragon: the skeletons clacked forward, swinging curved swords. One lightly struck Enrico, but none of the others landed a blow Vachir: Vachir fired a powerful shot at one of the champions and then quickly sprinted out of the noxious cloud, coming dangerously close to one of the skeletons Black Cat: Cat flanked behind one of the warriors, slipping her dagger into the man as the skeleton standing next to her made an effective attack on the location she had occupied. Rafael ben Efrim: With a roar of rage Ardrun swung his scimitar through the enemy like a scythe through dry grass. Two skeletons exploded into shards of bone, and then the champion behind them fell, as Ardrun reached out with his enormous arms and caught him a slashing blow in the neck. Sakura: Sakura moved through part of the dark cloud and stood in front of a well armoured man and smiled unnervingly at him "We are your worse nightmare and this grand quest will only ended in utterly failure!" Sleeping Dragon: Enrico made a feint against one of the warriors, then stabbed low under the man's guard right into his stomach. The cultist fell bleeding like a stuck pig. Sleeping Dragon: one of the warriors slashed back at Enrico, striking him lightly, while those by the temple doors drew their blades and advanced towards the fray Sleeping Dragon: Sophia moved forward, taking a light blow from a skeleton as she did, and swung her scythe in a huge arc. The two skeletons near her were hacked to pieces, and then the blade sliced deep into one of the cultists as well, sending a bolt crashing down just behind the fray as his blood spilled onto the earth Rafael ben Efrim: As the combat moved away from him, Rafael ran up to the cultist who was occupied with Sophia, and cut him deeply. enrico (enter): 20:25 Attempting to assign the role of PLAYER to (2637) enrico... Black Cat: Cat sprang away from one of the skeletons towards the advancing warriors and launched a dagger from the brace around her torso, landing a hit on the man's chest. Rafael ben Efrim: Again Ardrun gave his terrifying roar, with great strokes of his blade dispatching skeletons right and left, and with a final blow beheading the cultist behind them. Sakura: Sakura strolled down toward area in front of Ardrun and Cat and pointed at these two knights heading toward them, "You will also die!" She told them, pointing at them Sakura: edit: over the shattered and managed remains of their enemies. enrico: Enrico moved up a little bit, his weapon poised and ready. Sleeping Dragon: the two warriors charged in, but now all alone their hearts were frozen with fear and their blades flashed far wide of Enrico and Sakura Vachir: Vachir unleashed three arrows at the champion charging Sakura, lightning striking the ground far away as the man fell down helpless and critically wounded. Sleeping Dragon: Sophia charged at the remaining cultist, hacking his legs out from under him with a powerful sweep from her scythe Vachir: edit: 'the champion charging Enrico', not the one charging Sakura Rafael ben Efrim: As the last cultist fell, Rafael began to go round, ensuring their enemies were all dead. Sleeping Dragon: some of the cultists remained alive, but this was quickly remedied Rafael ben Efrim: When they were all dead, Rafael started running towards the temple doors. Vachir: After taking a few deep breaths and feeling the fear of the sorcerer's spell leave his mind, Vachir ran behind Rafael Sakura: Sakura, painfullly aware what may happened if this rite reached it end also ran toward to temple door along with Vachir. enrico: Enrico followed into the temple as well. Sleeping Dragon: the party rushed in through the bronze doors and found themselves in a marble-floored antechamber. The north and south walls contained murals 10 to 12 feet long. The northern mural depicted a lush paradise of streams, fields, and beautiful airy cities beneath a clear sky. The southern mural showed the same landscape, but the streams were dry, the fields barren, and the cities were in ruins, beneath a blood red sky shot through with sickly green lightning. There was a large bronze door on the eastern wall, behind which chanting could be heard, and small doors on the northern and southern walls as well enrico: Enrico quietly crept up to the southern door and peeked carefully inside. Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael crept to the northern door to listen to it. Sleeping Dragon: Enrico opened the door cautiously. Behind it was a narrow corridor with a small set of steps leading up. Sleeping Dragon: Rafael, hearing nothing beyond the chanting, also opened his door and discovered the same thing enrico: Enrico shrugged, and waved the party on. Rafael ben Efrim: "There may be a gallery or something up there," Rafael said quietly to the others. "It might be possible to come upon them unawares." Rafael ben Efrim: He started sneaking up the stairs. Vachir: Vachir nodded silently and started to go for the south door. Sakura: Sakura nodded as she went closer to Rafael, "Shall we leave Ardrun and Sophia behind for them to charge through main door... Will follow you" Sakura: edit: quietly Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael turned back. "Count to a hundred and then charge in. Or if you hear something happen, do it then." Rafael suggested to the two big fighters. Rafael ben Efrim: He set off again up the stairs. enrico: Enrico started creeping up the stairs carefully. Sleeping Dragon: Cat, Rafael, and Sakura crept along up the northern set of steps while Enrico and Vachir went along the southern. Each set led up to balconies overlooking a large central hall. The hall was quite spacious, the ceiling 20 feet high and the balconies 10 feet up, supported by stone pillars. Black metal hooks set into the chains had thick chains attached to them, which ran along and supported a vast chandelier in the centre of the room, easily 15 feet across. The chandelier, however, was not lit, and instead the light in the room was provided by candelabrae lining each wall and murky red light streaming in through a huge window on the eastern wall. Three dretches stood near the chandelier, eyes forward, watching the main doors anxiously.
Just below the window there stood a circle of red-robed human figures, one hand of each outstretched, slashing at their own arms with curved knives as they maintained a thick, guttural chant. Blood streamed from their bodies and ran into the centre of the circle, where a spreading pool of blood boiled and steamed. Overlooking them was an imperious woman in her mid-50s, pacing up and down and looking around the room. As the party crept along the balconies she suddenly gave a cry and pointed towards the north balcony. With this sharp gesture the circle of cultists gave one last shout and fell stone dead, the blood fountaining from their bodies, mingling with that in the centre of the circle which suddenly fountained up in a great geyser. The older woman, who remained alive, grinned...her mouth stretching far too wide to be that of any human. whispering to Sakura, as Sakura saw the celebrants fall dead, she remembered a line from the Great Rites book she had read. 'The Blood Angel can be harmed only by those who birthed it.' The daggers of the celebrants were stained in their own blood, which now formed into the geyser in the centre of the circle, forming a conduit through which Sakura feared the Blood Angel would imminently emerge, and she wondered if the Angel might prove vulnerable to those knives. Sakura: Sakura told the others urgently, "The Angel can only be harmed by these who created it. These bloody daggers might be effective on the Angel which is now coming through!" Rafael ben Efrim: As Sakura spoke, Rafael raced along the balcony, executing a somersault that took him over the railing to land beside the surprised Dretch. Next moment it was dead under his flashing blade. Vachir: Vachir looked at the hook for a moment, as if he was planning something, then turned rapidly shot dead the dretch standing below the balcony Vachir: edit: add 'and' between rapidly and shot Sleeping Dragon: the woman began to change, her shape altering rapidly. Her mouth distended and filled with needle-sharp teeth, her hands and nails lengthened into bird-like talons, and her skin became mottled in colour with scales forming on her neck and forearms. She gestured towards Rafael, and a ghostly hand glowing with dark energy shot towards him. The Jeth ducked and the hand flew past him and then returned to the scowling woman. Sleeping Dragon: Sophia kicked the door open and charged into the room, leaping forward. As she came down she brought her scythe around in a vicious arc at the remaining dretch. The curved blade hacked straight through the hapless demon, which fell in perfect halves, blood and viscera erupting from its mangled corpse. Sakura: Sakura shouted out, "An Agakaza! Powerful spellcrafter, can read mind and resistant to any weapons apart from holy piercing weapon!" Sakura: EDIT: Sakura shouted out, "An Agakaza! Powerful spellcrafter, can read mind and resistant to any weapons!" Sakura: as she rushed to the balacony overlooking the damned hall. She started singing a beautiful song about their fights against demons and how they always died in the end. Black Cat: Black Cat ran past Sakura and lept gracefully onto the chandelier. "Up here!" She called to the demoness and sent a dagger down to the fiend, drawing her attention. Rafael ben Efrim: Ardrun rushed down the hall, and with a wild cry lashed out at the demoness, but his weapon hardly hurt her. He ground his teeth in frustration at so slight a wound. enrico: Enrico somersaulted down and ran up behind ardrun Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael ran up to one of the dead cultists and picked up his bloody dagger, remembering what Sakura had told them. Vachir: Vachir sprinted along the balcony to get a better aim at the she-demon, but in his haste he stumbled and wasted precious moments Sleeping Dragon: the Agakaza looked displeased for a moment and abruptly vanished Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael swore uncharacteristically. "Get the daggers, as Sakura said!" Sakura: Sakura softly leaped to the fence that bar her from falling over and then onto floor as she kneed down. As she does so, she looked more dangerous and meanie! Black Cat: Cat also dropped to the floor and scooped up a dagger, replacing her thrown one. Rafael ben Efrim: Ardrun hissed with fury as his quarry vanished in front of his eyes. He leaned down and picked up one of the daggers. whispering to enrico, Enrico thought he heard steps near the southern balcony, just under where Vachir was standing enrico: "Something over there !" - Enrico whirled around, pointing at a spot under the balcony, above which Vachir was located. He then scooped a bloody cultist dagger hurriedly. Sleeping Dragon: suddenly the blood in the centre of the circle boiled upwards in a great gout and began to solidify. An enormous, monstrous form resembling nothing more than a viscous coagulation of seething blood towered over them. Somewhere from within its hideous mass it perceived them, and their minds reeled in horror as it began to move with a will. Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael's face was very grim as he moved around the bloody apparition, looking for a way to harm it. Vachir: Sweat formed upon Vachir's brow and he looked tormented and shaken, as if experiencing some nightmare or feverish, unearthly dream. Somehow he snapped back to reality and found the presence of mind to take a small leap on one of the chains and fire a single arrow at the center of the bloody mass of the Angel. The projectile did not seem to faze the horror much, if at all. Sleeping Dragon: Sophia stepped up and lashed out at the monstrous apparition with her scythe. As it went through the air it slowed noticeably, and blood sprayed out Sakura: Sakura stood still, her weapon ready, eyes narrowed at the Bloody Creature and mumbled few words, "Not going to happen to me!" Sakura: EDIT: As she launched into next verse, describing in great deal on how useless the Dretchs were. Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael's mouth moved silently in prayer as he watched the horrible bloody thing, then he suddenly lashed out. "That hurt it! Use the daggers!" Black Cat: As the Blood Angel formed, Black Cat, what could be seen of her behind her mask, went white. The hand clutching her fighting knife trembled so badly the dagger clattered to the stone floor. "If... if that is the way of things... then..." She said softly, perhaps talking to the bizzare creature. "Then I would rather die!" She cried, grabbing the blood soaked dagger from where she stowed it she lept at the creature, plunging the already crimson blade into the entitiy and then summersaulting back. Sleeping Dragon: suddenly the Agakaza reappeared, the glowing hand slamming into Ardrun. He felt a chill creep into his soul and some essence of him was transferred to the Agakaza Rafael ben Efrim: Ardrun ground his teeth in fury and stabbed out at the Angel, the dagger appearing puny in his great hand. enrico: Enrico swung his dagger twice, one of the strikes visibly "cutting" into the goopy surface of the creature. Sleeping Dragon: the seething mass of blood swirled. Gouts like fists lashed out at Rafael, Sophia, Ardrun, and Enrico, smashing them heavily. As the blows struck and their blood flowed Rafael and Enrico felt the strength leaching from their bones Sleeping Dragon: as it moved, several of the bodies of the cultists were swept up into the Blood Angel. Before their eyes in an instant they saw the bodies decay, flesh dissipating, bones whirling within it as if caught in a sudden updraught before dissolving Vachir: "Towards the door! Make it follow you under the chandelier!"shouted Vachir with all of his strength Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael groaned - not needing to play act his pain - and ran back under the chandelier towards the door. Sleeping Dragon: Sophia drew carefully away from the Blood Angel Sakura: Sakura narrowed her eyes as she strolled toward Tzaglina and muttered in strange lingo. Sakura: at her threateningly Sakura: (whispering): "Is that the best you can do? No wonder you are very unreiable servant!" Sakura: Tzaglina however seems to shurge her threat off but only barely. Black Cat: Cat sprang at the angel again, driving the blooded dagger into it again and backing off. Rafael ben Efrim: Ardrun looked as though he wanted to stay and fight but he tore himself away and pounded down the hall after the others. Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael prayed aloud as the Blood Angel started to move. Sleeping Dragon: the Blood Angel sped forward, slamming at Ardrun. Its enormous bulk of blood hammered into the gladiator, tearing his flesh and leaving him covered in wounds Vachir: Aiming for the hook in the ceiling, Vachir fired at it. The first arrow weakened it, shooting sparks as metal hit metal, and the second completely broke it, sending the chandelier crashing down on the Blood Angel... Sleeping Dragon: the chandelier gave a great creak and came smashing down atop the Blood Angel. Somehow sensing it, the strange creature flowed aside. The great weight of the chandelier came hammering down onto it, sending it juddering to one side, but it roiled out and continued on Vachir: Leaping back on the balcony before the chain came down, Vachir managed to fire another arrow at the thing. Sleeping Dragon: edit a few places back: Tzaglina sneered at Sakura's words and replied by pointing an imperious finger towards her. Lightning sparked from her hand and smashed out at Black Cat and Sakura. Cat rolled aside and was only lightly wounded, but Sakura was struck full by the bolt. Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael tumbled back hoping to avoid any attacks and although the Angel lashed out at him, he was able to dodge the lashing blood. Sakura: She stuggled with massive pain that was afflicted on her and replied, "Is that all?" She rushed to Tzaglina and once again yelled at Tzaglina with even more fiercesome lingo. Sakura: (whispering): "How dares you! Agakazan servant! You will pay for that!" Rafael ben Efrim: As Black Cat moved into posistion, Rafael suddenly struck out with the dagger, plunging it into the mass of gore. Black Cat: Black Cat rushed in at the Blood Angel once more. "Strength is only temporary! What gives us strength is what matters!" She yelled, plunging the dagger into the bloody mass with all of her strength. Just as she was about to back off, the creature gives a strange judder as if flexing and then explodes in an enormous gout of blood, covering the entire room in viscera. Sleeping Dragon: the Agakaza gave a shriek of incomprehension as the Blood Angel burst at Black Cat's blow Rafael ben Efrim: Ardrun roared with rage, threw aside the dagger and charged at the demoness,hands outstretched to grab her. Sleeping Dragon: as Ardrun moved towards her, the Agakaza once again disappeared from view enrico: Enrico shook off some entrails from his ear, ran up to where the demoness was moments ago and swung , missing. Vachir: A blood-covered and disgusted but still strong Vachir leapt down from the balcony and looked around for signs of the demon, after cleaning some gore from his face with his hands. Vachir: add:'Close the door or she might escape!'he shouted Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael ran over to shut the doors. Sleeping Dragon: Sophia advanced and swung out with her scythe. It seemed like it should have struck home, but it rebounded off some kind of arcane shield as it passed through the air Black Cat: Cat allowed herself only a moment to pause after the death of the Blood Angel before turning to help her friends finish off the demon, striking the invisible fiend with a wild thrust with the gore covered dagger. Sleeping Dragon: the Agakaza reappeared, blasting Ardrun with two rays of fire that heavily damaged him Sleeping Dragon: as she reappeared and cast her spell, those surrounding her pelted her with attacks, but they either failed to penetrate her arcane shield or struck, but did no damage to her Sakura: Sakura started gloomly song in strange language saying what the end of this fight would be. enrico: Enrico's dagger seemed to suddenly appear from nowhere, flicking towards the demoness with astounding speed. Taken aback, she stumbled, and Enrico delivered a hit with his dagger, unfortunately shedding no blood. Vachir: Vachir fired two arrows at the demon-sorceress. One bounced off her mystical armour, while another drew a small trickle of fiendish ichor. Sleeping Dragon: the Agakaza drew herself back protectively and lashed out at Sophia with a lightning bolt, which the big woman leapt aside from Sakura: Sakura merely puffed up and looked at the demon in the end, "I am going to do something nasty to you." As she made moves that seems to worry her Sakura: shit Rafael ben Efrim: Ardrun swung wildly at the demoness but his efforts went wildly astray. enrico: Enrico lashed out, wounding the creature slightly. He then took it off-balance, exposing its side to Sofia's scythe. Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael slipped in, slashing out and managing to wound the demon. Sleeping Dragon: Sophia lashed out at the Agakaza. Her first blow bit deep into the thing's shoulder, and her second came back around and down. Smashing down into the Agakaza's head, Sophia gave a scream as she carried her blow all the way down through the creature's body. Blood and gore fountained over the party as the scythe sheared through its middle and split it straight in half through the groin Rafael ben Efrim: For a moment there was silence, then Rafael turned to Sophia with a smile on his face, and heedless of the blood and gore, hugged her. Black Cat: Cat dropped the gore covered dagger and leaned up against the wall, breathing a sigh of releaf. Sleeping Dragon: Sophia patted Rafael on the back hard enough to make him cough enrico: Enrico, shaken after the magically induced visions, seared by negative energies and covered in gore, tittered something about needing a new shirt and slunk against the wall. Sakura: Sakura laughed for a moment in joy, "I am so glad..." Rafael ben Efrim: "Let's clean this place out and burn it down," Rafael said, with feeling. Vachir: "We've saved the coast!"said Vachir, still shaken and bloody from the whole ordeal. Vachir: "And get a bath."added the Bolgar, who was still drenched in gore from the explosion of the Angel enrico: Finally, Enrico got up and began a methodical search for valuables the cultists might have squirreled away.
|
|
|
Post by sleepingdragon on Feb 7, 2010 15:39:53 GMT
After the defeat of the Blood Angel, the party returned to where Willit waited for them and, moving now at a regular pace, made their way cautiously back towards the ruins of Rannemort, only to discover that these were under occupation by the Kingdom Guards.
A few stealthy forays revealed that the Guards were under the command of Ameira Lanslaine, the Guard-Colonel who had attempted to arrest the party in Torath. Eavesdropping on the Guards' conversation, however, allowed the party to discover that the testimony of the surviving villagers had convinced Lanslaine that Captain Ghent had framed them as Crimson Path members and that they were innocent of any crime, allowing the party to approach Rannemort openly.
Lanslaine apologised profusely for the hardship that the party had suffered at the Kingdom's hands, and told them she had already sent a messenger to Torath city to explain what had happened and seek a pardon on their behalf, and asked the group to wait with her men in Rannemort until the messenger returned.
The mood of the soldiers had nothing of the confidence they had felt when they had previously spent time among the Kingdom Guards. Many in the Kingdom had believed that the treaty with Malador would lead to a new age of peace and prosperity in Torath, but the sack of Rannemort, coming so quickly on the heels of the revolt in Copperdell, had dispelled any such ideas. Not only this, but rumour had it that King Darragan was now quarrelling with General Juthe over the fate of the captured leaders of the Copperdell rebellion. The King had wanted Katerine and Drammoc speedily executed, but Juthe had apparently threatened to resign from the Guards if they were not given a fair trial. The King had relented and granted Juthe's wish, contenting himself with hanging the corrupt Copperdell Town Captain, Ombrosian Hannant, but he was said to be deeply angry with Juthe all the same.
After half a day in Rannemort, Lanslaine's messenger returned from Torath with orders from King Darragan. The King had issued a full public pardon to the party, and the messenger had also brought each of them five hundred gold pieces as compensation for the injuries they had suffered. However, the messenger added quietly, King Darragan's earlier warning remained - now that the Crimson Path were defeated, he wanted the party to depart the Kingdom of Torath and never return, and gave orders to Lanslaine to escort them to Malador as soon as possible.
The messenger also brought the party a private missive from General Juthe, who said he had been testifying on Katerine and Drammoc's behalf at their trial and was confident that they would be found innocent of treason (though, he added, they would still have to serve the remainder of the sentences that had resulted in their enslavement in Copperdell to begin with.)
|
|
|
Post by sleepingdragon on Feb 17, 2010 23:32:20 GMT
The next day Lanslaine left about half of her men behind under the command of a trusted lieutenant, while she and the remainder of her Guards began to escort the party out of the Kingdom of Torath. They took the east road, heading towards and soon coming upon the dismal town of Tellerthan. This dank, grimy place was located in the midst of the Torathi Moors, and was valued for its rich deposits of coal and peat which were used as fuel, as well as bituminous tar that could be refined into oil. The air for miles around the town was filled with a haze of noxious soot and foul-smelling smoke, which, some of the Guards who had been stationed there previously explained, tended to make people ill if they breathed it continuously for more than a few days. For this reason the Guards in Tellerthan were rotated monthly and the Town Captain at least once a year. No such amenity was made for the large number of slaves who extracted the materials while falling sick or dying in droves.
Steering around Tellerthan proper, the Guards led the party on and camped for the night near the banks of the Ironwater River before continuing on the next day to Copperdell. As with Tellerthan, Lanslaine avoided the town when they eventually came upon it, stopping only briefly to speak to a patrol of Guardsmen who confronted them as they passed, but enough was said then for the party to get some idea of the situation within Copperdell. The Guards, under Gann Chovett's stolid command, had reoccupied the town, but were treating the miners very cautiously. They had only been made to return to work the day before and for the immediate future their working day was to be restricted to ten hours, a substantial improvement from the days of Ombrosian Hannant, though it seemed unlikely this would last long after a new Town Captain was appointed.
They headed up into the hills and soon found themselves at the Maladoran border, where Lanslaine brusquely bid the party farewell. She and her men withdrew for about a hundred feet before pointedly stopping and setting up camp. The party made their way down into Malador, passing by the Palace of Brothers, and found themselves back in the city in the evening of the 15th of September, only a dozen days since they departed to bring the representatives of the city to the festival in Torath.
Though Malador seemed, on the surface, the same, almost immediately the party noticed the frayed and tense atmosphere, as if the very air was being stretched taut. The presence of the City Watch had been notably increased. They soon discovered the reason. In their absence, the rents of almost everyone in the city had soared, rising, in many cases, by half again as much as they had been before, or even more. The majority of people blamed the land tax that had been levied to pay the tribute, saying that landlords had simply passed the cost on to their tenants. In the Flow, where unscrupulous slum-lords had attempted to raise prices despite the fact that they did not pay the tax, there had been at least one riot, and three days earlier, as the party were battling the Blood Angel, somebody had decapitated one of Toban Wellaw's rent-collectors in the Foot and flung his head over the Clifftop wall.
|
|
|
Post by sleepingdragon on Mar 13, 2010 14:19:33 GMT
Sleeping Dragon: a tense month passed after the party's return to Malador. Autumn hit abruptly, temperatures falling quickly and the weather became wetter, but it did little to dampen the smouldering anger of most Maladorans. In the wake of sudden large increases in rent, the streets took on a distinctly nastier tone. The Guard recruited nearly a hundred new people and their presence became much heavier. It seemed to have no impact though. The streets of the Foot at night suddenly became awash with prostitutes, drunken arguments that might have previously only resulted in harsh words ended with fights and even stabbings, robberies rose, and rent collectors went around armed and in pairs to protect themselves from mobs of angry tenants. There were several riots in the Flow, and mid-way into October news began to sweep the city that a group of farmers who rented their land from Councillor Atrem Neele had gone on rent strike, setting up patrols around their land and chasing away collectors and Guards who came near. whispering to Sakura, despite the conditions Sakura's business rolled along, as her customers were mostly the city's wealthier citizens, who were unaffected by what was happening save only that they looked more worried than was normal whispering to Rafael ben Efrim, on the 12th of October, Rafael had a knock on his door shortly after he woke up. Rafael ben Efrim: (whispering): Rafael quickly donned a robe and opened his front door cautiously, holding his scimitar behind it out of sight. whispering to Rafael ben Efrim, a boy of perhaps sixteen was waiting at the door, in the dishevelled and battered clothing of a resident of the Flow. He held a scrap of parchment out to Rafael. "A woman called Sophia told me to bring you this," he mumbled. Rafael ben Efrim: (whispering): Rafael took the parchment. "Does she want you to bring her back an answer?" whispering to Rafael ben Efrim, "Yes," he said whispering to Rafael ben Efrim, the message was quite curt. "Please get the others and meet me outside the Stony Garden tavern in the Flow an hour after mid-day - it's south a bit from the Bloody Banner arena. A friend of mine wants to speak to you about something urgent." Sakura: (whispering): Sakura merely reassured them, only focusing on learning more languages. Still, she paid careful attention to her shopkeeper and her two servant and the child. With the streets dangerous, she decided to be more careful among all these troubles. Rafael ben Efrim: (whispering): Rafael indicated that the boy should come inside while he read the note. He wrote a short answer, to say that he would be at the Stony Garden as requested, and gave it to the boy with five silvers. "Make sure your family see some of that," he told the boy. whispering to Rafael ben Efrim, the boy nodded wordlessly and headed off Rafael ben Efrim: (whispering): Rafael completed his usual morning tasks quickly and then left to visit his companions. Rafael ben Efrim: (whispering): Rafael came to Sakura's house first and knocked at the door. Sakura: (whispering): Sakura frowned for a moment as she did not except anyone at the present moment and opened the door carefully. whispering to Rafael ben Efrim, Sakura, Sakura opened the door and found Rafael on the doorstep Sakura: (whispering): She looked surprised for a moment as she greeted him warmly, "Hello, Rafael.", beckon to invite him if he want to. Rafael ben Efrim: (whispering): Rafael greeted Sakura and stepped inside, making sure they were along before handing a piece of parchment to her. Sakura: (whispering): She glanced at the parchment, wondering what it is about. whispering to Sakura, it was a short message from Sophia, asking Rafael to gather the party and meet her outside the Stony Garden tavern, in the Flow, an hour after mid-day that day, in order to speak to one of her friends about an urgent matter that had arisen Sakura: (whispering): Frowning thoughtfully for a moment, "I wonder what it is about. Any idea what this may be about, Rafael. If you are going to meet Sophia, then I will come." Rafael ben Efrim: (whispering): Rafael shook his head. "No idea at all, but if Sophia asks for our help then I believe we should give it. I am going to the Old Pirate to ask Vachir and Rico the same." whispering to CosmicHorror, "No idea at all, but if Sophia asks for our help then I believe we should give it. I am going to the Old Pirate to ask Vachir and Rico the same." Sakura: (whispering): "Yes, Sophia have saved our lives one way or another in the fights..." She smiled for a moment, "Still, I will meet you outside Stony Garden. Need today's business out of the way. Shall I get the Cat as well?" Rafael ben Efrim: (whispering): Rafael agreed. "One hour past noon then. It is probably as well to keep seperate and arouse less suspcion anyway." Sakura: (whispering): "Yes," Nodding with agreement, "We do not know what we may find, but at least it is not likely to be another Blood Angel" She looked thankfully on that phase, "I will see you later then." Rafael ben Efrim: (whispering): Rafael left and went to the Old Pirate to find Rico and Vachir. whispering to Rafael ben Efrim, Vachir, on the morning of the 12th of October, Vachir was having breakfast in the common room at the Old Pirate when Rafael entered the inn and walked over to him whispering to CosmicHorror, "Yes," Nodding with agreement, "We do not know what we may find, but at least it is not likely to be another Blood Angel" She looked thankfully on that phase, "I will see you later then." After Sakura said this, Rafael went away. Rafael ben Efrim: (whispering): Rafael greeted Vachir. "I have something to show you but we should keep it private I think." Vachir: (whispering): "What would that be?"said Vachir in a hushed tone after greeting Rafael back Rafael ben Efrim: (whispering): Having ensured that they were not overlooked or overheard, Rafael showed Vachir a parchment. "Sophia sent this to me," he explained. The parchment read "Please get the others and meet me outside the Stony Garden tavern in the Flow - it's south a bit from the Bloody Banner arena. A friend of mine wants to speak to you about something urgent." Rafael ben Efrim: (whispering): the time given was today at an hour past noon. Sakura: (whispering): Sakura contracted Cat on the new concerning the nice reunion of the party for Sophia. Vachir: (whispering): "Sounds like a most important matter."commented Vachir after having read the writing "We're going there then, all of us?" Rafael ben Efrim: (whispering): "Sakura certainly is, and she has gone to request that Black Cat come with us. I trust Sophia to know when something needs our urgent attention." Vachir: (whispering): "Very well then. We shall go. "stated the Bolgar matter-of-factly Rosaria: (whispering): Rosaria walked up to Sakura's house and knocked on the door, glancing around a little nervously. Sakura: (whispering): Sakura opened the door, smiling nicely at Rosaria, "Hello, how are you today?", inviting her in if she want to come in. Rosaria: (whispering): "Still safe." Rosaria said wearily, entering Sakura's house. "Things are pretty bad in the Flow." Sakura: (whispering): Sakura nodded for a moment, "All these damn worries that infecting the feeling of this city." She replied with hint of concern, "Things can only get worse... Sakura: (whispering): "Or something, somewhere, sometime in this city will get snapped." Rosaria: (whispering): "I hope nothing snaps. Things may be difficult now, but if everyone starts taking matters into their own hands then people are going to get hurt." Rosaria: (whispering): Rosaria shook her head. "But we can't do anything right now. The reason I'm here is because Black Cat asked me to go with you... to wherever it is you're going. She didn't say much." Sakura: (whispering): She frowned for a moment, "It may be dangerous. I am certainly not going there unarmed. Give me a moment to get ready." She went out, teling her servants that she will leave. Sakura left her home, armed and ready, "We are going to Stony Garden..." Rosaria: (whispering): Rosaria cocked her head. "Where's that?" Sakura: (whispering): "The Flow." Sakura muttered Rosaria: (whispering): Rosaria's face fell. "Oh." Was all she said, clutching her flower basket a little tighter. Sleeping Dragon: they made their way to the Flow and towards the Stony Garden, a battered little tavern just south of the former Bloody Banner arena, which had now been converted into a haphazard marketplace with petty traders hawking goods of dubious quality and provenance. Rafael, Enrico, and Vachir arrived to find Sakura standing outside with Rosaria, the flower seller they had met previously Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael nodded to Rosaria. "Any sign of Sophia yet?" he asked the others. Sakura: Sakura shook her head, "No, I did not see her on the way here." Sleeping Dragon: the party waited for a short while by the Stony Garden. Perhaps five minutes after Sophia should have turned up, the air was suddenly rent with an ear-splitting yell - in Sophia's voice - coming from a side street that joined onto the road the Garden was on, maybe seventy feet from where they stood Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael immediately started running in that direction. Vachir: Vachir sprinted behind, reaching for his weapons. Rosaria: Rosaria started as though she had been struck and looked around, seeing what the other people in the marketplace were reacting Sakura: Sakura reached for her weapon, "Someone is going to regret attacking Sophia..." She glanced at Rosaria, "Be careful. Stay here or hide" as she followed the others. Sleeping Dragon: the majority of people had the opposite reaction to the party, immediately fleeing away from the sound of the screaming - though a few simply stayed where they were as if nothing was happening.
the party dashed off towards the sound of Sophia's yell and found themselves looking down a long street flanked by many houses. They saw Sophia go past, riddled with crossbow bolts, tearing down a side street that ran parallel to the road with the Garden, and behind her was a person it took them a moment to recognise. It was Halgyn Polle, once the leader of the pirate conspiracy that the party had thwarted. He had two dogs on leashes that he was pulling quickly along behind him, and he too had been hit with bolts, though not so many as Sophia. As the party looked around they saw that there were four crossbowmen on a rooftop nearby, aiming at the two, and about a dozen men at various places in the street, most chasing after Sophia and Halgyn, but a few were ahead of them and moving to block their path. At the party's arrival in the street several shifted their attention to them, hefting swords. Sleeping Dragon: the leader of the thugs, a big woman with a red bandana, stepped towards the party, waving a sword. "You lot, clear off or die!" she shouted at them Sleeping Dragon: Sophia took a moment to recuperate from her injuries Sakura: Sakura grinned at the woman and waved her hand at the leader confidently, "No, you lot will die." Sleeping Dragon: the group of crossbowmen on a nearby roof replied by firing bolts at Rafael, Sakura, Enrico, and Vachir, all of which came nowhere near their targets Sleeping Dragon: Halgyn Polle awkwardly pulled his dogs along behind him, then slammed his warhammer down on the sword of a thug confronting him, trying to smash the weapon and nearly succeeding. Sleeping Dragon: the thugs rushed forward. One slashed at Vachir, sliding in the muddy street and missing wildly, while another landed a strong blow against Rafael Vachir: Vachir leapt away from the charging foe and unleashed a barrage of arrows at him, leaving the thug alive but barely conscious Sleeping Dragon: Enrico stepped up, feinted left, and then adroitly thrust his rapier straight through the wounded thug's heart, killing him instantly Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael spun and tumbled round one of the confused thugs, then slashed him deeply from behind. Sleeping Dragon: several lean men in dark clothes wielding knives rushed towards Rafael, stabbing at him and wounding him lightly Sakura: Sakura smiled and looked at the enemies in front of her in such a way that improve her look as dangerous, "You will die anyway..." as She launched into song concerning the latest fight against the Blood Angel and all in it gruesome details. But curically, they won that battle..." Sakura: She also moved closer to her peers, Vachir and Rico. Rosaria: Rosaria followed the others, trying to stay behind them. Sleeping Dragon: Sophia lashed out around her with her scythe in a vicious frenzy. She cut the legs out from under one of the lean men who had approached her, and also landed a solid blow on another opponent Sleeping Dragon: the crossbowmen all aimed at Vachir, but missed wildly Sleeping Dragon: Halgyn struck at the thug's sword, smashing it to bits, and then came forward to help Rafael Sleeping Dragon: Rafael took a blow from one of the thugs and dodged another, while the now weaponless one in front of Sophia retreated carefully and two others moved up into melee range with the rest of the party Vachir: Vachir fired at the woman who he assumed to be the thugs' leaders, but only two of his arrows struck and they were glancing shots anyway. Sleeping Dragon: Enrico feinted against the leader of the thugs, then landed a heavy blow, gouging deep into her arm Rafael ben Efrim: Surrounded by foes, Rafael kept his head, weaving around so that the thug he had injured before was left in confusion, and slashing in under the man's guard. Sleeping Dragon: the knifemen advanced gracefully. Two surrounded Halgyn, stabbing him viciously, while another flanked Rafael, cutting into his side Sakura: "Wjy do you follow her when clearly she is leading you to doom." She asked the two thugs and Selie, mockingly... Sakura: Sakura made her way bypassing Vachir, making quick moves to avoid two nasty attacks, which missed... badly. Before arriving beside a building, facing the enemies' back. Rosaria: Seeing the odds against the party, Rosaria knelt down and grabbed a handful of mud and threw it at one of the thugs, aiming for his face, but the mud just landed on his shirt. Sleeping Dragon: Selie stepped up and hit Vachir with her sword. She glanced at one of the thugs beside her as she fought. "Stay close," she advised him. Sleeping Dragon: Sophia advanced to strike one of the assassins, but her scythe hacked wildly wide Sleeping Dragon: Halgyn struck one of the assassins, wounding him Sleeping Dragon: the thugs attacked Enrico and Rafael but were unable to land any blows Vachir: Vachir took a step back from the woman, firing hastily at her. All of his arrows missed her, but one wounded one of the thugs beside instead. Sleeping Dragon: Enrico stabbed at Selie, but she dodged Sleeping Dragon: the knifemen continued their brutal work, hacking badly at Halgyn and wounding Rafael Sakura: Sakura went over other side of the street and started singing a verse on how painful their enemies'; end would be,,,, Sleeping Dragon: Selie struck Enrico with her sword Sleeping Dragon: Sophia lashed out again with her scythe, but was only able to land one blow Sleeping Dragon: Halgyn was similarly unable to land an attack Sleeping Dragon: one badly wounded thug moved away, while others landed blows on Enrico and Rafael Vachir: Vachir fired again, but again one of his arrows struck one of Selie's lackeys while the others missed widely. Sleeping Dragon: "Raf, help me kill this bitch!" Enrico shouted Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael suddenly sprang out from between his two foes, dodging & weaving so that they were unable to hit him, and ran his sword into the thugs' leader. "Your turn Rico," he called. Sleeping Dragon: Enrico feinted. Selie saw through his move, but he thrust forward and his blade drove into her chest and sent her bleeding to the muddy street Sleeping Dragon: one of the knifemen stabbed Rafael again, while two of the others, unable to surround Halgyn and Sophia who were fighting back to back, went after Sakura, landing a blow on her Sakura: Sakura snarled at them, "How dare you attack me!" as she strolled out of their range of weapons to meet Rafael. Sakura: edit: to help him. Sleeping Dragon: Sophia moved up and attacked the asssassin harrying Rafael. One blow slashed across his face, and the second came back in a sweeping arc that came up under the arm, sheared up and under the neck and came out through the shoulder, sending the man's right arm, neck, and head flying backwards. As it did she followed through, smashing one of the thugs Sakura: ... Sleeping Dragon: obviously shaken, the crossbowmen fired at Vachir and were unable to hit Sleeping Dragon: Halgyn came forward, swinging his hammer heavily. He struck the hilt of one of the thugs' swords, smashing the blade to pieces Vachir: Vachir fired another barrage of arrows, bringing down the wounded thug who had shielded Selie before and wounding the other nearby one Rafael ben Efrim: Pale & bleeding, Rafael got behind a thug who was tied up with Enrico and hacked him in the back. Sakura: Sakura raised her crossbow and fired a bolt in hope that it hit an assassin in his bum. Sakura: It wounded him but only slightly Sakura: She made way for the building with four men with crossbows. Sakura: "Surrender!" She yelled at them.
|
|
|
Post by sleepingdragon on Mar 20, 2010 18:13:49 GMT
Sleeping Dragon: Sakura made her way towards the crossbowmen, shouting an order at them to surrender. Seeing how many on their side were already down, they reluctantly gave in, followed shortly by the remaining thugs, and something resembling order was restored.
"Get them down," the badly wounded Polle said, gesturing at the crossbowmen. "Vachir, keep your bow trained on them, make sure they don't try anything stupid." Polle ambled over to where he had left his dogs, who were barking wildly and backed up against a wall. Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael kept his sword out, shepherding some of the thugs together, and nodded at Sophia. "What do you want done with them?" Vachir: As he drew a bead on the crossbowmen, ready to fire, Vachir spoke a few words towards Polle "Long time no see. Not the best of situations to see you again." Sleeping Dragon: Polle nodded gingerly as he came back with his dogs. "Someday I'll need to invite you over for a game of cards, when people stop trying to kill me all the time." Sleeping Dragon: Polle and Sophia looked at each other for a moment. Polle shrugged, and then extended his hammer to Sophia by the head. Sophia put her scythe down and took the hammer. "Vachir, point your bow at...that one," she said, indicating one of the crossbowmen. "Bring him over and make sure he does nothing stupid. Have no fear, I'm not going to kill you," she added. Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael frowned. "I presume these people were sent by someone?" he asked Polle. Sakura: Sakura glanced over these crossbowmen, "Most likely, these who do not like the ideas that Polle and Sophia are thinking about." Vachir: Vachir did as he was asked, focusing on the crossbowman sophia had pointed out Sleeping Dragon: Polle laughed. "Ideas? People don't kill just because of ideas. They certainly do kill, or try to kill, people who flout their rules. Which gangster do you all work for then, Althner? Memmio? Reyne? Or have they combined to crush us?"
When the crossbowman reached Sophia she ordered him to get on his knees and put his hand on the floor. "I'm not going to kill you," she repeated, "but you're not going to raise a hand against the Block again. So who did send you anyway, was it Althner?" The frightened crossbowman nodded. "When you go back to him, tell him that we've decided we don't need landlords anymore." Sophia raised Polle's hammer and brought it smashing down on the crossbowman's hand, and the man let out a howl of agony as his fingers were smashed beneath the hammer's head.
"Rafael, can you make sure he doesn't die please? Vachir, bring the next one over," she added. "I do apologise for this, but if I let you go I'll be fighting you again tomorrow, and I'm sure you'll agree it's preferable to execution." Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael put his sword away and went over to bandage the broken hand. "You're lucky," he said quietly as he treated the groaning man. Sleeping Dragon: one by one Sophia smashed the fingers of their assailants and then, when Rafael had treated them, they released them. "Follow me and we'll talk elsewhere," said Polle, rubbing at one of his wounds with one hand and leading the dogs with the other. Sakura: Sakura nodded as if it confirmed her suspicion. Rafael ben Efrim: "I should see to those wounds," Rafael said to Halgyn and Sophia. Rosaria: Rosaria came out from behind the building she was taking shelter behind and followed the others. Sleeping Dragon: "In a moment," said Polle. Sophia gathered up several of the swords and crossbows of the defeated gangsters, strapping them to her back and wobbling off awkwardly after Polle.
Polle led them south and east a bit, until they passed the line of houses and found themselves on the outskirts of the Flow. They passed the ring of garbage that encircled most of the Flow's perimeter and came near to the hideous Body Pits from which they had once rescued young Feren. Polle sighed and stopped. "Alright. To quickly summarise what's happening around here, that neighbourhood over there," Polle pointed northeast, "has in the last few days rebelled against the rise in rents the gang-lords have attempted to impose on us and Sophia, myself, my niece, and my friend Johannes Young are helping to hold the streets against any attempt by the gangsters to take them back. Hopefully in the next few days our example will spread, but in the mean-time something has come up outside of the city and I need your help to deal with it." Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael raised his brows in surprise. "I had thought you wanted our help in resisting the gangsters. What has come up?" Sakura: She looked thoughtfully, "I too like Rafael, that something like this might be asked but not that? Pray, tell." Vachir: "Outside the city? What would that be? Not Torath again I hope..." Sleeping Dragon: "Over the last...ten days or two weeks, a few people in the southern parts of the Flow have gone missing," said Polle. "Abducted, it seems, and violently - people have found large patches of blood in areas close to where people have gone missing." Polle paused and then sighed. "And last night, Aletha went missing. She had sneaked out of the Block to carry a message to a group we consider friendly to what we're doing, and on the way back it seems someone attacked her and carried her off." Sakura: Sakura sighed for a moment, "Where don't we ever go anywhere nice...." She paused before going on with, " Sakura: "Apart from these, are there anything strange or werid... you know, supernaturally...?" Rafael ben Efrim: "Could it be something like the ghouls we fought in the pits near here?" Rafael asked. "Can we see where these people have been abducted? And did anyone see or hear anything at all?" Sakura: EDIT: Sakura sighed for a moment, "Why don't we ever go anywhere nice...." She paused before going on with, "Apart from these, are there anything strange or werid... you know, supernaturally...?" Vachir: "I doubt it is ghouls, but I would not dismiss something inhuman...."commented Vachir Sleeping Dragon: "I don't know much about the other disappearances - we've been too busy to pay them much regard. I don't know exactly where the others have been abducted from. I've examined near where Aletha went missing, however, and found four sets of booted feet - one of which was her size - and then three sets moving away. I'm presuming they knocked her out and carried her away. So I don't think there's anything supernatural involved, though it's always possible there is. They've made quite a large mistake, however. Aletha was always very good with animals, and these two," he indicated the dogs, that were sniffing the ground rigorously and straining against the lead, "can easily follow her scent. So far the trail leads south out of the city, and I can't follow there because I need to stay in the Block." Rafael ben Efrim (exit): 20:44 Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael nodded in understanding. "In that case will the dogs work for us?" Sleeping Dragon: Polle knelt down and spoke quietly to the two dogs, then handed Rafael the lead. "They might be a bit unruly and impatient, but they'll follow Aletha's trail as well as they can," he said. Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael took the lead somewhat gingerly. "I have little experience with dogs but I'll do my best." Rafael ben Efrim: He looked up at Sophia. "Are you coming with us or staying to defend the homes in the Flow?" Sleeping Dragon: "I have to stay," she replied. "Though if you find you need help, come back and I'll follow." Rafael ben Efrim: "We will." Rafael said. He indicated that he wanted to speak to Sophia privately. Sakura: Sakura smiled at the dogs that was helping them in the quest, patting them. Sleeping Dragon: after Sophia and Rafael had finished speaking, Polle spoke to them again. "Thank you very much for doing this - I can only hope that Aletha is still alive. Whatever you discover, please let me know as soon as you can. If you come to the Block there, ask around and someone will be able to direct you to me - I can't say where I'll be exactly as things are moving too quickly to be sure." Sakura: Sakura nodded as she responded with a good luck gesture, "Best of luck against them!" Rafael ben Efrim: "We will do everything to bring Aletha safely back, and any others we can find. Keep fighting!" Sleeping Dragon: "I have no choice but to, it seems," said Polle, and he and Sophia headed towards the rebellious Block. Sakura: She told Rafael gloomly, "I really hope this is not another of the bloody Cult's act again." Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael sighed. "Isn't it enough that the common people must fight for their lives against those who would starve them without the damned Crimson Path getting involved. Well we will just have to follow the dogs and see where they lead." And he urged the two dogs on to seek out the scent. Sleeping Dragon: the dogs sniffed after Aletha, leading the party south and out of the city. The land immediately beyond the Flow was utterly abandoned, save for a few mangy, stray dogs, but after about a half a mile they came to the road, along which were scattered a few farms. The dogs ignored these and continued to pull the party south, towards the Bleakwater Wood. Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael eyed the trees in the distance. "A good place for an ambush." Sakura: "So, either it can be within the Wood or even beyond the Wood, into the Bleakwater swamp..." Sakura smirked at Rafael, "But we are all well armed and ready to fight... It may even be a trap." Vachir: "Not to sound overconfident, but with all we've gone through before, I think we can handle an ambush."commented Vachir "Just keep your eyes open for any sign of treachery." Sleeping Dragon: after about a half hour they found themselves in the Bleakwater Wood, at the very frontier of Maladoran territory. Previously attempts had been made to tame the entire wood and some of the area beyond the river, but this overreach had proved untenable and now there was simply a small logging village of perhaps five hundred inhabitants on the very northern edge of the Wood, around the edges of which the trail led. After a time the party passed directly past a trio of men, two of whom were cutting down a large oak tree while the third was resting, wearily leaning against his axe-haft.
"Hello there," called the tired man. "I can't say I blame you for wanting to get away from Malador, but you should be warned that if you go south beyond them houses over there, you're in dangerous territory. Though to look at you, you seem prepared for it already." Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael stopped. "What kind of danger?" Vachir: "Merely wild beasts, or somethign worse perhaps?"asked Vachir Sakura: Sakura been eyeing the woods for potential timbers before asking, "Seen anything strange then?" Sleeping Dragon: "Wild beasts, aye, animals, but lizardmen too, and trolls. Nearer the marshes some say there's even dragons out there." Rafael ben Efrim: "We have been through the marshes before," Rafael answered. "We'll watch out." Sakura: "I see..." Sakura nodded and told herself, "Hm, I wonder who now own them now, considering that Rohdell's will left everything to the Council..." Sleeping Dragon: When Sakura mentioned this, the loggers groaned. "That will was a total forgery and no mistake about it!" the resting logger exploded. "There's no way a greedy slob like Rohdell would leave everything to the Council. He has some relative - I think it's a nephew - disputing it but it's all like to be for nowt. So for the moment it's the Council as pays us, though they're not likely to keep it that way for long. Likely to be Vinneret who buys the land, his family have the docks so it's a natural fit - though Tilaven wants to get his hands on it too I'm hearing. Likely to come down to whichever of them hurls more money at the Council." Rafael ben Efrim: "Astounding how they have so much money to hurl even now," muttered Rafael. "It hardly matters who owns it." Sakura: "Fair enough point. Just wondering, that all. Thank you for your information." She thanked the logger. Sleeping Dragon: the dogs continued to lead them south. At the edge of the logging village, Rosaria spoke quietly to Sakura for a moment. Sleeping Dragon: Rosaria waved farewell to the party and headed back towards Malador, having decided that this journey would be too dangerous for her to make. Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael looked back at Rosaria. "I hope that we don't meet the Crimson Path out here with so few of us left." Vachir: "We already destroyed their worst, I doubt they can do much worse. "replied Vachir "Though you never know..."he added off-handedly Sakura: "Indeed, may we hope it is something easy to deal with. But frankly, it is better to hope for the best outcome and trust in it. Or we would not be here in the first place. Beside, it seems we are reeling from one crisis or another... endlessly..." Vachir: edit: change 'much worse' to 'much more' Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael nodded. "That is the way the world is, when men are merely grasping for what pleases them. Violent, cruel and greedy. One day this may change." Sakura: She laughed softly for a moment, "I may be greedy and caused violence to these who caused us harm but not cruelty... I seen too much of that back home." Rafael ben Efrim: "I did not mean you Sakura," Rafael said in surprise. "But let's carry on." Sleeping Dragon: the party continued on south through the forest, passing into the wild lands outside of human control. Here and there they passed some remnant of Malador's previous settlement attempt - the ruined husk of a logger's cottage, the wood of the walls rotted and eaten away, distinguishable as what had once been a home only due to their shape. At one point they came upon a grouping of about a dozen of these huts, at the edge of which they discovered the remnants of gravestone markers - though Maladorans typically disposed of bodies at sea, save in the Flow, some, especially in the rural areas, often erected gravestones in tribute to the dead. One read:
Our daughter, LALIA
68-70
An inspection of the other stones revealed that they were all dedicated to young children, all of whom had perished in the years 70 or 71. Rafael ben Efrim: "A plague of some sort perhaps?" Rafael mused as they looked over the gravestones. Sakura: "Sad death, so many wasted lives." Vachir: "Indeed, the grim consequences of famine. This is not the most fertile of lands, apparently."stated Vachir matter-of-factly Sakura: "Indeed, Vachir, Indeed Vachir." Rafael ben Efrim: "A good place for logging but not for farming, obviously." Rafael said, with a final look at the graves. Sleeping Dragon: the dogs continued to follow the trail south, sniffing their way through the woods. Early in the evening, however, the party came to the river, which was about seventy-five feet across. More problematically, they realised that if Aletha's kidnappers had swam across it, then the dogs would be unlikely, or at least would find it more difficult, to follow the trail on the other side. whispering to Vachir, looking into the water, Vachir realised with alarm that there was a green face sticking just up out of the water, about twenty feet past the muddy bank, looking at them. Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael encouraged the dogs to search up and down the bank for the abductors' scent. Vachir: Vachir gave a surprised shout and pointed at a spot in the water. "There's something there, like a face!" Sleeping Dragon: there came an irritated hiss from the water and a voice began to chant quickly Rafael ben Efrim: "Shoot at it, Vachir!" Rafael cried. "Before it finishes." Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael dragged out his crossbow, loaded a bolt and fired it off rapidly, but his aim was poor. Vachir: With amazing speed, Vachir fired four arrows at the creature. The first one struck squarely, staining the waters red with blood, but the others missed and were lost in the current. Sleeping Dragon: Black Cat suddenly streaked out of the woods and down towards the river bank Sleeping Dragon: another of the creatures appeared in the water, hurling four orbs of magical force at Vachir, while the first one, stunned by Vachir's attack, cast another spell which had no immediate effect Rafael ben Efrim: "Don't let them bite you!" Rafael advised. "It's poisonous." Vachir: "They might understand our speech" added Vachir Sakura: Sakura then said, "The damaged one is summoning a gaint bat!" Beforing launching into speaking few words in strange language as she start singing. Sleeping Dragon: Enrico advanced, firing his small crossbow at the wounded naga, but missed Vachir: Vachir fired another four arrows in the water, but in his eagerness he fumbled and all of them missed Sleeping Dragon: Black Cat tore across the river bank, hurling a dagger at the wounded naga that slashed across its face and then vanished into the water Sleeping Dragon: the huge black bat that Sakura had warned of suddenly blinked into being by the water's edge. Taking to the air, it streaked down and bit at Vachir, landing a light blow. Sakura: Sakura looked fiercesomely as she approached the bat threatening all kind of dangers to it. Sakura: and yelled some threats at the wounded enemy that made it seems more wary. Sleeping Dragon: Enrico reloaded his crossbow and fired again at the wounded naga, but missed a second time Rafael ben Efrim: Ignoring the bat, Rafael fired again at the wounded Naga and this time managed to hit it. Vachir: Ignoring the bat who was cowering from Sakura's threats, Vachir fired again at one of the nagas, wounding it only once Sleeping Dragon: Black Cat hurled another dagger at the badly wounded creature, which sank back into the water in a tide of blood Sleeping Dragon: at this, the summoned bat vanished, and the remaining naga, with a cry of anger, plunged down into the water and vanished from sight
|
|
|
Post by sleepingdragon on Mar 27, 2010 17:02:42 GMT
Sleeping Dragon: The uninjured naga dove back down into the water and the party were left alone on the riverbank, the dogs barking in confusion and panic before quieting down to growling Black Cat: "It's good to see you all again." Cat said, walking over to the group. "You lot sure seem to attract trouble." Vachir: "I have heard nagas sometimes guard treasures."said Vachir after it was clear that their other opponent was not coming back "I wonder if this is the case..." Vachir: add: He looked at the depths of the river with some interest as he said so. Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael was leading the dogs up and down the bank, checking to see if the scent really did end there. "Perhaps they are guarding more than gold," he suggested. "It's good to see you too Cat," he added, smiling at her. Sleeping Dragon: the scent continued all the way up to the riverbank, and possibly across though this was difficult to determine whispering to Vachir, peering into the water Vachir saw no sign of any treasure horde. Dimly he thought he saw the shapes of the two nagas moving awkwardly in the water, away from the group, though it was difficult to be sure it was them Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael stared out at the water then turned to Vachir. "Before we try crossing that, you need your wounds treated." Vachir: Vachir let Rafael deal which his wounds, which weren't particularly grevious. "I think I can make out the nagas swimming away from us. But I worry they might attack us while we try to cross." he said meanwhile Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael moved on to treat Black Cat. "How do you propose we cross it anyway?" Sakura: "That bat was a surprise," She mentioned after walking over to the Black Cat to greet her, "It is good to see you again..." She smiled for a short moment before glaring across the river. Vachir: "As quickly as possible."replied Vachir to Rafael "We don't want to give these things the time to drag us underwater or use some of their sorcerous powers." Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael frowned. "I suppose so, although it seems suicidal to meet those things in their natural habitat." Vachir: "Actually, it might be best to concentrate on staying close rather than quickness. If any of us gets separated from the rest, we'll be in trouble." said Vachir "So, are you ready for a swim?"he asked Sleeping Dragon: Enrico shuffled nervously. "I'm not much of a swimmer," he said. Rafael ben Efrim: "Maybe someone should cross the river first with a rope, so we can pull Rico accross," Rafael suggested. Black Cat: "I'll head across first. I've only got fifty feet of rope though." Cat offered. Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael took a rope from his pack and held it out. Black Cat: "Thanks, just give me a few minutes." Cat took the rope and spliced it together with her own. Finished, she backed up some distance and made a running leap into the water. Surfacing she began to swim across the river trailing the rope behind her. Sleeping Dragon: Cat was able to reach the other side of the river without incident Black Cat: Cat found a sturdy tree to anchor the rope with and motioned for the others to follow. Sleeping Dragon: Enrico was able to pull himself along on the rope while the remainder of the party swam across - the nagas, if still around, did nothing to hinder them Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael immediately set the dogs hunting for the scent. Sleeping Dragon: it took some time for the dogs to find the scent again, but not too long - it led east along the southern side of the river Sakura: Sakura folowed the rest and watched the gods looking for scents Sleeping Dragon: the party followed after the trail. For the first few miles, the land around the river was lightly forested, but the trees thinned out and they found themselves on a broad, desolate plain. Looking east, something caught their attention immediately. About four or five miles distant there was a stone tower atop a tall hill, overlooking the river. Sakura: "That tower was built by Jonas Rohdell who want to build himself a castle to defend the expansion into Bleakwater but it was never finished since Jonas been there one night and then killed when out hunting by Lizardfolks." Sakura: She xplained Rafael ben Efrim: "I thought so," Rafael said. "He was the uncled of Varas Rohdell. Not a lucky family in some ways." Rafael ben Efrim: edit* uncle not uncled Vachir: "So the tower is now abandoned?"asked Vachir "Or perhaps the Lizardfolks or something else decided to make their home there. Should we check it out?" Rafael ben Efrim: "It might be where the abductors have their base." Rafael replied. "We need to approach carefully." Sakura: "But in a way we would not be seen?" Black Cat: "I think we can aproach the tower by way of the river actually." Rafael ben Efrim: "You're not suggesting swimming down there?" Rafael asked, half jokingly. Black Cat: "Well, we would be able to approach without being seen. If there's people in the tower, they're bound to have a lookout, so approaching by land is risky." Black Cat: "In addition," Cat continued. "If this was to be a castle, it would likly have a moat, which would need to be fed somehow, likly the river. That gives us an easy way to get close to the tower." Black Cat: "Or we could wait until the sun sets." Cat commented, glancing at the setting sun. "And hope that Aletha is alive for that long." Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael sighed. "It would help if we knew why they had taken these people all the way out here," he said. "We could move along the river and spy out the land, then it will be dark and we can move closer." Black Cat: Cat shrugged. "I guess that'll do." Vachir: Vachir decided to go along with Rafael's plan. Sakura: Sakura agreed Sleeping Dragon: the party hugged the river and approached. Near the water there were a few trees, reeds, and other plants which provided a modicum of cover, and the sun was now beginning to set. By the time they got to within a mile of the tower it had sunk quite low, and would be gone within the hour Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael stopped to consider the tower and how close they could get under cover. Sleeping Dragon: this near to the tower, they could now see that Cat had been right and there was a moat at the bottom of the hill, fed by a short ditch that ran along to the river's edge. There also appeared to be some other sort of building on the hill, though it had seemingly been damaged by fire at some piont and was in quite poor condition.
The ground ahead of them was somewhat more open - they thought they might be able to get a half mile closer, but it was possible that they would be seen Black Cat: "That ditch, if we swim up that, we can get to the base of the hill without being seen." Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael looked at the river with distaste, but he agreed. Sakura: Sakura merely winced for a moment before telling everyone, "I do hope we get this sort out soon as possible." Vachir: "I wonder what that used to be."said Vachir pointing to the scorched remains of the building on the hill "Anyway, looks like we'll have to go through the ditch." Rafael ben Efrim: "We could use the same method we used to get out of Torath," Rafael suggested. "Swim underwater and use a reed as a breathing tube." Sleeping Dragon: the party followed this suggestion, making reeds and then swimming along, hiding themselves under the water. They were able to make it to the base of the hill unseen, emerging at the base of the hill on the north side, which was not far from the tower. The wind had now come up and the sun was almost completely down Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael drew himself out of the water, shivering in the cold wind, and started to crawl up the hill, keeping low to the ground. Sleeping Dragon: atop the tower itself they could see that there were two sentries behind crenellated walls, one looking east and the other west, carrying longbows and in some kind of metal armour Sakura: Sakura nodded at this sights of their new enemies, still she wondered what to do. whispering to Sakura, Vachir, the two men wore the long braids that were characteristic of the Karatek people, from western Adaria Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael indicated the sentries. "Could we take them out from here?" he whispered to Cat. Sakura: She whispered to others, "These are Karatek people, they came from western Adaria. Seen these hair braids before back then." Black Cat: Cat shook her head. "Between the wind, the crenellations and the fact that there's two of them, I don't think that would be easy to do." Vachir: Vachir nodded silently to Sakura and then whispered "Not the best of conditions."to Cat and Rafael Rafael ben Efrim: "Could move around to the burned building and see if there's a place to hide there." Rafael murmured. Sakura: "Often, they get hired as mercs since they are often considered the best warriors in the land of Adaria." She explained in hurried whisper. Sleeping Dragon: the party decided to sneak around to the other side of the hill and use the burned building as cover while they decided what to do. Painstakingly slowly they slithered on their bellies to avoid being seen. Their clothes were soaked through from their swim and the wind was vicious and biting, but at great length they reached the south side of the hill and began to climb up. Near the summit of the hill they noticed the grass was slightly shorter, a thick circular indentation running along the hill. A few rotting pieces of wood here suggested that there might have once been a wooden palisade there, long since rotted. At length they crept up to the building and crept in through a hole in the wall. The building had obviously once been a stable, but it had been destroyed by fire many years ago and the walls were badly blackened. There was no sign of anyone inside the stable. Looking out through a hole in the north wall they could see across to the tower. Halfway between the stable and the tower was a well, with a bucket attached to the hook ready to be lowered down, and they could now see the stone double doors into the tower on its southern side Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael peered through the hole. "Do you think climbing up and dealing with the guards would work? Or is there some kind of subterfuge we could use to get in?" Black Cat: "The problem with climbing up and taking out the guards would be taking them out without giving them a chance to sound a warning." Rafael ben Efrim: "Could two people climb up?" Rafael asked. Black Cat: "Probably. The problem remains. If these truly are skilled mercenaries, it would be unlikly that even two people could overpower them before they raised an alarm." Cat though for a moment. "But that's the only plan I can think of." Rafael ben Efrim: "Unless we use a trick of some kind," Rafael mused. "We could set this building on fire perhaps?" Sakura: "Would that just tell them something is up?" Black Cat: "It might get them to divert their attention. There doesn't seem any easy way to do this. If I were trying to rob the place, it'd be easy, but this is a bit trickier." Cat mused. Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael smiled. "Yes, but not what is up. But you're right, it would alert them too much. Of course, if they are mercenaries, we could offer to pay them more than their current employer. Might that work?" Vachir: "Quite a trick, setting things on fire."mused Vachir "I'd suggest attacking openly, but then bad things might be done to the prisoners." Sakura: "How about this? Why not send Enrico in as a "Lost traveller?" And if they open us, we might be able to attack? Or something like that?" Sakura: "Gods know he can lie..." Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael nodded. "That's an idea. But of course they may have a policy of killing lost travellers out of hand. He'd have to make out he was very rich and they could get money for helping him." Black Cat: "Maybe a combination of both? Rafael and I try to get to the top of the tower, then Enrico does his act and distracts the sentries." Sleeping Dragon: Enrico was willing to try that Rafael ben Efrim: "You can say you were part of a group of travellers set upon by monsters." Rafael said. Sakura: "Lizardfolks would be good one to use. And your band was utterly wiped out." Rafael ben Efrim: "You and Vachir aren't enough to storm the door though," said Rafael. Vachir: "True." he replied matter-of-factly "So what do you suggest?" Rafael ben Efrim: "You could set fire to the stable, and Rico could shout that it's the lizardfolk coming for him?" Rafael suggested. Rafael ben Efrim: "That would cause a fine distraction, and some of them may come outside." Sakura: Sakura nodded, "Yes, that sound fine." Rafael ben Efrim: "So, I'll go with Cat and climb up the tower at the back, Rico will knock on the door and act the distraught traveller, and then Sakura and Vachir will fire the stable." Rafael ticked off the points on his fingers. "Can anyone see a way we can improve on that for a plan?" Black Cat: Cat shook her head. "The only thing left is timing." Rafael ben Efrim: "Rico, give us time to reach the back of the tower. Then make it loud so we can hear you at the door." Rafael said. "It should take only a few minutes for us to get to the top. So count for say, one hundred from when Rico starts shouting. Do you agree Cat?" Rafael ben Efrim: edit* from when Rico starts shouting to fire the stable. Black Cat: "I would suggest that we get in position before Enrico starts his distraction, the problem would be signaling when we're ready." Cat was thoughtful for a moment. Rafael ben Efrim: "Then maybe Rico could count, long enough for us to get around the tower and up it?" Rafael said. Black Cat: "The walls are pretty smooth, we might end up taking more time to get to the top than planned." Cat added. Vachir: "One hundred it is."said Vachir "Just be careful there with the climbing, one mistake could screw up the whole plan." Black Cat: "Ah, I've got it." Cat walked over to Sakura. "We'll be in position at midnight." Black Cat: "Well, we should get in position." Cat said to Rafael. "I've got climbing gear to make the traverse easier, though I don't know if you'll need it more than I." Rafael ben Efrim: "That's alright, I have some gear I can use." Rafael said. whispering to Rafael ben Efrim, CosmicHorror, Rafael and Black Cat crept up to the tower and began to climb up the north side. It was a somewhat difficult climb, with few handholds. Fingerless gloves from their kits protected their hands from the bitter wind, and they were eventually able to come almost to the top, ready to vault over the crenellations. Though the sun had now completely sunk behind the clouds, they noted that the sentries had not bothered to take out torches nor even a lantern. Midnight: Several minutes after Cat and Rafael left, Sakura felt a furry body rubbing up against her leg. Her cat, Midnight, which she had left in Malador. Sakura: Sakura picked up her cat and greeted it for a moment before whispering to Enrico, "Time to lie your way in!" Sleeping Dragon: Enrico nodded, exited the stable from the rear, and then rushed wildly towards the tower, screaming "HELP! HELP! LIZARDFOLK! HELP!" Vachir: Vachir started counting, and signaled to Sakura to do the same. Sakura: Sakura muttered to herself counting in Inpseiran whispering to CosmicHorror, Rafael ben Efrim, the two sentries whipped their heads around to look down. They glanced at each other, then the one on the eastern side of the tower moved to the set of stairs leading down. "Someone running to the door, get down there and bring him in!" he shouted. Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael looked at Cat, counting along in his head. Black Cat: Cat began nodding her head exaderadly to show she was counting. (Nevermind the whisper) Vachir: Meanwhile Vachir had taken out a tinderbox and looked around to see which parts of the stable would be most flammable. Sleeping Dragon: their count had reached forty before someone finally reached the door. It slid open slightly and Enrico immediately started to gibber. "LET ME IN! LET ME IN PLEASE! Lizardmen are coming, they killed all my friends and they're after me!" It took little more effort to convince them to let Enrico inside. The door opened wide enough for Enrico to enter, which he did at the count of about fifty-five. whispering to Vachir, looking in, Vachir thought he saw three or four people behind the door. Oddly, despite the late hour and lack of any windows, the men carried no torches and there appeared to be no light sources inside the tower Sleeping Dragon: Enrico pushed in through the door, but glanced back behind him in terror, craning his head back out the door to stop them from closing it, pointing wildly to the southwest. "They're over there, look! Do you see them! Look!" whispering to Rafael ben Efrim, "Just bring him inside and make him shut up," Rafael heard one of the sentries mutter Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael frowned at Cat, still counting to himself, but he looked as if he was keen to get it over with. Vachir: "No lights inside there, weird."commented Vachir after giving a quick look at the door that had been opened for Enrico Sleeping Dragon: the head of a braided man poked out of the door briefly, whereupon Rico feigned to lose balance and bumped him lightly out the door. The man, who wore scale armour and carried a shield and an axe, stumbled outside and glanced around.
"Oh, shut up and get inside!" a man snapped, and a hand reached out to grab Enrico. Sleeping Dragon: the man grabbed Enrico and pulled him back. "Get inside and close the door, Rannan," the voice said to the man outside, who began to move into the door while Enrico shouted. "THEY'LL STARVE US OUT! We need to set up and fight them outside!" Sleeping Dragon: Enrico slid free of the man's grip and back towards the door, at which the man who had grabbed him earlier lost patience. "Knock him out and put him with the others!" he shouted, and there was the sound of a sword being drawn Vachir: Looking worried about what was happening to Enrico - as if he felt the plan wasn't going as well as expected - Vachir quickly lighted his torch and started setting fire to the area Sakura: Sakura whispered to Vachir, Start the Fire... Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael looked at Cat and indicated that they should go over the top now. Sleeping Dragon: "LOOK, THERE THEY ARE!" Enrico shouted as the stable caught fire. "GET INSIDE!" shouted the man who had grabbed Enrico, pointing a curved sword at him.
|
|
|
Post by sleepingdragon on Apr 3, 2010 18:03:20 GMT
Sleeping Dragon: "LOOK, THERE THEY ARE!" Enrico shouted as the stable caught fire. "GET INSIDE!" shouted the man who had grabbed Enrico, pointing a curved sword at him. Sleeping Dragon: as the party prepared to enter battle, and the Karateks brandished their weapons, they suddenly felt a strange fury settle over them and for a brief moment, their brains burned as images of violence flickered through their minds. Though they were able to maintain control of themselves, they could still feel an intense, unnatural and unsettling desire for bloodshed somewhere deep within themselves Sakura: Sakura roared out in strange language and begun to sing a song about dark fate of Blood Cults and their deaths by their hands. Vachir: Perhaps too eager for blood, Vachir fumbled with his bow and missed with two of his arrows, though the other struck the man who looked like the leader of the Karateks, wounding him lightly. Sleeping Dragon: one of the Karateks at the door rushed towards Vachir, hacking viciously with his axe. Vachir ducked and narrowly avoided serious injury, but the axe scraped his shoulder all the same. As the Karatek's blow landed, his eyes flashed with a weird light and Vachir's blood flew towards him, attracted as if by magnetism, spattering the front of the man's scale armour. The other two Karateks at the door also rushed at Vachir. Sakura (enter): 20:31 Attempting to assign the role of PLAYER to (1173) Sakura... Sleeping Dragon: Enrico drew his rapier and faked a stab against his opponent, drawing him off guard Black Cat: Black Cat surged up over the edge of the tower and dashed at one of the warriors. A blur of black was all he saw as she drove her blade heavily into him. The suprise attack forced the Karatek back towards the waiting Rafael as Cat maneuvered into a better position. Idris: Rafael leaped over the edge of the tower just behind Cat and charged the Karatek, cutting him deeply with his scimitar. Sakura (exit): 20:59 Sleeping Dragon: the warrior with the scimitar tore around the back of Enrico, cartwheeling past his reach and slashing him heavily in the back. Sakura: Sakura sneered at these three fighters surrounding Vachir, "You will all die..." as she strolled over to beside Vachir. Sakura (exit): 21:08 Vachir: Nimbly leaping backwards, Vachir rapidly fired four arrows at the charging Karateks, bringing one down and seriously wounding another. Sleeping Dragon: the Karateks fought back. They surrounded Sakura, but, seeming to think her a minor target, attacked Vachir both times. Each missed, but they noticed with alarm that the wound around Vachir's arrow was slowly healing before their eyes. Atop the tower, Rafael took one blow, and then the other Karatek slipped around behind him. Rafael slashed him with his sword, landing a light blow, before taking a heavy hit from the Karatek's axe. His blood spattered on the Karateks, who roared incoherent battle cries Sleeping Dragon: Enrico stepped to the side, faked another cut, then drove forward powerfully with his rapier, landing a substantial blow against his speedy opponent Black Cat: Cat ran at the warrior she and Rafael had wounded and lept past him onto the wall, which she used to springboard off of onto the karatek, driving her full body weight into him and knocking him to the ground. "No problem." She casually remarked, getting back to her feet. Idris: With a quick smile at Cat, Rafael sprang and spun around the other Karatek, slashing hard into the confused guard's back. whispering to Idris, "Get to the roof, we're under attack!" Rafael heard a shout from inside Sakura: Sakura smiled softly as the lights of fire caught her eyes, it look like she is not someone that you should mess with. "See, I told you all so. Bye!" She went over to by the well, glancing at the what seems to be commander of the group, clearly dismissing Karateks out of her mind. Vachir: "Their wounds are healing!"shouted Vachir as he took a step back again and fired again. One of the Karateks fell stone cold dead under the barrage of arrows, while the other, though wounded, kept fighting. Sleeping Dragon: as if to emphasise Vachir's cry, the Karatek Black Cat had just down crawled back to his feet. She stabbed at him wildly, but missed, and then another of the burly warriors came up the stairs. The one fighting Rafael slashed with his axe, but missed widely Black Cat: Cat frowned behind her mask and swiftly ended the life of the karatek she had just sent to the ground. Sleeping Dragon: the warrior circling Enrico tumbled again, but Rico anticipated and stabbed out at him as he went. Though the blow went wide, there was uncertainty in the man's attack as Enrico smiled at him and ducked under the sweep of his scimitar Idris: Rafael again tried to confuse his opponent by tumbling around him, and although the man was wary now he was distracted by Cat in front of him and Rafael was able to slip behind him and wound him badly, cutting into his side where the armour was thinnest. Sakura: Sakura pointed at this commander and told him, "You will also die." as she made her way around to stand with Vachir on opposing side of Enrico. Vachir: One after the other, three arrows flew from Vachir's bow towards the last Karatek facing him, the last one piercing his heart as he fell down to the ground. Vachir: edit: change the 2nd last to 'third' Sleeping Dragon: the two Karateks on the roof surrounded Black Cat and battered her with a pair of vicious blows, and were joined by another of their fellows, while at the door to the tower below, another Karatek emerged from the darkness with an axe in hand Black Cat: Cat managed to roll with the two attacks that struck her, turning what would be mortal blows into glancing attacks and turned on the Karatek trapped between her and Rafael. Spinning and weaving, she slashed across his throat with her knife, causing a fountain of blood to spray out. "You can't win." She said confidently to the other warrior. Sleeping Dragon: Enrico's opponent slashed grimly, bleeding badly and staggering but remaining on his feet Idris: Rafael darted past, somersaulting in to deliver a great blow to the Karatek's head. Sleeping Dragon: a shaven-headed Almarid strolled up the steps to the top of the tower, eyeing Cat and Rafael. He held a long bastard sword in both hands and moved with supreme grace Sakura: Sakura, merely holding her crossbow glanced at Menwith, "It is useless to oppose us." She then gave glance at Karatek that been rushed out of the gate, "You will also die." Vachir: Noticing the dangerous-looking warrior who had walked up the steps to face Rafael and Cat, Vachir fired another set of arrows against him. Although two missed, striking the battlements, the others wounded him lightly in the side. Sleeping Dragon: the Karatek that had emerged from the tower stepped out and missed Enrico, while those atop the tower attacked Rafael, landing one blow Sleeping Dragon: Enrico lunged at his badly wounded foe, but was unable to connect Black Cat: Cat spun around one of the warriors, landing a strong blow. Idris: With the unfortunate guard trapped between them, Rafael landed a blow that sliced open the man's belly and chest. Sleeping Dragon: the Almarid warrior rolled forward, trying to dive under Rafael's guard. Rafael saw through this ploy, but the Almarid's attack still struck heavily Sakura: Sakura went into range of another Karatek, "What is the point of fighting us? It is useless." She tries to convice him the fuility of it, as she changed to dagger. Vachir: Another two arrows flew across the battlements, fired by Vachir, and wounded the Almarid again. Sleeping Dragon: Enrico surrounded his foe with Sakura and, with one last powerful thrust, put his rapier through the man's heart Black Cat: Cat twisted behind the new foe, driving her dagger into his back. Idris: As she did so, Rafael swung his scimitar in a curving arc, slicing through his new opponent's neck. The Almarid's head, still wearing a look of surprise, rolled accross the roof. Idris: Swinging around, Rafael cut deeply into the other Karatek. Sakura: Sakura moved swiftly onto other side of Karatek, narrowingly missing the swift cut of her enemy and stabbed him in his back, causing a modest wound. Vachir: Vachir moved towards the tower and fired a single arrow at the karatek standing the by door, hoping to finish him off. It was only a glancing shot however, and the man survived. Sleeping Dragon: the remaining Karateks fought on bitterly, but were unable to land a blow Sleeping Dragon: Enrico rolled forward, stabbing his rapier heavily into the Karatek now in the door of the tower Black Cat: Cat ran up to the last warrior on the tower and suddenly backflipped away from him, causing him to swing at empty air. Landing, she lunged at the man with a powerful kick which knocked him into the wall and sent him, unconscious, to the ground. Idris: Seeing as there were no more enemies, Rafael quickly took out a lantern, lit it and proceeded to the stairs. "Coming Cat?" Black Cat: "I'm going to secure this guy for later and then check out whatever's in here." She nodded to the structure on the top of the tower." Sakura: Sakura went to the enemy and attacked him once more with her dagger but it fails. Vachir: Vachir fired at the remaining Karatek, killing him instantly with a well-placed arrow.
|
|
|
Post by sleepingdragon on Apr 18, 2010 12:18:39 GMT
Sleeping Dragon: Vachir slew the last Karatek warrior and the battle at the bottom of the tower ceased, while atop the tower, Black Cat secured their prisoner and Rafael lit a lantern and prepared to descend the stairs into the upper levels Sleeping Dragon: Enrico peered in through the front door. "Pitch black," he said, looking at Vachir and Sakura. "Got a light?" Sakura: Sakura shook her head, "No, have not got anything to carry light." whispering to CosmicHorror, after securing the bonds on the man she had knocked unconscious, Cat examined the building on top of the tower. Unlocking the door revealed a small room in which badly rusted iron cages were set into recesses along each wall. Presumably it had been the tower's rookery, now abandoned. Black Cat: At the top of the tower, Cat finished tying up the Karatek and stood back, watching his wounds heal. Judging by how fast he was healing, she estimated that she could take a quick look into the structure before needing to return to him to ensure he wouldn't cause problems. Vachir: Vachir managed to retrieve a few of his arrows from the ground. Having done so, he returned to Enrico and Sakura and looked through the door. "I think I may have a torch somewhere in my backpack."he said Vachir: He put his bow down and rummaged among his belongings until he found a torch, which he handed to Enrico. whispering to Rafael ben Efrim, Rafael descended down the stairs, holding the lantern high. After a few moments he found himself in a short, bare stone corridor with a solid wooden door in the northern wall. The door was half-open, revealing another corridor beyond, with a second door, also open, on the left, and a set of stairs leading down on the right. Sleeping Dragon: Enrico took the torch and strode in through the big double doors. They were in a large semi-circular antechamber, with a set of steps leading up to their right, and two doors on the wall in front of them. Rafael ben Efrim: (whispering): Rafael examined the door and listened for voices. Sakura: Sakura glanced at these doors and whispered to Enrico and Vachir, "Left or Right..." whispering to CosmicHorror, a few moments after she came out from the rookery, Cat saw her captive's eyes open and he began to struggle against his bonds Black Cat: (whispering): "I think I'm going to need to stay up here and make sure this guy doesn't get free." Cat called to Rafael down the stairs. whispering to Rafael ben Efrim, Rafael saw no sign that the door was trapped. Inside the tower was utterly still and noiseless Sakura: "Left then." She whispered at them, nodding at Enrico to lead them Rafael ben Efrim: (whispering): Rafael looked around the second half open door, holding his lantern high to see into the room. Vachir: Vachir followed with Sakura behind Enrico, bow ready in case they faced more Karateks Sleeping Dragon: Sakura, Vachir, and Enrico examined the room on the left first, which seemed, from the wreckage of bed frames, chests, and ransacked sets of drawers and shelves to have once been some sort of dormitory. There was a little closed door in the north wall. whispering to Rafael ben Efrim, beyond was a very narrow passage leading to another open door. Sakura: Sakura glanced around the room, "Does not seems to be much here." She whispered Vachir: "We might want to check the door there though."said Vachir "Perhaps the prisoners might be kept there?" Sakura: She nodded, agreeing with Vachir's thought Rafael ben Efrim: (whispering): Rafael slipped into the narrow corridor beyond and moved up, lantern held out in one hand and scimitar ready in the other. Sleeping Dragon: the room beyond was the garderobe, a highly primitive privy consisting of a simple hole in the wall through which waste could be discharged to the outside. Vachir: "Nothing to see here."said a disappointed Vachir Sakura: "But clearly something you can smell..." She sniffed with hint of annoyance. "Let go through other door, shall we?" whispering to Rafael ben Efrim, Rafael found himself in a very spacious chamber, on the far wall of which was the wreckage of a luxurious four poster bed. On the floor there were spread half a dozen simple bedrolls, and in the corner to Rafael's left were a few packs filled with basic provisions. There was a simple wooden door to his right, and a grander door, carved with the emblem of an owl, to his left. whispering to CosmicHorror, the prisoner woke up several more times, after each of which Cat promptly knocked him unconscious again. Rafael ben Efrim: (whispering): Rafael opened the simple wooden door, after carefully examining it and listening hard. Sleeping Dragon: The room on the right was just like the previous room, though slightly larger. Along the right hand wall there were deep recesses in which some kind of goods had presumably once been stored, but the room had been totally cleared save for destroyed bits of furniture. Sakura: Sakura looked annoyance for a moment at these 'stuffs' "No point at going though that door." She pointed at the northern door. "Upstair then? Unless you want to search these dark recesses or room or through that little northern door which no doubt smells.#" whispering to Rafael ben Efrim, Rafael opened the door and looked into a privy. Two people were chained up there, their shackles hammered into to the long wooden seat. On the left Rafael recognised Aletha, who growled through a gag and blinked as the sudden light from Rafael's lantern flooded into her eyes. To Rafael's right, there was a badly emaciated man who lay seemingly unconscious on the floor, the chains which held him seeming completely unnecessary Rafael ben Efrim: (whispering): Rafael put down the lantern and moved to examine Aletha's chains, removing her gag first. Rafael ben Efrim: (whispering): "Halgyn sent us in search of you," Rafael said quietly to her as he worked. Sleeping Dragon: Vachir, Sakura, and Enrico went upstairs and found themselves in a small room with a door directly ahead of them. whispering to Rafael ben Efrim, "These people are fucking mad," Aletha greeted him. "I don't know what the fuck they wanted with me, I presumed they were enemies of the Block but they never asked me anything or showed any interest in who I was, they just stripped me off and looked at me and then left me alone again. And they can see in the dark." Sakura: She made sure that her crossbow is ready to fire before the door is open, she nodded at Vachir and Enrico. Vachir: Vachir prepared an arrow, expecting something hostile behind the door. Sleeping Dragon: Rather than anything hostile, the room beyond seemed to have once been some kind of armoury. Weapon racks lined the walls, but only two actually remained - a rapier, and a longsword, on separate racks, both very well made. They seemed to have been placed there recently, by the lack of rust and the sheen of their edges. Rafael ben Efrim: (whispering): "I know," Rafael said grimly. "And their wounds heal unnaturally. I believe they are members of the Crimson Path, a cult dedicated to violence. We have faced them in Malador and in Torath. They are indeed completely mad." whispering to Rafael ben Efrim, "They seemed rather interested in him," she pointed at the other chained man. "I'm not sure who he is. He's woken up a few times while I've been here and started screaming incoherently, and two of the men have come in and taken him outside twice. I don't know what for, they've brought him back in each time about fifteen or twenty minutes later. A few times one of the fuckers - I can't describe him, couldn't see his face but he was slim - came in and made a few notes in a book, then left again." Sakura: "I do not think I need them but hey, Enrico... Vachir. You can pick them but for all we know these might be... cursed..." Rafael ben Efrim: (whispering): Rafael removed the last of the chains. "I think he may have been fighting us on the roof. Carried a bastard sword. I would like to see what he was writing." Vachir: "Considering how the wounds of these Karateks healed as they fought, I would not dismiss the possibility for sorcery here."replied Vachir "But even if we cannot use those, we might sell them for a profit..." whispering to Rafael ben Efrim, Aletha stood, flexed her aching limbs, and nodded. "I don't know where he kept his book I'm afraid. Do you have any food? I'm fucking famished, these bastards haven't fed me or him since I've been here." Rafael ben Efrim: (whispering): Rafael took a packet of rations out of his pack and handed them to Aletha, then moved over to the unconscious man and started to remove the chains. "Have you seen any other prisoners? Several people seem to have been abducted from the Flow over the last few weeks." Sleeping Dragon: Enrico strode up to one of the racks and picked up the rapier. The moment he touched it, the weapon rack on which it was perched suddenly tottered and fell clattering to the ground. whispering to Rafael ben Efrim, "No others, but I think there are elsewhere. These people were very quiet, never said a word to me. Stuck a gag in my mouth because I kept shouting at them." Rafael ben Efrim: (whispering): "There's another room opposite. We can take a look once I've got this man free. It might be best to leave him on the bed while we search." whispering to Rafael ben Efrim, "I'm not sure...when this man's been awake he's screamed very loudly and thrashed badly against his chains - not enough to get free, but...if he were a dog I'd have thought he has rabies." Rafael ben Efrim: (whispering): Rafael examined the man. whispering to Rafael ben Efrim, Rafael carefully looked over the man. He showed signs of very bad deprivation - Rafael thought he had been fed only a small number of times in the last few weeks, and not much each time. It was extremely difficult to tell precisely what was wrong with him - he showed no signs of physical injury beyond the effects of hunger, nor did he bear any of the rashes, marks, discolourations of skin, or other usual signs of illness. After close examination Rafael thought that the man's skin felt strangely rough, somewhat firmer than typical flesh. Opening the man's eyelids, Rafael thought that the pupils were quite large, and the eyes themselves as well - in fact the skin around the eyes showed marks as if it had recently shifted, expanding the eyelids slightly. whispering to CosmicHorror, Cat's attempts to keep the prisoner unconscious were largely unsuccessful - his wounds simply continued to heal. She thought she would need to strike him quite heavily and repeatedly in order to keep him unconscious for very long. Vachir: Vachir took the longsword from the ground and put in his backpack for safekeeping. "What now? "he asked "Should we reunite with Rafael and the Cat?" Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael looked up at Aletha. "There is something very strange about this man. I think we will need to leave the chains on him for now but try to make him comfortable." He went to fetch a bedroll from the large room and wrapped the man up. "Now to look in the other room." whispering to Rafael ben Efrim, distantly, Rafael thought he could hear the sound of shouting somewhere below Sleeping Dragon: Enrico glanced at Sakura and Vachir. "Can you hear that? There's somebody screaming their head off above us." Rafael ben Efrim: (whispering): "We need to move quickly!" Rafael hissed. "Let's look in the room and then get downstairs." Sleeping Dragon: edit: when Vachir took the longsword, the rack it was on too fell clattering to the floor whispering to Rafael ben Efrim, Rafael and Aletha quickly looked in the other room. It had presumably once been some sort of study - a shattered bookcase lay against one wall, a broken desk against another, and torn pages were strewn across the floor. In one corner, however, which had been cleared, Rafael saw that there were several quills and inks which had been piled carefully in a corner. There was, however, no signs immediately of any books which were intact. Vachir: "We'll want to go there and check then."said Vachir worriedly Rafael ben Efrim: (whispering): Rafael frowned down at the writing materials. "There is something most strange going on here. But we must go onwards." He hurried back to the corridor. "You should arm yourseld Aletha. There are weapons on the roof." Sakura: "Let go upstair quickly as possible!" Sleeping Dragon: Vachir, Sakura, and Enrico ran up the stairs and found themselves in what they presumed had been some kind of kitchen area - there were several hearths set into the wall, and long, shattered bits of shelving and counters along them. There were doors on the northern wall and two on the eastern wall, and another set of stairs leading up. They thought more attempt had been made to clear this floor than the others - shattered bits of furniture and detritus had been swept into one corner, and it was not as dusty as the previous floors. whispering to Rafael ben Efrim, Aletha headed up onto the roof to grab a weapon Rafael ben Efrim: (whispering): Rafael went with Aletha to warn Cat. Sakura: "Shall we quickly looked into other two rooms or keep going upstair," She asked others whispering to CosmicHorror, Rafael ben Efrim, Rafael emerged back onto the roof, and with him was a wild looking, tall, gaunt, shaven headed woman with scars on her scalp. She seemed nonplussed by the carnage on the roof, picking up a battleaxe from one of the downed Karateks and curiously eyeing Cat, who was watching the Karatek she had knocked unconscious. "Why the mask?" Aletha asked. "Name's Aletha Polle." Vachir: "I'd rather go upstairs, Rafael and the Cat might be in need of us."said Vachir reaching for the stairs Sakura: She went after them Rafael ben Efrim: (whispering): "We need to check downstairs Cat. If the prisoner is secure we could leave him here, or we can chain him up downstairs." Black Cat: (whispering): Cat glanced over at Rafael and the odd woman. "I'm Black Cat. I guess we've rescued you then." She glanced down at the unconscious Karatek. "You know these people?" She asked, ignoring the question about the mask, but watching Aletha carefully with the axe. Rafael ben Efrim: (whispering): "We need to check downstairs Cat." Rafael said. "There is someone screaming. If the prisoner is secure we could leave him here, or we can chain him up downstairs." Black Cat: (whispering): "Well, he's still healing, I'm a little worried he might break out if he's left awake for too long. There's chains down there? That might be a better option." Sleeping Dragon: they headed upstairs and found themselves in a very broad hall. An impressively long, thick wooden table dominated the centre of the room - unlike the rest of the furnishing they had come across, it had not been destroyed, though the chairs around it had and the table itself bore signs of some damage from axes. More bizarrely, they could see dried patches of blood randomly spotting the table and the ground all around it. Four bedrolls were to the left of the table, near which were piled a rag-tag collection of items of which the most notable was a trident. To the right of the table was a set of chains, which had been rooted, probably with some difficulty, into the floor, and on the northern wall was a door. As the trio came up the stairs they heard another shout, which was coming from behind this door. Rafael ben Efrim: (whispering): "Right, we can carry him between us." Rafael lifted the Karatek by the shoulders. whispering to CosmicHorror, Rafael ben Efrim, "Never seen him," Aletha replied. "I never got much of a look at the people who abducted me, they clobbered me over the head while I was walking back from somewhere, carried me off while I was unconscious, and when I woke I was chained up where Rafael just found me and there was no light. These freaks can see without it." Black Cat: (whispering): Cat nodded and helped Rafael lift the Karatek. Vachir: Vachir signaled to Enrico to try the door, while he prepared his bow and arrows. Rafael ben Efrim: (whispering): Rafael hurried them down the steps, showing none of his usual care as they carried the unconscious man between them. whispering to CosmicHorror, Rafael ben Efrim, Cat and Rafael carried the Karatek down some stairs, through a narrow corridor, and into a big, lavish room on the floor of which were six bed rolls and the ruins of a luxurious four poster bed. This led into a garderobe, which had chains set into the long wooden seat. The chains to the left were empty, but on the right there was an emaciated looking man who lay unconscious on the floor. Sakura: She lifted her puny crossbow Rafael ben Efrim: (whispering): "I have left him chained as you see," Rafael explained to Cat. "There is something very wrong with him, and he may not be safe to set free, at least at the moment." Black Cat: (whispering): "Well, lets hope he'll enjoy the company." She commented, helping to chain their prisoner to the other restraints. "Have you seen Sakura and the others? It sounded like they were able to take care of the problems at the front door." Rafael ben Efrim: (whispering): Rafael shook his head. "I think so but they are still below. We should let them know that there may be others like this man." Sleeping Dragon: Enrico opened the door, which was not locked, and led into a garderobe with a long wooden seat. Into the seat was driven three sets of chains, which held three different people - a muscular man with scars on his face, a woman in her forties with greying hair, and a young dishevelled girl. The woman was unconscious or asleep - the source of the shouting was the man, who was looking wildly back and forth between the door and the little girl. Her eyes were fixed on him, though she flinched when the light of the torch suddenly shone in. All three showed signs of hunger.
The man gave a cry, half sob and half shout, as the party opened the door, though he flinched away from their weapons. He attempted to speak but could only manage to emit incoherent noises. Black Cat: (whispering): "I'll go see if I can find them. You're alright here with these bunch right?" Rafael ben Efrim: (whispering): "I think we should stay together," Rafael said. "I am concerned that what has been done to this man may have happened to others. They are not safe I think." Sakura: Sakura attempted to calm them down smoothly, trying to make them explain what it happening here, Black Cat: (whispering): "Hmmm, alright." As they started to work their way down the tower, Cat asked, "Just what was done to him?" Vachir: "We mean no harm."said Vachir, though he still held his bow in hand Rafael ben Efrim: (whispering): "I am not sure exactly but I think part of it is to enable him to see in the dark," Rafael answered. "Some kind of transformation." Black Cat: (whispering): Cat shook her head worrysomely. "That doesn't sound very good. We should find the others." Sleeping Dragon: as Sakura and Enrico calmed the man down, Rafael, Black Cat, and Aletha Polle strode down the stairs and found them. Aletha put her battleaxe down and went to recover the trident and some of her other belongings from the pile in the southwest corner while the man recovered enough to be able to speak.
"Th...thank the fucking gods! Let me out of here!" he eyed the girl warily. "The kid's got it! Whatever it is those fucking freaks has I think she's caught too!" Sleeping Dragon: *freaks have, not has Rafael ben Efrim: "Calm yourself," Rafael said. "I don't believe it is catching. More likely something these cultists have been doing to you all." Sakura: Sakura glanced at the little girl and back at Rafael, "You think so...?" Vachir: After looking slightly taken aback by seeing Aletha enter the room together with Rafael and Cat, Vachir talked "What are you talking about? Some kind of disease?"he asked Rafael ben Efrim: "Not a disease as such," Rafael replied. "I think the cultists were deliberately infecting people, maybe to build their forces, or for some other dark plot." Sleeping Dragon: "They're fucking freakish animals! They kidnap us and do they talk to us or make any demands? Try to get a ransom or sell us into slavery? No! Instead they drag us out one at a time into that room there," he pointed into the room beyond, "and for once, light some candles so I can see something, and they make us watch them beat the shit out of each other! They must use some kind of magic, when you're watching them it's like...you go into a fucking frenzy! It's not fucking natural!" Sakura: "Hmm... Concerning." She looked concerned at others. Vachir: "Cultists?"Vachir raised his eyebrows at Rafel's word "That sounds astounding. The one I fired at, on the tower, looked to be somewhat saner however...still, any chance you got one of them alive?" Black Cat: "Actually, yes. Though it wasn't easy." Cat nodded to the stairs leading up. "He's up there, shouldn't cause problems." Sakura: She glanced at the little girl and woman, "Are you two alright?" She asked Sakura: She glanced at the little girl "Are you alright?" She asked her Sleeping Dragon: The little girl furrowed her brow and stared at Sakura, but didn't say anything. Rafael ben Efrim: "I don't believe we should touch them before we know what this is. They might even bite." Rafael warned. Vachir: "Any chance you could...I wouldn't know, reverse whatever they've done to the girl?"said Vachir to Rafael looking at her worriedly Rafael ben Efrim: "I can't tell. If it's something physical, perhaps. But magic.....," Rafael left the word hanging in the air. Sleeping Dragon: The man pointed to the unconscious woman. "Alhina there bit one of those freaks - the shaven headed one as was always taking notes - the first night that that girl there was with us, about a week ago, as she was so angry about them taking a girl captive - and she's been strange ever since. She's not like the girl - wakes up sometimes, talks occasionally and says she's scared she'll get it too - but she was better before. Girl's not tried to bite at all though, just stares a lot, screams sometimes. Hasn't said anything in three days, last time they fed us." Rafael ben Efrim: "We need to find that man's notebook," Rafael said. "I'll go up to the roof and search his body." Vachir: "I still wonder about that Alhmarid...he looked out of place."mused Vachir Sakura: "That notebook may be vital!" She told Rafael Sleeping Dragon: "He was their leader, once that pale bloke left," the man replied. "My name is Fargus, by the way." Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael went up to the roof and searched for the notebook. Black Cat: "Magic..." Cat mumbled to herself, and headed up to the roof as well. Sleeping Dragon: Rafael searched the Almarid's body, but found no sign of any books. He did, Rafael noticed, carry a quill with him, as well as a few small implements useful in healing - small knives, bandages, ointments, salves, and other such items. Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael returned to the others. "There are writing implements but no book. We must find it." Vachir: "Do we have some food with us?"Vachir asked the others "They look like they could use some."he added referring to the prisoners Sleeping Dragon: "I'm very hungry," Fargus replied. "I'd not go near the girl though, case she does bite." Sleeping Dragon: The group began to hunt around to find the book that the Almarid had been using. It took some time as they carefully searched each floor, rifling through the provisions the Karateks had kept, their bedrolls, searching walls for hidden panels, and on. At length, they discovered the book hidden under a loose stone in the floor of what had obviously once been the study, south of the main bedroom in which there were the ruins of the lord's bed and six of the Karateks' bedrolls. The notebook was fairly thick, though many of the pages towards the back of the book had nothing written on them. Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael took the book and started looking through it. Sakura: Sakura was curiuous to know what the book is about... Sleeping Dragon: The book concerned a particular subject, which, referred to repeatedly throughout, was 'the propagation of our race.' Throughout it was apparent that two different persons had been writing it, as different pages contained two distinct forms of handwriting - one bold and thick, the other precise and flowing. The former predominated in the early pages of the book, which Sakura identified as written in Infernal, before being translated into Coastal and sections of the second script began to appear. Nearer the end of the book, the bold script became rarer and then vanished altogether several pages from the end.
The early pages were entirely theoretical in their nature. They spoke of a 'birthplace', frustratingly unnamed, where their race had previously flourished, before being exterminated and only reborn lately when the 'transformation' began to affect the writer. The writer remembered very little of this process, a condition, he noted, that afflicted all of those who had subsequently undergone it - the changes, he thought, that it wrought to the mind and body were so great that they were blocked out as a defense mechanism, and indeed he had seen those towards the later stages of the transformation fell silent save to scream incoherently.
the writer stated that he had remained alone in the ruins of 'the birthplace' for some time, attempting to understand what had occured to him and learn 'the wisdom of the ancients', before a group of adventurers had disturbed him some months before. They had done battle and the writer had driven the adventurers off, but, in the process, they too began to transform. Sleeping Dragon: the transformation of the adventurers was very rapid - the birthplace, the writer believed, contained holes between this plane and that where their race originated, and sped the transformation process enormously. Once transformed, the writer and the adventurers formed a pact, deciding to repopulate this world with their race, as it had been years before. They had raided several nearby villages, taken warriors captive, and then returned them to the birthplace, where they too quickly transformed. However, they decided that this was too slow and arduous a process to continue - there simply were not enough humans near to the birthplace to transform - so they decided to relocate their operations near to a large city, eventually deciding on Malador as the New Coast's largest centre of population.
Here, however, they had met problems. Away from the birthplace, transformation was maddeningly slow. They had determined that their race affected humans strangely - they seemed to feel unusually aggressive around them, and when they entered battle with them often entered a state of fury - and he reasoned that witnessing or experiencing the violence of their race was the method by which humans could be made to transform.
At this point, the second script, presumably that of the Almarid, began to fill the notebook, describing their periodic kidnappings in Malador and recording their process of transformation. They had chosen victims of a variety of ages and of both sexes to see if there was any difference, also deciding that they would probably not be able to resist transformation as easily if they were kept weak and hungry. Ultimately, the second writer found that the weaker subjects, particularly the young girl, did indeed transform more quickly, but were likely to be of less use once they had done so anyhow.
At this, the first writer determined that things were again proceeding too slowly, and thus that he and a few others would enter Malador and see if they could attempt to create a hole between the planes, similar to that in the birthplace, which would enable the transformation process to be sped up. The writer believed that this could be accomplished via a ritual that he knew, but one which could only be performed near to the site of significant, ongoing battle, feeding off the violence and anger of the combatants. The writer noted with some satisfaction that, with Malador presently on the brink of riots or outright revolution, such a battle would probably not be difficult to orchestrate. Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael's face became grave as he read the account. "There is no suggestion that the hosts for these beings can be returned to normal and obviously they cannot be allowed to remain with the beings inhabiting them." Vachir: "This is terrible."said Vachir after they had done reading and translating the book "Worse than the Blood Angel, perhaps. They were turning people into these...things."he shuddered Sakura: Sakura nodded solmenly, "I am glad that we have found this. It would be terrible if it happen! Still, what about the prisoners?" Rafael ben Efrim: "I do believe the birthplace must be the city of Karatekos." Rafael added. "It fits with the story. The transformation of the Karatek warriors.... This needs to be stopped before they inhabit every human being in the New Coast, and maybe accross the whole world!" Vachir: "They heal lethal wounds as they fight and can see in the dark....I hope they do not have even weirder powers." Black Cat: Cat was quiet for a moment. "Perhaps so." She said, though her tone was doubtful. Sakura: She agreed with Rafael, "Yes that was also my conclusion." She frowned for a moment, "Still... there might be... Are we so sure they are truely dead? Would burning these deads would be better idea?" Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael nodded. "We can burn the dead, to be sure. But it is the living that concern me. I think we must destroy all of the infected here now, then track this evil back to its source and put a stop to it." Black Cat: "So, you plan on killing those who have done nothing but be in the wrong place at the wrong time?" Cat turned towards Rafael. Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael's face was sad but his voice steady as he answered. "If you were bitten by a rabid wolf I would do the same. There is little hope and much danger in leaving the infected alive." Vachir: "Are you sure there is no way to drive out whatever spirit or fiend infected them?"asked Vachir "I am worried we might have been affected ourselves..." Black Cat: "This is not a disease that can be delt with like any other. Killing them is a permanent soloution yes, but a soloution to what? Why is their existance such an abomination that they should be destroyed?" Rafael ben Efrim: "There is so little in here..." Rafael shook the book. "Not the ritual to cause it, let alone the ritual to end it. And I for one do not want to become the mere vehicle for these dread beings, lusting for death and blood!" he added somewhat sharply. Sakura: "Shall we talk to the captive?" She asked the others Black Cat: "How do we know that is what they are after? Or after anything at all for that matter, other than the survival of their race." Sleeping Dragon: Aletha was chewing her lip. "Do they...choose to try to spread this disease, or are they somehow forced? They didn't seem too out of control to me." Black Cat: "And the book says nothing of instigating a conflict, only that Malador is convenient for this ritual." Rafael ben Efrim: "Why are you trying to defend them?" Rafael asked Cat. "They have kidnapped and tortured these innocent people, starving them and exposing them to this, and are willing to kill in great numbers to force the transformation on every man, woman and child. You really believe this is acceptable?" Sakura: Sakura frowned thoughtfully for a moment before asking Cat and Aletha, "Do you want to see entire population of Malador and elsewhere into some demonic tainted humans hmm?" Black Cat: "No, it is not acceptable. To us. I am not defending those who kidnapped and tortured others, I'm defending those who havn't done anything to warrant death. I don't believe that the actions of a few are enough to warrent the extermination of an entire race, no matter their origin. We should at least try to reason with those here who are affected." Rafael ben Efrim: "Reasoning will not drive the alien spirits from them, nor stop their ravening desire to spread the infection. We have seen what they are like when it is full blown. We will have to kill them then, with sword and bow. I am suggesting a painless death now." Black Cat: "How do you know that?" Cat said slowly. Vachir: "There might be some way of reversing the process that could be discovered, perhaps."suggested a nervous Vachir "Just because it's not described in the notes doesn't mean there isn't. They probably wouldn't want anyone to know, anyway." Rafael ben Efrim: "Because of what happened here. Because of what they wrote in the book. And because of what happened in Karatekos." Rafael answered Cat. "To allow this to spread is a risk we dare not take. We cannot allow another city to be destroyed as Karatekos was." He turned to Vachir. "If you wish, we could perhaps keep them here for a time under guard, in a form of quarantine, while we find out. But we must be quick before anyone else is infected." Black Cat: "Not all spirits are evil you know." Cat said, matter-of-factly. "You of all people should be able to empathize with these beings, weak, struggling, desperate, in a land where everyone would rather kill them than look at them."
|
|
|
Post by sleepingdragon on Apr 24, 2010 16:48:46 GMT
Sleeping Dragon: "Because of what happened here. Because of what they wrote in the book. And because of what happened in Karatekos." Rafael answered Cat. "To allow this to spread is a risk we dare not take. We cannot allow another city to be destroyed as Karatekos was." He turned to Vachir. "If you wish, we could perhaps keep them here for a time under guard, in a form of quarantine, while we find out. But we must be quick before anyone else is infected."
"Not all spirits are evil you know." Cat said, matter-of-factly. "You of all people should be able to empathize with these beings, weak, struggling, desperate, in a land where everyone would rather kill them than look at them."Sleeping Dragon: "Because of what happened here. Because of what they wrote in the book. And because of what happened in Karatekos." Rafael answered Cat. "To allow this to spread is a risk we dare not take. We cannot allow another city to be destroyed as Karatekos was." He turned to Vachir. "If you wish, we could perhaps keep them here for a time under guard, in a form of quarantine, while we find out. But we must be quick before anyone else is infected."
"Not all spirits are evil you know." Cat said, matter-of-factly. "You of all people should be able to empathize with these beings, weak, struggling, desperate, in a land where everyone would rather kill them than look at them." Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael shook his head. "A spirit which takes over another being's body, and possibly may drive out that being's soul, can hardly be seen as anything but evil. They have no respect for us, except as hosts. We must stop them." Black Cat: "I agree that we should keep them from taking over others, but where I disagree is in how you want to deal with the two we have on our hands already." Sakura: "Still, are there anyone still alive of this group we can interrogate?" She asked them softly... Black Cat: "Well, there's the Karatek in the cell upstairs, and the girl, though I don't think she'd know much." Vachir: "We might have better luck with the survivor then."said Vachir "Although I expect only treachery and lies from him." Rafael ben Efrim: "I presume the Karateks have been infected some time. If we play along with his belief that this is a good thing then we may get some information out of him," Rafael suggested. Sleeping Dragon: the party crowded into the little garderobe where their Karatek prisoner and another man were in chains. The Karatek was conscious and indeed his wounds had entirely healed. He blinked and shied away slightly from Rafael's lantern, but said nothing. The other man was badly emaciated and lay unconscious on the floor. Sleeping Dragon: the Karatek blinked, looked up at the party, and allowed his eyes to flicker over each of them. He smiled and chuckled softly to himself. Sleeping Dragon: oddly, what seemed to have struck the Karatek as funny was the symbol of Alaric hanging from Vachir's neck Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael looked at the symbol. "Why are you laughing?" he asked the Karatek. Vachir: "What are you looking at?"asked Vachir, though, as he said that, it looked like some he had reached some sort of unpleasant realization Sleeping Dragon: "Your human god won't protect you," the Karatek said to Vachir. "He is on our side, so I'm told. Or doesn't care. Either way." Rafael ben Efrim: "How do you infect people?" Rafael asked coldly. Vachir: Vachir looked slightly taken aback for a moment."And who would have told you about whose side Alaric is?"he asked Sleeping Dragon: "A cousin of mine," the Karatek replied to Vachir. "But we do not infect people, we propagate our species. Don't we have the right to do this?" Sleeping Dragon: *edit: species = race Rafael ben Efrim: "You say you propagate your race. Which race is that?" Rafael asked. Sakura: "One of countless devils or demons likely." She told them. Sleeping Dragon: "We are the Unbloodied. In numbers, we would be far better able to survive the tribulations of this world than yours. We know no pain. We are stronger, faster, and harder." Sleeping Dragon: edit: than you Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael appeared to consider this. "You believe that strength, speed and hardness are the greatest virtues?" Sleeping Dragon: "They are the virtues on which all others depend." Rafael ben Efrim: "What of honesty, integrity, compassion?" Rafael asked. "What of self sacrifice? What of love?" Sleeping Dragon: "What of them? Will compassion or honesty protect you from attack? And the self sacrifice of who? Will your race accept the sacrifice of itself in favour of mine, or will we have to fight you?" Vachir: "The Unbloodied...The warriors of Karatekos, who were never seen wounded or hurt."mused Vachir "Still...We have slain others who believed in might above all else before. Ever heard of...the Crimson Path? Allies of yours, perhaps? Or rivals?" Sakura: She nodded on Vachir's statement, "That right, I too have heard of the Unbloodied. They still can be slain though like any other mortals." Sakura: She asked in other strange language. Sakura: (whispering): "Can you understand me?" in Inderal. Sleeping Dragon: "I don't know what you're blathering about," the Karatek said, though whether to Vachir or Sakura was hard to say Vachir: (whispering): "I can."replied Vachir "And I wonder if the Karatek can, too." The Bolgar's Infernal was noticeably accented, having been learned fairly recently Vachir: Vachir replied to Sakura's words in the same, strange-sounding language. Sakura: She asked something else in another language Sakura: (whispering): "How about the languages of demons?" in Abyssal. Sakura: Her eyes narrowed for a moment at the prisoner. Rafael ben Efrim: Meanwhile Rafael, after considering the Karatek's last statement about sacrifice, asked,"Your race only survives by infesting others, like a worm in the brain. Hardly survival at all, just parasitism." Vachir: (whispering): "That too." Vachir: Vachir quickly replied to Sakura's question, in the same tongue. Rafael ben Efrim: edit* not asked but stated Sakura: "Well, it seems you do not understand these languages, even though I can go through my knowledge of thirteen languages...." She thought for a moment, "Is Coastal is only language you know?" She asked again... "As it is, your race is almost as useless as many others. Now, clearly there are powers... whose powers do you need to!" She asked sharply. Sleeping Dragon: the Karatek paid no attention to Sakura. "So be it," he said to Rafael, shrugging. Rafael ben Efrim: "How do you...take over these people then?" Rafael asked. Sleeping Dragon: "When we fight each other, it seems to have an effect on your race. We battle regularly to keep in practise anyhow. It is, however, very slow, now that we are far from home." Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael frowned. "Your host was once a human being like us? A Karatek. How did you...become him?" Sleeping Dragon: "Do you remember your mother's womb?" Rafael ben Efrim: "So there is nothing of that person left. They cease to exist as themselves and become instead a....what do you call yourselves?" Rafael asked, keeping his voice steady. Sleeping Dragon: "Oh, I remember before my birth. Just not the birth. My mother named me Ashem and I was a warrior and farmer. And remain so, but stronger." Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael thought about this. "So why do you believe that you are of another race? Could you not just be the same Ashem but feel different because something has made you stronger?" Sleeping Dragon: "Cut me, human, and watch the wound and you will see why I am Unbloodied. Put out your light and stand in the dark with me, and I will tell you how we are different. We are related races, but we are better than you." Rafael ben Efrim: "Stronger is not better. A beastman is stronger than a human, but it is certainly not better and no man would wish to become one. It would take far more than your insistence to prove to us that what you say is right." Rafael said. He gestured to the others to come outside for a moment. Rafael ben Efrim: Once they were well out of hearing range of the prisoner, Rafael looked seriously about at the others. "I am very concerned at the effect of this...being. What do you think?" Vachir: Vachir went outside with the others."There is something I know.should perhaps have mentioned it earlier, but I wasn't sure. The adventurers we read about, those who went to Karatekos and were transformed...I think I knew one, a dear friend of mine and a fellow follower of Alaric. I'm afraid he might be the 'cousin' mentioned."said Vachir, looking crestfallen Rafael ben Efrim: "That is a hard thing to find out," Rafael said softly. "One of you own to go over to the enemy." For a moment he looked distant, as though remembering something. "How long ago would that have been?" Sakura: "Sorry to hear that. Losing friends can be hard..." She looked throughfully for a moment, "We cannot let them go... In fact, I am concerned about this... race and want to know the source of all this. When I started fighting them, I felt this strange feeling in my mind that was threatening to overwhelm me... Did anyone else have that kind of feeling?" Sakura: She asked others Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael nodded. "I felt a sudden surge of delight in fighting, quite alien to me, as I faced the Karateks on the roof. I asked for help from the One in keeping me from its effects." Vachir: "I think Renhart left Malador to explore the ruins some months ago. It matches what we have read, I'm afraid." Vachir said "And I'm sure there are many other people who I'd rather cure than kill outright. But if there is a way to reverse the process, we will not get it out of him."he added, obviously referring to their prisoner Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael shook his head. "I think we will have to stop the infection here and now. Although the Karatek makes it appear positive, we know nothing about what really happens, apart from the fact that people stop speaking and start screaming." Sakura: "Agreed." She only nodded in agreement. Vachir: "What about the girl?"said Vachir "She's still in the early stages of the transformation. We might be able to learn something about the process, at least." Rafael ben Efrim: "It might give us information certainly," Rafael admitted. "But would you put that child through such horror. And most likely have to destroy her in the end. What were they thinking, taking a mere child for their madness." Vachir: "What are we doing with the prisoner right now? I don't think we'll get other useful info out of him...." Sakura: "About the girl... It may be necessary to kill all who show any symptoms..." She told them softly... Rafael ben Efrim: "I think he is dangerous. The people here are in various stages of metamorphosis, but the Karateks are completely dedicated." He thought for a moment. "There might be people in Malador who could help with finding a cure if there is one. Other doctors, and an expert on the occult perhaps....But we must be very careful who finds out. It strikes me that there are powerful people who would be only too glad to have Unbloodied fighting for them." Vachir: "Or to become Unbloodied themselves."Vachir suggested "I can see why some might be tempted by this sort of power, even though there is madness in it." Rafael ben Efrim: "Do we have any more questions for the prisoner?" Rafael asked. "I think we should keep away from him as much as possible. His mere presence is tainted." Sakura: "No... I do not honestly think we can gain any more from this." Sakura shook her head Vachir: "Perhaps we could ask if their race has any relationship with the Masters?"suggested Vachir off-handedly "Can't think of much else." Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael nodded. "Right, we'll ask that if you want." Vachir: Vachir and the others returned to their prisoner. "Do you and your race have anything to do with the Masters?"he asked matter-of-factly, although he didn't sound like he expected a straight answer Sleeping Dragon: "The Masters are dead and we are not." Rafael ben Efrim: "Where do you come from?" Rafael asked. "You know of your origins it seems." Sleeping Dragon: "I was born in our ancestral city of Karatekos, though I was not there long." Rafael ben Efrim: "By 'born' do you mean the moment you changed from human?" Sleeping Dragon: "Of course." Rafael ben Efrim: "So where do your people come from?" Rafael persisted. "How did they enter this world? And why?" Sleeping Dragon: "We were originally from another plane. There is a hole to our home plane in Karatekos, which speeds the process of transformation." Rafael ben Efrim: "A portal?" Rafael said. "We know what happened to Karatekos after the portal was opened there. And that is what you want to do to Malador?" Sleeping Dragon: "We have no choice. We must propagate our race, and we must protect ourselves from human attempts to exterminate us. You will all be much stronger and happier when you have transformed." Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael said nothing, just indicated to the others that he had nothing more to say to the Karatek.
|
|
|
Post by sleepingdragon on May 8, 2010 15:17:52 GMT
Sleeping Dragon: "We have no choice. We must propagate our race, and we must protect ourselves from human attempts to exterminate us. You will all be much stronger and happier when you have transformed."
Rafael said nothing, just indicated to the others that he had nothing more to say to the Karatek. Sakura: Sakura merely shook her head, she too have nothing to say to this alien invader. Sakura: She indicated that maybe it is time to discuss this in more detail out of this chap's earshot Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael indicated his agreement. He looked questioningly at the others and left the room. Vachir: Vachir silently followed Sakura and Rafael outside Rafael ben Efrim: Once they were out of earshot Rafael looked at each of his companions in turn. "You heard what that...thing...said. They will not rest until they have invaded the whole of humanity. The question is, what do we do about them?" Sakura: "We cannot let them go..." She told them seriously, "Kill them?" Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael nodded. "That seems to me the only way to deal with this threat. It is a war, but hopefully we can keep the casualties to only this handful of people." Vachir: "I would have nothing against killing this particular one."said Vachir referring to their prisoner "But I'd find a solution other than death for the others, such as the infected girl." Vachir: edit: "I'd find" -> "I'd rather find" Rafael ben Efrim: "I understand, but we must not risk the lives of the whole city. If there is no cure...." He said no more, just looked to Cat and Enrico. Sleeping Dragon: Enrico shrugged. "Better to be safe than sorry. The girl's parents aren't going to thank us if we bring them home a mad freak who tries to turn them into maniacs." Sleeping Dragon: Cat strongly disagreed. "They haven't done anything! And if we kill them out of hand we'll never find out if they can be cured." Rafael ben Efrim: "Then we should make haste to find someone who might be able to cure them," Rafael said somewhat sharply. Sleeping Dragon: "If only we knew a doctor," Cat retorted Rafael ben Efrim: "If it were a normal illness a doctor would be ideal," Rafael said quietly. "This is not within my capacity to cure." Vachir: "Don't forget we eventually have to destroy this infestation at the source, in Karatekos..."Vachir said "That's where it started after all." Rafael ben Efrim: "Indeed." Rafael said. He turned to Aletha. "What is your feeling on this?" Sleeping Dragon: "I haven't seen this girl, but I know about animals with rabies and those need to be killed, without hesitation. These are probably the same." Rafael ben Efrim: "Come and see the girl. I would like to examine her again before we make a final decision," Rafael said. Sleeping Dragon: Aletha nodded Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael went to look at the girl again. Sleeping Dragon: the party headed downstairs to check on the infected girl. When they opened the door she sat watching them, blinking against the light of their lantern, while the woman, Alhina, lay unconscious on the floor Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael halted out of reach of the child. "Can you understand me?" he asked her. Sleeping Dragon: the child looked at Rafael as he spoke, but didn't reply Rafael ben Efrim: "Sakura might be able to try another language..." Rafael mused. Sakura: Sakura asked her in various languages ranging from sounding human to inhuman. It sounds there is roughly thirteen different tounges. Sleeping Dragon: after about six or seven attempts, the girl gave a loud, wordless scream Rafael ben Efrim: "Speak in that language again," Rafael said. "We need to know if she responded to it." Sakura: She looked annoyed for a moment, and merely repeated last two languages she was asked to do. Sleeping Dragon: the girl didn't respond this time Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael looked at the others. "Whatever has happened to her, it is destroying her. It is wrong to leave her in this state." Vachir: Vachir listened and watched silently as Sakura spoke, wondering which languages she was speaking. Vachir: "Whatever language you were speaking...I don't think she recognized it. "commented Vachir sullenly "She's probably stark raving mad, poor thing." Sakura: Sakura narrowed her eyes, "I think she is lost cause..." Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael looked with pity at the girl. "Such a young child to be put through this ordeal." Rafael went into the other room where he rummaged through his bag, bringing out a vial of cloudy liquid and adding a few drops to a cup of water. "I can at least give her a temporary respite." He returned to the room and held out the cup to the child. Sleeping Dragon: The famished child grabbed the cup and drank it quickly Sleeping Dragon: shortly afterwards, the child lay down and fell asleep Rafael ben Efrim: "We must decide quickly now. These people can not be forced to suffer in this way while we argue over how to deal with the infestation." Rafael said, looking sadly at the sleeping child. Sakura: "You know what I am in favour of. The world is not that capable to deal with expanding magical race that will overtake the world." She muttered. Rafael ben Efrim: "There is one person who might be able to give us an answer," Rafael said. CosmicHorror (enter): 21:31 Attempting to assign the role of PLAYER to (1067) CosmicHorror... Rafael ben Efrim: (whispering): "You know Benjamin. He may be able to advise us on this." Rafael said quietly to Sakura. Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael spoke quietly to Sakura. Sakura: She whispered back to Rafael, Sakura: (whispering): "That did occured to me. He would have better chance of knowing what is happening. Shall we keep them alive until asking him or would that be too late hmm?" Rafael ben Efrim: (whispering): "We keep them alive." Rafael murmured. Rafael ben Efrim: "There is a man in Malador who has studied the arcane, and may be able to help. We would need some to fetch him and some to guard the tower and these people." Rafael said. Sleeping Dragon: "Who is it? I could get him while you guard the tower," said Aletha Rafael ben Efrim: "Take Sakura with you. She knows Benjamin well," Rafael said. "Maybe another to go with you in case of attack." Black Cat: "I'll go." Cat offered. Rafael ben Efrim: "Will you wait until dawn?" Rafael asked. "We need to rest too." Sakura: Sakura yawned as she finally realised how late it is.... "We need to keep watch of course..." Rafael ben Efrim: "I would like to speak with Fargus. I'll keep first watch," Rafael said. Vachir: "I can take the second watch, if no one else is up for it."volontoureed Vachir Sleeping Dragon: Fargus looked surprised, but nodded Black Cat: "I'll take the last watch then." Rafael ben Efrim: "You and Aletha has also better sleep now," Rafael said to Sakura. Rafael ben Efrim: has = had* Rafael ben Efrim: When everyone had settled down, and they had checked the doors were all barred, Rafael spoke with Fargus. "How long have you been here?" he asked. Sakura: Sakura just bedded down and almost instantly went to sleep. Sleeping Dragon: "Umm...what's the date? I was abducted on the 1st of October," said Fargus. Aletha said that she had been taken on the 11th and that it must therefore be the 12th now, so Fargus said, "Eleven days then." Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael looked at the man with interest. "Did they try starving you as well?" Sleeping Dragon: Fargus nodded. "Only fed me every three days, the fuckers." Rafael ben Efrim: "It must be part of forcing the change," Rafael said. "What else did they do?" Sleeping Dragon: "Mostly it was watching them fight once or twice a day, and otherwise being left in the dark. First couple of days, it didn't affect much - brought some strange thoughts, but I shook them off - then it started to be more intense. Don't remember watching some of the later fights much." Rafael ben Efrim: "You felt the effects of the fights?" Rafael asked. "But how did you resist the change?" Sleeping Dragon: "I...to be honest I don't know, really. Never been like the girl or Alhina is now, unable to speak and falling unconscious regularly, just..." Fargus spread his hands. Rafael ben Efrim: "Just...?" Rafael raised his eyebrows enquiringly. Sleeping Dragon: "I had a few very bad dreams. Thought it was just being here but Alhina had the same when she started to get worse. Had them five, six days ago, none since." Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael frowned in concentration. "Did anything happen five or six days ago that might have altered your state?" Sleeping Dragon: "Wasn't any different from any other days here that I remember." Rafael ben Efrim: "It seems that something prevented the change from taking its full effect. Have the feelings lessened too?" Sleeping Dragon: "When I watched them fight two days ago it wasn't so bad. They didn't do it yesterday, seemed more interested in Alhina and the girl." Rafael ben Efrim: "What were the dreams about?" Rafael asked. Sleeping Dragon: "Umm...for a lot of it I was fighting but it wasn't just that..." Fargus paused and scratched his head. "It was like...there was a really strong feeling like I was threatened by something I couldn't see, and I felt afraid and angry. That was the main thing, not so much anything the dreams were about so much as what they felt like." Rafael ben Efrim: "Well, you were being threatened by something you couldn't see in a way. Perhaps you were even fighting it in your dreams. But I wish I could tell exactly why you are free of the infestation, and not these others." Rafael paused. "Do you have a particular belief?" Sleeping Dragon: "A belief in what?" Fargus sounded confused. Rafael ben Efrim: "A god perhaps?" Rafael said. "Or in something else?" Sleeping Dragon: "Oh. Well, uh...I think that, well...I think that the gods look after those as look after themselves, if you get me." Fargus gave a weak smile that quickly faded Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael smiled too, for a moment. "Looking after ourselves, and looking after each other. The One expects us to do our best in both cases. But you must rest now. If you think of anything else please let me know." Sleeping Dragon: Fargus just nodded and went to find a bedroll. Sleeping Dragon: the party slept and the night passed with no disturbances. Sleeping Dragon: Aletha gathered up her gear and prepared to set out for the city with Cat and Sakura Rafael ben Efrim: Rafael checked the three sufferers and the Karatek. Sleeping Dragon: Rafael checked on the Karatek and the man first, the man seeming unchanged. "Do you intend to kill me soon or are you going to leave me waiting?" the Karatek asked. Rafael ben Efrim: "You must wait a while," was all Rafael would say. He then went to check the woman and child.
|
|