[center][h3]College Troubles[/h3][/center] [u]Val, Twilight College[/u] Augustus, as usual, was on patrol upon the College ramparts. He had been with the college since his early years and chose to remain a novice. Despite this, his ability with magic earned him a position as a guard and he proudly served within the place that had helped him. Free of war corruption, the college brought a sense of peace he hadn’t had in years. At the sound of two individuals approaching, his head popped over the rampart’s wall. His eyes narrowed, silently judging the pair, before his figure pulled back and gestured for the gates to open. Several volunteer soldiers began to push small, primitive cranks causing the rope to jerk taunt before the doors rumbled wide to allow the two students in. His head turned to the youngest man near him and newest to the guard, “Jonny, git down thar and git Val, now.” The thin, twig like individual saluted then darted down the ladders and stairs onto solid ground. He bolted toward the fires within the black smithing area just as Val managed to wrap up her last lesson for the day. Covered in soot and frowning, her eyes turned to Jonny. The boy was clearly winded by his quick trip, his figure half bent and huffing for breath, he finally straightened up at her words. “Oi! Wat ye want?” “Now arrivals…,”Jonny took a moment to pant then continued, “At the gate…” “Aye, wat important about it?” Jonny stared at her, shocked. Did she not understand his own reason to rush over here? The question bore into his skull as he tried to think what else to say, namely without being rude or getting a sound cuff over the ear by a thick hand. “I-I… ummm…. Aren’t you going to greet them?” For a moment, the stout, dwarven woman glared annoyingly at him. It seemed she was about to cuff him for his arrogant words before she broke down into a chuckle, her face cracking into a warmer expression. Carefully she set the last of the scrap steel into the fire’s coals and gestured for her student to take over. She pulled off the gloves, the hammer placed down and began to walk out of the forge. Still covered in black soot, she casually began to approach the newest additions to the College. [center][h3]Uncovering Shadows[/h3][/center] [u][color=pink]Lyn,[/color] Hysteria (Djarkel)[/u] [@Ryonara], [@Konan375], [@Demonic Angel], and [@EliteCommander] [hr] [center]~| Ssarak |~[/center] When the weight on the back of the kusarigama bounced off Ssarak’s shield, the Esyire snarled in irritation and pulled his weapon back against his leg. He had positioned himself perfectly to get a jump on the larger creature as he predicted either him or the vampire would’ve risked coming into their lair. The place around them was too low to fly to their full capabilities and even their movement was limited by the close clusters of materials stored here. Taking this in account, the older Esyire didn’t toss his weapon a second time. Instead he readied himself to go on the offensive. As the ‘flame’ erupted from Ssarak’s hand, an amulet that hung by the Esyire’s neck glowed a deep purple. Upon it was several runes that Ssarak, due to his time with Val, could easily tell were connected to Rune Magic and possibly to his illusion magic. However, it was difficult to tell until he could examined the item at a closer range. A smirk spread across the opposing Esyire’s muzzle. His figure straightened up just when the fire passed through him, failing to faze him at all. “You’re going to have to learn some new tricks, mage,” he snarled then inhaled, a thick, green smog pushed from his snout into the direction of Ssarak. The breath was impossible to see through while it filled a quarter of the small warehouse (19 ft estimate). If it made contact, Ssarak would feel queasiness wash over him and an intense urge to vomit would overwhelm him. [hider=GM note for Ssarak] [list] [*] Assassin one (Wood Elf) to his left closest to Leith and Mei [*] Assassin two (Esyire) to his right direction and nearest the corner [*]Assassin three (Naerse Human-sniper) across the room farthest from where Ssarak entered at [*] Assassin four (Orc) outside building, and heading toward the roof [*] Assassin five (Naerse Human-stolen box) edging out toward an exit and walked into Keri’s direction. [/list] [/hider] [center]~| Leith & Meirin |~[/center] A female with a petite figure had heard Leith’s tumble onto the floor. As his feet tripped, the rope tangled about his legs and ensnared him further than he might’ve originally expected. They tightened to prevent him from moving about easily like ropes often did. The thief grinned then smirked. She rose to her feet from her crouched down position with her trident in hand and casually walked toward the downed student. She hefted the weapon upward, the end pointed directly at his throat and head, before she slashed downward. Behind her, the sniper with the crossbow was already notching another bolt into his weapon then jerked it upward. His eyes narrowed and finger pulled to aim it directly at Meirin. The bolt promptly left the weapon as he scrambled to find some appropriate cover. [center]~| Keri |~[/center] When Keri went to pop the individual she found, her hand didn’t hit exactly as she planned. Somehow, the man knew she was there. Either by her own actions or the alarm within the warehouse, his figure shifted to the side causing her sword handle to pop upon the meaty section of his shoulder rather than the head. As her arm pulled it back, he lowered himself and swung the chest. Its side clipped at the nearest side of her knees unless she moved back against the door. Not wasting any time or seeing if the attack hit, the man’s hood dropped in his movement to face her. A bald head literally tattoos caught the sunlight for a brief moment. She would immediately remember him as the thief that took off with the chest in the first place. His expression folded into a smirk and his hands plopped the chest down in front of him, his arms now free of any burden. His left foot pulled back into a ready stance while his right arm pulled forward and became a fist. His other readied at his side really to react to any aggression. “You and your friends,” his tone held a smug and cocky tone in each word, “should never have followed. Now you will not live to see another day!” [center]~| Lyn |~[/center] [color=pink] “Shit, that hurt,”[/color] Lyn groaned. Her figure sat up, rubbing her rump’s sore spot, as she looked at the hatch. It had fallen close and seemed to have snapped shut. She frowned in irritation and began to pull herself upon her knees. Reaching out her arms, she used her hands to examine the frame. Once more she felt for the small catches along the sides in order to jerk it up and help her allies. Her fingers dug into the wooden. Just when she jerked upward, several small splinters caught underneath her scales and dug into her hands. She jerked back with a painful hiss causing her to examine her palms. Several wooden pieces had found purchase within her flesh and drew a frown at them. Picking a few out, she muttered one or two of her father’s favorite curse words then readied herself for another round. Thump! She froze in place. The thump happened again causing her eyes to drift to the side and notice the source. A heavy breathing followed by another loud thump held Lyn’s attention to the side. A large, orcish woman had finally made her way upon the roof. She smiled in a toothy grin, her hands pulled her two machetes from her belt and bolted forward. Lyn’s eyes widened at seeing the height nearly match her own godfather's as the thief’s granite voice rang out in amusement, “Lookie wat Ah found! Come ‘ere and let me split ye down te middle!” [color=pink] “Oh no...”[/color] Lyn said as she rolled to the side, the machete’s blade hitting where she had been moments ago. [h3][center]Diplomacy at Yarosmere[/center][/h3] [u][color=lightcoral]Mar,[/color] Sansar (Yarsomere): Underground Cave~Unknown Location[/u] [@cqbexpt], [@Luna], [@Vesuvius00], [@Konan375] [hr] While the others asked questions and faked being friendly, Mar quietly sat at the table. Her eyes narrowed on her food and barely touched it while the conversation happened around her. Even if she was hungry, it was very unlikely she would’ve brought herself to feast at the same table as someone who had nearly brought her race into extinction. The food seemed to lose it appeal at the thought. Quietly she scanned the room at the various guards stood around, alert and ready, her tension unable to ease itself. She had been like it since the medical examination. Thankfully, no one seemed to have noted her oddities but it was only a matter of time. At the mention of monsters, Mar’s head jerked about to face the self entitled King of the New Yarsomere lands. Her eyes narrowed in obvious disgust at his statement as the Naga had made the desert their home far longer than any of the Yarsomere people had. If any race had a right to live here more than anyone, it was hers. Mar heard Aramir but didn’t listen to her continual shouting. Her skin bubbled in tension causing her scales to ruffle and her figure to straighten upright, her expression twisted slightly into apprehension. Every instinct within her was coiled like a spring trap ready to break with the scene’s progression. Heat from her rage burned within her, the sensation raced along her insides and boiled her patience away. Their little diplomatic attempts had completely failed and now their lives had been threatened. It was the last straw for Marya. Her lips parted as fang shot out, erupting from the back and gave her a feral appearance. A long hiss rattled from the back of her throat in warning. Mar already jerked to her feet, the chair toppled to the floor in a loud clatter, while she stared down the false ‘King’. His face, for a brief moment, matched her own. A monster against a monster. Deep inside, her Naga instinct wanted to lunge at him and coil her tail about, gradually crushing him into a corpse. She knew the desire was pure suicide, but it didn’t stop it from burning away inside. When the King dropped his arms, blood sprayed across the room. Several specks dripped upon her white skin but Mar refused to react. It all she could do to prevent herself from attempting to kill the King or dying trying. Movement from the corner of her eyes distracted Mar, her eyes flicked to the side and noticed Aramir’s bow holding Yolin at bay. For a powerful man, it was odd how a trained weapon had caused him to rethink his earlier actions. Not that it mattered. Darius’ words broke the spell of violence that had spread across each of them. Despite his words, she didn’t move at first. It was hard enough to resist the desire to rip the King apart and movement only made it more difficult. Her eyes continued to glare until the man touched her causing the Naga to hiss and flinch at his touch. Even after two years at the college, the unexpected connection still drew her defensive side out. Her heart still pounded adrenaline through her veins while she followed him and the others out. However, no words could accurately describe the pain or anger that filled her very core. Upon the doors being closed and barricaded, Mar felt whatever strength she had begin to wade from her. Her back pressed against the wall she felt herself slide down it into a sitting position. Her legs pulled closely and her arms wrapped about them, her body fighting not to tremble at the frustration within her. At Darius’ comment over the stones, she spoke. [color=lightcoral] “There’s one in my pouch. Use it, I can’t use it at this moment.”[/color]