ooc: characters may be placed in scene as they please with their intro post. preferable posting pace is at least once a week. Open to more folk, so apply if you like in direct message to me or the ooc. Ask ALL questions. This rp will mostly cover thwarting the rise of an old evil in the trade city of ryken
Time: late morning
Weather: warm and clear
Mentions:  
TLDR: party is psychically summoned to a run down warehouse where an injured nun of an ancient order is the last thing holding back a horde of monsters and pleads for the party's aid
music:  [url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_LktJ14Kg8[/url]

Ryken continued to recover from the earthquake that had shaken the continent a month prior. Damaged buildings had been repaired, trade had resumed, and the riverfront remained as busy as ever. Barges moved along the water while laborers hauled cargo between warehouses and merchants conducted business beneath the summer sun.

Each member of the party received the same telepathic message.

[color=ed1c24][b]"Please, I need your help. River warehouses. Follow the flame."[/b][/color]

The sensation lingered only long enough to provide a direction before fading. The source led toward an older section of the waterfront where several warehouses still bore signs of earthquake damage. One of them had been abandoned after part of its structure collapsed. Temporary barriers had been placed around it, but nothing prevented entry.

Inside, a damaged stairway descended into a lower level. The basement itself appeared older than the warehouse above it, with portions of ancient stonework exposed where walls had collapsed. Faint carvings covered some of the stone surfaces and a large glowing seal had been carved directly into the floor near the center of the chamber.

A woman in red and gold vestments stood beside it. Blood stained part of her robes and burn marks covered one arm. One hand remained pressed against the seal while streams of orange light flowed from her palm into the damaged construct.

Several yards away, a large fissure split the floor open. The crack descended into darkness beyond the reach of the chamber's light. The woman looked toward the arriving group.

[color=ed1c24][b]"Thank you for coming. My name is Sister Valeria Embermantle of the Church of Sacred Flame."[/b][/color]

A scraping sound echoed from somewhere below the fissure.

[color=ed1c24][b]"My order was entrusted with maintaining the seals to hold back a great evil. The earthquake damaged them and something below exploited the weakness. Creatures are making their way upward through passages connected to deeper ruins. I cannot hold them back myself any longer."[/b][/color]

Another scraping sound followed the first, slightly louder than before.

[b][color=ed1c24]"I have concealed this location from those on the surface and can continue doing so for now. I can also assist in restoring damaged seals. I have already exhausted most of my strength keeping this breach contained, so I plead that you pick up the fight for now."[/color][/b]

Valeria removed her hand from the seal for a moment and several cracks of orange light immediately spread across its surface before she pressed her hand back against it.

[color=ed1c24][b]"If these creatures reach the warehouses above us, they will reach the city shortly after. We must stop that from happening at all costs."[/b][/color]

The sounds below continued. Stone shifted somewhere within the darkness and small fragments of rock tumbled into the fissure.

[color=ed1c24][b]"You have a few moments before the first of them arrive. Ask your questions, make your preparations, or choose your fate now."[/b][/color]


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[img]https://i.imgur.com/piCDdsq.png[/img]
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