[IC] Knights of The Dawn Covenant: The Longest Winter

[Ace of flames01]

Though it could not be seen nor was it expressed, Ruinil could tell that Evelyn was grateful for being awakened. Yet Ruinil felt guilty for depriving Evelyn from her happiness. "I welcome you back, friend. I'm glad to see you have awakened. I must apologize for startling you and for depriving you of your beautiful memories. I assure you that the method I used was not my original intent. However, I fear you suspicions are indeed correct. But fear not, our comrades are indeed safe. As we speak, Henry has also been collaborating with me in the task of waking up the others. It is our belief that in waking the others sealed away in this realm, that we may finally leave this place." She explained, she smiled warmly as she welcomed the captain upon her return. She also had now retained her original form as the dreamscape started to crumble.

Ruinil had also noticed the door. "Shall we continue, my captain?" She replied, she smirked encouragingly yet the tone of her voice was respectful. She followed Evelyn through the door and was engulfed in the bright light that emanated from the door.

[OtomostheCrazy]

@Cuccoruler

Ridicule, slavery, death threats...Kaathe did not quite understand the true harshness of these things. He hadn't exactly gone through them. Though he received beatings in his childhood, they were from fights he, himself, started. Though he learned and knew of slavery, he had never seen or has been a real slave. The only times Kaathe received death threats were when he was a child, and even then those were only because he had earned himself the ire of many other violent dark elves.

In normal conditions, Kaathe would chuckle, or at least grin at someone who cared about such things that would only rush them to their deaths...This, for whatever reason, was different. He felt uncomfortable. As if he actually cared about whether or not Cythlla stayed in this false world.

"Cythlla..."

For once, Kaathe was speechless. He didn't know what he wanted to say. No harsh words, no indifferent opinions, nothing. His mind and mouth couldn't figure out what they wanted to communicate to the girl.

His body, on the other hand, did.

Kaathe, still with his calmed look walked toward Cythlla and the fake bear. Slowly, steadily, and unwavering. Though he would deny it in his mind, Kaathe had decided that he would bring her back to reality, where she belonged, where she would have to work to make this dream of hers a reality.

[ShaggyDoo0]

Glodin watched the two Bartucs fihht in confusion, while the crimson Bartucs words echoed in his ears "Dream..." The moment Glodin had the faintest thaought that maybe it was a dream, his surroundings proved it true. The entire dreamscape seemed to freeze in time and turn to stone, starting far away from him and stopping at his feet. All of his memories came rushing back with his latest being him in Thanermere keep looking for a place to practice his craft. The dwarf took a moment to sit down and collect his thoughts and composure before he flared out in anger that his greatest creation was all a dream.

He finally looked up to see that Bartuc was stuck beneath a stone statue of himself. Glodin hurled his hammer and shattered the statue. "Tell me friend, why are you not turning to stone as the rest had? Why are we not in Thanermere?" He asked as he walked over and offered his hand to help Burtoc to his feet.

[Zetsuko]

Landeel followed into the room behind Henry and the elf. The subject of the next dream seemed to be and elf tightly hugging a bear of all things on the floor amidst a large amount of sweet rolls. He left Henry and Kaathe to deal with getting her out of her dream as they seemed to know her. As for him he looked around the room and walked over to a table in the corner with a pile of sweet rolls on it. He reached out to pick one up but as soon as he touched it the illusion unraveled and it disappeared with a small flash, startled he pulled his hand back from it and hit the table causing the same thing to happen to it and the sweet rolls all fell to the floor, some bouncing away in different directions. Landeel promptly folded his arms and turned away from the mess. "uh...whoops"

[Zelosse]

Bartuc coughed from the dust, the dream version of himself turned to stone and shattered as Glodin heard his words and finally understood. The world itself had turned to a myriad portrait of stones, stuck forever as they had been.
Bartuc took the offered hand and got his feet underneath him. "that thing really how you see me Glodin?" He picked up the snarling stone visage of himself and stared at it for a few seconds before crushing it to powder in his hand. "I gotta work on my public image a bit more then." A firm pat on the dwarfs back accompanied his laughter at the situation.
The light began to envelope both of them as the dream began to collapse. Bartyc shouted a warning before they both found themselves somewhere else. "find the dreamer! Wake then up! With that the light brought them to a new destination.

Bartuc shielded his eyes as the light brough him to a new destination and blinked away the stars for a few moments. His surroundings were a forest of some sort but it was withered... Dead. The air stunk of death. "where the hell am I now?" He mumbled.

Marcus had fought off his own dream with ease. The mercenary crew he had joined all those years ago were dead. Marcus had killed them personally, and no amount of magic could make him forget or forgive them. In the dream they were executed all over again.
Now he stood in the shadows of a room littered with spongy confections of sugar. The look of disgust was profound indeed when he kicked one of them away, cutting a path to the nearest person. It hadn't taken long to find out they were honoring a necromancer and her pet beast for defeating the evil lord Sar'than.
Diligently the flow of information continued as guest after guest told the hunter of Henry to bear and his origin of a spirit trapped in the bears body, to hear them say it.
All of these people worshipped the ground a necromancer walked on. They coveted her for heroics not ever accomplished. A rude awakening this would be.
All of them were condemned to destruction here and now. Marcus would start with the biggest problem first.
More people flooded in, template bt the look of the armor. He caught wind of this being a dream and smiled cruelly.
The firearm at his hip slid soundlessly from the well oiled harness.

The room lit up blindingly as his first shot took the bear form Henry in the back of the skull, leaving a smoking hole. "By order of the Dawn, all who practice the dark magic are to be executed. How do you plead, dream girl."
His pistol took aim at Cythlla, waiting for her to make a move.

[TheDarkTemplar]

The light which enveloped Evelyn seemed to have transported her to another dream rather than the real world as she wished. "An oneiromantic link, this demon is above the cut of its kin", she thought as she examined the dream world. This banquet hall was exquisite, various foods from across the four kingdoms and all manner of people from noble to commonfolk gathered in celebration of a victory yet to be gained. Evelyn moved around the banquet hall, eavesdropping on the conversations of the manifested apparitions. Evelyn did not reach her position as captain because she was highborn; she was extensive in her studies of the supernatural and all she did now was a direct result of her knowledge on monsters and things of such nature. "Its a dream, that much is certain. The illusion is the manifestation of the victim's desires so every aspect of this dream is tailored to that. Judging from the conversations, this must be our necromancer's dre-", Evelyn's train of thought was halted by the sound of a shot as it rang throughout the banquet hall. The sounds of scared party guests alerted her to it's origin. From within the crowd, Evelyn could see what had happened. An individual, clad in black, had shot Henry with some sort of strange device. One thing was certain, he was a member of The Order, his decree made that much clear.

It was when Marcus aimed his weapon at Cythlla that Evelyn took action. Stepping forth from the crowd she called out, "That's enough soldier, this woman is one of The Order". Evelyn moved to stand between Marcus and Cythlla, blocking his shot before looking over to the necromancer, "Cythlla, you must realize that none of this is real? Our dreams have been linked, if we all do not wake up we will all die". Evelyn began to wonder how many people this demon had put under this spell, how long would it be before they were all free, if they even managed to escape before the creature feasted on their souls till it was no longer existant. Looking back at Marcus she spoke once more, "Cythlla is innocent here, this is the work of a greater desire demon, it has linked our dreams together with oneiromantic illusions".

[Cuccoruler]

Cythlla was suprised at what was happening. First Kaathe seemed to actually care about her, then a man came in threatening to kill her because she was a necromancer. And now Eleyvn is here tell her that if she didn't get out of the dream everyone would die. That was one thing that Cythlla didn't want. She didn't want people to die because of her. Especially those who actually cared about her. "It's clear that I'm not free threats." Cythlla said standing up to look at the new comer.

Henry had a look of relief on his face. Still in his human form of course. "I have to admit, I both hate this man, and appreciate him." Henry said looking at the man with the gun. It was because of this man that they wouldn't all die. Yet he still threatened Cythlla. "T-Thank you Kaathe." Cythlla said as she walked up towards Kaathe. She even grabbed his hand. Though this move from Cythlla would clue Henry into what was going on. Henry like the overprotective man he was shot a glance at Kaathe, telling the elf to be careful of what he did.

As Henry finished his glance he chopped his axe through the air once more, opening another door. When they chose to go through it though was another question.

[Zelosse]

Marcus stared at Cythlla with a cold and dead eyed stare. The man cared not at all for her age, her goals, or loyalties at that moment. Knight captain Evelyn stepped in and his eyes roamed her body up and down with a predatory gleam.
He wasn't interested in her as man and woman, but rank and prowess. She was higher on the totem but this was a dream so there was a chance she could not be real. The gun didn't budge an inch for many heartbeats as the information gathered began to form his response.
Thankfully, it had nit been pulling the trigger.
Instead he sheathed the weapon and bowed to the superior officer before staring one last time at the necromancer. He offered her no apology but instead gave her advice. "Yours is the dream of a child, Necro-filth. You will never escape the glares of commoners afraid of a shadow. Embrace your own road or be cut down." He spat on the floor at her feet and turned on his heel, black and silver cloak opening up enough to reveal the rapier and hunting knife attached to his belt. Well armed fellow to say the least.

All the talk of dreams and the incessant smell of sweetrolls mad him all the more upset at the situation but there was nothing to be done for it now. A clatter to the side drew his attention as fellow knight-lieutenant Ferossa had a problem with basic interaction with the dream. Both were of the same rank, though shared little history, he still offered a tip of his hat. "having trouble I can see. Well it wont be for long. We are leaving, thank the gods." He motioned to the door Henry had made.
The sooner he returned to reality the better.

[Ace of flames01]

Passing through the light, Ruinil was exposed to true hell beyond description. Death lingering everywhere and she was surrounded by blood and gore. The stench was indescribable. Not far away she saw a familiar figure. Though her memory was hazy,there was no mistaking it, it was the person that had saved her life prior to arriving at Thanmere. She was relieved to see him but this quickly turned into terror as she saw an enemy approach him from behind. "Law daghon! Karl, tiriaed!" ("No, don't kill him! Karl, watch out!) she screamed as she threw herself in front of Karl, protecting him from the blow. Though she had healed from the injuries she had sustained, a new wound took their place. The assasin's steel's cold kiss had etched into her chest. The pain was excruciating despite the cut not being that deep. Ruinil screamed from the pain and in a fit of rage, she cut down her attacker. "Karl! Wake up! This is all a dream! This is all just a terrible nightmare! Your comrades are alive! YOU are alive! However, if you don't wake up, then we will all die for real!" She roared, her voice was struggled as it cut through the pain and the sounds of battle.

[Snarfulblast]

Even as he heard Ruinil's voice and saw her step in front of him, he no longer saw her face or heard her voice. Instead the world went dark and silent, opening his eyes again he was in a dark room the sounds of fighting could be heard but muffled. He sat up shaking his head,"That couldn't have been her she's dead, everyone including her. Their all dead, every single one of them. She wasn't real, she was just a figment a spell meant to torment me." Karl went to the only door in the room and leaned against it opening it he carved a small rune on the door, the rune was less of a rune and more of small symbol. The symbol was one of the Order's holy symbols and anyone in the order would recognize it immediately. Closing the door he goes looks about the room finding a small bed he lays upon it nearly curling up into the fetal position.

[Zetsuko]

"agreed, let's get this over with" Landeel replied to Marcus and made for the door that was opened, stepping through the light to a work that smelled of death and there were bodies everywhere. It reminded Landeel of the civil war he waged with Ghislain. It wasn't to long through the portal that he saw two figures, one of them was the subjects for this dream and the other, he guessed, was a rescuer. He saw Ruinil get cut down trying to shield Karl shortly before he to wound up a corpse. When Karl's body vanished it was easy to get what his nightmare was about.

The assassin was still looming over Ruinil however so finding him would have to wait a moment. Landeel rushed the assassin, finding the same ability as before still applied as the assassin vanished upon contact with him. While there were still more around he turned his attention to Ruinil, kneeling next to her "Just a dream right? just a illusion." He traced a finger along her wound, the flesh there would revert back as if the cut never happened and the pain would fade. with that done he stood back up and offered his hand to help Ruinil up "come on, let's find the last of our's and get out of here"

[Zelosse]

Marcus was quick through the door that had been created, eager to be done the nights festivities. The moment he touched ground he felt sick to his stomach, this time not because of baked goods. Corpses littered this world.
Nailed to trees, torn apart and left to rot, armor of templars strewn about the field with the blackened skeletons still inside. Only one glance told him this was a world where the order had failed.

"vengeance will be mine." He whispered to the dead. All of them will find vengeance through him, real or not. To show him this sight was a sentence that exceeded retaliation. It fueled his hatred of demons to new heights.
He glanced to Landeel helping two downed soldiers and stared at it for a moment. Fighting in a world of nothing? One man likely.. So that was the nightmare. To be alone against total annihilation. The man died fighting, Marcus gawked as his body disappeared.
As he got closer even the demons and other such filth had begun to fade strangely. It wasn't until he turned to the downed templar he saw her face and scowled. The half-demon freak, by far the worst mistake of any templar order. "you keep poorncompany Landeel. To side with a demon.." His hand itched to grab his firearm and turn the demon bitch to ashes, but he let the issue drop. Evelyn had pardoned the necromancer so likely this was another one of her party. "On your feet, both of you," suddenly very tense , pistol and rapier coming to his hands. The things weren't dissappearing they were resetting. He could hear them in the distance. "What fresh hell is this place." He growled.

-----------------

Bartuc ran through the dead forest, his blood was up and it needed a release but nothing lurking in the forest saw fit to attack him. Just his luck. It felt like an hour to his sore body but finally he made it to the treeline.
The others would need to find him but this dream was immense. It was vivid and strong, stronger than any other one it seemed. "I need to get someone's attention." He disliked the idea of wading into the village in the distance and a thought occured.
His hammer whipped around and slammed into a nearby tree, turning it to splinters, his fireball erupted in a flash that caught every tree within 10yards in its burning might. Within seconds it was spreading through the forest hungrily eating the dry dead wood.
They would see that for sure.

[OtomostheCrazy]

@Cuccoruler

For a moment, Kaathe closed his eyes and breathed deeply. This action was something that Kaathe used to get his bearings. It allowed him a greater sense of awareness, a calmer mind, and -in this case- a way of fighting back a blush that was beginning to creep its way to his face when Cythlla took hold of his hand. She thanked him for some reason or another. Kaathe was unsure why. He hadn't been able to utter out anything other than her name when he first entered her dream, and when the extremist knight arrived, the dark elf did not have a chance to speak.

He had to say something. He didn't know what, but he had to say something. The dark elf thought and thought, but he couldn't think of what to say to her. It didn't help that he could feel Henry cast a glancing flare at him that warned him not to have any bright ideas. He continued to think, trying to figure out how to address a subject, until he came to a decision.

"...That man is somewhat right." said Kaathe. "Yours is a dream, and there will always be people that cast a hateful glare towards you, but like all...like many things, they don't matter. Depending on what you do, both will just die or fade away, or things can change."

Kaathe opened his eyes and looked at Cythlla with calmness back on his face again.

"What will you do?"

[Cuccoruler]

Cythlla looked up at Kaathe, being reminded at what he was. She let go of his hand and started to walk towards the door. "Then maybe from now on, I should give them a reason to show hatred towards me." Cythlla said with a grin on her face. She really was a terrifying person when it came to threatening people. Though that was just for show for the most part. If she didn't seem like a strong person others would pick on her. If she was going to be a necromancer, then she would have to act the part.

Cythlla entered the door after this, shortly being followed by Henry. "Becareful how you act around her from now on. Don't make her regret what she's doing now." Henry said back to Kaathe before entering the next dream. Once inside the next dream Cythlla saw what was to happen if they were all to fail. "It's the worst possible outcome." Cythlla said to herself as clenched her shovel harder.

What Cythlla saw was what seemed to be everything on fire. All of the cultist were happy, each of them with some kind of new power that allowed them to kill others with simply a touch. Of course there was something a bit worse there as well. She saw herself, in blood red robes commanding other cultists to kill templars. In this dream she was evil, she had changed sides, most likely after realizing that she was going to be persecuted. A bear henry was there as well, though he looked far more terrifying now.

Cythlla herself just stood there, she wasn't sure what to make of it. But in this possible future she had betrayed everyone.

[TheDarkTemplar]

"Dead Eye" Marcus, Evelyn had heard his name before and to be honest she was not exactly pleased to meet him, especially after what he did in Cythlla's dream. While she herself was not exactly comfortable with Cythlla's craft, the necromancer had proven her worth time and time again. Now was not the time to argue over methods and ideologies, the longer they lingered in these visions the greater their chances of death became. Evelyn stepped through the door once more and once more she was enveloped in a bright light. This whole ordeal had given Evelyn something to thing about, her dream was of home, yet she had not been there since she was a child. A part of Evelyn wished that Ruinil hadn't woken her so soon, a part of her wondered what aspect of home she yearned for most. Alas, such questions would not be answered for some time, this war would not allow such a visit.

Arriving in the new dream, rather the new nightmare, Evelyn found herself in a ruined scorched black. Even with the extensive damage she knew where she was, this was the ruin of The Conclave Hall. Charred bodies lay rotting amongst bones picked cleanay scattered across the ruins of Starguard Castle. As unsettling as this all was, now was not the time to become distracted. Evelyn rushed through the ruins, cutting down ghouls and all manner of necrophages feasting on the dead. Upon reaching the castle gates, Evelyn would witness something that she'd never forget. Along the path to the castle gates, the heads of the Knight-Commanders sat upon spikes, Grathan's was among them. Evelyn was overcome with rage yet she would not vocalize it, instead her usual stern gaze became darker and hateful. A number of ghouls began to approach the Knight-Captain and she welcomed the coming fight. Charging at the closet ghoul she slammed her shield into its neck before slicing off the head. As she moved from one to the other, it was obvious how much anger was in Evelyn as each strike was more brutal than the last. When it was all said and done, the shredded remains of the ghouls evaporated into nothing and the captain finally came back to her senses.

As she searched for signs of the others, Evelyn heard the faint sound of fire. It was more than a simple campfire, rather a roaring blaze which Evelyn looked all around to spot it's glow. Spotting it, she ran as fast as she could to investigate it's cause. Arriving at the site of the fire, Evelyn looked for anything that might have set this dead wood ablaze. The fire was spreading fast and it's intensity reminded Evelyn of the dragon fire at Starguard, raising her shield for the worst she smirked when she finally noticed Bartuc waiting nearby. "Am I right to assume this was your work? Or should I ready myself for another battle?", despite that being a joke, Evelyn's face maintained its stern look. Walking over to Bartuc she stared off into the roaring inferno, it's dancing flames ominously creeping across the earth.

[Ace of flames01]

Ruinil took Landeel's hand and was hoisted to her feet, "thank you, friend. However I am afraid that these illusions are to potent for my soul. My soul shall remain injured, such as I am a half demon abomination." She replied her tone held amusement as she smiled, her expression held grief and exhaustion; she subtly was referencing Marcus. She saw it in his eyes. He hated her and so desperately wanted to kill her where she stood. She turned to Marcus and smiled softly her expression was warm and gentle. "I am glad that the 2 of you had awakened. You are not hurt, are you?" She replied calmly, unlike her appearance and origin, Ruinil was really a kind and gentle person, which often came off as a shock to both her comrades and civilians. As a demon's spawn, most viewed her to be a blood thirsty beast thus, scorning her; this was something she hated the most about her existence.

Not long after she saw the glow of distant fire, not long after, though, the glow faded as the fire was put out. It was then that she felt Bartuc's presence; he was not far off. However, Ruinil did not go rushing for him. Rather she turned to Landeel, her expression turned solemn. "We are currently in Karl's dream. I tried to save him... But I utterly failed and he died again... I am sorry... I have no idea where his soul is now..." She paused looking around at the hell surrounding them, "... This dream is beyond cruel... Nobody should experience death over and over again... We must find him and save him... I owe him that much..."

[Ace of flames01]

(Ignore XD )

[Zelosse]

@TheDarkTemplar

"aye, captain, its my work. Needed a signal. Needed to get rid of the sights." He was sitting on a stump when Evelyn had shown up, back to the inferno as he stared off into the distance. Big village. Lot of problems. Though that didn't mean he wouldn't run in head first if it meant finding the dreamer.
Bartuc turned his attention back to Evelyn. "Do You feel it? This dream isn't like all of ours. It is far too complex. The monster that started this is here or in a goblin." He prayed for the groups safety and offered a silent prayer that all of them would escape this.
As he stood up, the fire doused itself as the memory shifted ever so slightly. The forest back to its unhealthy form with no burn marks to show. With a sigh he walked over to the tree line and struck again with his hammer. In minutes the conflagration was raging all over again. "gonna be a long night" he mumbled.

@Ace of flames01@Zetsuko

Ruinil was all smiles and words, all aimed at Marcus and his desire to kill her for the good of the order. Pathetic demons always tried to lie their way out of trouble. Sooner or later he would finish the job.
"save your words for someone who cares, half-beast. I mean to be back to reality quickly." So a templar named Karl was the owner of the dream. A vivid nightmare of endless death. Yet he still fought on to the last, determined to destroy this hell. Honorable man. He would make a fine addition to his regiment if they survived this whole backwards world.
"You did your best to save him. For that you are not my target yet. But I warn you now, and only once," he turned on his feel with speed and grace, his pistol already leveled at her and fired. The beam missed her head by an inch to destroy a creature emerging from a nearby alleyway. "I will not hesitate to kill any templar who defies the order." Trusting the lesson was understood he turned to find more monsters beginning to enter the small town. "Kill the filth quickly. We need to find shelter." The firearm fired off twice more in rapid succession, to the misery of its enemies.

[Ace of flames01]

Ruinil did not flinch not move even though a gun was pointed at her head; her expression was calm, and her soft smile remained even after nearly being shot. "I ask of your well being because I care, child...." She paused before continuing, "However if you question my loyalty and if you are planning on killing me... Then I ask you to end my existence quickly... And end me somewhere no one else can see me... For I do not wish for those who care about me to see me die... If you can do that for me then I will happily except my fate and you may kill me if that is your wish. However, I'd much rather die serving the Order in battle. So please do not kill me just yet... Until this war is over..." She knew she was hated by many,yet she tried to show kindness to all, even if they did not deserve it or express kindness in return. Marcus was no different.

His words were cruel towards her. Yet she still continued to smile warmly. She knew he did not trust her but she hoped he'd one day feel a little more trusting and comfortable around her and not try to kill her at any chance given to him. She wished more people were more accepting of her kind as Bartuc, but of course, this was just a naive and foolish fantasy of hers.

[Zetsuko]

Landeel gave a faint chuckle as Ruinil mocked Marcus's words and responded to her concern with "I'll live" He looked as a fire started off in the distance and was extinguished soon after before looking back to Ruinil as she explained who's dream this was. "well we co-" he was cut off by Marcus firing straight past Ruinil's head followed by further threats, something Landeel did not look kindly upon. As Marcus turned to fight more of the creatures Landeel stepped closer to Ruinil and spoke low "Leave the fool to his fighting and let's search for your friend. I trust you to lead, you've more experience with this place then I. You needn't worry about the illusions, i'll handle them if they get near." He glanced back at Marcus "You needn't worry about him either, I'll keep him in line"