EliteCommander

Blood Act I~ Ghosts of the Past

Ssarak might be able to save some people. He could grab one fine, though that leaves two more. He might try grabbing onto another on the way down, but he couldn't fly with two. However, he might be able to hit the bottom less-hard. I think one of those people might be the carriage driver.

Blood Act I~ Ghosts of the Past

"I understand it is likely a trap, but we should not - Alaira, no!" Ssarak shouted as soon as he saw what she was doing, but it was too late. With a bolt of lightning, she ignited a flame that spread quickly through the dry grasses, ending immediately any chance of talking their way through. She wanted to flush out any bandits hiding for an ambush, but the flames revealed none. Instead, it frightened the horses and forced them onto the bridge. The flames quickly engulfed the area behind them, not to mention the smoke that was filling the air and beginning to restrict their breathing. Using his wings, Ssarak did his best to keep the smoke away from himself and his allies, but they still had even more pressing concerns. The smoke wasn't as bad the closer they drew to the far side of the bridge, but the bandits were still set on taking their caravan.

The pair of duelists had their knives firmly on the ropes supporting the bridge, and Ssarak could see no way to stop them from finishing off the ropes if they were intent on severing them. The thought entered his mind to use his magic to make them think they were stationary while they continued to advance, but he was not confident he would be able to sustain such an illusion. Ssarak could fly, so his own life wouldn't be in danger if the bridge fell, but the others could not, and he could only realistically save one of them before impact. However, at the moment, he saw no compelling reason that they could not just agree to hand over the wagon, then kill them anyway once they were safely on land.

"Perhaps we should agree to their demand, then kill them once we are off the bridge?" Ssarak suggested in a telepathic message to all of his allies except Alaira, due to her weakness to psychomancy.

Blood Act I~ Ghosts of the Past

I think I'll just go with a different idea, something more inclusive of everyone else.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"That is not an easy question to answer." Meesei responded to Sabine. "Certainly, with enough control, lycans can live in even the largest of cities, provided they have some opportunities to leave the city from time to time. If she gains that level of control, it wouldn't be difficult at all for her to live in her village, the real question would be if they would accept her? There is no way she could keep it a secret, so she would have to be entirely open with them. They might not agree to allow a lycan, even one from their own village, to live among them."

When Janius entered, Kaleeth was curled up on the bed, and even him speaking to her did not cause her to shift positions. Thusfar, she had been distant from the others, but she was at least a bit more willing to be open with Janius, not that her words were going to give him any real comfort. "We are not all going to survive, are we?" She said, her tone depressed, but honest.

Blood Act I: Auxilary Tale - Ssarak's Story (Private Party)

Ssarak was at first wary of having Coco join them. It wasn't that he disliked the Foreas, but that he did not yet know who he could trust to aid him, despite his past crimes. As they were waiting for Annabeth, however, he had some time to contemplate on the issue. Coco did not seem to be a judgmental individual, and thusfar, his encounters with her had been nothing but positive. Perhaps she would judge him more on his current attitudes than his past crimes? Additionally, her mannerisms allowed her to ask any number or type of question she wanted without raising any suspicions. When Annabeth arrived with Colette, he had a similar mental debate on whether or not to include her, but eventually decided she could be helpful as well.

"Yes, of course. I know you and Meirin already know the story, but for the others, I should start from the beginning..." Ssarak said as he began another painful recitation of his sordid past. He did not spare a detail of his own crimes and failings, nor try to justify them, but merely explained what he did and why he did it. He described his attack and clan Xhoth's retaliation, as well as how it all led him into a self-imposed exile. As always, the pain and remorse in his voice was genuine, and intense. No matter how many times he told his story, it never grew easier for him to say.

Once he was finished explaining his background, he moved on to the present issue. "Now, a warrior from my homeland, from clan Xhoth, has come to claim me as a fugitive and bring me back to the Scorched Lands, presumably for a trial and execution. Perhaps I do deserve that fate; I do not claim to be wise enough to know, but I still wish to use the life I have to attempt to redeem myself for my crimes. Meirin has agreed to help me build a case in my defense, and I was hoping to ask all of you to assist in doing the same. I can offer little more than gratitude in return, but in success or failure, you will have that from me for the rest of my days."

Blood Act I~ Ghosts of the Past

Finished that, but now is the trouble of figuring out my response. I have an idea, but I fear it would have to fail simply because it would make it too easy.

The Depths of Deception

Hey Leon, how are you?

Blood Act I~ Ghosts of the Past

I need to finish writing a program, then I'll work on a post in this, and about four other things.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Kaleeth had been near-completely silent since they arrived, and even now, she seemed reluctant to speak, even to Janius. "Oh, uh, well...it has not been too long since I changed last. A few days...maybe? It is getting a little easier...I think." She seemed, quite understandably, nervous and frightened at the situation. For the moment, she just wanted to find a way to get away from it all. "I...I think I want to go rest."

Without awaiting a response, Kaleeth left to return to the room she had selected. It made sense that she would be afraid, but her behavior overall, even before being captured, concerned Meesei. She was not adapting near as well to the pack as Fendros had. Granted, she was facing far worse circumstances, but she was also quite young and inexperienced with the world outside her village. Meesei worried that the stresses she was enduring would place her in a similar mental state as Sabine formerly had.

Meesei gave Janius a genuinely concerned expression. "I worry for Kaleeth. We have been forced to drag her along from one tragedy to the next. I fear what it might be doing to her. Watching her for the past few weeks...it feels like all of the joy has been drained from her spirit. She was not prepared for the hardships she would have to face, and I fear we have not been able to give her the help she needs. It cannot continue like this forever, but there is no easy solution. I know it is a lot to ask in this situation, but I believe you should try to do something to take her out of this depression. You are one of the few who can reach her."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Meesei had to think about what this cult, specifically Hal-Neesa, wanted with them. Janius was correct in that the cult could have had them killed at any point. The fact that they hadn't attempted it meant Neesa had some plan for them. She could only guess at what it was, but there was one detail about their duel that gave Meesei somewhat of a hint.

"It is...hard to say what she might want with us, but there is one possibility that comes to mind. Do you recall that, during our duel, Neesa mentioned that there were few in this cult that could overpower Vinaremo? He was powerful, certainly, but not like Hal-Neesa; he did not overpower me. I would wager that there is a large gap in skill between the leadership of this cult and the rest of its members. Certainly, Neesa and her husband can likely handle most opposition they face personally, but that is not why they have a coven of servants like this. I doubt they dedicate their time to anything but research, and their own amusements. It is their followers that do the work for them. The reason she wants to put us to a task is likely to compare our strength to that of her followers; we need only prove ourselves stronger than them in order to be useful to her. I cannot say for certain, but that is likely her motivation, and likely our only way out." Meesei reasoned. He very much disliked operating on speculation, but for now, that was really all they had. "For now, all we can really do is learn more about this place and its layout. If the worst happens and they turn on us, the rest of you will need to be able to escape quickly."