Twhirtley

[Ebonfort] Out of the Pan

Laurel was shivering violently as Drache pulled her away. The small woman sought comfort against the dragoness, still muttering, "We have to find her, we need to find her, we have to find her..." Sirik heard the question directed at him, and silently shook his head. He'd heard nothing. When she gave out her suggestion, he simply nodded.

He moved over to the rocks, inspecting them with his trained tracker eyes. Nothing seemed amiss with them. Her crouched down to get a closer look, his fingers reaching out, "I think there's some markings here..." He touched one, not recognizing the language. The moment he touched it, the ground beneath him disappeared. It didn't fall through, it was simply gone. And he fell into the darkness without so much as a gasp of surprise.

If Drache took the time to study the glyphs, she'd not recognize them in the least bit. But if she touched them, she could feel a certain vibe, as if they were humming with power spent, almost... warm. Kraven walked over casually to the hole in the ground peering in, "I wonder if he's still alive." He lit up a torch and tossed it in, and watched it drop thirty feet into water. On its way down, Sirik could be seen, legs split, holding himself up in a corner. The moment the torch hit what seemed to be an underground river of some sort, water shot up with such force that it would've pierced metal. Water and shards of wood from the torch rained down on the group.

Kraven shouted down into the hole, "Oy, we saw ya ma... shit!" He jerked his head out of the way as a tiny stream shot up where he was. It seemed touching the water or making noise would not be good for anyone's health. Any light cast on Sirik would reveal him scowling at them, followed by drow hand signals saying he could see a tunnel across the way for him and that a rope would be very appreciated.

Laurel had stuck close to Drache the whole time, almost afraid to leave her side. "She's dying, we need to hurry."

A Heart Frozen (Ebonfort)

Svarak was busy humming a tune and moving to its rhythm as he sliced his way through wave after wave of these ice minions. His breath wasn't even coming fast yet, barely even a workout. He watched them crumble, and yet there weren't shards everywhere. He would've rolled his eyes had he not been deflecting some ice spears coming his way. Reforming monsters were a pain, it always meant there was an external source that needed to be destroyed.

He heard Rilana's words and smiled. At least one of them had been paying attention. Apparently he'd gotten lax since magic disappeared. He shouted in reply, "Got it." He thought back to where there were shards from ones he'd destroyed earlier and waited until they were gone. So it took a few slips to reform, and his grin turned sinister. He crouched, the muscles tensing, his boot digging into the solid rock. Then he surged forward, so fast that following his movements were nearly impossible to follow, and behind him was left a wake of shards and crumbles.

When he stopped, they all were temporarily destroyed, and his breath was coming fast as he leapt atop the shield where Rilana and Kona were waiting. Smiling, "I'm getting to old for this stuff." He then noticed that the woman was unconscious, probably from her hard landing. That was going to make things trickier. But he formed a plan. Then he sliced through the shield around them, and the trio fell through. Kona would be able to slow their descent, Svarak using the sides of the hall to slow himself. Once at the bottom, the dragon would stir lightly, but couldn't lift his head or open his eyes. He'd be surprisingly warm to the touch, his brilliant blue scales a bit grey now.

The pit they were in was quite large, and the dragon was against one of the walls. There was a large cave opening at the opposite side that had gone unnoticed before they'd gotten down there. It made sense, it was likely how the dragon could come and go if it weren't a prisoner. If the dragon was touched by Rilana or Kona, they would hear the following in their mind, "The Gatekeeper... is coming... he keeps... my cage..." There was a loud pounding, as something appeared at the cave entrance, something they could only assume was The Gatekeeper the dragon referred to.

It was massive, larger than the dragon, and everyone knew that it was formed by all the creatures that had been fighting them moments before. It approached slowly, each step shaking the cave, Svarak smirking, "That's more like it." He moved next to Kona and stuck his Null Shard Greatsword into the stone, speaking to Kona now, "Only touch the hilt. You need to take out the shield. I'll handle this guy and keep Rilana safe."

He stuck the sword easily into the stone in front of her and turned back to the creature. He considered drawing the daggers in his boots, but he decided on something better. A clinking was heard as he unhooked a pair of studded ebonsteel knuckles from his belt, and slipped them onto his hands. Then the creature struck out a lot faster than one might expect, taloned hands stabbing out. Svarak jumped over the strike, as the arm sank into the ground, shaking the entire cavern, a few stalactites breaking loose and crashing down. He flipped over in the air, landed on the arm, and ran up the creature's arm. When he reached the arm, he unleashed a devastating uppercut,, sending the creature flailing backwards, as Svarak flipped backwards and landed out of reach. He dashed forward once more as the creature regained its balance, as Svarak drilled his metal fist into the icy leg, sending cracks up through it.

If Kona or Rilana touched the sword to the edges of the shield, they'd be able to see all the edges of it. They could see where Svarak had leapt through earlier, as well as where they'd fallen through. At the center of the domed ceiling, they'd see a funnel stretching up through the tower.

Meanwhile, on the fifth floor, the chain successfully tripped the ice orc, tipping its balance backward. However, it had managed to plant a hind leg as Chartrose charged, and it responded with a vicious headbutt. The head powered forward, the axe biting deep but not stopping the momentum. The butt of the lodged axe crushed right into the bridge of Chartrose's nose, his weight not enough to tackle the orc. Chartrose was thrown bodily to the ground hard, his nose broken and bleeding profusely. The orc raised its club to strike the Charr down when the lock clicked loudly.

Alya had indeed found the correct key, and the door swung open effortless. All of the ice statues stayed where they were, save the orc. The killing blow had finally killed it, and the ice magically disappeared and a massive orc corpse collapsed atop the Charr, his club nearly dropping on the man's head. Alya could only hear the singular song from earlier now, and on the other side of the door was a beautifully adorned library. The walls were lined with shelves, completely full of texts but the odd part was the central spiral staircase. It was crystalline, that led up to the ceiling, but there was no gap to move through. It just stopped.

The two knights and the homunculus caught up with the main group, confused about what happened. Drisceya immediately began searching the room for traps and loot, knowing the Knights would want to hear of this library. They paid handsomely for texts of any kind. This could be what would promote her to Lord, if Svarak died. If Alya or Chartrose entered the room though, they glowed briefly and would find themselves teleported to another room. They would find themselves trapped in small, visible shields, staring at a woman.

She spoke, "Good, I was hoping there would be a few mages in this group. I can finish the ritual now." Alya and Chartrose could feel their magic draining into the prison shields and funneling into the Moon Fey woman. Alya could feel the song from earlier growing stronger from the woman. Chartrose could feel Tricia stirring within him scared, knowing that if his magic was drained, they'd both die. The pair would start growing weaker by the passing moment, any attempt to physically move through the shield would be thwarted by it.

The First Strike (Ebonfort)

Foraging:50
Stealth:20
Camouflage:50

Stealth and Camouflage are the skills your character has, so I wouldn't count it out.

The First Strike (Ebonfort)

The man's club smashed into the ground where Stormgaze had been, but he was already prepared for the dodge. His right leg was planted and he shifted his weight forward as his left leg swung and kicked out at the creature. His boot connected hard with the center of its fabric body, and it was sent airborne a several feet in front of him.

He heard the creature's words and laughed smugly, "That you think there is no reason is why you're not fit to walk this world." Stormgaze had landed behind a bush and the man began walking around it, to finish the fight. There were several spots of shade from trees and bushes, as well as a hollowed log sitting nearby. The man's footsteps were growing louder as he came closer.

They Have Returned (Ebonfort)

@Wild Alyssa - I'm gonna give you 24 hours to reply, if not I'm just going to move the story along. If you wish to join back after that, you'll have to contact me first.

Time Doesn't Heal Anything Quickly [Ebonfort]

Sergeant Perrin watched from her seat beside the driver, Herken, of the second carriage, disappointed that she was the one assigned with this mission. Convoy protections like this were never interrupted, who would dare attack them this deep in their own territory? Screamers never made it this far in, and only smaller monsters and creatures could. It was boring. The young human woman waved lazily ahead at a man on a raft, poling his way toward the capital.

She wondered what her scouts would've hunted for supper when they made camp. Probably just rabbit. At least once she was in the capital, she could get some proper food and a bath. A nice comfortable time, not filled with the discomfort of a wooden seat and lurching over a bumpy road. Then there was a startling noise, loud popping, and she saw their horses rear up in surprise. These were work horses, not warhorses, and weren't trained to ignore loud and unexpected noises.

She watched as Herken struggled with the reins to keep the horses with him, though the other four horses had manage to pull away, leaving the fore and aft carriages abandoned behind them. She looked around, trying to find the source of the noise, her eyes falling on the scraps of the firecrackers between her horses and the carriage ahead. She immediately drew her scimitar and eyes cast upward, "We're under att--!"

The world went black. She didn't go unconscious, but rather, everything around the carriages, Megumi's tree included, were shrouded in blackness. It wasn't smoke or anything, just utter darkness. There were many sounds, easily heard by Megumi's slightly sharper hearing. She would be able to make out the sounds of breaths leaving bodies, thin blades cutting through flesh and cloth, then the sound of creaking wood and falling sounds.

Then just as quickly as it appeared, the darkness was gone. Megumi would see no blood, no corpses, just two very confused horses, and twelve wagon wheels laying in the dirt. The man on the raft was sitting there staring directly at Megumi's position in the tree, smiling. "Her name is Amaretta, she can be found nightly at the children's clinic across from the Maiden's Bane Tavern. Show her the coin, but don't give it to her. Good luck Megumi Cateyes!"

[Ebonfort] Out of the Pan

The group traveled along, jovial and carefree as only they could be, the crisp air blowing quickly over the tall grasses. Sirik was running point, his watchful eyes always looking out for the many dangers of the grasslands. Kraven pulled up the tail of the group, constantly checking around the back of him. Laurel stuck close with Drache as she always seemed to do, as a small copse of trees, leaves fallen appeared ahead. It wasn't terribly unusual, usually indicated a strong water source nearby, likely underground. Sirik, of course, steered them toward it.

He raised a fist, indicating for them to stop, while he slipped into the copse, checking it out. Once he felt it was safe, a trio of bird whistles rang out, and they knew they could head in. Shortly after Laurel and Drache crossed the threshold, they would both hear a heart wrenching scream, one that went unnoticed by Sirik and Kraven. The scream was scared, in pain, desperate. If either of the women focused on it, they could feel a fire coming from below the copse, a fading flame, weak and dying.

Laurel seemed particularly affected by it, having dropped to her knees now, scrambling at the ground like a mad woman, muttering, "Oh no, oh no, oh no, we'll find you, hold on." Kraven stared at this display with a curious, confused look on his face, while Sirik was listening, but still busy exploring the copse. There were mostly trees about, but near the center were several large boulders, worn from the weather, stacked in a horseshoe. The ground in the middle of the stones seemed slightly depressed compared to the surrounding earth.

[Ebonfort] Days of Grass and Dust

Verissa listened as he spoke, making a mental note to remember that someone named Gault, a man she assumed, fixed armor. She might have to know that later on and it would be good for a slave to do things before they are asked. Seeing the dent in the breastplate made her wonder where she'd be had it not stopped the blow. Raped and probably left to die in her burning home. So there was some thanks to that. She couldn't be too upset with him she supposed. Her people raided theirs after all, a constant tug of war that was full of casualties and loss on both sides. And he'd kept her from the fate that Jasper had had in mind. He took her in, even if it was against her will, even let her keep the most precious things in the world to her; Remus and Remilia.

Once he was seated and the water boiling, she bowled out some of it, and let it cool briefly before washing her hands and setting a couple of rags in it. She then untucked the bandage from itself and slowly unwrapped Asher. The wound on his neck came into view, much of the old salve peeled off. She scrutinized it close, seeing the skin around the sutures wasn't red and swollen. This pleased her, because it likely meant that the wound wasn't infected. She gently poked and prodded, trying to feel if anything was out of sorts, but was happy with it. She grabbed one of the rags, and as usual, gave no warning before she began cleaning the sutures, albeit much more gently than when she'd scrubbed out the wound. When he asked about her dogs, she smiled lightly, if only because he couldn't see it. "They are a guard breed, Mountain Ridgebacks. Remus is the boy, and Remilia is the girl. And no, they don't like you." There was a bit of snark on that comment, some pride from her to her pups.

She began applying some more of the salve, and she decided to continue, her hands everworking. "I bought them from a breeder in Green Fall, a..." she paused, realizing what she was about to say, and how she'd never see her again, "Friend helped me pick them out. They've been terribly loyal since day one, and haven't been difficult to train at all. They are very protective of me and mine. They..." She was about to say how they were almost killed by Jasper, how she'd almost given up herself to protect them, but couldn't bear to say the words. She began wrapping him up now, now listening to his other words. She nodded as he told her to go to Shenzi for anything, and remembered the name of Jenny as the seamstress.

She patted Asher's powerful shoulders gently, feeling the hardness and warmth under her palms, "All done. You still need to take it easy. No fighting or heavy lifting, no drinking." She heard him sigh, wondering if it was at relief to be done with her for the moment. She quickly cleaned up, then stood there, as if awaiting her next command, not sure if she was excused to go to the healer's tent yet.

[Ebonfort] Days of Grass and Dust

Verissa stuck her locked hands out, nodding as he told her that he'd ask if he needed anything from her. When her wrists were freed, she stretched and rubbed them. They weren't sore or hurting, it was just habit after having been confined. She wasn't sure what she'd need, but it was... comforting to know that she might be able to ask. It was weird having next to nothing. Especially since she would no longer be able to earn anything more. What she had would have to last her, unless Asher decided to give her more.

She listened as he told her she needed to change his dressings, then work at the healer's tent. She might've smiled had she still not felt like a prisoner. But at least her captor didn't seem to be cruel. He'd even complimented her. But all she heard was the chance to get out. She just had to bandage him up and she could get out of this pavilion, to throw herself into her slave work. It would be good to get her mind off things.

She continued listening to his commands, nodding, that he wanted her to help him with dinner in the evening. But then he said they were moving camp soon. And any possible hope of rescue was gone. She knew Scream Watch would send out raiding parties and the like after the raid. And sometimes they came back with people who'd been taken. But if their camp would be moving, she wouldn't be there to be rescued. She heard his unnecessary words about not running. Where would she go? She was surrounded by savages in a land of monsters and dangers, with no practical skills for getting home. Healing was well and good, but did no good when lost in the grasslands.

When he reached out and touched her, she shuddered at the gentle caress, "Yes. I won't run." She quickly turned away from him to the tent flap, her chest tightening, as she stepped into the air, her pups following her. The air was crisp, the sun brightening everything, as she took in the already busy camp. People were busy, and Verissa knew that back in her village, she'd be waking up, and checking her apothecary. Her pups would be doing their normal perimeter check of her yard, she'd be taking in the aroma of her many dried plants. She'd cook up some food for her and them, then set out for her morning walk, before getting the shop ready for the day.

But now, she was just watching people move back and forth, some glancing at her before looking away, going about their business. It was like no one wanted their eyes to stay too long on her. She moved around the back of the pavilion, between it and another, finding some privacy as she relieved herself, her pups having already done so. Her stomach growled as she stood, but she didn't want to go back in, not yet. She felt tears trying to well up once again, but she stifled them, remembering her self promise. She took a deep breath, then walked back in.

There were pancakes hot and ready, she smelled cinnamon. It reminded her of when she'd made the mulled wine, before these heathens slaughtered her people. She was hungry, as she sat at the table, the plate before her smelling delicious, her stomach grumbling loudly. She silently began eating, knowing that it tasted good, but still felt like she was eating chalk. She gave some to her pups, wishing she had more meat to give them. They were growing, and would need more. Maybe she could find some later.

When she was finished, she pushed her plate aside, not sure how to go about cleaning up. But it was time to dress his wounds. "Can you sit please? I'll change your dressings now." She put a pot of water on the stove to boil, tossing in some salt, and reaching for her kit. She looked down and saw both her pups staring at her, "Go relax loves. We'll go outside soon."

Remus laid down at her feet, while Remilia moved over next to Asher and just stared at him. She didn't seem to want pet or anything, just content to stare at him. Verissa put her kit on the table, and began getting ready as she waited on the water to boil. She was now thinking about how he said to ask for anything she might need, "I'm... I'm going to need more clothes, I was only able to bring what I wore and one other outfit."

A Heart Frozen (Ebonfort)

On the fifth floor, the room seemed to be growing colder, as Alya and Drisceya were joined by Chartrose and shortly after, Ortha. Drisceya got annoyed with the door, kicking it fiercely. It did no damage, but it did change the song that Alya could hear. The song became a chorus of many songs, all similar, all haunting tales. None of the others seemed to notice anything was off, as Ortha meandered over to a corner and began devouring a pile of snow.

On the ground floor, with the two knights, Beran and Chet, and the Homunculus, Sesser, were just investigating their temporary shelter. Chet was staring into the face of the man swinging his sword, "Man, I think that Moon Fey is right, the detail on this is phenomenal. He has pock marks just like my brother. Remember Tedden? Covered in pimples and the like for so long. Too good to be from an artist. What do you..." His eyes grew wide as he saw the face looking at him seemed as surprised to seem him, and this was shown as the face had moved, the eyes opened wide. Then it turned fierce, angry, and the sword that was held high, swung down.

Chet half drew his sword from its sheathe, catching the ice statue in the arm with the hilt, stopping the swing. He used this delay to skip back, "Bloody fuckin' hell! They are alive!" The ice man came toward him as fast as a seasoned warrior would, and soon him and Chet were locked in a deadly dance of blades. Beran drew his own blade, and the Homunculus drew a large hammer. However, the Katzheer that was sleeping remained that way, though they could hear it now purring in its slumber, seeing its form move as it breathed. The frost troll child fell back on its rump and was crying for its mother in its native language.

Chet managed to disarm the man, and plunged his own blade in the neck, shattering the ice there, and watching the man's head tumble off. He shouted in triumph as the body fell to the ground, and quickly changed from ice back to that of human man, blood spilling out from his open neck. Then Beran heard the noise from above them, and stated what they feared, "How many do you think are up there?"

Back on the fifth floor, Chartrose and Drisceya could hear movement below them, Alya a bit to honed in on the many magical songs she could hear to notice. There were heavy footfalls up the steps, until a large ice orc with a massive spiked club entered the room. He roared ferociously as he charged at Chartrose, swinging heavily to crush the Charr.

Down in the cavern though, Rilana would find that shooting from a flying, moving mount, with a longbow, was a near impossible task. However, one lucky shot took out the knee of one of the creatures, causing it to tip into the dragon's pit. It fell, landing atop the dragon's head and shattering into so many ice shards. The dragon lifted its head weakly, looking up and locking eyes with Rilana for a moment, before it slumped forward again. She would be able to see enough to guess that it was weak, but it didn't seem to have the normal signs of undernourishment, even if she didn't know dragon biology.

Svarak's face was passive as he mowed down the seemingly endless amount of creatures with so much ease. A closer look would show that he actually looked bored. The grace with which he moved was so much more deft than how he'd moved on the ice on Rilana's name day, and not a single move was wasted. Each blow killed at least three of the creatures, and led him to the next set. Another fell on the dragon, and it stirred once more, and a weak voice could be heard in the cavern, "You... you can't kill them all... they.. reform..."

Svarak had slaughtered an entire side of the pit, and made a running leap to hop over to the other side to continue, his blade out in front of him. Rilana would see a flash as the Null Shard Greatsword came into contact with something in the air at the edge of the pit, and again, as Svarak's leap carried him over to the other side. Kona would be able to feel the air shift, as if wind was being sucked downward near where Svarak had jumped through. The Charr continued his easy efforts of destroying the creatures. If Rilana and Kona flew too close to the pit, they'd find their way stopped by an invisible force, one as solid as rock.