2 - 002: The Second Piece

[K Man]

OOC - Possible Checks for the others, as Krysta would ask them if they would check on the prisoners and see if they are all ok. Just to see if anyone else notices that the woman is missing...Otherwise, she heads for the storeroom, checking for any usable supplies...

{You're just dead set on uncovering the truth about this woman aren't you? Very well...}

Krysta - As you make your way through the caverns, you come across the remainder of the prisoners as the elven guards are letting them loose. They all seem startled at such a miraculous appearance but none the worse for wear. You're inquires do not go unnoticed as one young man stands up and answers.

"We are missing one." The man points to the table covered in...the messy remains. "I think she suffered from exhaustion and collapsed. One minute she was helping that nice man with a cloth on his forehead, the next, he was leaning over her seeing if she was alright."

"She was twitching something awful...probably the disease of the ghouls I'd say. The young man asked to remove her from his cell and made some sort of deal with them for freedom."

"We're lucky the guards had their way with her, otherwise she could've turned the other guy in the cell with her..."

A few muttered nods from the prisoners. No one else can concur with his story as they were all busy trying to sleep.

Are you sure? I hope you're not putting Romar up with false hope now.

{Absolutely right Romar, forgive me. One animal was hurt in the playing of this adventure. }

The good RP'ing you give us credit for is for a great part fueled by a well-written storyline

{No no no, truly, this is a thing of the players. You've ll done so well, let's keep it going that way.}
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Garor, Newt, Hero, Callian and Caelith -

The night passes in Ravenshead with the pace of a slug. You can't help but recall the images of the battle in your mind. The monsters crawling over the walls, the dead bodies and arrows flinging through the air...the creaking of the wood as the ballistas tore down the portcullis...

...so fresh in your mind...

Even with the coming dawn, it's hard to find the strength to go on. You trudge to the steps of Ravenshead Castle to meet with your appointed King and protector, Sturmguard.

He gently walks down the steps, surrounded by advisors and countrymen of Blackwing Kingdom. He stops at the bottom of the steps and looks over each of you.



"Glad to see you all came...since you have been in my employ, I have acquired these for you."

King Sturmguard waves a hand and a nearby advisor opens a small chest. Inside are enough amulets for everyone...the amulets that protect your body should it fall.

"I figure that if you...happen to fall, I want to ensure I do not have to face you again on the battlefield...as a servant of The Master."

"Also, as discussed, I have the next lead to a piece of the crystal. However, I will let him do the talking."

King Sturmguard motions to a human standing next to him, one obviously in the occupation of a wizard.

{Angelus!}

{The Amulets provide little beyond a Contingency Teleport. It activates upon reaching -10 HP. Free of charge:)}
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Angelus - Walking along the streets of the city of Ravenshead, you find yourself straying towards the massive castle at its heart. The people along the streets, the hurt and wounded from various battles with 'The Master'...none seem as attention drawing as the keep in the center of the city...

...or the crystal before it...

You see it, embedded in a rock edifice. It glows a pearl color and countless inhabitants of Ravenshead simply brush past it and touch it with their hands. As they touch its smooth surface, it glows like a piece of a full moon buried in the street. An interesting sight...

But not the first one you've seen...

You remember seeing a piece, much like the one you're looking at now near the city of Cannon's Foot. You recall seeing it when you fled the city, right before your father teleported you away to the safety of the city interior. It was visible, partly sticking up from the ground like an iceberg in the heart of a cold ocean. You cannot recall the exact location, but you know it was near the edge of the city.

You see a noble man, surrounded by advisors nearby, speaking loudly enough to hear.

"M'Lord, we are still sensing a piece of the crystal near the ruins of Boon's Freehold, but if we are to believe the words, it is surely in the grip of 'The Master' now. We believe we know where another piece may lie. It's difficult because of the properties of the crystal..."

"Tell me..."

"We believe it is somewhere near Cannon's Foot, possibly to the forest North-East of the city."

"South-West actually..."

You pause as you realize you spoke your words aloud. The caped king spins on his heel, spotting you, the speaker of the words. He marches over and nears your face.



"What do you know of this crystal? Speak now."

Thinking little of it, you relay your tale to Sturmguard. He listens intently, as do his advisors like a captive audience. Once done, Sturmguard places a hand on your shoulder and moves you towards the interior of the castle.

"Come...there's a few people I'd like you to meet. Tell them what you told me..."

{Feel free to embelish on the idea as much as you want Angelus, just remember you fleetingly saw the crystal in the woods to the SouthWest of Cannon's Foot.}
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Yuri, Romar and Sehanine - Moving past the cadre of elves, you make your way to the mouth of the cave. There, in plain sight with little searching necessary, is what Irinys spoke of.

A large stain has the turned the grees grass a brilliant crimson. Several tufts of fur, dried and sticky like old candy in a baby carriage is scattered about as though spread by some violent force. In the center of this macabre image...a heart. Shriveled and punctured as though grappled by a taloned hand, it is a horrid testament to what you believe happened here. Just as Irinys said, heavy hoof prints leave from the center of the stain directly North..

Straight into Drakil Forest....

You take but a moment to ensure that this is the right idea...

{Basically a spot fo confirmation. You all three want to break off and find this guy?}
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Krysta, Girud and Galdren - Mordrock nearly faints as Krysta speaks, feeling nothing less than elated that his well-being is still considered. He pays little attention to Sehanine, apparently having found a new object of desire in the warrior woman.



"You prettier than other girl anyway..you make good mate!"

Irinys expresses his disgust.



"Uggh...very well. Just ensure he does not try to 'mate' with my leg or he will soon understand the phrase, 'loving the sword'."

Looking to Girud, the elven prince answers another question.

"It is close to the cliff face, so perhaps we should find the room or digging pit closest to this very entrance...is there one like that here?"

With the hasted leave of Yuri, Sehanine and Romar, Irinys shakes his head violently in disdain.

"Surely such cooperative behavior is the product of Sturmguard."

He looks to the rest of you, including the prisoners.




"The offer was made once, it will not be made again. We will find this crystal and we will use magicks to return to Ephemiryl. If you're not with us, you're considered an enemy of the Empire of Astoril."

"Should we cross paths again, you will be trampled underfoot."

Irinys takes a shovel handed to him and makes his way deeper into the complex. The prisoners, now freed and filled with visions of going to live on the island empire of the elves, greedily take more shovels and follow the prince in to dig. It is apparent that the sway of the pointed-ear paradise is grand as ones just released from servitude graciously dive back into it.

You are left, a shovel nearby and an important decision to make...
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{The contents of the 'treasure' rooms are grand and will most likely be confiscated by Irinys and his group. Should anyone want something specific, please let me know.}

[Japic]

Treasure? I'll take two, or more, whatever I can get. ;D

Actually if given a chance to take items or treasure from the room I search for armor, or bracers, or something of the kind. Protective gear. If there is none, then I take some loot and put it in my pack, surely something can be bought with it later.

After treasure time, I use my shovel to remove massive amounts of dirt. Afterall I'm freakin huge and strong, I can cover more ground (so to speak) than most.

[VemuKhaham]

Romar makes his way towards the place were his steed was so gruelly slaughtered it seems, and falls to his knees. Kneeling over the remains of the horse, he cries. For the first time he realises fully he will only be able to see her again mutilated and like those he hates and despises most, if that encounter should ever come to pass. All he has now is her hearth, ripped appart like everything of his past. For the first time since the battle of Carealal, Romar feels he is not mend for this path; he is only a simple farmer's boy who was pushed into this life and now Húna has suffered the consequences and he himself barely escaped. He recalls the vampire, and hears his words again and again blurred by their own repeatings:

"There is a horse outside for meals. Make sure the troops get their fair share."

Romar's hands, dirty of digging, take the bloody hearth, and he just holds it and looks to the sky. For a moment, everything around him fades except for the red hearth in front of the treetops and the sky behind them. He prays to the gods, if they are still present in this godforsaken continent. Wether he sits there for seconds or minutes is lost to him, but after that he starts cleaning the hearth and the place were the horse must have layn in terrible pain and digs a hole in the ground to lay the hearth in.

During these somehow ceremonial tasks, Romar's thoughts wander from his past to his present, back again, hearing the voice of the vampire once more, whispering in his ears:

"I will chase you again mouse...I will chase you again..."

...and then, he dares look into the dark future. At that moment, Romar Belamor swoar an oath to himself and to all present to hear his words spoken out loud, directed to the sky:

"No, it is I who will chase you, servant of the master, disgrace to your former self, and I will put you to the stake, and after that, I will seek out all your servants, relatives, friends and eventually the master himself, and I will destroy them too! I swear this in the name of Húna, my ever-loyal steed, and in the name of all my brothers, Maros, Samos and Ludhér Belamor, my sister Ginia and on my parents and the Belamor family."

He throws the last handfull of sand upon the grave of his steed...

---

Before deciding on what to do as per your question, K man, I wait for the replies of both my companions present at this time, as what I have done so far could have taken some time and they have had plenty of time for their own actions. So expect a second post after theirs.

EDIT: edited some bad grammar and something in the oath

[Artemis]

He tilts his hat in a show of respect for the gathered people. He speaks in clear, crisp voice. "Greetings ladies and gentlemen, the kind and just king Sturmgard has asked me to tell you what I have recounted to him." He looks up from under the shadows of his hat and his golden eyes catches the light softly as he seems to stare off into space. "It was approximately ten years ago..."

---

The sky was darkening as the sun had begun to set. "Angelus!! Come on in before you catch death from a chill," came his mother's melodic voice easing softly into his musing eleven year old mind. "Okay mother," he replied as he ran toward the wagon, where his mother was preparing dinner and his father was brooding over a leather bound book. His father looked up from his book and smiled lovingly, "Ah my sweet boy. What were you up to?"

Angelus opened his hand and within lay some fresh rose petals. "I've been collecting spell component for my spells father." His father nodded softly and went back to his book. They enjoyed a nice meal of rabbit stew spiced with majoram (wink wink nudge nudge). They were enjoying a nice dessert of fresh fruits when a sound was heard in the trees then suddenly a large group of perversions jumped down with weapons drawn.

His father yelled to his family to get in the wagon as he called upon his knowledge of the arcane arts and started to bend the fabric of space and time to strike down his enemies. His wife made sure that their son was safe before grabbing her sword and rushing into battle. The battle lasted but a few moments before archers filled his father with arrows. With his dying breath he cast a teleportation spell but before he was zipped away Angelus' eyes fell upon a beautiful crystal that thrust out of the ground in the forest like a blade.

---

His eyes lose that distance look and he looks back down allowing the shadows to hide his face. "That is my tale my friends. I can still recall where they attacked and I can only imagine that the wagon is still sitting there." He leans softly upon his wooden staff that seems to shimmer soflty with what looks to be silver and golden strands spiralling down it.

[GeneralMHB]

Yuri hears and see's Romar's outburst, wondering if all sanity has been lost in him. He shoves the thought out of the way and stands a mere thirty feet away from Sehanine, awaiting her move like a guard dog following his master.

The voice returns...

[glow=red,2,300]You must fe-[/glow]

I KNOW THIS! YOU TOLD ME 5 TIMES IN THE PAST MINUTE!!! SHUT UP!! I'LL FEED SOON, OK?!

(OOC: My break from all seriousness ;D I knew I was saying that a bit too often, kinda odd that he wouldn't have a response to this inside his head.)

[sonnetinkinston]

VemuKhaham said:

"I swear this in the name of Húna, my ever-loyal steed, and in the name of all my brothers, Maros, Samos and Ludhér Belamor, my sister Ginia and on my parents and the Belamor family." He throws the last handfull of sand upon the grave of his steed...

Upon hearing Romar's words, and seeing his actions, Sehanine's walls shatter with almost no effort. Her own family, her parents, are brought to the formost of her mind. "I shall not fail you, father. So I have sworn. But perhaps I do not have to do it alone..."

But with that one, another memory surfaces. One older, more easily forgotten. Yet I recall it with the sent of the lilac essence my mother used to wear.

You must only reveal your connection to the Siandon Family when in dire need. Mionstacia will give you away, to those who recognize the blade, but you must never forget that the servants of Kaas will hunt you no matter where you go. Our family is a stain on his perfect web of destruction; the fly that escaped. And his servants come in many guises.

My necklace began to vibrate more violently, as if the mere thought of Kaas was enough to send it running. Or perhaps we were in danger. I turn, glancing at Yuri only barely, nodding to both acknowledge his presence, and to warn him not to interfere. I then move forward to Romar, and lay a hand on his shoulder.

If you wish to hunt, then do so. But do not do it alone. We all know loss, though you perhaps more so than others, but I ask that you let me hunt as well. Perhaps, between the two of us, we shall catch our quarry much more quickly...

Then, saying something I say only when the blood- and wanderlust are upon me, I continue with my eyes ablaze with memories:

It is time to hunt.

[VemuKhaham]

Hearing Sehanine is with him, ready to join him in his goal, and upon listening to her words about a hunt and feeling her hand on his shoulder, Romar's anger, hatred and determination rise to even greater heigth. He's still kneeled there on the ground, but his face turns grim, dark almost, and his eyes sink even deeper into their sockets it seems as he prepares himself, mentally. Something happened within Romar, broke him, and brought up a new person in him; one that is a bit colder, more distanced and hardened by recent events. Yet, it is for the sake of bringing an end to all evil that has hurt him, his family and the world around him.

He stands up and looks to Sehanine. His face is indeed notably different then ever before. However, he is so focused he completely misses Yuri, standing a bit further away from him. Then, he simply repeats the words of Sehanine in a concluding manner:

"It is time to hunt."

He makes a last bow towards the grave, says a last short prayer to himself and sets on a journey that would lead him to a path he can't yet imagine. He follows the tracks, completely forgetting those he traveled with that are still in the pits. In his head, he is filled with grieve and somewhere between that darkness there is the light brought by the support of Sehanine.

---

Survival to track: +9
I hope nobody minds about this sudden departure. I thought overall it could become quite fun for all of us.

[Wizard]

"Well...we'd better hurry, if it's that easy to see. Shall we depart today, Lord? Will this man be accompanying us?"

[Hero]

Hero does her best to look ready to go. No need to say anything.

[GeneralMHB]

Yuri simply looks at Sehanine, shakes his head, and stays where he is.

They can't possibly expect to face this person on their own, when it could be that same vampire that made me who I am, on their own now can they? They will surely die...

[glow=red,2,300]That will be less work for you, now wouldn't it? Let them die for their horse. What do you care?[/glow]

Yuri simply remains where he is, idle....

The thought is simply too much for him to bare:

[glow=white,2,300]I'm still human... I can't let them die like this. As brave yet foolhearty as they are I can't sit back and go to the righteous fighter waiting for her to smite me when given the chance, or even worse, the elves....[/glow]

He waits for them both to disappear into the wilderness. Once he knows they cannot see him, he changes to the form of a bat and follows, remaining hidden all the way. He takes precausions to make the journey less obvious, flying up in trees and keeping his distance.

(OOC: Not sure what my modifier on my hide check is for when I change forms.)

[BluSpecs]

Garor stays at attention and is ready to go when the king orders it.

[sonnetinkinston]

I follow Romar, all thought pushed aside except for the cold lack of emotion that fills with the hunt. As the more skilled ranger tracks, I guard the forest around us, listening and observing for any remaining enemies. My lightblade is drawn, as well as Mionstacia.

I miss Yuri's presence, but also note that my necklace is not buzzing quite so harshly now. I push the further implications of this fact to the side. For the moment. My mind is on nothing but the tracks and the forest.

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Survival +6
Listen +7
Spot +7

[Merovingian]

Newt seeing every one simply standing walks over and tugs on angelus robes.
Well if no one else is going to say it I'm Newt, That’s Garor, Hero, Callian and Caelith.
Putting on the new neckless and sliding it under his armor to hide it.
Quick before the big nasties get it first.
Newt walks off to get his dog and start the ride.