Curse

LaserLight · Mar 28, 2006, 10:29 PM // 22:29

(OOC: I can wait. Wouldn't mind seeing a bit more oomph in the Fort myself. I feel like not everything that was supposed to happen in there has happened. At the very least, perhaps the characters should learn of the aftermath of the Grawl invasion. Call it a level-headed Krytan lieutenant or something who decides to take Relisu' words to heart and explain the situation to what is obviously a bunch of freakish weirdos XP)

Brother Doug · Mar 29, 2006, 12:31 AM // 00:31

(OOC: I'm perfectly fine for being hunted by Krytans. It works, since he burned their Guild Lord's face and all...but I have to agree with Ristaron on the whole group kick thing. Also, I'm not sure that the Guild Lord knew any of our names, how could he suddenly know both Relius' and Ristaron's? When this thing gets figured out, I'll think of something to post.

Wow, 3 OOC only posts in a row...someone needs to fix this...)

Ristaron · Mar 29, 2006, 03:17 AM // 03:17

(OOC: Yeah, this entire thread is 60/40 Roleplay/ooc

I don't mean to confuse, so I'll say it flat out: the rest of this post is as they weren't kicked out so easily... well, Ristaron and Morgan, at least. We can decide later if that is how it goes...)

"Stop", the Guild Lord commanded, "they have done nothing, this one I recognise, Ristaron, is not one to be messed with. I will not tell you of our past but it is something I regret. Throw them from the city! They are not welcome here anymore, but find the one called Relius, find him and kill him! Now!"
The Guild Lord turned to leave, but he was faced with a five hundred pound lethal machine as he came about. Morgan's growl, issued from a head that was face level with the Guild Lord, was enough to shake the man's knees.

Greknor, more stubborn than any others in the guard, began to advance. His grip was beginning to tighten on his spear when he found himself frozen in place. A razor sharp blade pressed to his neck.
Seeing the captain of their guard in danger, the other guards looked at an easier-looking target. But before their weapons had left their sheaths, the mountainfolk had whirled around to stand between the captain of the guard and the other soldiers, the tip of his second blade now right below the cleft of one of their chins.
"I've had a very bad day", the ranger said in a deathly tone, "continuing on this course is the last thing you want to do".

"Enough!"
All heads turned to the speaker.

Rilder · Mar 29, 2006, 10:48 AM // 10:48

OOC: Np here...

IC: The fighting broke out with Ristaron had started the fight pressing a blade into the captain of the Guard and another guardsmen, and Zarda drew his blade and charged at a set of Guards coming from a nearby tower, meeting them in combat each blocking each others sword plays and the left one decided to take a swing at him which Zarda blocked in a deadly riposte that sent the guardsman reeling on the floor, the other one running back into the tower.

“Enough!” came from a speaker and he turned to the speaker, but kept an eye on the wall as archers started to line up and prepare to lose dead arrows into the center court

“Not exactly a good time to be talking.” Zarda motioned to the ramparts at the top, at least 25 Krytan rangers, arrows notched and ready to be loosed, all wearing fancy leather armor embedded with designs of the Krytan Guild.

Subconsciously he wavered towards a door to a tower that led into the huge wall above, carefully not to make any sound, then he tripped; and the wisps of arrows were heard above instinctively he dashed to the door, arrows peppering at his feet as he ripped through the door and ran up, hoping everyone below was okay. He appeared at the top of the ramparts; the Krytan rangers turned to him and he drew his sword and charged. The Krytan Rangers though deadly with there bows were trained in the arts of a sword for moments like this but they’re weak skills were nothing as Zarda sliced through each one. The last ranger on that side of the rampart turned to him, looking like a captain due to his different armor charge him with a large long sword but Zarda parried the sword with his own and the now unbalanced captain tumbled over the side smashing into the ground below, screaming in a tone that could frighten a dragon, the fight on the ramparts went on as Zarda went through another wall and began to fight another set of rangers, one of them having the nerve to fire an arrow point blank missing but leaving a bad gash in his shoulder, the pain unnerved him but he kept moving; the slight slowdown could open him to attack…

Brother Doug · Mar 29, 2006, 01:31 PM // 13:31

(OOC: Works for me. Hmm, just who is this mysterious speaker anyay?

)

Relius ran down the alley, hearing shouting and commotion from the Guild Lord and his guards. This was not what he had wanted to happen. Since he was a child, he had wanted peace. He had striven to only hurt those who did wrong, such as his enemies, the Kurzicks.
Before Relius had left Cantha for Ascalon he had heard of a story, used to urge those who remained neutral to the Canthan civil war to join one side or the other. It was told that an enemy assassin had once sneaked into a Canthan temple, killing most of the holy monks inside. Both sides said with certainty that the assassin was their enemy. Nobody knew which side had done the murderous act. It could have been another being altogether. The people of Cantha weren’t even sure if the stories were true. All everyone knew was that it was an act of cold murder. Thinking about the incident angered Relius, but he quickly waved the anger away. Another outburst would not be good, especially now.

It was just then that Relius remembered that the leaf had somehow started the fire. Alarmed, he looked down at his necklace. Amazingly enough, the leaf remained unburned.

‘What sort of pyromancy is this?’ the ritualist thought to himself. Before he could think the matter over, a Krytan soldier walked past the alleyway. He saw Relius and quickly blasted a high note on his horn.

“It’s the blind attacker! Avenge the Guild Lord!” the soldier rushed at him, his sword raised high above his head. Quickly, Relius ducked into an abandoned chamber. He instantly held his nose in disgust; the smell of rotting corpses still lingered. Looking around the room, he winced as he saw an Ascalonian soldier, an axe imbedded into his skull, dried blood on his face. It must have only been a few weeks since the battle at the Fort. The soldier followed into the alley, but his heavy armor weighed him down. Before he could reach the door, Relius had shoved a nearby stove into the low walkway, blocking the soldier’s path.

He wouldn’t be harming another innocent person.

Seeing a flight of stairs nearby, he quickly ascended them. He was now on the roof of the chamber, and could see a good portion of the Fort. Looking around, he could see the other members of the group fighting against the Guild Lord and his guards. By this time, other guards had arrived at the scene, and those with bows took out an arrow from their quivers. The head archer rode up on his ivory horse, glaring up at Relius.

“Ready your bows!”
Relius quickly looked to his left, then to his right. There was nothing that could aid him, no spirits he could think of to deflect the arrows pointed at his heart.
“Aim!”
He raced through his mind, trying to think of the right spirit to summon. His mind blanked. He sighed, and waited for the final command, giving up all hope.

“Enough!”
A voice called out, making both Relius and the other soldiers turn towards it. The slight distraction gave him the opportunity he needed. Seeing another rooftop nearby, he took his chance.

He leapt, away from the startled guards and back towards his friends.

Mentalmdc · Mar 29, 2006, 04:28 PM // 16:28

(OOC: Sorry about the group kick, it was more em trying unite us with the other party, but I can continue within the city and also I thought the Guild Lord would know the name of Ristaron as I believe Ristaron took a sword he recognised from the Guild Lord suggesting that they had a history together unless i got the wrong end of the stick.)

Rhiannon sighed as her friends once again engaged in mortal combat with the Krytans, on her sacred Island off of Cantha she had been so naieve believing the ways of pacifism and the continual bloodshed she had witnessed and not only made her a much harder skillful warrior but was also beginning to wear her down. This fight could go on forever and should the battle take a turn for the ill the secrets of what had happened in their absence may never be found. Rhiannon snuck off in through the door of a fruit and vegetable store intent on finding someone who could assist her with her endeavours. The shop was absent of all life until the lound clangs and thuds of soldiers rushing downstairs in the next room filled the shop. Rhiannon saw some shadows flickering in the light, using her initiative and small height she dived behind the counter and stayed hidden until the troops had gone.

Out the back door Rhiannon navigated her way through the familiar alleyways in the fort, Rhiannon looked up to the walls and saw the tower where she had had her terrifying ordeal. Rhiannon turned the corner and saw a large Krytan cursing with his fist, he had just been barricaded from a room and was not happy about it. Something foul was in the air and smelt truly rancid making Rhiannon feel quite ill. Rhiannon startled by the large mans presence was relieved to see he had not seen her so she carried onto the enxt alleyway. Rhiannon was unsure of just what exactly it was she was looking for but she knew she would find it eventually.

It was then Rhiannon saw the symbol engraved above a shop door, a symbol that was all to familiar to her, the chimera surround by a diamond with a sythe in the background caused her to fall to her knees. Rhiannon was shaking, completely pale the memory of the poor monks in her sanctuary who had been slaughtered, impaled in their chests was a leather page that bore the very symbol before her eyes, an evil piercing knife embedded through the middle. Rhiannon scrambled to the door and reached for the handle, not sure what or why she was doing it she pulled it down, the door opened and she slowly entered the dark derilict room. Cobwebs lined the windows and shelves, the room a wreck of pages and books strewn across the ancient oak floorboards. It seemed that no one was home, but the truth was very much different. Rhiannon crawled to a wall and slumped against it, weakened over time the plaster wall crumbled away and Rhiannon spilled through the wall. The answer to what happened in the fort lay in front of her eyes but Rhiannon did not see it for as she tumbled through the wall she found no solid floor, only a looming pit which engulfed the monk as she fell into the dark dank hole. Rhiannon landed with a slight thump only lightly bruised, it was so dark in the hole she could see nothing and would have to wait for one of her friends to find and rescue her. It was then she heard the words, "Enough."

Ristaron · Mar 29, 2006, 06:03 PM // 18:03

(OOC: No, I understood that part, Mentalmdc, I just didn't know how to continue with it. And the mysterious speaker I had left for someone else to make up... but I suppose I'll tie that loose end.)

Having been keen to listen to any reason from the Krytans, Ristaron's heart sank when Zarda took off.
"Nobody move!" the ranger ordered flatly as the guards started after the man. A growl from Morgan halted any thoughts they had of disobeying.

Turning to count whoever was left, Ristaron could have killed the guards in rage to see the rest of his friends having left. Knowing the battle would take lives of innocent people, the ranger decided to hear out the newcomer.
"Who are you?" Ristaron's question was to the point.
"Why don't you put away your weapons", the man replied when he turned to regard the mountainfolk, "then we can talk".
Thinking for a moment, Ristaron gave a quick look over the guards whose necks his blades were pressed against. With a resigned sigh, and a flashy technique, the ranger returned his rapiers to their sheaths at his hips.

Backing up a safe distance from the guards, Ristaron gave a slight nod to Morgan. He knew the unnaturally intelligent wolf understood.
"Before we start", the ranger said as the newcomer started to speak, "I want all my friends back here, we don't need to solve this with more violence".

Mentalmdc · Mar 29, 2006, 08:57 PM // 20:57

(Rhiannon stuck in a hole fails to turn up alerting her friends to her dissapearance.)

Goats17 · Mar 29, 2006, 10:46 PM // 22:46

The strange man's stunning riposte left Kratos stunned for a full minute. That in itself was an amazing feat. Kratos' intellect was amazingly large, and he had been trained to think on his feet for over 9 years. He decided to catch up and right the wrong he had just caused.

" So now I know who you are Greysen. You came up in this story, and I have read your own. I know now that you are not a threat to my mission. I am supposed to act like a babbling teenager whenever I see someone. This misson is of UTMOST importance, I have to make sure that Ristaron, someone I intend to find at Ranik, helps to concieve the child that will be the saviour of Tyria." He said some of this slowly, so that Greysen would get the full impact of his words. " And as for your family, I am well and truly sorry."

He continued to keep pace with him and gave him some time to mull over the things he just added and then said, " I was also ordered to tell you, if I ever found you, that one will come. You will not be a fugitive forever. Someone that you will love as much as she loves you will appear in your life, but it is your jobs to sieze her and never let go." He said this slowly as well.
" Now, I must hurry. I will travel a little faster than you and go further up the road. I will prepare a camp for the night," and indeed, the sky was beginning to darken," I will have a meal ready for you when you get there. " With this he shouted, " Windbourne Speed!" and sprinted forward.

LaserLight · Mar 30, 2006, 05:45 AM // 05:45

And now he's a prophet and matchmaker. One on a mission, no less. I think I am going to travel through the night tonight.

Greysen continued stewing for a moment, but eventually the relief of the man's departure combined with the strange intonation of the words he'd spoken to get the Pit Fighter thinking.

Ordered to tell me of a girl, eh? I wonder who that fool is, and who gave him those orders. If he wasn't simply a rogue Elementalist who let his magic touch him in the head, that is. I wonder who that Ristaron figure he spoke of is...

Meh. Most likely some long-lost princeling whose blood must Save Creation. I hate bloodlines and blood legacies...the only way blood will save Tyria is if enough of it is spilled in her defense. Children of prophecy lead such miserable lives, all for nothing. The gods have left Tyria! There is no one left to enforce these damned prophets and their vaunted visions. Kingdoms are won or lost by the strength of arms in those defending them, and that is the bitter, unlamented truth!

It was then that Greysen noticed his pace had quickened to a sturdy jog - the man's muscles always seemed to get as agitated as his mind did and sought relief of their own, whether he willed it or not. Letting out a long-suffering sigh, Greysen slowed his pace back to an easy, ground-eating walk, a pace he'd found he could keep up for days on end without pause, eating as he went and not bothering to sleep for a period of two or three days. In the pits, he'd learned just exactly how little sleep a human being could survive on, and even at that had gotten on just barely enough to hang on. A man could always tell when his opponent couldn't get enough sleep. He was stronger, more resistant to pain, but his blows were awkward and poorly-aimed, as though he weren't quite aware of what was around him, locked away inside a dream fog where nothing was real, nothing mattered. And, without fail, it was the sleepless ones who made the most horrible screams when they died...

Greysen shook his head violently and slapped himself once, forcing the memories back into the mental prison it had crawled from. There was no need to dwell on the past now, it would only hurt...

Ranik. Another day's travel and I'll be there. Then I can begin my search in earnest. And if that cackling prophet comes along again...well, I won't kill him, but durely the Fates will forgive me if I knock him out? The world would be a better place for as long as he's unconscious...

And so into the night Greysen strode. He detoured around the prophet's camp, sticking to the darkness, enjoying the peace and solitude of the forests. Well, except for the starving wolf that tried to kill him, but one swift kick and a glare ended those ambitions quickly enough. Greysen walked past the whimpering creature, then paused, sighed angrily, and withdrew a strip of meat from his pack and tossed it to the animal. He knew just exactly how it felt to be hungry, truly hungry, and he wouldn't wish that feeling on anyone. As the wolf jumped on the meat in total bliss, Greysen walked on, angling back towards the road. Somehow, the encounter had made him feel much better. Even if he would miss that meat in a few days, the animal had needed it more than he did.

Besides. He could always cook that prophet if he had to...

Goats17 · Mar 30, 2006, 11:31 PM // 23:31

(OOC: out of ideas atm. Continue in Ranik guys.)

Ristaron · Mar 31, 2006, 07:31 AM // 07:31

(OOC: Waiting for someone else to post so I don't dominate control the story.)

Brother Doug · Mar 31, 2006, 09:31 PM // 21:31

The ritualist landed on the closest rooftop, narrowly avoiding the flurry of arrows. Quickly, he ran down the stairs and into the chamber below. The look of the chamber was like none he had ever seen. It appeared to be a simple shop, but the look was too dark, too mysterious. The shelves were covered with dust, making Relius sneeze. A large black rat, disturbed by the noise, ran out from its hiding place and into a rather large hole in the wall. Relius was curious; this hole was large enough for an average human to fit through. Peering above the hole, the ritualist saw a very strange mark. It appeared Canthan in style, but it wasn’t the banner of any of the Canthan groups that he knew of. The chimera seemed to glare down at him. Relius backed away, as if the beast would spring out of the symbol and attack. He was about to exit the structure when he heard a frightened whimpering from the hole.

Taking up all his courage, Relius ventured inside, stopping inches away from the hidden pit. Looking down, he could See the monk from both the Cayven massacre as well as the battle in the Mists. He was surprised to find that after all that she’d been through, such an agile human had fallen down into a pit. Giving a slight chuckle to himself, Relius offered a hand.

“Greetings, young monk. I’m not quite sure if I introduced myself to you before. My name is Relius Espirin. I am a Luxon Ritualist, and keeper of the-” he stopped. Rodgort was no longer with him. He said nothing for a moment, then continued on.

“I have a feeling you’d like to be rescued from there. Unless you can fly, I suggest you take my hand. Now hurry! I’m sure the guards will be here soon.”

Ristaron · Mar 31, 2006, 11:27 PM // 23:27

The guards were indeed fast approaching, but the Ritualist had managed to evade them long enough for their objective to slightly change.

"Any luck, Morgan?"
The enormous gray wolf snorted impatiently, Ristaron smiled. She was moving quickly, obviously hot on the trail of the scent of one of the companions. A few moments later, the lupine broke into a fast trot. Her nose came a few inches higher so it wouldn't slam into the dust as she bobbed, but the scent was fresh and strong, making it easy to follow.
"I think she found something", the newcomer remarked dryly as the entire group picked up the pace to keep up with their guide.
"Her nose always knows", Ristaron replied fondly.
They caught up with the gigantic wolf at the door of a run-down shop.
"The Hag's Head", one of the guards said quietly. Ristaron shot him an incredulous look, but upon reading the sign above the door he understood.
"Who owns this place?" the ranger asked.
"Nobody right now", the guard answered, "the previous owner left without a word last year. She locked up and took off."
"Interesting", Ristaron offered. His attention was now on Morgan as the giant wolf raised herself on her hind legs (which, if anything, made her look even more magnificent) and placed her front paws on the wooden door. A low howl issued from her powerful muzzle.

Mentalmdc · Apr 01, 2006, 09:31 AM // 09:31

Rhiannon slightly embarassed about her predicament thanked Relius greatly as she dusted herself down as if it might restore some of the pride she had lost. Looking around the room gave one a sudden sense of fear and coldness, all around lay tools and writings of the dark arts, but something was not right in the air, something sinister lay at the very back of the room, a thing that held most of the answers to the past days events, but it did not want to be seen or found out, a great evil guarded it and it would sooner destroy an entire army than give itself up, and so slowly unbeknownst to the heroes it began to wield its magic, something only the large wolf that had appeared in the doorway had noticed. Silently like a deadly wind the poisonous air swirled around the mouths and nostrils of the heroes, charming them like a charmer does to a snake slowly Relius and Rhiannon began to become slightly dazed and deluded, those outside, safe for now. But this was just the first of what was to come as another mist began to take shape, although invisible to the eye, it began to take form of large shadow warriors, and they would not be so friendly or nearly as foolish as the guards of the fort.

Ristaron · Apr 01, 2006, 05:18 PM // 17:18

(oooooooooh, I like it! I'll post again after one or two other people have.)

Brother Doug · Apr 01, 2006, 06:36 PM // 18:36

(OOC: You never know what evil gas can do to a person's head...

)

Relius put a hand to his head. After helping Rhiannon out of the pit, he felt strangely woozy. He began to walk towards the door, slightly stumbling. He put his hand on the doorknob and began to turn it. Cautiously, he stopped. For all he knew, the guards could be standing outside, waiting to impale him on their swords. The Ritualist placed his hand away from the doorknob, looking around the room for another means of escape.
It was at that moment that the Ritualist heard a howl. Not the howl of a monster or other feral beast; this one he knew to be Ristaron’s lupine companion. Giving a sigh of relief, the Ritualist walked again towards the door, stopping for a brief moment to scrutinize the strange symbol. Whatever it was, it frightened him. He looked closer at the symbol, staring at it intently.

He did not expect the symbol to stare back at him and roar.

Relius felt the sickening feeling again, the feeling he had felt after helping Rhiannon out of the pit. Instinctively, he clutched his hand to his stomach, bending over. Looking at the symbol again, he was shocked to find that the chimera was missing. Alert, the Ritualist looked around, scepter ready. A loud, feral roar came from behind him, not the one he had heard from Morgan. Relius turned sharply, only to fall down in terror. Standing before him was, strangely enough, the chimera from the symbol. Its heads roared, hissed, and snapped at him violently. But before Relius could concentrate his powers long enough to fire a bolt at the creature, it turned tail and fled, running, at least Relius believed, through the wall. The haunting roar echoed in his mind.

Relius got up. He felt cold on the inside, and began shivering. He feared that the beast would spring at him at any moment through the walls. Looking around, he saw Rhiannon, looking entirely calm, if not a bit shaken from the fall into the pit. Relius stared in amazement, then finally blurting out, “Didn’t you…didn’t you see it? That- that thing!” Relius stuttered in fear, trying to get his words to come out right. “Th-the chimera from the…from the symbol. It…it jumped out at m-me. And then…it ran away. Th-through the wall. Look, it’s not on the symbol any-” Relius pointed to the once chimera-empty symbol and abruptly stopped.

The chimera was back in its place, in the exact same position. It was almost as if it had never appeared.

(OOC: I know I'm making a bit of a stretch here by doing this. Of course, Mentalmdc created the gas. Is it alright that I use it this way, at least for Relius?)

Ristaron · Apr 01, 2006, 06:58 PM // 18:58

(OOC: Relius smokin it up?

)

Sounds of movement came from inside the shop, confirming beyond a doubt that Morgan had found someone. Trying the doorknob, Ristaron scowled to find it was indeed locked. With a resigned sigh, the ranger knocked several times.
"Who's in there?" he called. A moment later, he jumped back in shock as the door exploded under the force of five hundred pounds as Morgan barrelled into it.
The shop was dark inside, but two figures stood illuminated by the sunlight streaming in through the now vacant doorway. Thinking fast, Ristaron knew they may get the wrong idea with the guards behind the ranger. The mountainfolk took a step forward and drew a long breath so he would have enough air to explain the situation.
He didn't start talking, though, for something in the air caught his attention.

Mentalmdc · Apr 02, 2006, 11:13 AM // 11:13

OOC: Tis all good, i'll wait for laser and goats topost before we continue.

Rilder · Apr 03, 2006, 03:19 AM // 03:19

OOC: I'm a little confused here so i waiting a bit to see what develops.