Curse

Ristaron · May 20, 2006, 05:12 AM // 05:12

What had been sincere gratitude was washed away when the ranger's fighter-instincts kicked in. The way the man moved... unnervingly graceful, and obviously deadly. While Ristaron had been happy to accept him as an ally, he knew as soon as the large warrior turned around that his motives for killing the beast were not what he had initially believed.
Every alarm in the mountainfolk's mind rang out in unison as the man mouthed the confirming words.
"I've been looking for you".

Ristaron was more than thankful that he had not sheathed his rapiers, but the late reaction made them nearly useless as he managed to just raise them in time to deflect some of the initial force of the impact. Slamming into the wooden wall three feet behind him, the ranger shook his head to clear the daze. The pause nearly cost him his life, as his practiced agility saved his life once again.
A shower of splinters rained down on the mountainfolk as he rolled quickly and sprang to his feet. He came up in a defensive battle-stance, both blades hovering at dangerous angles. His midnight eyes fighting to keep from getting distracted by the amazing new hole in the wall where he had just been.

"Why do these people always come after me?" he asked himself incredulously.

OOC: LaserLight, I assume that's what you meant to happen... if not, I can write it differently.
By the way, you seem to have an excellent insight into the mechanics of fighting. If you need to - to keep the post going - you can roleplay some of my character's actions in this fight between the characters. We all know this roleplay needs more flow... longer posts is a good start.

LaserLight · May 20, 2006, 08:48 AM // 08:48

OOC: Heh...actually, attacking Ristaron was the last thing on Greysen's mind. I need to talk to him and probably recruit him as a guide, and even Greysen knows that killing your information source is bad. Normally I'd just roll with it, but this is 180 to where I was headed. Just so ye know, the message bit Greysen's actions sent Ristaron were to make sure he, and he alone, knew that Greysen was ready to punch hell out of the Krytan guards. Hm hm...and thanks for the compliments on my fighting. I'm actually a gladiator more than a story writer like this - ninety-nine percent of my role-playing experience is in multiplayer duels.

Anyways, let me know if I need to roll with this, but it'd be awful difficult to accomplish my set objective with a fight. Or any objective, for that matter.

Ristaron · May 22, 2006, 05:50 AM // 05:50

OOC: Damn, sorry... oh well, disregard my last post and start again at this one. No problem on my part, I get to write more. Hope this one is better.

IC:

At first merely impressed with the Greysen's battle skills, the ranger quickly found himself in admiration of the large warrior's mastery of simple body language.
The simple posture Greysen adopted disguised the corded muscles that were taught and ready to spring, the Krytan guards wouldn't stand a chance if he decided to act. And it would take more than the present company to take him down.

Knowing that his intrigue for the clearly dangerous man would have to wait, Ristaron was content to play along with the discussion. Hopefully, he could discern some shadow of the real motive beneath the surface conversation. From what he could already tell, it was something intended only for him... though the man didn't exactly seem to care if anybody else overheard.

"Looking for me?" the ranger echoed the words, placing emphasis on each word to indicate that he got the point. "You are not the first".
Sheathing his now-clean rapiers in their leather cases at his hips, the mountainfolk tapped the hilt of one of them gently with his ebony-skinned forefinger. The miniscule gesture had clear intentions, meant only for the large warrior's eyes.
"You look to have come a long way, as well", Ristaron continued, his midnight eyes looking over the rough appearance of the man. "So let's waste no more of your time and get to the point: why have you come to me?"

LaserLight · May 24, 2006, 08:37 AM // 08:37

"I'd have thought you knew. My sister does, at any rate. And for her sake, I won't say anything else in the open like this."

The words were as false as they were convincing - the Krytan guards outside snickered slightly as thoughts of wild nights and their inevitable consequences flitted through their minds. The great Ristaron, legendary Ranger, Beastmaster, swordsman, and pervert, the thoughts went. A handful of guards, picturing instead the sister of a man of Greysen's height, stature, and conditioning, developed a healthy dose of respect for the ebony man. Anyone bold enough to bed anything related to that deserved admiration and no small amount of pity.

None of it was true, of course.

Greysen was blunt to the point of concussing conversational partners and didn't particularly care if people knew what he was after, but he was currently inside a smallish, rather cramped shop with maybe five inches of clearance over his head. There wasn't a Krytan in Fort Ranik he couldn't dismantle with negligent ease, but a few guards taking shifts with crossbows outside the building's single exit could make things difficult. Better to get free of the shack before getting to his true purpose for the dark Ranger. Also better for the Krytan fighters to peg Greysen as a simple man out to avenge his sister's honor. A motive both honorable and ridiculous, painting the Pit fighter as big, lovable, and slightly dumb. Though he doubted more than half the guards would be fooled, it would sow confusion in their minds, and a half-second's hesitation while people resolved differing prejudgments of Greysen was all the hulking warrior needed to rip their intestines out their navels, should it come to that.

He knew the Ranger was far too intelligent and insightful to fall for the trick himself, especially after his slight gesture confirmed his receipt of Greysen's unspoken message. Anyone intelligent enough to pick up on that was also intelligent enough to realize that a stupid man couldn't have communicated in that way. Now comfortably aware that both the hero and himself were ready to kick ass and leave the names where they lie, Greysen turned to the door. Then he cursed slightly under his breath as he heard the high-pitched snarls from outside. He'd forgotten about Serrina! She was out there with the warrior's monstrous wolf and at least a dozen strange humans...gathered in a circle around her...

Oh Hell!

Greysen shouted out the door then, moving to leave the building and hoping that both Krytans and wolves would let him. "Get away from the wolves, don't stand around them!" he bellowed, hoping against hope that the Krytans would disperse before Serrina's barely-dormant memories of the Pits and the rings of spectators emerged and drove her to strike out against the colossal Dire. In her condition, she wouldn't stand a chance, but Greysen knew in his gut that Serrina would at least cripple the massive wolf before going, if not take it with her. And letting a wolf nominally his kill the companion of the man he'd sought since his escape would be a less than optimal way of getting into the warrior's good graces.

"Serrina! Enough! Back off, girl!" Greysen thundered, putting forth every ounce of wind his trained lungs could move, hoping to cow the wolves through sheer decibal level. The walls of the shack trembled and dust floated down from the ceiling as Krytan hands clapped to Krytan ears. Capitalizing on the moment, Greysen bolted out the door and went straight for Serrina, hoping he could restrain her without hurting her - or himself. He could only hope that the resistance leader was right behind him and heading to control his own animal. A battle between the wolves would incite a larger battle, and make a general mess of things.

Bloody mutts...moe trouble than they can possibly be worth!

Ristaron · May 24, 2006, 08:32 PM // 20:32

Morgan had at first considered the other she-wolf just another beaten up stray. The way the creature's mangy fur desperately clung to the pronounced ribs, missing in patches had given the five hundred pound lupine an immediate first impression. But when the creature had crouched defensively, baring its teeth, Morgan quickly saw that it was no rejected bitch facing her. This she-wolf had been through more than her fair share of fights, and most definately come out on top of most of them.
No novice to combat herself, Morgan coiled her powerful muscles and crouched in a battle-stance. Baring her slightly yellow teeth, the enormous wolf let loose a bark that rattled nearby windows in an attempt to emphasize how much of a size advantage she had over her opponent. As she had learned from her ranger companion, it was not always necessary to fight to get your way.
But the other wolf had no doubt fought many larger things, and the intimidating effect Morgan had intended was lost.

She had been ready for the inevitable result of the standoff when the other wolf's large warrior friend burst through the Krytan barricade, beelining for Morgan's opponent. Making sure to keep her green eyes on the other wolf incase she made her move at the last minute, Morgan flinched to hear her name from the most familliar of voices.
In a feat of timing, what would have been a bloody battle was averted by the show of cooperation from the master and companions of the two animals.

**

"Come here, girl", Ristaron coaxed Morgan to come behind him. He had no doubt that his companion could tear the other creature to shreds, should the eventuality of a fight between them arise, but the consequences of such a conflict were what Ristaron feared the most.
Morgan, though capable, was still a savage fighter, and would retain injuries. And the quick-developping repore the ranger had with the giant fighter named Greysen would be in great jeapordy.
Greysen was a man Ristaron did not want as an enemy.

(OOC: In case I haven't mentioned it... Morgan isn't Ristaron's pet. He rescued her as a cub, nursed her back to health, and won her eternal friendship and loyalty. Should she have any desire to, Morgan can always leave his side.
For this reason, I refer to them as companions, and not 'master' and 'pet'.)

Richmuel · May 25, 2006, 08:13 AM // 08:13

OOC: Sorry for my absence, I've been quite busy.

IC: Sasha stayed close to the walls lurking in the shadows observing the two figures in the street, one she had the name to be Ristaron. A rather large man was engaging in a tense conversation with the mountainfolk. Everything had gone so wrong, Sasha had been told to get in, take the box, and get out. With everything falling apart around her and now having been discovered in the shop she had to find a way to cover up the shambles, she had to protect the identity of her masters. If it got out who she worked for then the consequences would run far through Tyria.

During the fight in the shop Sasha had taken flight, when confronted by three brutish Guards she had thrown a dagger; penetrating the throat of the center guard she cast a quick death nova knocking the other two against the walls. With all 3 guards slumped in font of her Sasha had climbed up a pipe onto the rooftops.

"I have to get closer, I must find out what they are talking about." The necromancer told herself.

Just after the battle of the Grawl the resistance leaders had been whisked off, the true stories of the adventure yet to come out. However in their absence the strange happenings had come to light. Kryta had evoked the order of the Guild Lords, segregating much of the country and allowing Guilds to purchase lands, a similar event had happened, an invaision of local warriors. It was likely the same had happened in the distant lands of Orr. Unable to defend itself with an army the Guilds had rallied to save the day, but not without consequence. They had demanded land and with no army to stop them they took what they wanted. Now, this Krytan Guild had decided to check out how Ascalon was faring. A quick pact with the King had left the Krytans in charge of Fort Ranik, yet Sasha knew the truth, the King was part of something far deeper, far sinister. It was evident now that the items she had come here to steal did not lie here, instead it was a booby trap to kill whoever had managed to come this far to ensure they continued no further.

Sasha thought to herself for a moment. The attacking chimera was definately a sign, maybe, just maybe it was another clue. Yet it bore no resemblance to anything other than a deeply religious cult that lived in the temples of the Maguuma Jungle. No, it had to mean something else. Maybe fate had driven her to meet these other heroes. Perhaps under the thick-skinned Pit Fighters outwards appearance or beneath all the mystery of the Mountainfolk, there was the answer. Sasha would have to stick around to find out, for as she stood there in the middle of the street, the biggest secret hung on her shoulders and she had to put it right. Sasha edged closer in the shadows, invisble to the two figures. However Sasha was quiet, but not quiet enough, she was no assassin although she often tried to be. A hand clasped around her throat, the cold fingers deeling the beat of the pulse in her neck.

Brother Doug · May 28, 2006, 02:22 PM // 14:22

(OOC: It's been quite a while, but at last summer is here! I'm free from work, and able to get back into this for the time being. Richmuel, I hope you don't mind where I take your point. If so, just tell me and I'll fix it.

)

Necromancers. Relius hated necromancers.

Even the sight of the one he had seen in the shop made him feel sick, not due to the mysterious gasses that had leaked into the room. Necromancers were always using the dead for the wrong reasons: to frighten people out of their wits, to pillage and raid, never to help others. It was a common bias, but Relius believed every word of it. Besides, he had his own personal reasons. Necromancers were always dabbling around where they shouldn’t, and this necromancer seemed to know about everything in the mysterious shop. When the chimera had appeared, she vanished.

Relius was tired, hungry, and frustrated at all of the recent events. The Grawl invasion, the Titan battle, the chimera attack…and now this woman. Relius needed answers. As soon as the chimera appeared and the necromancer vanished, Relius quickly followed in her direction. After battling and defeating a Titan, the beast would be no match for Ristaron. He felt that the mountainfolk could handle it on his own.

It took many minutes of searching, but he finally was able to See the necromancer lurking in the shadows nearby, oblivious to the common observer. Relius moved quickly and quietly, and was able to catch her by surprise. In an instant, his hand was clasped around her throat. The necromancer tried to cry out, but the ritualist quickly placed a hand over her mouth, releasing the one on her throat.

“As much as I want to, I…do not…want to…hurt you.” The words were painful to say. “All I need is information. Who are you and why are you here?” he slowly released his grip on the woman’s mouth.

“I wouldn’t suggest running away. Although I cannot see, I can still See with my inner eye. You wouldn’t be able to escape if you tried. Now please, I do not wish to harm you. Tell me who you are.”

Ristaron · May 29, 2006, 02:48 AM // 02:48

( OOC: I'm just waiting for either Lazerlight or someone else to write something that is applicable to my character. That way I don't write the entire sequence of events... )

LaserLight · May 29, 2006, 07:03 AM // 07:03

OOC: Hey, it’s my sister’s high school graduation. Things are hectic, and besides, we were running away with the story altogether

. Good to see Brother Doug back. That makes…four. Oh well, smoother story flow with only four guys manipulating factors.

IC:

Greysen managed to calm Serrina down – or at the least stop her from attacking – by the simple virtue of Staring At Her. The she-wolf was entirely unnerved by the humans all around her, which had always meant nothing but a fight, but the presence of the Food Master and the aura of disapproval he was radiating made her think twice about going after the Dire. Or rather, think about it again – she had already had second, and third and fourth, thoughts about the fight. Serrina wasn’t stupid; she knew the Dire would take her apart. And she quite preferred being wholly assembled.

With the wolves under control, Greysen turned to the resistance leader. This was ridiculous – the commotion in the base would absolutely prevent privacy for a few moments, and it irritated the big Pit Fighter immensely. He’d gotten used to being the star freak in the show when he was fighting in the Pits, but that didn’t mean he liked it. And damn them all, he needed to talk to this man!

Then an idea struck him and Greysen almost grinned openly at the timing. Maybe that outburst from the wolves would be worth something after all…

“My wolf needs food. She likes it fresher than you’ve got on hand. I’m going to take her hunting, and you,” Greysen pointed rather viciously at the resistance leader, “are coming with me. We’re going to have a talk about how you’re going to make things right by my sister.” The Pit Fighter stalked off then, motioning for Serrina to follow him and intensely hoping she bothered to listen to him. He couldn’t wait for her to follow him whenever if this ruse was going to work.

Fortunately, the malnourished wolf was indeed hungry, though she followed Greysen more in the hopes of more of the meat strips he’d given her earlier than out of a desire to hunt, and most of all to escape the eyes of human and Dire. Following promptly on Greysen’s heels, she looked for all the world as if she was the trained companion of an experienced, if very oddly dressed, Ranger and not the independent tagalong to a pitifully inexperienced Pit Fighter. As for the resistance leader, Greysen could only hope that the Krytans let him go without a fight.

He didn’t particularly feel like emptying Ranik right now.

Brother Doug · Jun 01, 2006, 07:52 PM // 19:52

(OOC: Hey everyone. I'm here not only to remind people to get posting

, but to also say I won't be here for a bit from Sunday on. I'll message when I get back. If anyone [specifically Richmuel] posts something before then that I can work with, I'll post. Let's get this RP rolling again!)

Ristaron · Jun 02, 2006, 02:57 AM // 02:57

Having established something of a repore with the Krytan Guard Captain, Ristaron knew he would be able to walk away without a word. A casual glance, however, satisfied the look of confusion on his face.
"I'll make sure none of them are hurt", the Speaker said. Ristaron had nearly forgotten about the rest of his friends, and was gratified to hear that the Krytan did not wish any harm to befall the group.
Quick steps easily caught up to the long strides of the Pit Fighter, who had been keeping a moderately slow pace until the Ranger caught up. Morgan walked beside him, easily keeping stride with her comrade.

They left the fort with no resistance, which gave Ristaron an appreciation for the organization of the Krytan ranks. In the course of ten minutes, his group of friends had gone from enemies to allies. Or, at least, peaceful coinhabitants of the nation. The fact nobody moved against them was testament to an obviously well-structured heirarchy that far too many organizations could never hold.

Continuing out of the fortress until they reached the tall trees of the small forest that provided most of Ranik's lumber, the quartet remained silent until they escaped earshot of any eavesdroppers.

LaserLight · Jun 02, 2006, 07:46 PM // 19:46

The four moved quietly through the woods, drawing only the attention of a handful of forst birds brave enough to come back to familiar territory after the Grawl invasion and stay there during the commotion in the fortress. Greysen noted their presence offhandedly, as he noted everything around him. This included the fact that both resistance leader and Dire were behind him, which he hoped the man would take as the blatant neon sign of trust it was. Greysen rarely let anyone with a blade get to where he couldn’t see them directly around his person.

As the four reached a clearing in the woods, Greysen moved to the tree that had fallen to create the clearing and sat down. Serrina walked up to the Pit Fighter and looked at him. Greysen shook his head and chuckled before pulling out his last handful of cured meat and handing it to the wolf. Going to need to resupply soon. Means work, my gold supply isn’t exactly endless. Having supplied his wolf and his need for privacy, Greysen finally turned to look at the resistance leader and got down to business.

“You led the resistance that broke the Grawl strike here. More, you planned it, and managed to get a fractious group of undertrained soldiers to pull it off. What’s more, then you disappeared for a while afterwards, before emerging to terrorize the Krytans. These are worthy accomplishments, and show you’re a fighter. Your actions thus far show you’re trustworthy. So I will ask you directly what I need to know.” Greysen paused a moment for breath and emphasis, then continued.

“The man, Duruk. He controlled the Grawl tribes, drove them into this strike. Not for a Crown – no one with a brain between their ears takes a crown by force, and you have to have a brain to manipulate the Grawl tribes. I need to know everything I can about him, his goals, and his benefactors. There’s something beneath the surface here, and I intend to unearth it.”

Richmuel · Jun 03, 2006, 06:46 PM // 18:46

Sasha shuffled her feet nervously, she went to make eye contact with Relius yet found she could not due to the tattered cloth that covered most of the features on his face. Thoughts of their conversation moments before Ristaron beckoned them to leave the fort ran clear in her head. Relius had confronted her and Sasha had been adamant she would not tell him the truth, yet she needed his trust more and had been forced to divulge certain facts.

"The King, he does not know what games he plays, there are greater forces at work that he can not control. Something dark is moving upon the winds, I feel it. Something is coming, I do not know what but it will has the potential to effect many lives changing Tyria forever. You have seen the signs of this new cult. The sign of the chimera was burned onto the chest of the kings son. This happened about a week ago, the King became angered summoning all of his closest advisors; one of those advisors was my close friend Atmos, he was the one that sent me on this task. I have been following the signs of this chimera. It led me to this shop, I thought the answer lay here but all I have discovered is that the cult was found deep within the Magumma. No, there is something Ristaron knows, something about him that this Pit Fighters knows. They are the key, I do not know how but it is my duty to stick with them."

Relius exchanged a few words before the pair left the fort. Yet Sasha had not told of how the King himself the next day awoke with that same Chimera branded on his chest. Something was happening to the royal family and the King had gone mad, making allegiances with the most unsavoury characters. All Sasha knew was that the last person the King was seen speaking to was the one and only Duruk.

Sasha turned ready to find out just what exactly Ristaron possessed that could change the way this disaster was running out of hand.

Ristaron · Jun 03, 2006, 07:48 PM // 19:48

Slightly taken back at the wealth of information the man knew, Ristaron wondered how it all had gotten around so fast.
Ignoring how eggagerated he believed his part had been in Greysen's story, Ristaron tackled this confusing aspect of life back in Tyria.
"I missed the last part of the battle", he explained, "I was taken to the Mists by one of the Grawl Shamans, where we fought. I killed him, and shortly after found my friends, who had found a way to follow me". At this junction of the recollection, Ristaron also took a seat. It was a long story.
"One of our company is a Ritualist, and he had a special spirit. For some reason I am still unclear on, the spirit was exceptionally powerful, but had no memory of its origins - until it re-entered the Mists. Recalling its true name and form, Rodgort tried to kill us all, even his Ritualist companion.
In the end, we defeated him. I passed out at this point, and when I woke we had been given an exit back to Tyria.
The Krytans were here when we returned, already in control of Fort Ranik - not even a day after the Grawl were thwarted!-"
This is where his story was interrupted.

OOC: Invitation for someone to clear up this 'unexplained part' to him

Brother Doug · Jun 03, 2006, 09:29 PM // 21:29

Relius still didn’t trust the mysterious necromancer. Although she had given him a substantial amount of information, something about her told him that wasn’t everything.
‘More interrogation won’t help now,’ the ritualist thought to himself. All he wanted at the time was to leave the Fort. As he walked, his thoughts drifted to his past: more specifically, to Rodgort.

He had heard noises outside of the academy that evening. Rumors of a strange figure stalking the jungles, killing anything it met. There were stories that it had already killed an entire temple of monks, and was quickly approaching the Luxon camp in the petrified forest. To increase Relius’ already high nerves, a tall figure suddenly appeared in his tent. He relaxed as he realized it was his mentor, Shang. Shang’s powers were unmatched by any ritualist in Cantha, and was respected throughout Luxon and Kurzick territory. Relius was said to be his best student, a title he was very proud of.

“Relius, if you have the time, I would like you to join me in my tent. The other masters and myself need to speak to you. Alone.”

Relius was suddenly very intrigued. The only time the masters spoke with a student was when they had Seen something in their future. It could be anything: fame, glory, power, even death. The masters were never allowed to discuss their visions with anyone aside from themselves. The only thing Relius knew was that his would now be considered important. He followed quickly behind master Shang and into his rather large tent. He overheard some of the other masters speaking a he came in.

“-if it ever recalls who it once was, the results could be- ah! Greetings, master Shang. Greetings, Relius. You have arrived just on time. You are to be assigned a spirit.”
“Assigned a spirit?” Relius questioned. “How can it follow me with the chains of servitude attached?”
“This,” one of the other masters, master Kai, replied, “is a special case. Your spirit shall be unbound.”

Instantly, Relius leaped back. An unbound spirit was the most dangerous type; not even the masters were allowed to keep one of their spirits unbound! Surely this spirit would kill him whenever it got the chance. Kai, sensing his fear, spoke up.

“Calm yourself. Under the proper circumstances, this spirit shall never harm anyone which you do not wish to be harmed, including yourself. Yet keep this in mind, Relius: always surround yourself by people with a good heart. Our vision has shown that you shall journey to far away lands with very…different…people. But this is vital: never allow this spirit to be surrounded by someone with dark intent. If so- well, I’m sure that would never happen with you.”

The old master’s words from so long ago now rang clearly in Relius’ head: “Never allow this spirit to be surrounded by someone with dark intent.” His eyes flicked to the necromancer nervously. She had stated good intentions, yet Relius was still wary of this newcomer. She had also mentioned something about Ristaron; something he knew that nobody else did. Relius had grown to trust his once-believed enemy, yet this new information was unnerving. It might have been some trick to try and break the group apart, or Ristaron may not know anything at all. Yes, that must be the reason, he thought to himself.

But if not, then what on earth wasn’t the mountainfolk telling him?

Goats17 · Jun 03, 2006, 11:54 PM // 23:54

(OOC:I know that my last post was a while ago, I'm going to try to get something up by tonight, if not....Friday. I'm in quebec for the next little while.)

Richmuel · Jun 12, 2006, 06:28 PM // 18:28

Sasha looked back towards the fort, her intriquately carved staff gripped firmly in her hand she pushed down on the ground and chanted a well known spell amongst Necromancers. A flash of green expelled itself from her eyes and thw wind seemed to pick up if only slightly. The dust around Sasha's ankles danced around as the chant picked up.

Before long Sasha was staring deep into the eyes of a spirit. It was not a nice sight, rotting flesh still clung to its bones. An eerie yellow glow was emitted from the sentients eyes. The spirit was joined by several companions that towered high above Sasha. Looking at her own companions it was evident that they could not see what took place, for Sasha was currently participating in an ancient necrotic ritual which called upon the spirits of the slain in that area to aid her. Sasha needed information and if the answers to her quest did not lie in her companions maybe those who walked before her had the answers.

Surveying the scenes of varying ghouls and dead nothing struck her as out of the ordinary. Your usual armies and guards who had died or fallen defending the gates of Ranik, yet as Sasha looked again, there was one that looked as if she recognised him. Looking at the creatures refined features she noticed something that did set it apart from the rest, it had features of a mountainfolk. But what was baffling is that a mountainfolk had not been seen in these parts for decades before Ristaron arrived a few weeks ago. Looking onwards she noticed behind the mountainfolk a spiritbinder, a pitfighter and shockingly a necromancer that struck fear deep in her heart.

Sasha pulled her staff up and the beings dissapeared in an instant blinding flash. Panting and breathing heavily Sasha sat down. She had seen a necromancer she recognised, herself. Maybe not herself but someone strikingly similar, maybe a lost ancestor. Unable to understand, it was obvious she had seen a group similar to her own, yet the ritual could only go back in time, not forwards, for the future had not yet been written. Either history was repeating itself or something dark was at work. Sasha knew her past, but maybe if she knew something that linked all the companions pasts together, perhaps they could find out what had braught them together. The first step to this was finding out why the pit fighter had saught after Ristaron.

Goats17 · Jun 13, 2006, 01:13 AM // 01:13

(OOC: Ok, so I lied. I was a little more busy than I thought. But I have a good excuse! I swear!)

Kratos stared as the Quartet wandered off into the forest, and wished that he was with them. He knew however, that it was not best to force his companionship on Greysen. He had learned that on the road.

As he wandered around town, he heard a bit of a commotion up some stairs. As he wandered up, not truly expecting trouble, he heard the clash of steel-on-steel. And his friends Goats yelling for help. He also heard the voice of a Krytan guild officer that he had heard before. Kratos began to run up the steps, but it was too late. The Krytan had already stabbed Kratos' friend. He ran forward and tried to attack the Krytan, But something inside him stopped Kratos in his tracks. Maybe it was the fact that the Krytan was so much bigger than him. Or maybe, it was the insignia on his arm, proclaiming him to outrank Kratos in the order of the Mursaat, and in the Necrotic order by atleast 3 ranks. He couldn't attack him, he could only do what was necessary, and inform Dornath of what had happened.

Later, as they talked about what a great friend Goats had been, Kratos felt a presence that he hadn’t felt since his years at the Academy of the Mursaat. A presence of another student of great power. Maybe not of his masters, but of ones of similar power. Necrotic power. He told Dornath to stay, and went to find the source of all the power. As he walked the streets of the Krytan held fort, gazing with contempt at the Krytans there, he searched for the source of all the power. Up in a room in one of the many Kings’ Inn, he found it. A great dark power, feeling colder with every step, he marched towards the room. Suddenly, the flow of energy was cut off. And Kratos was left standing in the hallway, listening for the sound, or sniffing out the candles. Anything that might lead him to the room where the ritual had taken place. He picked up a scent faster than he had expected, and it led him straight to the room. He opened the door slowly, and watched a female necromancer reel about in shock on the floor. He stood by the door and waited for her to finish, he would wait as long as it took.

Ristaron · Jun 13, 2006, 02:53 AM // 02:53

OOC: Richmuel... you're a genius. I love the intrigue and paradox your post suggests!
And Goats, excellent touch on how you sought her out, and especially on the twist with the Mursaat.
The Order of the Mursaat must be rather elite, given that even some of the White Mantle didn't know the Mursaat as anything aside from 'The Unseen Gods'...
I have to admit, though... the insignia would be conspicuous... especially if you see it in more than one place. Unless it's a rather inconspicuous but easily identifiable mark that only members would know...

This story is gaining a lot of depth.

Brother Doug · Jun 13, 2006, 12:35 PM // 12:35

OOC: Wow. Great posts here, guys. I definitely agree with Ristaron, the story's getting deeper. I'm just posting to say that I'm back. I...er...can't really think of anything to post on Relius right now. Gimmie some time.