On a bright, misty morning just outside Mysteria, a cowled figure trudged along the highway in a teal cloak, covered in brown flecks unlikely to be dirt. Weeds growing along the road wilted to shades of brown as it passed by. Ahead a row of maple trees arched over the path and it paused before going under them. The figure reached past its cloak with a black-gloved hand and removed a rust-red bag of powder. It muttered something while tracing a glowing rune on the bag's surface, then threw it into the canopy which bursts into flame, tree branches burning into gray ash and smoke over the course of a minute. From the cowl a man's voice came mocking, "I refuse to let you reach Einheit while the gods gather, hedgewitch. You know the guard will never let the likes of us past, it's best to give up."
As he strode across the ash-covered road he missed the whirlybirds, maple-seeds that had been caught in the fire's updraft now fell towards him. Too late to respond, he watched as they sliced into him, one cutting so far as to take a finger, not realizing he was outside his body until it started moving without him, now that Tenny now possessed it.
Her creaking voice answered his unspoken question, "What's that Krait? I can't hear whatcher tryin' to say." She snickered while plucking out the maple-seeds while she walked off the road and among the trees. "I don't know why ya keep tryin' so hard." She leaned against a large tree, taking off a long left-boot to reveal a hastily forged piece of scrap metal where a foot should have been. "I'll find a way ta be rid of ye soon enough." Taking a firm grip on it she yanked out the offending metal in two pulls, it hobbled around on its own trying to stomp on her other foot until she knocked it out of range with a branch. Then she pushed her stumpy leg into the trunk of a tree, drawing out a firmly attached wooden foot, nearly human in form. She repeated the process with the missing finger, several teeth, and an ear.
Before long she walking back the way she'd come, returning to Mysteria, passing by the gates seemingly unmolested, and odder still, unquestioned. But she wasn't one to look a gift nag in the mouth and ripped away one of their many Wanted! posters, before she headed for the marketplace to sell all of Krait's tools and buy the materials she'd need to make her own. Again. She assumed the rumor of runes and shards flying about the stalls had piqued Krait's interest, so she was all the more smug in exaggerating her apathy. "Terrible rune-related magical deaths ye say? How awful, I'll take these 'shrooms... what? No, I don't care. Here's yer coin, good morn'." The shopping took what was left of the morning, and after dropping off her supplies at the Inn she had rented a room for a fortnight, much of day that followed was spent in a fruitless search for soul-destroying magic.
After the fifth ambush, she was beginning to think that all those in the black-market who knew the spells she sought also knew the arcane value of a twin-soul wight. While the trumped up bounty wasn't beyond her ability to pay, every magic-using criminal she could find seemed greed-bound into going for two prizes at once. She'd gotten so used to the inevitable betrayals that the only thing that surprised her today was nearing too close to a fence's golem, which allowed the disembodied Krait to send after her. Fortunately the meeting happened in the undercity tunnels, allowing her to bind it with roots as she made her escape.
Giving up as the sun began its descent from the sky, Tenny returned to the Inn.
EDIT: revision
edited 25th Sep '14 2:15:59 PM by justanid
The Fantabulous
Zia Fahan weaved through the market's meager crowds and traveling carts, perusing the many stalls with a stern but tired expression. This grumpy demeanor was well practiced though in truth it was more to keep the people from getting too close - even after so many years away from the solitude of Dead Men Isles so many gave her an anxious feeling. Better they think she was angry than nervous, besides she didn't feel like dealing with their coughs and bruises just right now. The Eastern looking healer made her way to the town's only bakery, stopping just outside for a moment and taking a breath before stepping quietly inside, hand on her rubāb through the satchel.
The baker was chatting to greasy looking man she could smell from the door, probably one of the pig-farmers. The bell by the door rang as she entered, gaining their attention though the other customer rudely chose to lean back on the counter. "Morning." She said curtly, pushing disgusting man lightly to the side and generally ignoring him even as he yelped in protest, "Do you have my order?" Zia inquired, the baker nodding a ducking behind a shelf of labelled trays as the farmer sneered, "I thought you Eastern girls were meant to be all polite-like..." She rolled her eyes, "My god - the pig speaks!" She said mockingly, not her most witty quip but she somewhat doubted he was the kind to get sophisticated humor. The baker gave him a look that seemed to quell any distasteful reaction, the girl taking her pre-paid package with thanks and exiting.
Zia looked down as she tucked the package into her satchel, heading towards one of the fruit stalls when she crashed head-first into a frail looking man. "By the - Watch it, you damn moron!" She scolded without thinking, falling back into the dirt with a thud. Her bag had spilled its contents into the street, "Just fantastic..." With a few less than pleasant words under her breath the healer rolled up her sleeves, her mark now clearly visible and hastily refilled the bag, checking that her instrument was undamaged.
“Isn't it enough to see that a garden is beautiful without having to believe that there are fairies at the bottom of it too?”
insert commentary here
Note: Adalbrect implies that Ignace is in his disguise
"Here's my fee," Adalbrect said cheerfully to the portly innkeeper. Walking out before she could acknowledge this, he sighed in relief. Ignace could finally get to work. Weaving through the streets, ignoring the screams of the people trying to deal with his client's experiment, he walked out the city gates. It would be a long way to the capital, Ignace thought as he looked at the grassy plains.
He heard mummers. Every night from the tavern he heard them speak, to each other, about each other, at each other. On slow nights it was the only entertainment he had. He'd listen to how Venus was cheating on his husband with a Elven servant, or how Edward lost his families money gambling. Not all of it was as entertaining. Every now and then he'd hear news of how someones missing daughter turned up, no longer breathing. How someone drunkenly picked a fight with someone who was marked, or was willing to use magic to a lethal degree and wouldn't be returning to the tavern.
Ironically the worst sound to hear in a tavern is silence. It means that someone has disappeared, it means the tavern is mourning, it means someone is on the run, and the guard will want him to go looking for them. He is a bounty hunter. One of the best in fact. His serpentine physiology has given him the most impressive and frightening tracking skills of any bounty hunter living in the city at the moment. Once he picks up a scent, he can follow it for days at a time. Orochian has been living in the city for 7 years, making a living the only way he knew how. Using his tongue. This last case promised to take him to the limit.
After 3 weeks of tracking in the wilderness and 3 days of fighting, he finally subdued the man he'd been asked too this morning. An unrepentant rapist and murderer, unfortunately when all was said and done he only had nothing to return with except for the murder weapon. The body was destroyed, devoured by snakes. The weapon was a pair of rather expensive looking daggers. Both matching, the handles blood red, unlike any other grips he'd seen before. The blades were recently sharpened, and unusually narrow. They're snake fangs, he thought to himself. It must have been a sign, these were meant to replace the dull blades he'd been forced to use regularly. The hunt wouldn't have been 3 weeks long if he had better blades to fight with. The man wouldn't have had a chance to use a single rune if the blades were sharp enough to pierce his armor. He thought to himself. He decided he'd keep them, however this would leave him in an awkward position. If he kept the daggers, he would have nothing to return to the guard. He would not be paid for his trouble. Truly a dilemma.
Arriving in the Barracks he approached the guard captain, but before he could speak the Guard Captain would interrupt him.
"You there, beastkin! What are you still doing here? There's a fire at that treacherous necromancers shop! Why are you still here?" The guard captain wasn't the amiable sort, but even he knew Orochian had a bounty to turn in. However there might have been a way to keep my new toys and get enough to reimburse his losses. He made a bluff.
"Of course, so then, that'd be 200 Ains for me to do whatever you want me to do at the Necromancers establishment" The Guard captain stopped in his tracks, and turned only to glare at Orochian, as if to test his resolve. Orochian was deadly serious however.
"If you drag that Necromancer from the ruins, alive, I'll pay 300." The guard captain said. Truly this was a serious matter. Orochian has learned from bitter experience that trying to drag Guard Captain Oric from his provisions was akin to trying to push a mountain with only your hands... while they were cut from your body. Oric never upsold himself in the six in a half years Orochian had known him. When he came to the tavern and they had a drink, he'd actually make Orochian pay. Even if Orochian didn't get anything to drink
"Can you repeat that guard captain?" Orochian inquired.
"If you manage to drag that necromancer from the ruins of the shop he undoubtedly destroyed himself through his foul magics, I will bloody pay you an extra 100 Ains." Now Orochian was scared. What the hell happened in the city in the past 23 days he was gone that the necromancer was working on, could get the guard captain to be this worried.
"I accept." Orochian answered before turning away and making his way to leave the barracks.
"This undoubtedly had something to do with the Divine gathering, it couldn't be anything else." Orochian thought. "Oric the suspicious individual he is probably believes the necromancer is going to make a play for divine power."
Orochian had no illusions that the necromancer had a checkered past, he was however, less suspicious of him then others were. Particularly because he is often the subject of suspicion in town as well. Mythologically speaking, the snake isn't a good animal to be associated with, never mind be.
"That's not all, there's a rouge Maiwhea out there too, you bring him in you get paid the 300."
"Bastard" Orochian thought to himself, knowing he had just been fooled by the Guard Captain, and he wasn't as desperate as he originally thought, he was getting two bounties for half price. Orochian took off toward the necromancers shop.
edited 23rd Sep '14 11:08:25 PM by SilentlyHonest
Iron Father
On the streets of Einheit, amongst the bustling crowds, a young man who looked like he belonged on the farm back home looked up from the map he was studying. Eyes hidden behind glasses opened in surprise, "hmm, a fire, that could be interesting."
Shoving the map away in a pocket, the man known as Johann Oxenhandlersson journeyed to the source of the smoke, hoping something exciting would come of it.
edited 23rd Sep '14 11:03:37 PM by jashinsapostle
The flesh is weak!
The Prince of Foolish Relevations
Things were going quite well earlier in the morning, the ritual even moving along easily. Then there was the sudden explosion, hurling both guards away from the stairs leading to the basement. The first guard, an adult woman covered with scars, got up to see the visage of a screeching salamander-like creature drenching the entire building with flames. Looking down at her unconscious younger compatriot, she lifted the girl up before getting her out of the building.
The framework of the Spell Nexus crumbling as the fire spreads more and more, the guard yells for the civilians to leave. Laying her friend onto a bench, the guard unsheathes her sword. "Can't say I wasn't expecting this. Fire's kind of an odd choice though..." Barely dodging a jet of flame, the guard looks back at the building. The salamander creature emerging from the burning building with fire billowing out from its back, the guard sighs. "Oh, this isn't going to be easy... Just got to delay it so help can arrive." With that she pulls her shield from her back, holding it out in front of her.
The city of magic, where nothing is strange because everything there is. When the eldest prince left sixteen years ago, Prince Taylor was the king's only successor. Though, while Taylor was doubted to ascend to the throne, the King surprised his advisers by trusting his loyal son. When he became King, or as he prefers Lord, he came down on crime harsher than his father did. What little crime remains in Mysteria are those hiding in the shadows, refusing to attract guards to them.
Then came the mysterious new serial killer, and the gates thrown open so he could take out the wandering criminals. With this he hopes to draw out the killer, or at least be recognized as a hero for capturing elusive criminals. The results of this yet to be clear, the Guard has nevertheless increased their patrols. Though they still failed to intercept the serial killer, with another young man dead in an inn. Investigators from the Guard having arrived a few minutes ago, the crime scene is still being analyzed before the body is dealt with.
Looking down at the woman that bumped into him, the figure never saw Easterners before and was confused by her appearance. Upon noticing the Mark, however, the figure straightened up. "Sorry, I was lost in thought. Would you mind help taking that bag wherever it is you're going?" The voice, while notably raspy, comes off kind enough. Its the faint smell coming from his body that would make people suspicious however, with the subdued movement not helping. Looking down at the apple in his left hand, the figure speaks "Would you like to have this apple?"
The sounds of the town dying down the further behind it becomes, the Frozenspine Mountain in turns becomes easier to make out. People coming and going as the road is traveled, a fourteen year old girl has been quietly following Adalbrect shortly after leaving the port city. Face covered by a mask stylized off cats and dressed with body concealing clothes, erratically switching between hopping & simple walking.
"The Omniverse is the collection of all possibilities, and all possibilities must eventually come to pass."
While most the guards were distracted with the investigation, the two nearby panicked as their riot-golem started strangling a civilian out of nowhere. They did everything they could to pry the overdressed stranger free, with little effect, and were fearing the worst when the body went limp. The other guards rushed joined the first two, trying to figure out what had happened, when the golem suddenly released it's victim into a crumpled pile on the floorboards. Fortunately the stranger was alive as he curled into a fetal position with a low moan.
"Uhhhh... by the gods, when was that thing last seen by a proper Golemcrafter? I could have died!" Krait lied, hand massaging his stiff neck. "Why are you guards even here? All I wanted to do was get some rest!" He was helped onto his feet and over to a chair. "If explanations are not forthcoming, I will be writing a strongly worded letter to your superiors."
edited 25th Sep '14 3:00:38 PM by justanid
Iron Father
Johann watched screaming people flee away from where he was heading, so naturally that's where he wanted to go. He leaned up against a pillar across from the source of the smoke, watching some sort of guard square up to fight what resembled a salamander.
Carefully, he unslung his pack, and took off his travelling cloak. Underneath he wore a longsleeved grey shirt and a leather vest. His hand were hidden beneath black gloves with metal studs on the knuckles. Fishing his axe out of his pack, and pulling his falchion free from its scabbard, he calmly walked over to take a position next to the guardswoman, " looks like you could use a hand."
The flesh is weak!
The Fantabulous
"Lost in thought? Somehow I find that unlikely..." The flustered healer scoffed, picking herself up out of the dirt and dusting off her pants, "I managed to carry it here, I think I can handle a little extra weight back and probably faster without a nitwit on my heels." Zia added, insults being her first answer to most things - in reality, aside from slightly bruised pride, she was fine and knew she probably should have been looking herself. Finally looking over the raspy man properly she immediately felt guilty for being so... uncouth. He smelt like death and his movement did not speak of health to say the least - it was obvious to her he was very ill but nevertheless maintained a courteous attitude most rarely bothered with. "Ah."
Zia stared for a moment, both at the man and his apple, as if considering something. She noted he also was a little taken aback her, perhaps having seen her mark or her Eastern-like looks. If a man that ill wanted to carry something for a woman who just verbally abused him, he was after something important. "However, I could use someone to carry a bag of apples... and nitwits do make interesting conversation, at times." She said, finally with a wry smirk and a meaningful look. Zia quickly walked to the stall and bought a small bag of apples, thrusting it towards the sick man upon her return, "This way." The healer would begin to walk out of the town once, or if, he took them.
A bit out into the wilderness she stopped abruptly and turned to face the man, crossing her arms, "So, you're going to tell me why you smell like a dead pig, yes?" Zia inquired bluntly though, despite the rudeness of the question, her expression suggested it was not intended maliciously.
edited 29th Sep '14 4:34:23 PM by Lt.BGob
“Isn't it enough to see that a garden is beautiful without having to believe that there are fairies at the bottom of it too?”
The flaming Salamander towered above the Guards and Johann, his back burning, smoke pluming from his nostrils. Orochian had assumed that the store was on fire due to the magics inside having some kind of violent reaction, he was not prepared for giant flaming Salamander. He was not equipped with any runes of freezing because of his... obvious aversion to them, no matter how useful they would have been. He turned his eyes toward the Guardsmen standing against the behemoth clearly Zena, a woman he'd worked both for and against on occasion with another laid out on a bench... Sera he believed, her 'lover' what he would call them when he playfully teased both woman when he saw them together on duty.
The third party, he'd seen around town but had never had any interaction with. Had he been in the tavern before? His scent would say yes, however if he had it wasn't to socialize. Orochian had sent out several small garter snakes to when he arrived, to gauge the situation and for recon, he learned that the salamanders back while dangerously on fire was unguarded and he was too focused on the two in front of him to pay attention to an attack to the back of the head, an attack that if successful would undoubtedly bring him down.
Orochian brought out his new Daggers, his fangs, and made his way to the tallest neighboring building that was still standing. And began scaling it digging the fangs into the wall and pulling him self up, using his snakes on hand as support hoping that if he was to fall that his snakes would still fare well. His scaled skin began to change color to match the wall as if to camouflage into it to avoid being seen.
edited 26th Sep '14 10:57:26 AM by SilentlyHonest
insert commentary here
Flipping through the notebook as Ignace walked on the road, he read all the hastily scribbled information that his client had extracted from Adalbrect. He tried not to think about what happened to him. He heard a rustle. What was it? He saw someone, that was for sure, but who was it? Further looking was interrupted by the shout of his disguise's name. "Hey, Adalbrect, is that you?" The rider was tall, his verdant robe flapping in the wind. Panicking, Ignace changed back into his disguise and tried to resist the urge to run.
"So where are you headed to this time?"
"Wait, who are you again?"
"Typical Adalbrect, forgetting his own friends, getting caught by his magic and stuff. I'm Jeronim, how hard is it to remember?"
"Oh, yeah. Anyway, are you riding to Einheit?"
"What? Oh, I'm going to Frozenspine Mountain. Want to come? You might see Winona . . ."
"Well . . " Jeronim, not waiting for an answer, dragged him up onto the answer before Adalbrect could say something and began riding to the mountain. The girl followed.
The Prince of Foolish Relevations
Looking at the traveler, Zena playfully scoffs. "Against that thing? Don't insult me, be it mundane, magical or mechanical a Guard can handle anything. Though I certainly won't mind a distraction." With that said, the Salamander roars skyward before slamming down its front limbs launching a wave of flame at Zena & Johann. Sniffing the air, it suddenly calls out with mangled words "Kill all!" Opening its mouth, a beam of fire shoots out as it turns in a circle. Nearby buildings now caught on fire, the salamander screeches.
Standing up straight, one of the first guards speaks. "Sorry about the golem, its core must of been damaged rather recently. We run regular check-ups, so that's the only reason it would of assaulted you." Stepping back as an older guard approaches, the older one looks the figure over. Tilting her neck side to side, she spoke gruffly "You're clearly an outsider, though rather surprising you haven't heard about the killer. Some time last night a young male traveler was killed, with the body discovered by staff not long ago. You wouldn't have happened to see or hear anything last night would you?"
Having taken the apples and quietly following, he was surprised when she called him out on his smell. Looking away, several seconds pass before the figure speaks up. "I've been cursed by an evil being, and thus I've been searching for someone to help me." Before he could speak more, someone calls from the distance. From the town approaches a rather speedy woman, with an exhausted man following behind her. Once the woman approaches the two, she speaks. "Hey, is one of you the local healer? My husband and I heard one lived out here. Our child got hurt on our way to this town, so we wanted someone to heal her."
Snow always falling down on the towns surrounding the base of the Frozenspine Mountain, the small number of residents is made up by all the travelers coming to it. Whether they're there to climb the mountain or simply see this "snow" thing for themselves, there's not a quiet day. Especially when one realizes Goddess Winona makes her home at the mountain's peak, often coming down to see the travelers.
Though as night begins to fall and no sight of Winona, both travelers & residents become disappointed. To think the all loving Goddess didn't want to come down was saddening to those expecting her, its not like- "When the snow falls to the earth, they become one." Looking up at the mountain when that angelic voice spoke, the white haired Goddess of Ice slides down to the town. "Sorry I'm late, there was trouble with the town on the other side. Masked villains tried to kidnap a young Marked girl, so I helped. I hope I didn't worry anyone."
"The Omniverse is the collection of all possibilities, and all possibilities must eventually come to pass."
"Did you happen to see or hear anything last night?" The guard's frown had grown.
"Not here and I have friends to prove it at the Tipsy Unicornfish... or was it the Cockerel On Coconut? Maybe both. They are on the other side of town. I think. I have a poor recollection of—"
"And the day before? Do you recollect seeing anyone go into or out of the room next to yours?"
"Not that I remember... perhaps... well, I did see a maiden enter to clean, but that is all."
The guard didn't say anything for a minute. "Don't leave town. We may need to ask you some questions."
"Not a problem, you can find me here most afternoons if you have need of me. I plan to be here in Mysteria well past the time gods' gathering has ended." The floorboards around Krait lost some of their color as he spoke, the once new pine-wood soon looked like it had been there for centuries.
"Would it be any trouble to gain entry to my room? I have some belongings I require access to. Obviously I have no plans to sleep there until my neighbor has... moved out."
The guard shrugged with a look of indifference, making him sign a statement about seeing the maid before he could enter the hall, passing the golem at guard with a feigned shudder.
Barring the door behind him, he tied a rope around a vase of fresh flowers that writhed about, tossing them out a small window before they had a chance to attack. Next to be removed were the various squirming... things Tenny had stuffed into their chest cavity that once housed his tools, he made use of the vase and left them in a corner. He'd have to buy more tools. Again. He contemplated removing the wooden body-parts Tenny had made, but left them alone as they seemed dead enough.
With a slight hiss of air, Krait pulled the doppelganger mask from his face, revealing something broken, stitched, and scarred beyond recognition. He caught sight of it in the small wall-mirror over a wash-bucket and jumped as he always did, seeming never used to that... thing... he was staring out of. Checking the runes keeping the quasi-living mask from decaying, he cleaned and replaced it with a sigh of relief as his original face became visible.
Briefly checking to make sure nothing was out of place and grabbing a small coin-purse from a hidden stash, he locked his room behind him with a brief nod to the guards. Krait then left the hotel, bought another tool-set, and set about finding more information about these mysterious deaths; listening to the rumors spread about in the pubs and clubs of Mysteria; learning about the theories and conjectures in some of the mage guildhalls open to the public; and even bribing his two underworld contacts for information.
Iron Father
Johann scoffed, "right, I'll just leave you to this then, being a distraction doesn't suit me." before the guard could retort, the salamander unleashed it's fire attack. Johann managed to dodge most of it, but the tail of his cloak had caught fire.
The flesh is weak!
The Fantabulous
Zia didn't waver her gaze from the frail figure as she waited for his response, he clearly being uncomfortable or perhaps cautious of telling her. It wouldn't be the first time someone had been reluctant to share their ailments even to a healer, usually because of infections associated with certain activities considered 'deviant'. That, or injuries to similarly embarrassing regions. Frankly, the prudishness of some people in these parts was amusing though she had enough decorum to restrain any laughter, "I've been cursed by an evil being, and thus I've been searching for someone to help me." The man said, finally. The healer wasn't sure what he meant by an 'evil being', "An evil curse?" She muttered when they were interrupted by voices in the distance.
"Hey, is one of you the local healer? My husband and I heard one lived out here. Our child got hurt on our way to this town, so we wanted someone to heal her." It was a woman, followed by an out of breath man.
"I may well be..." Zia began cautiously, looking over her travel companion's shoulders, "But it comes at a price. Where is this child and what's wrong with it?" She gave the man holding her apples an almost apologetic look and wondered briefly what his name was. "If you're up to it, you can tag along... I'm guessing the help you need may take a little more time and effort." The marked woman offered before walking up to the worried couple, "I trust you haven't forgotten the way to your child?"
“Isn't it enough to see that a garden is beautiful without having to believe that there are fairies at the bottom of it too?”
insert commentary here
Reaching the town, Jeronim insisted on giving Adalbrect the full tour. " . . . And over there is the market plaza! Enjoying it so far?"
"Yeah." He was reviewing on what Jeronim was in the hastily scribbled margins of the notebook. Apparently, he was some elf who wandered the world, writing stuff in a journal. They became friends when both had tried to buy the same relic. He was freezing and kind of wished that he wasn't dragged here. The snow crunched behind him. "Whaa-" Oh, it was just Jeronim. But he could have sworn it was that girl. "So are you ready to see Winona or are you ready to see Winona!" Grasping him again like the past few days, dragging him to the main area, where they saw her float high into the sky and leave. "Oh, well that's a shame. Can't believe I actually saw her!"
"I knew you'd be happy. Why don't you stay for one night?" "Fine."
"Geez, you already want to get on the road? There's going to be a really rough blizzard." "I just want to get to Einheit before the Gathering."
Both went back to the inn where the girl perched on the stones was watching them through the translucent windows.
The buildings were now a blaze, however fire never bothered Orochian before, however the people in the buildings might present a problem. If he didn't save them it would prove, problematic, and he would likely be charged for standing by when he could have done, something, to save them. At the very least he would be on less friendly terms with the guards.
He crawled through one of the windows to start saving anyone in the building, at the very least the building he was in.
With a loud thud, two large metal doors close shut after an adult male. His left eye covered with a white eyepatch, his green eye wanders in search. "Looking for me?" Hearing the cheerful voice, he sets his sights on a silver haired young man wearing the symbol of the Bloodied Rose Chain. Pulling back a bit as he examines the boy's false cheer, he clears his throat before speaking. "I'm Ulric, and I've come about the package." The boy's face curling into a smirk, his blue eyes seem to glisten as he bows a little to Ulric. Turning to look down the hallway, he motions for Ulric to follow.
Passing by rooms filled with Rose Chain members and blood red banners, the boy's smile increases as Ulric becomes annoyed. Opening a closed door to reveal a set of downward stairs, the boy asks teasingly "Does your eye still hurt Ricky?" His right eye focusing on the boy's neck, Ulric scoffs as they head down the stairs. "Like you would understand anyways, ignorant child." Simply laughing softly at that, the silver haired boy motions for Ulric to stop. His eyes going over different doors and pathways, he speaks rather subdued. "The package is through the second door on the left, and we've been careful."
Stepping through the door alone, Ulric examines the room. Bound and chained to the wall, a little girl sleeps. Barring the iridescent wing marked on her right cheek, nothing about her stands out. Walking up to her to undo the chains, she begins to stir as Ulric gets her onto her legs. Her head turning about as she tries to understand what's going on, Ulric's hand goes into his left pocket. Pulling out a small bag, he tosses it to the boy. Catching it and looking over at Ulric, he speaks. "Someday I got to find out how an ex-Maiwhae has so much Ain to give away." The boy's hands having gone into his pockets as he quietly watches Ulric and the girl, the man rolls his eye as he leaves. "See you the next time your people collect a Marked for us Zane Richardson, perhaps during the Divine Gathering next month?"
His eyes following them as they go up the stairs, they narrow in disdain. "The Divine Gathering... There'll be no champions as the Gods fall. That'll include you and your group, can't let you get in our way. Though make all the toys you want, they'll serve our purposes well." Looking down at the shadows by his feet, Zane calls out as he heads up the stairs. "Continue reconnaissance pet, and you will be rewarded once I say you're done." Once the door above became shut, the shadows formerly by Zane's feet sink into the floor.
***
"-and that's why Tina is no longer allowed to visit the weapons vault. Her brother was right annoyed having to explain to King Siegfried why the hole was there." Laying back in a black chair, an armored guardsman looks forwards at a brown skinned fellow. The other standing with an imposing figure and quiet demeanor, he doesn't even look at the guard. Sighing and getting out of the chair, the guard speaks annoyed. "Come on, don't you say anything at all? I get the whole 'serving Sahara' thing, but this quiet is bugging me!" The quiet man's eyes looking in the guard's direction, he doesn't respond as he continues to look at the entrance.
That's when an explosion sounds in the background, the quiet man already at the nearest window to see a burning building in the distance. The guard behind him, surprised, presses a button underneath the desk he was at. He then rushes down the hall, arriving at the Captain's room. Several guards already leaving the room in a hurry, the Captain looks at the latest arrival. "Kittan, I already sent people to check out the fire. Surely we don't need to discuss again why you won't handle such matters?" The guard looking away in shame, the Captain tilts his neck side-to-side before pulling out a piece of metal parchment.
"We've received news of a rogue Maiwhae wandering about the city recently, and Tinkerer has already given us a picture of the assumed Maiwhae. However he doesn't seem to have done much, so I would like you to add this to the board. He doesn't possess magic of any kind or special technology, so do bring that up should a bounty hunter demand more." Grabbing the metal parchment from the Captain, the guard speaks once more. "Was the building that exploded the... Necromancer's shop? Some have been wondering if the Necromancer has been making evil Humonculi behind our backs."
His blue eyes looking at the guard, the Captain scoffs at him. "The Necromancer only lives because our late King allowed it in exchange for producing magical trinkets and the occasional Art. Siegfried only follows his father's decree because he believes the Necromancer won't betray us. Though given the amulets the guards stationed there aren't lighting up my board anymore, I'm certain Spell Nexus has been attacked. If that's all, please stop wasting my time."
***
"Have you heard?" "About what?" "Apparently someone's been killing young men in Mysteria." "That's horrible, is there any idea who or why?" "Well each corpse supposedly has rune-covered shards stabbed into their chests, so likely some madman's experiment. The Guard hasn't disclosed anything else though, probably to make the mage doubt their experiment's success." "But wouldn't the mage just keep killing until they're certain their experiment works?" "Quiet down you two, we don't need rumors being spread about."
Quieting down due to the guard, she looks over the line of people wanting to enter the city. "Sigh... How many of these people are just here for power? Goddess Kinetic might approve, but its becoming rather clear people can't be trusted with magic. Makes me wonder if it'll go away someday..." Straightening her figure, another guard comes up to her. "Lord Taylor just sent us a command, he wants us to let in anyone that approaches the gate." Surprised by the command, she replies. "Why would Lord Taylor want us to be indiscriminate about who enters? Any number of monsters and villains could get in." "Hey, he's our lord, can't disobey him after all. He clearly has to have a plan though, his father never would of made him successor if he was an idiot."
Grumbling, the first guard watches as the second turns to address the crowd. "Attention everyone, due to commands from Lord Taylor, we won't be inspecting anyone else today. Please enter through the gate as orderly as possible, and remember that any transgressions committed will get you imprisoned. Our lord wishes you a happy stay in his city, so do respect the city."
***
Filled with activity as farmers cart about their produce, purchase livestock and more, a small gathering of people is thus in the town's center. Though moving through the town is a fully cloaked figure, breathing roughly as if suffering in the lungs. Looking about in search of something, the figure approaches a stall selling apples. The operators, an aging woman and her granddaughter, look at the figure with the younger speaking up. "Greetings sir, if you don't mind me saying, you look a bit skinny. Would you be interested in buying some apples? Grandma and I use Earth Magic on the soil, so they're-" Interrupting the girl, the figure speaks in a raspy voice "I'm afraid apples won't help me. I heard there's a Cureforger near this town?"
Frowning at being interrupted, the girl looks away annoyed as her grandmother answers. "I haven't met her myself, but she lives in the wilds just outside the town. Villagers often go to her, but some say she's simply a skilled medic than a Cureforger. If you don't mind my asking, what is your condition?" The figure looking side to side, he leans in closer before speaking again. "I've been cursed with a decaying yet living body, hoping I could find a Cureforger to escort me to Lagoon." The girl looking back at the figure with curiosity now, the old woman briefly considers the information. "You should not mention it to any others, a Succubus was here recently and killed a young male. The villagers are still a bit on edge, sure to attack you if they see your true visage."
Raising his head in interest, his right hand goes into his cloak to pull out a single Ain. "Sorry for taking up your time, I'll buy one of those apples to make up." Handing her the Ain and taking an apple, the figure turns to walk away before stopping. Looking back at the girl, the figure speaks once more. "Do you have any idea why the Succubus was here? I was an adventurer before my curse." Shaking her head sideways, the figure starts to walk away before she speaks up "I heard the Succubus ran into the wilderness, near the part a Beastkin dwells." Giving a faint impression of a smile, the figure nods his head in thanks before walking away.
***
Built thirty years ago and positioned there to cut down on sailing time, it has since become a major trading port with the East Continent. Though while efforts are made to teach the Easterners about the West, more often than not people only care about Eastern goods. While the latest ship has brought about new Eastern clothing, a Necromancer from the Dead Man Isles had got onto it. Having hired a Doppelganger to assassinate an Einheit Noble, the Necromancer went on ahead.
"Hey, did you notice the Easterners?" Inside an inn, a group of travelers look over at a table with Easterners. "Yeah, so what? They're just Easterners, pretty sure they're the same people I brought my new coat from though." "Sorry, probably should of explained... I was out last night, and overheard a group of Easterners. No idea what they said, but their tone and appearance made it seem like something bad happened." "Probably just one of their women sneaking on board." "Come on, you really believe in those rumors of the Easterners oppressing their women?" "Well, every time I visit one of those traders who look at me surprised, yes I do."
The two standing up as they're about to argue more, a large thud resounds throughout the air. Looking out the window to see a giant, squishy tentacled thing, the leader of the group sighs. "Seriously, what do those tentacle monsters want up here? Think we're food for it or something? I wish Lagoon would just kill all the damn things already..." Placing his hand on his sword's hilt, the mage holds out her staff. "So should we help people evacuate or provide aid in killing the thing?" "Evacuate first, then kill. Sound good?" "Yeah, sound good to me." With that the group of travelers calmly walk out of the inn as individuals run away from the giant fleshy monster.
edited 23rd Sep '14 5:04:20 PM by Kkutwar
"The Omniverse is the collection of all possibilities, and all possibilities must eventually come to pass."