Legend of the Crimson Lotus (IC)

Kai didn't want to dwell on thoughts of hopelessness. He had to focus on getting to Wurd, find out what was happening...

Easier said than done, damn it. He needed to talk to someone, keep himself sane.

Nas wasn't panicking. That...that worried him. What the fuck did that stupid gem do?!

...Fuck. Keep it together, Kai.

He noticed the warrior riding behind him. "Oi. 'Heim. I need a distraction. And Tib's background noise isn't just cutting it today. ....What are your thoughts on this?"

"Hey Tib! Play that one you played the other day! The one about a really strong guy or something!" Al called out, shouldering his pack. He shifted around, adjusting its weight, then when he was satisfied with it he went over to where Kai and Strongheim where, to get some insight on Nasako's condition.

Commander Alvaine seemed extremely distraught at this new development. That wasn't good. He always had a somewhat weaker spot for his sister. That was plain as day. Al could respect that.

"I won't say anything new, but it spells trouble." Strongheim spoke quietly, giving a small nod to Al as he rode to them. "I'm not sure what foul magicks are involved into this, but I fear that someone is actively looking for such a peculiar gem, particularly if it latches itself to people and speaks to them. Upon discovering that it's in your sister's possession they will give chase."

edited 27th Aug '14 4:27:20 AM by FergardStratoavis

Kai nodded at Al as well, before listening to Strongheim's response.

When the older warrior finished talking, Kai snorted. "Thanks for the words of comfort 'Heim."

"...Way to make me feel better. Eh, it's probably better to be honest." he grumbled.

At that moment, a sound was heard by the entire band. A very recognizable sound.

A horn.

The Battle-Horn of the United Empire of Artina.

"Shit!" Kai cursed, instinctively reaching for the large sword strapped to his back.

He breathed deeply to calm himself. "Keep moving! They might not be after us! Don't look suspicious! Keep moving!" he called out to the others.

Wistful thinking, probably, but there was still a slim chance. Fucking Imps. As if things weren't fucked up enough.

Katze Dashcurser

"I've heard stories about things like this happening to humans," Katze interrupted, burping quietly as she yawned. "Usually elves were involved. Lots of abduction stories, y'know? Cloak-and-dagger paramilitary shit, like some sorta magic superweapon R&D. 'Course, they usually involved lots of probing and I may or may not have heard most of them at bars, so take what I say with a *yawn* grain of salt here."

Katze didn't have a particularly high opinion of her own people. Being in the military, she'd seen the best and worst of Eltaria, and it had been a pretty sobering reminder that for all their talk, elves could be just as shitty as humans, if not more. It really wasn't that hard for her to see them doing something like this if they got desperate or curious enough. The big questions were why Nas, why now, why here, and was probing really involved?

"Not saying this happened, but are you sure no one with scary machines or rubber gloves got all grabby-grabby with you before you got that shiner, Nas?"

Then she heard the battle horns of the Imperials. She groaned.

edited 27th Aug '14 5:01:53 AM by KSPAM

"Argh" groaned the small girl leaning against the tree, something has awoken her from her sweet slumber, and she certainly did not like it.

"Kai calm the hell down damn." She mumbled to herself as she struggled to support herself without the tree to keep her balanced. Looking upwards and immidately getting nearly blinded, but eventually adjusting to it.

"Oh well, at least it was a decent nap." She surveyed the group to look for someone to chat with, she always carried her stuff with her anyways so there was no need to pack her own things., she didn't like having her weapons anywhere but a bag on her back, her hands or her back itself.

She grabbed giant bag and put it on her back and walked towards Sanguine.

"Hello sister who are we punishing toda-Oh hi John. I totally didn't expect to see you with the sister again." She said dryly. "So what did you do this time huh? Steal someone's things? Flirt with Kai's sister? both?"

As the horn sounded Cadell stared at their leader and turned back to Sanguine.

"What happened while I was asleep? Captain's bein' suspiciously nervous."

edited 27th Aug '14 5:43:16 AM by LiorVal

A warhorn.

Al kept his hand ready to pull out his sword. It was better to be ready than not, safe than sorry. If need be he could cast some Sunlight Doubles to protect himself.

He had no idea the possible side-effects of using light magic excessively. Luckily for him, he didn't usually use it too often, preferring to just use his sword and reserving magic for difficult enemies. His teacher never bothered to tell him how his affinity would consume him.

The sound of the horn had Nasako pulling out an arrow and her bow in an instant.

"Oh, this is marvelous," she murmured, keeping her ears sharp for any outside movements.

"I'm admittedly a bad comforter, but sometimes truth is more important than pleasantries, as much as it might hurt." Strongheim responded, looking away. "I'm certain however that we will be able to find the remedy for this predicament, be it in the town we're heading to or elsewhere."

And then the familiar horn announced the presence of all too familiar figures of Imperials. The warrior from Longslund frowned as he made sure both Atlas and his shield are ready to draw and use. Alvaine's command was simple enough, but Strongheim was doubtful such a colorful bunch they were would even be able to not look suspicious. Regardless, he rode just past the Commander. Upon hearing Cadell's question he merely shook his head. "Long story, little one. Once we're away from danger there will be time for further explaining."

A young woman with a gargantuan battle axe slung over her back pricked up her ears at the sound of the warhorn. "Shit."

Armelia Gilreath clambered to her feet. She had been so bloody comfortable sitting on the ground that it took her a few seconds to realize the gravity of the situation. She raced into line with her comrades. "Kai, how many of them? We can handle quite a bit, I think, but there's a limit to what even a group like ours can do."

edited 27th Aug '14 1:27:34 PM by daird

"Keep quiet." Brand repeated to Armelia, fastening his headband over the "R" on his forehead. If the Imperials even glimpsed the letter seared on his face, they'd attack the Red Dragons for harboring an Imperial fugitive. He kept pace beside and a bit behind Kai, keeping his head down and waiting for the first sign of violence from the Imperials. If they attacked, he would unleash his power on the scum.

"Don't attack before they do." He said, more to himself than to the others. He knew most of them had the common sense not to provoke Imperials, but Brand wasn't one to trust his own instincts. After all, that was half the reason there were marks all over his body.

edited 27th Aug '14 2:19:06 PM by Insano

"Excellent choice!" Cheered Tiberius as he began playing the requested song. Halfway through the tune, Tiberius was interrupted by the sound of Imperial warhorns. Deciding that it would be in his best interests to prepare for any potential battles, Tiberius ceased performing and drew his axe.

"It does seem quite unnatural doesn't it?" Annia said simply as the wagon continued on down the road.

Then came the Imperial war horns.

Imperials... Now? Damn them...

Annia gripped her lance tightly, ready to impale an Imperial with extreme prejudice if they needed to fight.

The Sister flushed slightly as she curled her hands into fists, her sharpened nails digging into her palms. "That is none of your concern..." She muttered under her breath before shaking her head. "I do not believe Kai would appreciate us putting his sister's life in such a man's care...no matter his track record." She said with a sigh. She turned to Cadell and gave her a soft smile. "We aren't punishing anyone today, there is no reason to. And we are supposed to be moving out soon, something happened with the captain's sister..."

Later

Imperials...oh no... She thought to herself as she heard the horns, she saw Brand cover himself and made to do something quite similar to that, she could only hope there were no members from the churches in this group as she kept her head down and avoided looking up at the imperials for now.

edited 27th Aug '14 5:50:06 PM by RomanianInquisitor

Nasako had to keep taking some deep breaths—she was liable to get fidgety otherwise. Imperials in the Line were never good news for them. There was a reason why Kai, and their parents before them, kept to the neutral territories, and had their hard no-war rule. So to hear their horns in the middle of Belandi…

She'd been one of the first to break the rumors of possible surrender to Kai, after one of her scouting runs. A part of her was still hoping that wasn't the case.

"Calm down, you bastards! Try not to look like you're itching for a fight!" snarled Kai, even though that was the last thing he wanted to do.

"Nas, stay in the fucking wagon. Brand! Get in too."

Damn it...where were they..better to get this over with.

And there they were. The imperials emerged from the forest, blocking their path.

It was a small squad, Kai counted seven men. They were dressed in the typical armor of an Imperial grunt, so they weren't all that high up...

Except that one mook with the red cape. A sergeant. And he was riding a goddamn monster. Literally. A Behemoth. The thing looked sort of like a bull, if a bull had razor sharp teeth, claws, purple skin and a tail that ended in spikes.

Kai vaguely wondered if the Sarge was a Control Spellweaver.

Sarge was holding some sort of mirror- a magic device, no doubt.

Sarge looked at the band like they were dirt. Kai wanted to punch him.

"Hand over the Lotus." Sarge demanded coldly.

Kai's blood froze. Fuck.

"I have no idea what that is, sir" Kai lied, injecting lots of sarcasm into that last word.

John waved off the Sister's explanation. "Yeah, yeah, save the excuses. I've heard them all before. I probably invented some of them myself." He turned and walked off. "Anyway this has been...enlightening. But I have idiots to swindle before we move out."

Imperials

John had slipped off the wagon as soon as he head the imperial horns. He slunk into the forest and moved swiftly through the foliage until arriving slightly a head of their baggage train. The half-elf quickly scribbled down a note: ''Wating on you -J" which he tied to one of his knives and threw it, impacting a tree near Kai's head. Message delivered the thief quickly moved to a new spot in case ambush was necessary.

Annia held her lance up as she listened closely to what was going on. "Why don't you Imperial bastards get the hell out of Belandi?" She said softly to herself, scowling behind her helm.

Just when I thought it couldn't get worse... Armelia mused. How the fuck had the Empire figured out Nas had the damn ruby so soon? She slowly allowed her hand to creep back towards Blackedge. If things ended up going south, she'd have to draw it as soon as possible.

No, that wasn't the right move here. If we're smart, we can get out of this without any bloodshed. She moved towards a wagon, cramming herself into the seat.

edited 27th Aug '14 6:38:31 PM by daird

Brand did as he was told and climbed into the wagon with Nasako before the Imperials caught up to the wagon train. He a moment to glance at the squad that was surrounding the team once he got in. Their number was actually a bit fewer than the Red Dragons' roster, but the sergeant's presence seemed to be the counterweight to the Imperials' numeric disadvantage.

The marked Imperial kept his head down and glanced at the soldiers through his peripheral vision, waiting for any signal to attack or defend. He breathed deeply, preparing to gather the Prana he would need for a spell aimed the Sergeant and his steed.

edited 27th Aug '14 6:48:12 PM by Insano

Nasako definitely felt her heart begin to race at that sergeant's command. And when cautiously looking through the curtain on the wagon's front window—yeah, that was definitely a nasty-looking Behemoth he was riding.

"By the fucking Void," hissed Nasako. Even if she had a Black Arrow on hand, she was pretty sure that it wouldn't work; there was no way that beast wasn't being Controlled too tightly for her to break it.

Katze Dashcurser

Katze whistled. A Behemoth, here of all places. And under Imperial control. Nicely done, she thought, not entirely dedicated to either sarcasm or genuine appreciation for their work. Even I'm not drunk and stupid enough to try something like this.

Behemoths were nasty things. She knew from firsthand experience, having hunted a few of them before herself. Actually just two. Both times in a party, with heavy casualties. They really shouldn't have ticked off the juvenile's momma. Moral of the story is, fighting another one wasn't an experience she was eager to repeat.

"Lotus?" she asked. "What's that?"

Despite Kai's orders, Alshain kept his hand on his sword's pommel, but in a sort of passive stance. He would be ready to draw and fight within a matter of seconds if anything went badly.

That Behemoth was something unnatural, probably some poor creature magicked to hell and back, or at least thats what Al believed. He couldn't believe something like that could possibly be natural.

Now the Lotus. Wasn't that some kind of flower? Why would this general come with his little platoon for a flower? It had to be a codename for something. Alshain was used to that sort of thing by now.

"Don't lie, sellsword." scoffed Sarge in his stupid-ass Imperial accent. Kai really wanted to punch him.

"I. Don't. Know. What. You. Assholes. Are. Saying." Kai spat out, resisting the urge to just draw his sword right now.

"Lying to the Imperial Army is a grave offense. And you are lying." Sarge held up his mirror thing.

"We've been tracking the Lotus's magic signature for weeks. And this points straight at you."

Ah. So that's what that was.

Kai continued playing dumb. "This isn't the Empire, bitch. You have no authority."

Sarge chuckled. "Belandi is as good as ours. But back to the point. The Lotus. Now."

"We don't have it!"

"....This is getting us nowhere. Do you have any idea what it is? It has the power to change the world! ....I grow tired of this. Search them! Kill those who resist!"

Sarge's squad drew their weapons.

Kai smiled grimly. He should have known this would end this way.

.....The power to change the world? Bah. He had other things to worry about. Like keeping everyone alive.

"J! Now!" he ordered, freeing his sword.

John had been sitting on a branch above the leader, having used the conversation as a distraction for his movements. Now the thief dropped down towards the Sargent, butterfly swords drawn and aiming for the Imperial's neck. "You talk to much!" He yelled to no one in particular as he descended.