525 replies to this topic

[Opie]

((ooc this is gonna be hard, one minute i'm ready to go to Silver wizard's room, the next it's morning? alright we'll try.))
Opie looks out at the lightm thinking about how they are going to get into Silverwizards room without breaking the door down, when he realizes that he still hasn't seen mantis in a while. "I'm going to go outside, my spell is wearing off on me anyways, i'm not that great at spell casting on myself. Blaster will last alot longer than i will anyways. If anything goes wrong, I'll know"

Blaster, looking somewhat frightened at the thought of fighting without Opie in a fairly large battle of spellcasters asks "Where.. where are you going?"

Opie, smiling at the thought of Blaster being scared answers him in baby talk "OOH, is wittle Bwaster afwaid of the big bad magician? Can't handwe it without big stwong Opie?"

"i hate it when you do that."

"I know."
Opie walks out of the Inne and into the street to talk to Mantis, the person who taught him everything he knows, but also left him to die.

Edited by Opie, 08 April 2004 - 02:17 AM.

[green_mantis]

"Hello Opie." Mantis said somewhat annoyed at the current state of things. "You must tell me of how it is that you came to Karfendale, and at such an opportune time I might add." Mantis noticed his tail creeping out from under his cloak and made a slight flourish while sheathing Oathen to distract from him pulling his tail back under his cloak with his free hand.

[Bract]

“Grrr…!” Bract rumbles beneath his breath. This smells like a trap... This isn’t the fight...Elwin, the source, that’s the fight I’m interested in...

Alright, but I’m not charging in there head-long. Let’s see what else is out here.

He gently spurs Dusk forward, and, quietly, they walk the tree line around the town (only around to the opposite side).

Aladar reached out with his mind, and telepathically launched a single word to Bract's mind... DIVERSION.

"Grrr!" Spellcasters...
Fine!

Reaching the city gates on the opposite side of town that they arrived at, he spurs Dusk into a charge, straight to the town square. "Yah!" Dusk bolts forward with impressive speed, unwavering in her path to the fight. They don’t hesitate for anything; those that don’t move get knocked out of the way. As they approach the dense crowd surrounding the square, Bract springs up placing his feet in the saddle, ready to jump. Just as Dusk plants her hooves to stop from smashing into the crowd, Bract flings several small objects into the air and promptly leaps into the air himself unleashing a gut-wrenching
“RRRROOOOAAAARRAAAHH!”
As he sails over the crowd of villagers, he draws, and releases, the sword over his right shoulder, letting it float in the air just ahead of him. As he begins to descend, the objects he threw strike the ground inside the square, sparking and expelling a smoke screen. He lands in a full crouch amid the smoke, left hand extended back to the hilt of the other sword; the first sword clanging to the ground about eight feet in front of him.

After a moment, he looks up, still in the crouch in which he landed, through the smoke to the ‘giant’ soldier. “Kahn.” He says with a maniacal grin. “You aren’t here on the King’s orders; what is this, a private crusade of your own to abuse the helpless?” he growls accusingly.

“Remember me?” he says in a haunting whisper.
“I told you long ago; you’ll find salvation or it’ll find you – Come, I have your salvation...” he says to the giant, unmoved from the very spot he landed.

In the background Dusk forces her way through the crowd, attempting to kick and/or bite any that may try to stop her.

Edited by Bract, 08 April 2004 - 08:04 AM.

[Deval]

The monolith of a man swung towards Bract brandishing his giant club, his primitive eyes widening a little in recognition of Bract. With a lisp and in a barely cohearant tongue it rumbles "Braaasht is to be shuishy when Kahn maked go squish, why come back to go squishy again?", followed by a rich rumbling that could only be the beast laughing. "Carm squish Braaasht, me make more of you to be squish", he finishes, waving his club threateningly, clearly mocking Bract.

((Braaasht is Khans best attempt to say Bract))

-------------------------------------------

Ulantees, observing, one moment the town square full of angry voices and the sobbing of women, the next, out of nowhere a giant black figure with an almost canine figure crouched upon it's back comes lurching out of nowhere, vaulting itself from the saddle, then lost in the ensuing smoke. Startled at first, Ulantees soon after hears the unmistakable rumbling tone of Bract, and seizing the moment, he takes advantage of the commoners panic, he begins to cry. "FLEE! DRAW BACK! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!" With townspeople fleeing in every direction he catches the last of Bracts words, establishing that combat was about to take place. Finally releasing Moonblood from it's confinement, it's steel blade scraping against the opening of the seath, creating a sound like that of the night breeze caressing the silver kissed tree tops under a well ripened moon. Half circling around the vicinity he scans once again for Aladar, cursing him for his cunning, placing himself in a position where he may better aid Bract. Hearing Bract speaking again he moves closer to the source of the sound, yet leaving himself enough room to avoid any flailing weapons. As the smoke begins to lighten he see's vague figures of 6 men, blades drawn and coughing, shouting angrily and closing on Bracts position. Running again, Ulantees places himself between the men and where he believes Bract to be. "Bract, I have your rear covered, I trust you also have mine." With that he brings both hands to bear on Moonblood. Silent, unmoving, paced breath, the very image of composure, he waits for his first assailant, and the wretched souls unavoidable demise.

[Charon]

"Come then retributioner" he sneered to the ruins "Bring your revenge"

"Then you can die like the rest of your people"

Elwin continued to glare at the darkening sky, his mood darkened along with it. As the sun settled down over the horizon, the dieing red light illuminated his tower, staining his face the colour of blood as it illuminated his ever-harshening features. His jaw grew tighter the longer the thought of the threat he had received. The more he thought of Ulantees... the more he wanted to send his troops running in the direction of that pitiful city in the hope that the fool would still be in the area

He had watched as the falconer had come and taken that magnificent bird away. He almost wished he could send it back to Ulantees with the same thirst for blood it had had when it attacked him.

He touched his hand to his cheek. The blood had long stopped flowing but the mark remained. As the darkness swept over the land before his view he re-entered his abode, cursing softly to himself.

--

Elwin shifted uncomfortably in his bed... how long had it been since he slept? He didn't know. The King never slept... how long had it been? The unwelcome images flashed through his mind bringing pained tears to his eyes as they always. Memories of the past...

His brother grinning from ear to ear at the prospect of duelling the prodigy Ulantees, a prodigy rumoured to be so great his name was known throughout the cities of the realm, as Selos' own name was. The warriors’ pact the two of them had sworn before that duel began... how different the ending had been from and that should have come of the fight.
Selos as he collapsed forwards, gleaming sword driven painfully through his chest, blood pouring from the wound and running along the blade...
"You have... a good arm…" he'd rasped to Ulantees, now towering above him, before coughing up blood.
"Brother!" Elwin had cried in tormented rage as Selos had crumpled lifelessly to the floor. The tears tainted Elwin's face as he stared numbly at the sight in the battlefield, stared numbly at his brothers pained last breaths... and he had turned that gaze on Ulantees, seething with rage. His throat was closed with tears, but no threats he could have vocalised would have done as much justice to his emotion as that one seething stare. Then... Then he had made his choice

The King turned in the darkness as the wind whistled past his ears, bringing with it the tainted whispers of a time past... the whispers of the palace court, the Aides to his parents. The people in the streets. All those whispers... all those mysteries...


"Never make it"
"Never meant to lose"
"Elwin... can't take his place"
"..too weak... for a ruler"
"Weak of body weak of mind" someone had taunted young Elwin
"Brother was a failure..."
"Selos... to be King"
"Never going... ruler"
"Has not the power... keep... the land"
"Ulantees... bought us low"

"Never again" Elwin hissed softly "Never again shall that treasoner cut down my line. He survived at my leisure the first time, and that second time whatever star watched over him during the fires of Gromberg protected him unnecessarily. If he throws away his life to me in some futile attempt at vengeance..." he sneered, "When he is the Traitor... when he killed my brother" he memories forced themselves back to his mind

"Ulantees is a great swordsman" Selos had chimed "If I can beat him, I truly prove myself. It’s a friendly fight. I accept the outcome"
"Friendly fight?" Elwin had never understood the terms his brother used. The idea of a fight of any kind being 'friendly' seemed foolish to him
"Honourable" Selos had knelt down to look at Elwin "An Honourable fight. Between two warriors who respect each other"

"He had no Respect" the King spat as he paced "Noone was meant to die. Noone was meant to die"

"I accept the outcome"

"No!" Elwin's mind screamed against the rationalisation "The traitor had no honour. He didn't control himself. He slaughtered my brother. He deserved everything that came upon him"

"Everything" the wind whispered as it whipped his cloak around him "They all deserve everything"

"Yes" Elwin murmured as he sat on his bed... The King grinned, his eyes alight with the grim fires of rage as he remembered the look on Ulantees' face when he had had that dear wife of his, that sweet homely wife die before his eyes and dragged away... even denied to him in her death. And his daughter... ah yes, the daughter...

"Is that what you feel I require 'retribution' for Ulantees?" he sneered, savouring the memories of the revenge he'd begun against the traitor before turning him into the world in his agony, left him to live a life of suffering when he deserved not the release nor the peace death would have granted him

"You have felt nothing of my rage yet 'Retributioner' Nothing. You do not yet know the fate of one who tries to bring me low. You tricked my brother with your smiles and led him to his death, but he was a fool. My parents may have favoured him for the throne, I may have loved him dearly, but he was a fool. He believed in your honour and there was no honour in you Ulantees" he fingered the blade lightly "This blade thirsts for your blood Ulantees. This blade shall be what finally grants you death now that you are foolish enough to challenge me again. All it will require is the smallest cut, and for Selos... for my brother I shall watch you die, in hour after hour of agony"

"I shall play upon your pasts and see every last one of those memories play out in your mind, awakened by the shadows of this palace until you beg me for mercy. Twisted by the fabrics of fate that stand by my side, every last torment shall last an eternity for you... just for you Retributioner" he spat, face cloaked in cold shadow as he whispered to himself "You deserved all you got. I am the Retributioner, and you are the one who shall fall. You, and anyone else who tries to stand against me"

"Traitors" the wind whispered "Like Ulantees. Like Steven. They'll bring the destruction. They'll destroy it all"

"Only if I do not destroy them first" he whispered back as the shadows swirled around him. The sun was due to rise. He was certain.
He never slept... he knew when the sun would rise. Donning his royal garb once again he emerged from his room, turned his dark and sleepless eyes upon one of his ever-alert guards

"Is Galeb still here? Make sure his demands for his warriors have been met. I demand he leave on his mission as soon as he awakens. He said he knew where they resided... he wants to slaughter the rebel scum? Let him slaughter them all before their influence spreads any further"

"Yes m'Lord" the guard bowed before walking coolly away to check the arrangements

"I'll stop them,” Elwin murmured to himself as he stared after the soldier "I'll stop them all. Rebel scum... None of them shall destroy my Kingdom. I'll show them all that I have the power to keep this Kingdom safe"

He looked around, catching a glimpse of himself in the mirror... a threatening imposing figure. His eyes glowered back at him, danger seeping from that gaze as he smiled softly... dangerously... but softly. Satisfied, he moved back silently back through the corridoors, thoughts playing through his mind with the now silent whispers of the wind.

--

((ooc: I am painfully aware of the fact that Elwin's timeframe is hovering somewhat awkwardly between the time frame of the Dancing Wolf and the timeframe of our 'Travellers'. I am aware of this. Please... pretend I am not ^^))

Edited by Charon, 08 April 2004 - 02:38 PM.

[Opie]

Opie Smiles while glancing at Mantis's sword. "You always could see right through me. I've been following you for quite some time, though Blaster didn't realise it. He never has been to big on thinking ahead. Although, " Opie's smile fades "I can also see through you in a way. I've been folowing you for so long, that i've learned a few things. I seem to be remembering a certain... transformation, that has occurred once, or twice, or nightly while I've been following you. You think I didn't just notice that tail of yours? I may be young and inexperienced, but i'm not stupid."

[Silverwizard]

Silverwizard's wards detect Opie and Blaster's attempts to probe the door, they did not blast them off their feet and wake Silverwizard simply because there was no acctual attempt to break in though Silverwizard is aware of who and what they were doing. He wakes, stretches, casts his day time spells, which will allow him to stay rested even if he must over exert, and protect him from minor attack. Then he goes out, sets a sizeable purse on the counter of the Dancing Wolf and asks for a decent breakfast. During this time he watches Blaster and Opie closely.

((I am avoiding currency issues this time, also I do not think the time frame should have been sped up, I was looking forward to something happening that night.))

[Opie]

((ooc yeah i wanted something to happen, but all thanks to mantis. stupid mantis. Lol, jk, u know i don't mean anything bad by that, right?))

Blaster watches as the spellcaster leaves his room, and does nothing. (What's wrong with me? i've wanted a fight for so long, now without Opie, i'm i'm... Scared?)
(No, i'm not scared, i'm a dwarf. We dont get scared, we fight)

[Bean]

Aladar was startled to a gaped mouth stance as bract's diversion ensued.

Now THAT was a diversion!!

He did however, quickly regain his composure. Even with the ensueing panic, the massive brute was still holding the young lady... That had to be changed. Aladar reached behind his belt a slipped a very small throwing dagger from within it. He balanced the dagger on the tip of his finger, and with one swift movement almost too fast to be seen, he tossed the dagger into the air, caught it at the apex of its flight and hurled it with all his might at the brute. He had hit his mark, the dagger had gone sailing into the mans wrist, causing him to let go of the young woman. She ran like the devil himself was chasing her.

"Good girl" Aladar thought to himself. He then strode with utmost confidence towards the 6 men, pulling the magical sword Othiem from its sheath with a slight whisper of steel on steel.

"By the grace of Kran tal, you WILL NOT harm these people" Aladar shouted these words with the full force of the magic he could weave into his voice, setting two of the weaker men shivering. Also sending another two into a killing frenzy. Two soldier whirled around to the source of the voice and came running straight at Aladar.

"AAIIIIIIIIIIIII" Screamed the first man as he struck out with his pike at Aladar. In a blinding flash of movement the tip of the mans pike struck Aladar's shield, and in the next moment a flash of steel had cut the tip from the shaft. The soldier stepped back in surprise, and in the moment another downward slash brought the man to his knees. Out of the blinding movements Aladar came, thrusting his Sword down into the mans chest. The second soldier Wavered for a second, and pulled a short sword from his belt. He hurled his pike through the air at Aladar, and at the same time charged with his short sword raised.

"Fool" Aladar mumbled under his breath, and with another blindingly fast move caught the mans pike. Continueing with the already massive momentum, Aladar twirled in a circle with the pike in hand. As the tip of the pike was faced towards the man Aladar let it fly. Striking the man in the chest the pike impaled the man, He dropped to his knees a look of surprise written on his face. Aladar walked towards the man, and swung his sword in a horizontal swipe. The mans head fell to the ground beside him, and his body toppled sideways still impaled by the pike.

They know my strength now, Next time I will not be able to surprise them... Now is your time Ulantees

"Fools, did you honestly think you could murder these innocent people, and not feel the wrath of a paladins blade" Aladar continued to antagonize the remaining men, hoping to drive them into another careless killing frenzy.

((Hmmm.... Was that good? I dunno if I painted the picture of combat quite well... Oh well. The last four are for Ulantees, and Bract. Swing away! ))

[Squee]

Alex smiled as he tossed his night cap behind the bar. He pulled out a bottle of clear liquid, took a hearty sip then set the liquor back into the bar almost in one motion.

"...Breakfast?" he said groggily.
"Lorenzo's cooking that up as we speak. Sausages, eggs and a bit of fresh bacon," he bragged, covering his mouth for a small yawn.

"...Oh, e-excuse me...I-If you want, I can go and pick some fruit for freshly squeezed juice. It's really no trouble!" he finished with a wide grin.

"...Oh...and don't worry about paying me," Alex said as he tossed the purse back to Silverwizard.

"Breakfast comes free with a room...it's my policy."

[Silverwizard]

((Well firstly, I liked your style but you kinda seemed to be god-modding as you were controlling both characters. This will not be the case in more important combat but do remember that you cannot always call your shots.))

[Bean]

((they were soldiers, and no one was controlling them so no god-modding was going on. If someone HAD have been controlling the characters It would have been a different story.))

[Silverwizard]

((Sorry I meant that your style seemed almost god-modding not was god-modding, just reminding everyone (including you but also any one who is new to RP that reads that as their first example of combat) that you cannot say where the shot hits and wether or not it does))

[Bean]

((UNLESS your fighting someone that no one is role playing. In which case you have poetic license to do what you please *Making it at least a little bit believable*. I guarantee you the fight would have taken too long if someone was playing the soldiers... Which is why no one was, Squee didnt really want a fight scene, but I needed it to show off some of my characters skills. Hence the reason no one is playing the soldiers. Hope I cleared that up.))

Edited by Bean, 08 April 2004 - 11:55 PM.

[Bract]

Bract springs back with unnatural speed, easily avoiding the clumsy swing of Kahn’s club. The club having barely cleared the space between them, and again Bract springs off the ground, but forward this time. He flies into the air straight over the giants left shoulder; unseen by most, his sword drawn in the leap and drug behind as he passes Kahn’s neck (attempting to sever his head).

He hits the ground in a tumble behind the monolith figure, raising with both swords in hand, facing Kahn from behind.

[green_mantis]

"Ahh yes." Mantis says with a sigh. "You always had a keen eye. Though I am curious as to why you have been following me. Could it have anything to do with what happened at the monastary before it was destroyed?" Mantis goes into a sort of reverie "I remember that day you know. I thought Elwin had all the Paladins slain, and I thought you were dead. I had left the monastary to go on patrol, but when we returned...when we returned...the monastary was under attack by Elwin's soldiers."

-------
Three years ago, from the eyes of a young not yet paladin: Othos

"An emmissary from the king comes," called one of the sentries from outside. "go and alert Lord Carlos."
Othos runs down the corridor to Lord Carlos' chamber. "Lord Carlos." Othos said breathlessly, "An emmissary from the king arrives."
"An emmissary from the king?" Lord Carlos looked confused for a moment. "How many footmen are with this emmissary squire?"
"I hadn't thought to ask the sentries...Why?"
"I fear the king's little errand boy has succeded on his mission. The king never liked us paladins." A worried look comes to Lord Carlos' face. "Squire, I want you to alert all the paladins inside the monastary to prepare for a battle within our walls."
"What!" Othos nearly falls over "The king surely would not attack righteous folk such as us!?"
"If he has any backing other than god's he would..."
"You fear that he has some demonic backing now?"
"I fear that the artifact he sent his servant to find has corrupted him. Now he seeks to prove its potency against us. They will not stop until they have killed us all. Now go! Tell the others to prepare themselves."
"Yes M'lord." Othos says as he scrambles out of the chamber and procedes to alert the others. Othos just reaches the end of the corridor to warn the sentries in time to hear them command the advancing army to turn around or face retribution.
The two solid oak doors explode in a flash of sorcerous energy, blowing Othos back twenty feet with shards of the doors iron bindings protruding from his chest.
Othos lies in a pool of ever growing blood and on either side of him lie the sentries, their bodies destroyed by the sorcerer's fireball.
Paladins flooded the corridor as the king's men rush in the door. The battle that ensues claims one paladin for every ten of the kings soldiers that were slain, but the paladins, despite their bravery and zeal were sorely outnumbered. The paladins were pushed back into the ruling chambers and on the dais, surrounded by his fallen brethren and hundreds of fallen soldiers Lord Carlos fell.
Outside the monastary, a sorcerer collects his bag, filled to the brim with gems containing the souls of the fallen paladins. The sorcerer then rides off with his retinue to bring his bounty to King Elwin.
Mantis rides up with the patrollers to the monastary and they dash into Carlos' chambers.
"Oh, god...what happened here?" Mantis said as he surveyed the aftermath of the carnage of only a few minutes ago.
Mantis reaches down to check the paladins for any signs of life but stands bolt upright again after touching the first one. "They have only been dead for minutes. Prepare yourselves for combat."
Mantis and the other paladins draw their swords and procede to search the monastary for any survivors.
In the quarters they find one survivor Cat, Mantis' sister and fellow paladin, though still only a squire.
After a short embrace, Mantis asks Cat: "What happened here?"
"(sniff...)I was at weapons training when Othos ran down the corridor telling everyone to be ready for a battle. We gathered our armor and prepared for combat as he had said, but we didnt really think that we would be fighting within our own walls. So many...(sniff...)so many died in that corridor. Their souls still linger on this earth Mantis" Cat explains between sobs.
"How is that possible?" Mantis was clearly shocked.
"A foul sorcerer trapped their souls inside of gems, saying that they would be the appetizers for the king's blade."
"How did you escape harm?"
"I was captured, and a sorcerer cast a spell on me so I could not move from this spot or alert anyone to their trap."
"Their trap for who? They have killed everyone already." Mantis begins to look around.
"Their trap for you brother. I couldnt help it. I told them about every paladin here. It was like an icy hand reaching into my mind and forcing me to speak. You must flee brother!"
King Elwin's soldiers suddenly appear all around them, and the five paladins move to form a protective circle around Mantis and Cat.
"So sorry to cut your little sibling reunion short, but I must have that blade, and I am getting bored." A sorcerer calls from behind his men.
"Mantis do not let them get Oathen! If they do..."
"Enough of this!" With a wave of his hand Cat struggles for breath and her eyes roll up into her head as she falls from Mantis' arms. "Now! Give me that sword of yours and I will promise to send you to meet your sister."
Mantis eyes well with tears as he yells "NOOO! Cat! I will be lost without you!" Mantis falls to his knees cradling his sister's lifeless body in his arms.
"I tire of this. Men, kill them! Double pay for the man who brings me Mantis' sword!"
The soldiers rush the paladins who, though they fight valiantly, are surrounded, and eventually killed.
The soldiers crowd around Mantis, smiling with glee.
Mantis rises as he lays his sister down. "You men can leave if you value your lives. I will not follow you as I have work here to do, burying my brethren." Mantis looks about as the soldiers show no signs of considering his offer. "Fine." Mantis says as he wipes the tears and blood from his eyes. "You have all sealed your fate." Mantis' body begins an amazingly fast and violent transformation, changing from his human form into something obviously demonic.
The soldiers all cower in fear and try to run as Mantis embraces the full power of his demonic form. "Feel my wrath!" He yells as a blast of demonic energy destroys the entire countryside in a mile radius from the monastary, leaving only a small pathetic human in the very center with the rubble of a once great monastary.
---------
Back in the present

"I didn't think anyone had survived." Mantis confesses to Opie "You must tell me how it was you survived." A small tear of blood forms in Mantis' left eye as he was remembering.


((OCC: I like doing these flashbacks to help build my character. I would also like to apologize to the people i screwed up by advancing the day.))

[Deval]

--
(Bean is correct, it was well within his rights to control the actions/reactions and consequent deaths of the soldiers, as they were not player characters, and their role they play in the story having already been pre-discussed with myself.)
--

In a flash Kahn momentarily loses sight of of Bract, follwed quickly by a sharp stining across the right side of his massive neck. Slowly turning and touching his finger tips to the blood dribbling down his throat he chuckles, 'Yoo fink yoo little swordy make Kahn go dead?', with a roar of laughter he continues, 'it take more dan liddle bee schting to be making Kahn dead!' With an ear splitting roar he lunges at Bact, his left shoulder dropped bringing his club across himself in horizontal blow left to right with an upward curve, turning one full rotation with a slight jump to land thunderously on the ground.

(It will take some serious force to injure Kahns vital organs, as he is very solidly built, aswell as having extrememly thick skin.)

--

Three men stood ominously around Ulantees, sneering, ducking in and out quickly with their swords, testing Ulantees defences. Moving minimally, Ulantees does not focus on any single one of his opponents, grimly aware of the small circle around him. With a half hearted cry one of the soldiers lurched at Ulantees, not completely commiting himself to the attack. With an easy side step the man sweeps past Ulantees, followed by the solid thud of Moonbloods hilt striking him in the back of the head, causing him to cry in pain and topple to the ground. Aladars voice was heard momentarily a short distance away as the next two men were upon Ulantees, trying to take advantage of his now broken gaurd, leaping backward into a crouch to avoid a keen slash at his abdomen. Ulantees comes up turning a half circle with Moonblood slashing at the closing third soldiers neck, sending a spray of blood sideways as the steel ripped through the front half of his throat. Ulantees presses himself against the bleeding soldier as he pivots around him, using the gagging figure as a shield, throwing him forward onto the blade of the second assailant, entaging him. As the soldier attempts to free his blade from his companion, the initial assailant staggers to his feet and launches himself at Ulantees, cowardly throwing dirt in his eyes. Squinting as his eyes stung, Ulantees lurches forward impaling the careless soldier, one of his flailing clumsy fists striking Ulantees in the head. An explosion in his cranium reminds Ulantees of his current injury. Clutching his head as he reels with pain, he yanks Moonblood from its human incubator with his free arm. The last soldier, unable to free his sword from the corpse of his companion yanks a Kris Knife from his belt, crouching slightly, tossing his knife from hand to hand whilst shifting his weight from one foot to another. Realising that Moonblood lacked the speed he would require with a knived opponent, he makes a show of slicing clumsily with Moonblood, the blade embedding firmly into the dirt. The soldier leapt as Ulantees releases his right arm from the hilt of Moonblood, a solid backfist smashing into the side the soldiers jaw with a meaty crunch. Collapsing to the ground and spitting blood, Ulantees is upon him, driving Moonblood forcefully and violently directly down into the mans head, causing him to spasm momentarily before lying still.

Shaking his head to clear from it the intense pain, he squints into the smoke, trying to locate the remainders of Elwins men and his companions.

(( That leaves Kahn and one last soldier. ))

[Bract]

Tumbling again, Bract avoids the powerful swing of the giant’s club. As before, while the giant recovers from his outstretched lunge, Bract leaps high into the air, vaulting over the hunched-over brute, slicing again at his neck as he passes by, and landing in a crouch directly being him, he drags the other sword across the back of the giant’s knee. Then, flowing with the momentum of his acrobatics, he falls back into a roll, further distancing himself from the brute.

Insert: (( OOC: I keep forgetting to describe Bracts dual short swords; a matching pair of Wakisashi, received as a gift while in a far away land a couple of decades ago. They are the only weapon he carries. They are not magical, but are of superior craftsmanship and a one-of-a-kind alloy blend; giving them a keen, razor edge and nearly unbreakable durability. /OOC ))

----------------------------

The soldier, originally standing by Kahn’s side, assesses the situation with confidence: Rebel scum. Four on that one (Aladar), three surround the other (Ulantees), and Kahn can surely handle that little man (Bract). His scan of the scene brings him to a dark horse, now standing inside the square, stomping the ground, snorting, and jerking its head as if announcing an open challenge. His eyes widen slightly as he observes this spirited creature.

A bold animal...not like that sour’d nag ‘I’ have. Images of the skittish horse he now possesses recall in his mind; how it leers away from him, flinches when he shouts, always runs off when not securely tethered... (undoubtedly because of his frequent and cruel abuses to it) This beast will be much better; I can finally put that retched nag out of its misery. He thinks as he moves towards Dusk, adjusting the sword in his hand to be used attacking with the flat of the blade.

Seeing the approach of this arrogant soldier, Dusk becomes silent, titling her head down slightly, and squaring off with the opponent. They move slowly in a circle, just out of attack range, sizing up one another. They complete a full circle, and then there is a long pause as neither moves... Suddenly the Soldier confidently steps in to strike the horse on the head with the flat of his blade. Reacting with great speed, Dusk rears back on her hind legs, forcefully kicking the blade squarely with her front. Alarmed, the Soldier lurches back, barely keeping hold of his sword, grunting in agony as the force of the blow reverberates through the steel and into his hand, wrist, and arm.

Dusk, needing no more time to size-up her opponent, takes advantage of his surprise and lunges forward with all her might. Unable to prepare for the charge, the Soldier is struck square in the chest by the charging steed; sent flying off his feet nearly two yards through the air, and another yard skidding across the cobblestones.

Satisfied that she has proven her dominance over this man, Dusk resumes her stomping the ground, snorting, and head tossing as before the encounter.

The Soldier, rolling on the ground clutching his chest, writhing in pain, struggles for breath. Just as he believes he may pass out, he draws a huge, raspy breath. After taking several hacking breaths, he climbs to his hands and knees, again writhing in pain as he realizes some of his ribs have been cracked, or…broken. He chuckles, slightly, to himself as he acknowledges his error in underestimating this creature. It doesn’t matter though, between the nine of us – especially with Kahn – you will be mine. He tries to call out to his comrades, but finds he can only muster scratchy whispers.

My sword, where did it go? He begins to scan the ground around him, still on his hands and knees, only to find several peasants have moved to encircle him – and, his sword is nowhere to be seen.

Four of the village’s larger men have moved to surround Dusks fallen opponent. Each man around 6 ft. in height and of healthy build, gazing down at him angrily holding make-shift clubs and staves. Looking down without pity, the self-appointed leader of the group speaks in a shaky voice; “Coming here on the King’s business is one thing, but what you’ve done here tonight is inexcusable.” he adds in a whisper, “Unforgivable.” As the last word is spoken, all four men proceed to mercilessly beat the soldier.

Edited by Bract, 09 April 2004 - 08:27 PM.

[Squee]

((I take it all back. This fight is great! Keep it up. XD))

[Opie]

Opie shudders at the memory of that battle, though he had not acctually seen it.

"Well, it was acctually quite embarassing. You see, i had casted an enhance spell on a bunny! I was practicing you know, well, i didn't realise the kind of power i had, and well, lets just say that rabbit went bezerk. It took four pally's to fight it off. I was so scared of the punishment i was going to recieve, i hopped on my horse and ran. When i was about 2 miles out i nearly ran over a fairly large dwarf huffing and puffing along. Well, this just so happened to be my good buddy Blaster!"

Opie sits down, starting to become teary eyed.

"He was following a band of King Elwin's troops, thinking he might be able to help them, you know, him not being to bright he still thought they were good people. So i took him on my horse and we turned back, by the time i got back to the monastary, all i saw was rubble, and you, standing in the middle of it, unharmed. I thought it was you who had killed all of the paladins, so i swore my revenge. It was only recently that i realized that it wasn't you. And that was only because i remembered one thing."

A solitary tear runs down his cheek

"The time you put yourself in front of Cat when we were on the road being attcked by Goblins. You cared for her so much you would have died for her. I realised that there was no way you could have harmed her. You cared for her as much as I did, and I.. I... i never acctualy came out and said it to her, but, I loved her!"

At this, Opie breaks down completely and starts to cry. He muffles his his sobs in his bundled up cloak, but it hides nothing.

Meanwhile, Blaster moves up to the bar, pulls out his coin pouch and addresses Alex, being careful to keep an eye on Silverwizard.

"I don't suppose i could get in on some of that breakfast?"

He pats his rather large belly

"You know how dwarves are, if we drop too much weight than we feel like less of a man. I'm Blaster by the way."

((ooc, i'm not sure if that was god modding or not, but i have permission from him to do it.))

[Silverwizard]

Silverwizard looks at Narin across the room, e is begining to realise why Opie went into his room last night. He walks across the room to Narin, chuckling the whole while, "Narin, your not going to stop Sh'Hodmet, he wants to stop Sh'Gunloh as much as you do, no demon is going to destroy this plane."

Narin looks at Silverwizard as if he is insane, "Silverwizard, you are a disturbed being right now, I can help you get back to your glory, I can help you, you do not want my help I know, but you need it."

((OOC: I feel like I am casting Narin as a zealot, he is not really, he normally would not be like this to Silverwizard, he is just disturbed by his friend that he has journied with since the begining of time is possessed.))

[green_mantis]

"You always did have trouble controlling your spells." Mantis says to Opie. "Funny, how that would be what saved your life." Mantis allows himself a half-hearted chuckle. "The sun has risen, we should get some breakfast." Mantis says as he wipes the last of the tears and blood from his eyes. "I know you loved my sister, and it is for her sake that I continue on." Mantis' stomach growls. "Ahh, I must listen to myself, lets go get some food." Mantis walks back inside the Dancing wolf, and approaches the counter. "Alex, I have need of some food if there is any ready." He places two platinum coins on the counter. "I think that should suffice."

Edited by green_mantis, 10 April 2004 - 04:20 PM.

[Opie]

Opie smiles despite himself, something he's always been able to do. "yeah, I think i've left Blaster alone for long enough." Opie does the same as Mantis and wipes the tears from his eyes, he walks up to the counter to sit in between Blaster and Mantis and addresses Alex "i'm sorry, i'm sure you are very busy, but could you get me some food as well? Blaster will pay for both of us."
Blaster, still eyeing silverwizard is startled to hear Opie's voice, as he turns to look at Opie, he notices that his eyes are red. "What, were you lonely without me or something?"

[Squee]

Alex just sighed, hiding his smile.

"Can't you people read?" he said as he pointed above himself. Hanging from the roof swayed a wooden sign. 'Complimentary breakfast. First come, first serve.'

"Take all your money back, I don't want it. I don't even need it. Here, follow me," Alex said as he hopped over the bar-counter. He briskly began to walk down a hall-way, a little bounce in his step. Along the walls hung several trophy heads. Nothing spectacular but it gave the Inn a nice, secure feeling.

"Breakfast is supposed to start in about an hour from now...but I'll let you guys in first...just...save a bit for the other customers," he said with a loud chuckle.

At the end of the corridor were two, large, oak doors. With a heave, Alex pushed them inwards, revealing a large room. Rows and rows of tables, chairs and plates. At the very far end of the room, stood a burley man. Atop his head sat a white chef's hat. He smiled warmly at the new comers, stroking the stubbelled hair on his chin.

"Lorenzo! These boys are gonna take their fill now before everyone else arrives!" Alex yelled as he snapped his fingers twice.

Lorenzo just grunted as he scratched his back and adjusted his grease-stained apron.

"...Well, dig in boys!"

((Shinton/Gargantuous, are you even here any more? Are we always going to have to wait days and days for your replies? If this is the case, then dont' bother posting. Unless you can post on a regular basis, don't even bother. If I don't see a reply from you (be it in character or otherwise), I'm simply going to ignore your posts and move on without you.))

[Charon]

Chiiiirp chirp

Charon stirred slightly upon hearing the noise. She may never have truly achieved sleep, but she was reluctant to move from the comfortable warmth of the bed. Still... slowly she opened her eyes, blinking a few times to remove the waking blur

Hriiip A blue-black bird was perched on the windowsill, observing her acutely

"Shush little one" Charon murmered rubbing her eyes and looking back "It's still early... go back outside hm? Back into the nice sunlight where you belong"

HriIIIp the shrill cry was enough to confirm that the bird wasn't going to let her remain asleap no matter how much she protested. She flinched from the sound and shifted awkwardly, her night attire threatening to fall from her shoulders as she stood and moved towards the window

"What do you want hm?" she asked the bird softly, but she wasn't looking at the creature... rather she was staring out onto the street "Little one with little wings... is it possible, do you think... for people to fly?"

Piiiirp

"Tis a foolish question is it not?" Charon chuckled lightly but the sound was smothered by the wind as it swept her hair about her face. The early morning sunlight gleamed in her eyes "People... are not meant to fly, but before my dreams last night I saw the one called Mantis donning wings of black... much like yours" she looked at the bird curiously "Tis the kind of thing I see... when my mind grows cloudy"

She shifted awkwardly "Though many of the things I see... are less pleasant"
As if on que the bird hopped back away from her, sensing the change in her mood... wings opened and he fluttered away without another sound, sunlight reflecting off the glossy black feathers

"That's it my friend" she sighed "Now you have awoken me to these thoughts... torn me from whatever slumber I managed to achieve... now you chose to return to your sunlight"

She clasped her hands together as she leant on the windowsill, peering out over the horizon. Dimly she realised that her hand still ached, was still sore, but then again no matter how long ago it seemed to her at this moment... in reality it had been only hours since she had injured it

"Mere hours" she whispered to herself as she took a deep breath. Morning dew glistened on the trees, reflecting sunlight and sending small rainbows scattering across her vision

Slowly she closed her eyes and turned her back on the window, drawing the curtain "So much changes, and yet still..." she realised with a sigh "Still I do not know what happened with them last night. I still don't know... who they came into contact with at the church"

She opened her eyes... and the room was dark once again. Without the sunlight from the window... with the candles long extinguished by the wind...
She got changed and stared at herself in the large mirror adorning one of the walls. When she wasn't wearing clothes well worn by travel, she almost looked as if she could belong in a room such as this and that unnerved her. She reached for her tattered cloak, her safety net and was about to don it when she hesitated... looked back at the reflection

"I... I am not ashamed... of who I am" she whispered to the mirror, her mind wandering as her reflection gazed back at her

She knotted the cloak loosely about her shoulders but for once her first move was not to draw the hood up around her head. For once... her first move was not to hide.

She glanced around, then, treading softly for fear of waking the other guests... ones sensible enough to sleep for more than a few hours past sun up, she unlocked the door to her room and emerged onto the landing. She was about to head down the stairs when she stalled and turned back at the door, double checking the number engraved on it. Satsified to see that it still read three, she trod softly on the stairs, wary that they might creak

As she emerged into the bar, she was somewhat surprised when she realised that Alex didn't seem to be about. As she glanced about for signs of movement she noticed a sign she didnt remember seeing the night before swinging from the roof... but then again the drama of the night before could quite easily have drawn attention away from it
"Complimentary breakfast. First come, first served" she murmered to herself as she realised she could smell the food cooking. As she glanced around again she saw figures moving down one of the hallways and realised where they must be headed "Someone... is taking 'first come' fairly seriously" she realised with a smile, but somehow she couldn't bring herself to follow them... instead she sat down on one of the bar stools and leant on her elbows, thinking silently to herself.

Some part of her was also watching the cloaked figure with their legs resting up on the table in the corner. Unwilling to look at them directly Charon took mental notes of what she could see out of the corner of her vision... but the thing that caught her eye was the crossbow by their side.
She had seen someone with a crossbow like that very recently...

<The red haired woman... hair the colour of flames. Katianna> she managed to recall the name as she caught a glimpse of red hair beneath the cloak and hood <So she... came back after leaving last night> something else occured to her <I was her that I saw at the base of the stairs as I searched for my room>

Because of the hood she couldn't quite work out if she was actually awake, but she suddenly realised it would be poor manners to get caught staring.

Charon turned her attention back the the empty space behind the bar, back to her own thoughts.

((ooc: oh god, can anyone say 'mindless babble' >.< I have to say that I am very, very sorry for this post, but I had to wake her up somehow... if I can regain enough inspiration to think of a way to make this sound good with an edit, I'll do so, I promise))

Edited by Charon, 10 April 2004 - 11:04 PM.

[Squee]

((What do you mean?! Long posts are almost always better! ...Even if they are just mindless babble. As long as you dont' start speaking l337, I think we're all fine with your long posts. ^___^))

[Charon]

((ooc: |\|0 l337?
0|-|... */0u'|23 45|<1|\|g f0|2 1t |\|0\/\/
|\/|1nd j00, 1 d1d 4t l345t n0t1c3 t|-|3 'almost' 1n */u0|2 5t4t3|\/|3nt ^^;;
4nd t|-|4t 541d ... |\|3v3r d0 1 \/\/r1t3 l337 t|-|15 3xt|23m3 ... 3xc3pt f0|2 |\|0\/\/ \/\/|-|3|\| 1'm t|2*/1|\|g t0 \/\/1|\|d j00 up ))

Edit: I think I left a few too many real letters in there What do you think?

Edited by Charon, 11 April 2004 - 12:10 AM.

[Squee]

((Way too man real letters. =P))

[Charon]

((hm... looking back, I could have had '7's for ALL the 't's but I didn't. I left a few n's as n's instead of |\|'s ... Could have subbed \/ for v, |> for d, >< for x, |\/| or /\/\ for m etc, etc ... that would have left me with what? a few p's g's and u's ...ah, my 5|<1llz are slipping ^^;))

Edited by Charon, 11 April 2004 - 12:59 AM.

[Squee]

Galeb let out a grunt of effort as he pulled his belt tightly around his waist. He shoved a single dagger into the back and checked his pouch on his right - full with several darts and pins.

He looked proudly into the mirror, admiring his armour. I finely crafted breast plate (baring Elwin's crest, of course) covering his chain mail. Tucked under his arm, he carried his helmet. Its visor came to the point like the beak of a bird while the rest of the helm covered the back of his head and neck.

Upon both his hands sat a pair of leather gloves. Meant more for grip than protection.

Lastly, Galeb admired his beautifully exotic scimitars. They rested in their sheaths, tied to thongs around his waist. The curves of his swords almost screamed out viciousness louder than his steel-blue eyes. He smiled at his own reflection and began to chuckle a bit.

"Lord Elwin wants a speedy attack? I'll give him a speedy attack. We'll hit them fast...they won't know what happened. But...I think I'll spare Steven...I'll bring him back alive to Lord Elwin...maybe I can get a reward or something..." he thought aloud.

"Page! Rally my troops! Tell them they have an hour to prepare! ...And be quick about it..."