Fantasy Fading Flame (In Character)

[QizPizza]

Audun the Fallen

Location: Outpost
Status: Contemplative
Disposition: Generally Good
Interacting With: Kabboom
Mentioned:

"No, I don't need da' cann'n, but at least gimme sumthin' back! Quarta'masta's pol-lee-see! Fair trade!"

"Very well, I'll come back when I see what I have..." Audun sets down the cannon and it's ammunition and goes back outside to look for his burlap bag containing all of his belongings. As he walked out the door of the storeroom, he was met by the sight of multiple Taryns around the outpost. None of this came a shock, given her ability to produce holograms. However, it was frustrating whenever Audun wanted to find the real Taryn for something important. He walked around, swinging his arm at each Taryn to check if it was the real one. Each one shattered like glass as soon as his hand made contact with them.

This wasn't characteristic of his partner given the circumstances. Taryn would never waste her energy like this unless she had recently “fed” or had a target in sight. Seeing as she was as moody as she was, she had not “eaten” in a while. That meant that she had found a tempting target. Audun hoped she wouldn't do anything reckless. It wasn't just her life on the line, it was Audun's reputation.

After a few minutes of searching, he found no trace of the Succubus and resigned to trusting her discernment in “feeding” with caution. He would get no answer for where his items were either.

The paladin decided to move on to the entrance area, where guardsmen were still unloading and organizing crates. After poking around several boxes, he spotted a burlap sack leaning against a crate of ammunition. Just as Audun made a move towards it, a guardsman laid his hands on it and began to pick it up. Audun cleared his throat and immediately drew the attention of the soldier. As the soldier looked up to the towering paladin in front of him, he let out a small chuckle and set the bag down. After a quick salute, he scampered off to avoid the holy wrath of a paladin.

Audun took the sack in and and undid the drawstring. He began to probe the inside, feeling a bag of gold coins, a small casket of strong alcohol, and his spare clothing. As he dug deeper, he finally came across what he was looking for: his fur cloak. But this wasn't any regular fur cloak. It was made from the pelt of a bugbear.

Bugbears we're incredibly rare...and dangerous, but Audun had the luck to encounter and slay one on a goblin hunt. The feat earned him a great reward decades ago, and Audun had a master tailor turn it's pelt into a cloak of the finest quality. It kept it's user warm through the winters, dry in the rain, and sheltered from sand, not to mention how soft the fur was. It was a traveler’s dream cloak, but not even a noble had a hope to earn one. Any warrior who slays a bugbear would much rather keep the pelt for the best cloak they will ever own as opposed to a bag of gold.

Audun had no intention of exchanging it for a mere cannon, but it would have to serve as collateral for now. When he returned from destroying the Darkborne he will gladly reclaim it. With his prize in hand, he returned to the quartermaster and set the cloak in front of him. “A master tailored bugbear cloak. I trust that this will be a sufficient trade for a cannon and a few shells?”

 

[Trappy]

Hearthfall Season - Morning
Maria
The Outpost, Darkwoods​

• Maria
• Interacted / Mentioned

• 
  
  The appearance of the giantess who soon declared her intention of joining the company on the expedition to the ruins were among the most spectacular events Maria had witnessed during her so-far short stay at the forest outpost. Aymeline - Maria had heard a fair bit about this guardian and her achievements during the Meriward Campaign. Even a giant deserve all the recognition befitting a human counterpart for all those deeds, Maria believed, for all is fair on the battlefield. And albeit being a giant, she bore no physical characteristics of the somewhat brute and simple race, except her size and undoubtedly her strength, when clearly her capability at speech shows great difference in intelligence if comparing to say... some-no-name slave giant from a salt mine. Another spectacular event was a lieutenant showing a tactical map self-drawn by a the man himself. Maria 'studied' the rather crude map laid out by the lieutenant with no complaints. The guardian was not at all baffled by the seemingly respected guardsman's surprisingly...simple talents for sketching, she did not mind, while in fact, to her experience, this simple style is shared by most Imperial combatants she'd been acquainted to: simple and straight-forward. It's not like they were painting for one of the great domes of Lucansport or anything! As a Regalian, naturally, Maria believes in fair trade, and this case seems applicable for the rules. This man clearly traded his skills with the pen and paper for some hopefully-useful skills in a combat situation or something. That must be the case!
  
  A figure approached the guardian as she stood by the map, and a familiar voice spoke up, one definitely from the company she travelled with.
  "Heard about you when I was working cleanup jobs for the Regalians, what's your take on this lack of info? 'cause to me it spells ambush in big bright letters."
  
  The warrior with the impressive armour, Pat. Maria did not think highly of mercenaries, mainly due to certain individuals' work conducts and their shady connections with certain disliked figures in the Regalian administration. The guardian could say she despised them, to a degree, but those opinions were not going to influence her performance in carrying out her duty in this quest - the guardian reminded herself - complete the expedition and return safely with others for the main quest. Eyes locked on the lieutenant's self-sketch map, Maria voiced her reply.
  "Expected. We're with the mainlanders now, mercenary, and it's not like you can blame them for such lack of information in a place like this." She continued. "And, like the Reggies say: hope for the best, but prepare for the worst. Let us prepare for the expedition at the quartermaster's."
  
  The storeroom was, again, simple, like most of things here, and in a good way. This way, even a mentally slow conscript could perform his basic duties with hopefully little complications. An old quartermaster guarded over what resources left available here, an old warden with a peg-leg, a horde of puppy-sized rats as his pets, or perhaps acquaintances in this job, not to mention the particularly strange accent, one similar to that of the elemental from the company, but much thicker. The guardian did not mind this, however. As members of the expedition make their requests, Maria listened to see what else might be needed. The giantess, Aymeline, had mindfully volunteered to secure provisions for the group, but it seemed no ruins-exploring essentials were requested, so Maria asked for them, and of course, with fair trade. Loosing her shortsword and unsheathing it to reveal the blade to the quartermaster, she spoke up.
  "Kept with care, in pristine conditions. It cuts well, and it lasts, I can promise you." The guardian decided to include a little trick in her presentation. "And . . . it can fly! Woo!"
  
  The sword hovered above the guardian's palm, before gently went and landed on the quartermaster's, as if carried by a gentle wind.
  "I only ask for one individual rations of food for one day, good ropes, and five torches, along with flint and steel."
  Maria added another personal item to the list, just to have some energy-boost for the trip ahead.
  "And I'd like something strong. I'll take a bottle."
  The quartermaster soon returned with -indeed- a bottle, and poured a rather foggy, almost light-coloured liquor to a cup, before handing it over to the guardian with a strange, funny smile. Maria disregarded it, as it could be perhaps just his face, the old man wasn't particularly handsome anyway. But the liquor did possess a rather special smell. The guardian took a sip, it was rather salty for a liquor. A guardsman somewhere in the back suddenly yelled up.
  "SHE DRANK ET!"
  And, as a chain reaction, every one of the garrison troopers started hollering too.
  "SHE DRANK THE JUICE!”
  Maria, with a face as red as a ripe tomato from the sunny fields of her homeland, could now do nothing but slowly put the cup down in utter embarrassment and strangely slight amusement, infused with overwhelming confusion. Meanwhile, the storeroom was filled with laugher, when a drunk guardsman appeared from the heavy floor with a similar drink in hands.
  
  The storeroom was now audibly bursting with guardsmen hollering and laughing. The drunk man chugged down a similar-looking bottle of ‘juice’, before falling flat, face-first, to the concrete floor. Everyone soon returned to their duties as if nothing had happened, which was an impressive feat of military discipline, but Maria's mind was not quite on it at the moment for obvious reasons. A horde of rats appeared and dragged the drunk guardsman on the floor into one of the rooms in the back, at which no-one really seemed to care. Nor did Maria, who collected her requested items from the-still-snickering quartermaster as fast as she could, before pulling a tactical retreat out of the room.
  
  
• 
  Interacted: Midrick
  Mentioned: Epiphany + Ruins squad
  

 

[Kabboom]

Jericho

"Go kill Darkborne artillery on a ridge, skulk around in ruins, or hunt stags. I'm sure you can pick quickly enough." Audaton spoke dismissively, his footsteps clinking as he now walked upon the stone pavement of the inner courtyard. He'd arrived just in time to hear the men collectively holler at Maria, for ingesting... something. Presumably alcohol of questionable origin. His instincts say it's just normal black market alcohol, or alcohol brewed from hunted game, or worse. But, being a Guardian, and most of all, a commanding officer, he still has to make sure. Spotting a quiet Lieutenant Finn simply packing up his Light dust, unfazed by the whole ordeal, Jericho simply walked up to him, chin sticking forward as he looked upwards at the soldier's eyes.

"What's that... juice made out of?" Audaton gestured at Maria with his halberd.

"Dunno." Shrugged the Lieutenant. This was rather surprising for the Guardian. And usually, a sign for proper concern and punishment, but no doubt, the men would've seen excessive amounts of punishment, given that the Group Commander is... comically incompetent.

"I will repeat myself, Lieutenant. What is the liquid made out of?" He stated, being more serious this time. With a defeated sigh, Finn faced him fully and begun talking.

"With all due respect, sir, more than 500 men have come and gone in this outpost. Fine men, good men, strong men, smart men. We're posted on this useless rock, enduring through rainstorms, droughts, floods, and Darkborne, not to mention Demonspawn, all while the sun is melting us alive, and the winds are trying to scatter our ashes into the air. Half of our original Group was burned alive by a Darkmage, using the alcohol in their bellies." Finn snapped, enough for almost everyone in the courtyard to hear. The once-raucous garrison troopers were now silent, and still, like statues. His anger was enough to make the viscount appear, as a distant face from the upper courtyard looking down in contempt. It was then that Jericho figured out that he bit off more than he could chew, and activated Clarity, just enough for Finn to refrain from doing anything stupid. The Lieutenant's voice became more hushed after that, but the emotion did not subdue.

"Do you know what an entire courtyard of charred corpses smell like? How it feels to just... pick them up and toss them into a pile? They were all men once. Men with families, and lovers. I'll kill that fucking Darkmage with my bare hands if I ever get the chance. Command stopped sending us alcohol ever since. We went one full year without anything to drink. Until a few months ago, when a mage stayed at our outpost on a mission, and brewed us this 'juice' using magic. It tastes good, and we can't get lit on fucking fire after we drink it. The last thing you should worry about is whatever's in the fucking juice!" He finished, quickly walking up back to his quarters. Lieutenant Motley simply shrugged at Jericho, being rather sympathetic to him as he followed Finn up the stairs.

A brief moment of awkward silence ensued, and everyone went back to a subdued normal routine after that, with all the guardsmen generally being quieter. It took a few seconds until Jericho himself regained his full senses, and simply breathed relief. Thankfully, that didn't escalate into anything worse. Clearing his throat, he looked back at the groups that were going to head out. "Well. Let's go. Good hunting." It seems that they've overstayed their welcome for the time being, and perhaps doing some good might solve this conundrum. But for Jericho, his duties now is to inspect the men, and the defenses. He was commanding officer, after all.

​

Quartermaster Sculley

After the wee exchange with Finn, the air inside the quartermaster's room was rather quiet, minus all the squeaking puppy-sized rats still present. Everyone resumed with what they were doing, albeit not being nearly as noisy as they'd been. Sculley was no exception to this. The Finn lad had always been twitchy, and the peg-legged quartermaster was one of the only men that had survived here as long as the man. Being one of the 'super old breed', Sculley was rather familiar with Finn, and no doubt he was heading back to his quarters for some... personal rest. Even he didn't know what the Lieutenant gets up to in his quarters, and from the large betting pool surrounding Finn's particular activities, of which Sculley had his money on 'making new water canteens', neither did the guardsmen.

But enough of that. His business is in the here and now. Digesting all the information, and all the fresh items that had been offered up for trade, he quickly spoke, being a veteran swindler tradesman. "A'ight, good deal, gentl'men. Yer stuff is all good, Angelman. Ye get 5 shots, and 5 shots is all ye get." The man told Audun, with a dozen or so rats scurrying towards the cloak and immediately pulling it off the table, and transporting the cloak into the depths of the quartermaster's room. "Don' worry 'bout et, they're kind rats. Still rats, but 'eh." Sculley muttered, as he pulled a crate with five cannonballs, complete with their propellant charges, out into Audun's view, nearly tearing a back muscle while doing it.

"Thank ye, kind rocklady. This'll be fine..." He proceeded to pick up the crystals. These would make as fine condensing lenses for the nighttime spotlights, and in an emergency, shiny bright illuminated smoke to daze some of the higher level Darkborne, given that some magic is infused into them. For her reward, he whistled at the men playing with the 'Supa-Boom', and they threw the bundle of dynamite at him, with sad faces and whining noises more suitable for children than for grown men. This was all Sculley's stuff after all, and his word is the law when it comes to his stuff. Offering it to Spessartite, he nodded. "Put et tae' good use, aye?"

Lightly smacking a few rats off of the table where Aymeline had left her peppermint leaves down, he cupped them into a tighter group, and swept them into a handy burlap sack that he always keep beneath the tables, sealing the entrance with a rope. With a deft whistle echoing through his side of the 'castle', Sculley hollered at everyone. "Food call! Fer' Big Ay!" And like clockwork, all of the veteran guardsmen immediately reached into their pockets for all the food they carried on them. Half-crumbled ash cakes, half-opened cans of pemmican, and even whole burlap sacks worth of apples and fruits, along with other freshly plucked vegetables, were handed over quickly, with the guardsmen nodding and smiling at the Giantess. Soon enough, the random assortment of foodstuffs and medicine came under Aymeline's possession, and the outpost men returned to normal.

Sculley grabbed enough food from the pile to hand over to Maria, along with her stuff. Of course, he had to put down her shortsword to do it, and the weapon was now lost to the rats, as they scurried over it. And then, as a final reconsideration, Sculley also yanked the three-sword abomination from the stooges that had built it, and threw it onto the pile along with the food and medicine. Never can be too careful.

​

A few hours of travel later...

​

The ruins stood barren, just as they were left when the Darkborne took over. A once-prideful cathedral stood in the center, being the circular structure depicted in the hand-drawn maps. Time has taken its toll upon everything within this place, with moss and decay plaguing every structure. The forever-unfinished scaffoldings and framework that lay frozen in time are scattered throughout the ruins, and the puddles of yesteryear's rains could still be faintly felt through the boots of anyone who would tread here. Scorch marks, as well as overall structural damage could be seen everywhere, and an overall sinister feeling surrounded the area, haunting the stonework of these buildings, that still stood tall through the fires and the flames of war

. From their position, nothing could be spotted with the naked eye. What the intrepid adventurers do now, is up to them...

​

Elsewhere, the ridge was far off, with the forest returning back to absurdly tall pine trees as they strayed further away from the outpost. Wildlife, some dangerous, most not, stumbled across their paths along the route, with no big incidents thankfully. All the herbivores and small creatures fled from the noise and sight of the group, while the other dangerous animals kept their distance and watched from the shadows. The visage of the trees slowly turned more and more hostile and haunting as they approached their target destination, with branches and leaves resembling knives and talons, prowling overhead, while the pebbles and stones beneath the ground took on the appearance of a predator's eyes, stalking the every footstep of their prey.

As they reached a small clearing, the forest opened up slightly, and the chittering of Darkborne could now be heard just ahead. Battle is almost inevitable at this point, but how it will play out is up to the adventurers...

Near the outpost, however, things had taken a turn for the interesting. More and more men joined Leafa and Skyler's little hunting festival, with even a few gunners joining with their frustratingly inaccurate muskets. The stags that had originally been grazing around have mostly fled, and the hunt has turned into a twisted skeet shooting contest, as fresh stags quickly galloped through the clearing, still en route to some unknown destination. The hunt then turned into an all-out hunt, as the men now shot using their stomachs, not their minds. Rabbits, squirrels, coyotes, foxes, even birds were fair game, and a great many of them were shot down more or less in the edges of the clearing. It seemed to be a good hunt, until a Cavity opened up.

A hideous, humongous and oddly tan-colored mouth in the ground opened up, big enough to engulf the better part of the clearing, and all the hard work of the hunters swiftly fell into its maw, along with a small unlucky tree that was dislodged when the thing opened up. With slight anger and confusion, the guardsmen all gathered around, with a collective question: What now? None of them were courageous enough to approach it, seeing as where there's one Cavity, there are bound to be more around, and it is probably only sheer luck that they weren't standing atop another big one right now. A worrying dilemma.

-robert- Vyseryx hostage QizPizza Soviet Panda U UnbelievableCow BioshockRP Trappy Spireshade RubyZoo Epiphany Unwavering Knight SCSaya06 CrowOuttaHell Midrick LuciTheGreat Sybil Slop

 

[Vyseryx]

Margot
Margot spent her way to ruins looking with unseeing eyes at the giantess that was leading their group. Or to be more precise, at her massive butt. When sorceress realised that, she quickly turned her look away… temporarily at least.

The ruins had emerged from between the trees. They looked about as good as one would expect destroyed by rains, Darkborne and the time itself. Margot raised her boot, to see the mud covering it and frowned at that – keeping herself clean was not her highest priority right now, but being soaked with years’ worth of slime was not to her liking either.

The sorceress closed her eyes and raised her hands, sending threads of magic in all directions only for them to be quickly cancelled out by the place’s aura.

‘Perfect,’ Margot thought irritated, before she turned to her companions.

“My detection magic is dysfunctional in this place,” the sorceress stated calmly. “The Dark presence is so strong here, that it could potentially hide anything.”

Margot made few steps ahead and scanned the ruins, thinking about their size and the numbers of her group. There were eight of them, nine were she to count the weird fairy, who sat on knight’s arms. If they were to search building in such big group, they would probably be handicapping themselves more than helping. The roughly symmetrical layout of ruins gave her an idea though.

“Here’s what I suggest,” the sorceress raised her hands and pointed them at the building of both sides of circular construction in the middle of ruins. “We will separate into two groups and each of them will search through one side of ruins. This way we can potentially shorten the time spend here, and there is enough of us to make two teams of reasonable sizes.”

Trappy Midrick BioshockRP Epiphany Unwavering Knight QizPizza

 

[Epiphany]

Aymeline

Leading the way to the ruins, the Giant was oblivious to any attention passed her way by members of the expedition. All of her attention was forward, watching for signs of an ambush or for warnings of a Darkborne massing. Thankfully, the trip itself passed uneventfully. The ruins themselves were foreboding, of course. No surprise there. Aymeline eyed the wide frames of broken windows and exposed entrances as well as the gaping holes in various walls. She nodded approvingly. This wouldn't be the worst place for a Giant to explore after all.

Margot's plan seemed a sound one and Aymeline nodded slowly. As the team begins to split itself up, the Giant steps into their midst and crouches down, a mannerism that puts her at nearly eye level with most. "Before we go our separate ways for now, take my hand." The exposed fingers in her fingerless gloves begin to glow faintly, like moonlight on the surface of a lake. "Each of you. I can tie us together. It will allow us to sense each other, the direction others are found in as well as be aware of each other's condition. That way, if one group is ambushed, the other will be aware and can move to reinforce."

To any who accept her offer, Aymeline's Light feels like dipping one's hand through a field of wheat, a mildly ticklish sensation. It leaves a lingering sense of awareness of the Giant, and of the others who've accepted Aymeline's tie. In the same way one can decide to pay attention to what your foot or hand is feeling, it's now possible to 'pay attention' to where another team member is and (roughly) how they're feeling.

"I'll take the right side. Who's with me?"

Trappy Midrick BioshockRP Vyseryx Unwavering Knight QizPizza

 

[QizPizza]

Taryn the Exile

Location: Ruins
Status: Hungry
Disposition: Slightly Evil
Interacting With: Epiphany Vyseryx
Mentioned:

The trek to the ruins wasn't uneventful at all, but it wasn't absolutely horrid. Taryn stayed close to Aymeline so that her height would not appear as staggering to the others in the group. Occasionally, she would take glances at the giant's body, imagining how much Light she would be able to absorb from this one person. She compared it to eating, almost. It was how she stayed alive and got her energy, and she was hungry. Her thoughts were cut short by the sorceress's proposal.

"Here’s what I suggest. We will separate into two groups and each of them will search through one side of ruins. This way we can potentially shorten the time spend here, and there is enough of us to make two teams of reasonable sizes.”

"I think it would be an ideal plan." The succubus's mind wandered back to her hunger. Margot no doubt is very proficient in magic, and therefore, has an exceptional connection to the Light. Between the giant the mage, Taryn was hard-pressed to find a better "meal". Their size and age were irrelevant in view of how much they could give Taryn. If they split off into groups, it would make it much easier for Taryn feed on one, or even both of them. Then, Taryn would blame their deaths on Darkborne, and use her illusions to establish an alibi.

"Each of you. I can tie us together. It will allow us to sense each other, the direction others are found in as well as be aware of each other's condition. That way, if one group is ambushed, the other will be aware and can move to reinforce."

As Aymeline offered her her hand to the group, Taryn turned to the giantess and let her fingers shoot out to meet Aymeline's own fingers. As soon as they brushed together, Taryn could feel a fragment of Light flowing into her. It was like a sip of cold water to a parched throat, or a piece of bread to a starving stomach. Taryn barely noticed that she was now connected to the giant, as she devoured the sliver of Light. The small amount Ay shared through the brief touch not enough. Taryn was still starving. She needed more. The Succubus wasn't aware of it, until the words left her mouth, but she whispered to the giant, "Your Light...more...please"

 

[Epiphany]

Aymeline

The Giant frowned as she looked down at the admittedly tall (for a non-Giant) woman. Then she looked and the lack of Light in the other woman gnawed at the surrounding world, drinking in ambient trickles of energy that could never be enough to sustain that void. Aymeline had never seen such a lack, except in one or two Guardians who'd utterly spent themselves in battle.

A sympathetic smile spread across the Giant's lips. Her own reserves were completely full. If there was one 'advantage' to having been the only Guardian at this outpost for weeks, it's that there was no one who needed to tap the Light that flowed through her blood, through her bones, through her skin itself. Aymeline didn't know if she could actually fill that much of a void, at least not on the first try, but Light returned quickly to her. And she had no need to hold it in reserve for now, except to prepare for empowering her allies if the Darkborne were here.

And surely this much Light could empower this woman greatly.

Taking Taryn's hand, Aymeline nodded once to the woman and then her eyes burned, much as her fingers did. Brighter than a torch, brighter than a bonfire, the Light flared before funneling down into this team mate in need.

 

[Midrick]

Pat walked along with the group, he didn't really care how they got things done, as long as no one bit the dust. The mages abilities seemed to be going haywire, everyone was complaining, everything sucked, the town up shits creek and if you looked at one of the buildings wrong they might collapse and turn to dust. He watched as the giant outlined her plan and told them she could link them in a way. He was skeptical about her magic, he never trusted something as fickle as sorcery. At least an sword or weapon wouldn't disappear. "Alright..." he said with a sigh, he wasn't himself recently. He needed to clear his head, and that translated into whaling on something with his axe until they stopped moving.

he extended a gauntleted hand into hers and felt a shock of energy. He shook off his hand after he pulled it back, a scowl adorning his face as he did it. the wind blew through his hair and the beginnings of a beard. he felt his face and could fell the coarse, short hairs. "Damn, definitely need to requisition a razor when I get back." he was talking to himself, he didn't really know why he did it, but it felt good for some reason. After the pairing he saw Taryn holding the giants hand, he was confused until he looked in the giants eyes, they were lit up like inferno flys* he decided to keep an eye on Taryn dor Auduns sake, he didn't need the big man in a foul mood. He straightened up and shouldered his axe. "Well big Ay, looks like you got the only man here with you. Let's kill some mother fuckers." he said with a chuckle as he looked toward the right side of the town Death trap. he thought to himself, but then again, death is the spice of life.

Inferno Fly*: species of fly that is considered to have the most painful bite in the world, its likened to having molten lava in the kite area. They also have a bioluminescent bright red glow from their venom glands.

Epiphany QizPizza

 

[Albion]

Sir Arthur Dolvenion
The first sound those heading towards the ridge heard was that slow, comfortable beat of a horses hooves upon ground. Then, slowly, the sounds of a conversation - or perhaps an argument, as it became more audibly clear. "By the Lady, Cleon, you've really done it this time. I very well told you the map should have been leading us East! Now look at us, more lost than a couple of monks in Dor Alwenyan!"

"What?" Came the eventual reply.

"An expression, son. Now how did you get us lost?"

"Well, I guess you said east, sir, but I heard weast."

"Weast!? There's no direction called weast, Cleon, and you know it."

"Aye, sir. Wait, look! I think I see people!"

"You may be right, Cleon. But this doesnt excuse your lack of direction."

A horse came clopping out, black as a moonless night were it not for the barding upon it. Atop the horse was a rather tall man, looking down quite surprisedly. His armor clinked and clacked as it shifted, while he fidgeted for a long moment. "Well, hello there, good folk. Might you know where I could find the Guardians? I'm on a quest to help them but my squire got us quite lost." The hollow ring of the mans voice through his sturdy helmet reverberated in the air for a moment, before he remembered himself and lifted the visor upon the helmet.

His close cropped beard shifted for a moment as he tried to decide upon the most Knightly expression. "I am, of course, Sir Arthur Dolwenion, wielder of Darkbane." He patted the hilt of the sword with a pleased look upon his face.
Sybil Soviet Panda U UnbelievableCow QizPizza

 

[-robert-]

Leafa

Desperate times call for desperate measures. It was no longer a silly hunting contest, as the hunger had grown in unbearable numbers. All that could be seen were arrows and bullets flying through the air. But Leafa certainly wasn't complaining, this time nothing could distract her from her rumbling stomach, and a simple apple wouldn't do the trick. And naturally, Leafa became absolutely furious when a huge mouth suddenly opened up and devoured everything they had hunted! A difficult situation stood before them, no guardsman dared to approach the cavity, nor move around at all, due to the huge probability of there being more cavities around.

"Aaaaaagh! I can't take this anymore! That thing doesn't have the right to eat all of our food! And I don't know about you, but I am not eating fruit all day for the third day straight! We should- uh... hmm..."

She had no idea how to defeat the odd creature, if it could even be called that, she was never the mastermind in battles, she was more the... bystander. She looked around her, seeking help from someone, it didn't matter who it was, just someone who could get them out of that situation quickly. Her eyes landed on a woman with hair as white as snow. Quickly, the young elf made her way towards her.

"Hello Snow-Hair! My name is Leafa! Do you know how to close the mouth thingy?"

LuciTheGreat

 

[Unwavering Knight]

Pryonn & Kaatl

The giant made her offer, the wanting one begged for more, perhaps intent on filling the empty hole that seemed to be her existence. This Taryn was a curious one, with her flesh so stable, her matter condensed. Would she bleed red? He couldn't tell. Kaatl eyed her with wonder, apparently puzzled by her horny antics. More alarmingly, the fairy beheld the succubus with just a hint of reverence. Did the fairy muse on how she could improve her own conduct by copying the hellion? A picture crept into the shared mind; one of the fairy affixing black highlights to her own wings while posturing with her head held high and her flat chest proffered proudly.

Pryonn could only shake his head, barely suppressing a hesitant laugh, trying to ridicule the sight before it could become reality, while the fairy's eyes lightened up and an energetic grin crept upon her features.

With Aymeline finishing her dalliance with the succubus, the offer for the bond continued. Tilting his helmeted head, the knight scrutinized the giantess's proffered grasp, the fairy on his shoulder clasping her hands together with worry on her face, smile instantly wiped away. For a moment, fairy and knight remained in silent contemplation, before Kaatl gave a slight nod.

Along with the one called Pat, the knight stepped forth, though the latter let the former have his fill first. Upon Pat's joking quip, Pryonn stated with bemused tone "The only man here you are not.", before adding with mirthful jest "But certainly, the only single one you quite are."

Taking his own turn, the knight took hold of Aymeline's hand. For but a moment, a singularly piercing sensation radiated from within the plated figure, akin to innumerable rods of white-hot pain, teeth of iron biting deep. It was gone in the instant it took the fairy to snap her fingers a single time. Within less than a second the knight's condition appeared completely normal, fully combat-ready and energetic to act.

Giving no sign of there being anything out of the ordinary, the knight gave a curt 'Thank you.', while the fairy gave a stilted smile and a halfhearted wave to the giantess. Unceremoniousely turning away, Pryonn hefted his banner-lance as he spoke "I will take whichever side features the lesser number. Nothing else could be worthy for a questing knight."


Addressed: Epiphany Midrick
Mentioned: QizPizza

In Ruins Group: Midrick Vyseryx Trappy BioshockRP Kabboom Epiphany

 

[BioshockRP]

Location: Outpost

Hallowed walls built with wooden planks and cobblestone corners, Cris heard metallic footsteps ebb closer to his destination. Watchful glance towards the boots first, until connected in view, a helmet. Then, jovial words pierced similar to a lance inside his ear canals. The knight's exclamation about himself and a fairy certainly intrigued Cris to assert his gaze upon wings that crowned the knight's helm. After initial appearance, Cris considered the knight rather tall in comparison to Cris' own slim and small stature. Still in alert, Cris' muffled steps puttered the wooden planks to a minor creak, as he circled to an opening unprotected by the knight's body.

Crisp, yet soft words spouted from Cris' lips albeit broken, "You two pleasure meeting. Names from country? Call me Cris. Excuse english." Cris' hands danced from walled wood, tapping the board two times, before etching its way firmly into the knight's metal glove. From Cris' ears, a whooshing sound became apparent. Below the boards, three rats scurried under, tapping underneath Cris' feet, "Rat problem?"

Unwavering Knight

After conversing with a fairy and knight, another booming, yet feminine voice slammed down like a hammer. Due to the giant's height, he shifted his body, and looked upwards, "Hi Aymeline." In response to her welcoming eyes, he too prepared his intent for wholesome, friendly communication. Specifically, a smile formed in unison by his crooked teeth that had been melded by the meat he consumed in his tribe during his youth. "Yes. I come. Your back is protected; I promise. My owl eyes see things well." He followed closely behind the giantess, making sure his eyes glued proper to her backside from a few meters.

Epiphany

Location: Ruins

As the hours passed, Cris returned to the thoughts about his homeland. He wondered if his friends remained safe still, even if he last spoke to the communication device several days prior. A branch scratched at Cris' left arm, forcing him to lose his thoughts, and for him to return his focus. Lifeless and in solitude, the ruins beckoned ghastly, reminiscent images of darkborne interference. From his lips, he uttered, "Layno (Shit)," in his ancient tongue as his government-issued boots engaged dangerously with the muddy floor. An inconvenience soon interrupted by the haunting imagery of scorched walls caused for a thought. He wondered if the spirits on borrowed time persisted in these ruins. For a grown man, he feared the ghosts for their possession abilities.

Magical threads crawled like scattered worms with a leopard's pace until they dulled into blue disintegrating specks. After the spectacle, he reserved his clairvoyance spell for something more important than detection. As Margot spoke to the group, Cris nodded in agreement. Still he multi-tasked, as his eyes caught the shimmer of broken glass near the cathedral. His hands rested atop broken stoned wall lighted by the sun's radiance. When Margot finished speaking, he waited for the others to input their opinion. He fully understood his limited speaking abilities in English, so he decided to speak his mind last in the group.

Vyseryx

Upon receiving Aymeline's offer, he shrugged his body forward, allowing his left hand to grip Aymeline's own. His body shivered, as the sensation tickled his held hand. Now aware of his teammates more than usual, he felt at odds with the closeness. However, it warmed his conceptions that the spirited teamwork may just overpower the ghostly drivel lingering in his mind.

Cris answered Aymeline's question, "I join Aymeline. She want my eye to her back. She big and I small. She take all the notice. I hide and observe." Then, he addressed the group, "My skill see past the wall. But must be close. Very close. Can turn into Owl. Then fly in clouds to spot below." Once his thoughts became perspective to the rest, he returned to his ledge. He accepted the need to plan, yet staying in one spot for too long put him on edge. In an unknown area, there could always be an ambush.

Midrick Vyseryx Trappy BioshockRP Kabboom Epiphany Unwavering Knight

 

[QizPizza]

Taryn the Exile

Location: Ruins
Status: Filled/Grateful
Disposition: Slightly Evil
Interacting With: Epiphany Unwavering Knight
Mentioned:

Aymeline opened the floorgates of her Light reserves for Taryn, and Taryn eagerly drank it in. The burning light from their finger tips and Aymeline's eyes didn't bother the Succubus at all. The only thing she cared about was absorbing the Light. For Taryn, she immediately likened the experience to sex with Mundanes, but...pleasureable. It was an act for the sake of feeding, and the mess with all the dead bodies hardly made it better. If this giantess can let Taryn feed on Light for the rest of her life...it would be such a burden off of her shoulders. After several moments, Taryn broke contact with the giantess. She gave Aymeline a genuine smile of appreciation, one she had only shown to Audun in the past. "I can't thank you enough, Aymeline. You done much more for me than you could possibly imagine by giving me your wonderful light."

He attitude had changed in as Succubus could already feel her be body converting Light into lifeforce. She would live for a good long while if she just went on her way right now, but...if she fought, she could earn the trust of the giantess, and have her food source set for the remainder of her life. She clung onto a single fragment of the Light, however, as it would help them be aware of each other's condition and location. The latter of the benefits would not benefit Taryn if she still intended on feeding, but now, the connection will only help her make sure Aymeline was alright.

With the connection in mind the succubus made the decision to go to the side of the ruins where Aymeline was not present. "I will accompany Pryonn to the other side of the ruins, should he agree to it."

 

[QizPizza]

Audun the Fallen

Location: Outpost
Status: Annoyed
Disposition: Generally Good
Interacting With: Sybil Soviet Panda U UnbelievableCow Albion
Mentioned:

It was quite a hike from the outpost to the ridge line, not because of any particular difficult terrain, but rather, the cannon. The cannon was obviously not a weapon to be carried by a man and employed in the way of a rifle, but Audun was determined to use it. After all, he traded his cloak for it. He spent a good chunk of the trip figuring out a way to affix the artillery piece to his body without slipping. His failed attempts required him to stop, clean, and reaffix the cannon multiple times. It was more trouble than it was worth. And just as Audun was finished reattaching the cannon for the fifth time, a man in knight armor showed up and began to ask questions.

"Well, hello there, good folk. Might you know where I could find the Guardians? I'm on a quest to help them but my squire got us quite lost. I am, of course, Sir Arthur Dolwenion, wielder of Darkbane."

Audun was just done with this crap. How many new comers had they taken in since the beginning of the expedition? It was surely more than the number of people who were officially supposed to be there. The Nephilim had given up counting who didn't belong here, because it would only give him an aneurysm. Still, he had to deal with the situation as best he could, seeing that all the intelligent people went to the ruins. He was stuck with a rock elemental, an Inuin, and Desmond. The paladin shook his head and answered, "We are the Guardian group...or at least a part of it. Our group has been split up to address the various items of interest. The outpost and its commander is back the way we came, but you best stay with us until we head back. We could use additional assistance."

When Audun was done speaking with Arthur, he turned to his group and spoke to the plan they will take. "We will split up. I will take Arthur and Desmond and flank the Darkborne position from the clearing, while you two use the cover of the trees to cover your approach. If you have any objections or alternative plans, speak now."

 

[Sybil]

Spessartite Phos
​

It was a relief the trader took her finger, the only possession she ever had was always her body. She took the explosives with a small smile, opening up her chest and embedding the device inside her body as the raw minerals seemingly devoured it to any onlookers. With that done she was prepared, leaving soon with her small group of traveler guardians.

...

The forest’s tone was coming loud and clear to the elemental, their presence was abnormal and nothing went unnoticed by the denizens. Coming to the ridge was easy despite this, leaving the elemental with their objective in sight somewhat..... which only felt more complicated as an additional person came to their aid seemingly. A knight? In these woods? With all that was going on, the man’s presence was another name to put on a list.

“Plans be damned, I don’ need no plan but puttin this here explosive ‘side them artillery darkborne or the ammo.” She tapped her chest, supposedly housing the explosive beneath her ‘skin’. “You think that’d be a problem?”

Interacts: QizPizza Kabboom (because story)
Mentions/Is around: U UnbelievableCow Albion Soviet Panda

 

[Trappy]

Hearthfall Season - Morning
Maria
The Ruins, Darkwoods​

• Maria
• The Ridge
• Interacted / Mentioned

• 
  
  After a short trek through the untamed bush, the ruins revealed itself to the daring company in all of its ancient glory. Gentle sunlight shone through the wintry branches, shadowy arms stretching across the ancient ruins. What was left stood in spite of itself, defying gravity in its precarious way. This place, kept secret by the trees, seemed untouched by the elements for centuries. The mage, Margot's analysis of the place soon proved otherwise, however, as it soon became apparent to the rest of the company, that a presence of Dark could be sensed, haunting the mossy walls and eyeing the unwanted guests.
  Maria walked with the group, eyes peeled and watched for any movement. Pat, the mercenary earlier made a point: the place seemed like a perfect spot for an ambush, what with the Dark presence jamming their mage's navigation spells. They were essentially walking blind into what could be a hornet's nest. Can't be too careful, but no point being pessimistic about the situation, Maria kept her watch up and relied on the others to watch her back, until the suggestion to split into smaller, more maneuverable groups was brought up by the sorceress Margot. Initially, the guardian was skeptical, but when the giantess shown her ability to 'link' members of the company, she was assured. Maria nodded, and after a handful have decided on the group they were following, she voiced her decision: "I'll go with Aymeline. If a powerful enemy is spotted, do not try to take on them by yourselves. Make good use of Aymeline's gift and try to lure the enemy towards friendlies." She continued. "At the same time, if allies are engaged in prolonged combat, assume it's a powerful foe and move to provide assistance. We're not taking any risks. Be safe, people."
  
  ---
  As the group ventured deeper into the ruins, for some reason, Maria felt confident in their abilities, despite the overwhelming presence of Darkness in the area. She broke the ongoing silence, directed for the giantess.
  "I've heard of you as a decorated veteran of the Meriward Campaign, your service is most impressive." The guardian said. "I'm glad to have you with us, giant, another proper Guardian in the roster. I don't mean to discredit our acquaintances here, but you know, unlike us, they can prove to be... an added challenge, to work with." Maria continued, looking up to her giant comrade. "In any case, is there anything else to this 'gift' you have bestowed upon us just now?"
  
• 
  As the oblivious group conversed, a flock of birds suddenly took flight from the branches over a small hill on their path, sounding their panicked calls as a figure emerged from the bushes: a wolf, seemingly greeting the newcomers into its domain. This was soon proven to be not the case, as upon closer inspection, it was revealed to be no ordinary wolf-kind, but a Darkwolf, the common infantry unit of the Darkborne hordes. Its behaviour, however, seemed to make the situation a bit more confusing. As contrary to how Darkwolves react to Lightborne, like charging at them ferociously, the lone Darkwolf only stood and watched the group, before barking at them and slowly made its retreat.
  
• 
  Interacted: Epiphany
  Mentioned: Vyseryx + Ruins squad
  QizPizza Sybil + Ridge squad
  

 

[Vyseryx]

Margot
Margot observed Taryn’s “feeding” very carefully. While she had heard about the way succubi sustain themselves, she had never actually seen the process itself. The sorceress had only witnessed the dead bodies, that demons’ meals were leaving behind. She didn’t realise how hungry Taryn was, until she begged Aymeline for more.

‘I need to pay closer attention to her, she may pose larger threat to group than I assumed,’ the sorceress decided, as she took giant’s hand and let her magic in. The sorceress instantly felt the connection to the giant Light source Aymeline was and the binding it created between them. It was slightly more crude than what sorceress could do with Mind Link, but giantess skill could easily cover entire group, which was invaluable.

“I will go with Pryonn as well,” Margot spoke, as Cris decided to follow Aymeline. “Stay safe, everyone.”

 

[Unwavering Knight]

Pryonn & Kaatl

The knight took heed of the succubus's decision to accompany his wing of the group with a side-stare, helmeted head tilted just enough to eye her through the barest inch of his visor. "Wanting one." he noted impassively, earning him a slap on top of his helmet from the fairy "Lady Taryn." he corrected himself, eliciting a nod of approval from Kaatl. He took another moment to scrutinise the hellion with steeled gaze, taking note of the scar marring otherwise unblemished tissue. Her hunger shone through nonetheless, so barely hidden as it was throughout the entirety of the journey. It was the want of one seeking light yet never daring to grasp it for fear of losing purpose. Perhaps his coldness was unwarranted, mayhaps he was even wrong in his conclusion, but it was not easy to cast off this urge; the Hungerers in the Dark were his natural prey.

Perhaps it also just irked him how lively Kaatl looked at the Succubus, eagerly following the hellion's every swaying movement, making mental notes on how best to emulate her. There was little good that could come from having the fairy copy the mannerisms of such a wanting one.

"... I mind not." he added after a few more seconds of reserved inspection, voice resigned "The way's the same for any knight, no matter the companions." Keeping his flag-spear shouldered, the knight. The companionship of mage Margot was acknowledged with a brief nod before the throng was set into motion, Pryonn setting himself at the front of the small group, both for the sake of having open ground to charge at the enemy, as well as keeping Kaatl away from the Succubus.

Addressed: QizPizza
Mentioned: Vyseryx

In Ruins Group: Midrick Vyseryx Trappy BioshockRP Kabboom Epiphany

 

[LuciTheGreat]

Anna Eadburg

This was disastrous! A horrendous turn of events! All of the hunters’ hard work, swallowed in the blink of an eye by vermin. Without food, the whole come camp will succumb to famine and the mission will be compromised... They need to retake their spoils!

With fingers curled into a fist, nails painfully digging into her palm, Anna turned to the young elf, with a gentle, yet firm look on her face:

“Feareth not, child! Light protects... none shall hunger today!” An eerily motivating sentence, yet her words carried a preternatural, unexpected weight.
A forbidding and inauspicious aura started engulfing the white-haired woman, taking most guardsmen by surprise: they saw her as a religious figure, their group would often turn to her for prayers and blessings. The sudden change in nature was surely unexpected.

“Wha' shall we do 'hen? I-if i may ask, ov course!” a young soldier squeaked.

Anna demanded the cross to be brought to her, and two bulky men, who were unfortunate enough to be chosen for the task of carrying the holy weapon during the hunt, carried the artifact over to its rightful owner.

After a few seconds of thinking, the Inquirer lifted the cross, pointing its lower tip towards the opening in the ground. Her action was followed by the pull of a lever, which made the cross crackle and moan with a metallic melody, as the inner clockwork caused the artefact to twist and turn until it no longer resembled a cross, but a cannon, well placed into the ground.

“Oh, Holy Mars!
Oh Lord, how many are my foes!
How many rise up against the truth of Light!”

The cross was now loaded with a suspiciously big projectile, gently glowing in the rising sun.

“But you, Lord, are a shield around me,
the glory of man, the One who lifts my head high.”

The cross hummed as springs and pulleys started turning.

“So, as I pray... Holy Mars!
LET THE HERETICS BURN!”

There was a sudden blinding flash followed by a muffled roar that echoed across the sky, the projectile shrieked as it headed towards its unfortunate victim, glowing with divine radiance.

A fiery eruption of light and sound sprayed dusty debris into the air as the mouth of the poor creature was hit, before it was completely engulfed in flames. Brazier rounds, incendiary artillery shots of the Church, blessed in holy rituals... "inhumane", yet efficient weapons. All in the glory of Light!

“Rise brothers and sisters! We are taking our spoils back! In the name of Holy Light!”

Trappy Kabboom -robert- RubyZoo

 

[Spireshade]

Harvesting today would be a challenge. No bodies he could find nearby, besides from the one he found earlier, and he grew a little tired of having to sneak through the underbrush for little morsels of wildlife to be wrung of their life within an instant. After all, the returns for such small creatures were diminishing, and he couldn't just eat all of the mass of the rabbits and squirrels. Bones just weren't up to his standard of dining. He sighed as he kicked dirt onto the last embers of his fire, plucking a few choice bits of jerky he salted from his 'catch' the day before and leaving the rest for the wilds. The man rummaged about his things strewn all over the gore covered ground, his walking stick, a small sack with a few essential items, and a canteen of water. Everything he'd need, or ever need. One arm went straight up, then bent at the elbow down to his back, his other hand pulling at his elbow, before repeating the same for the other. He set about to leave, but he realised he almost forgot something, his amulet! Back to his little camp, he knelt next to his bonfire, and lifted his fire's elbow, the necklace just tucked into the crispy remains of the torso. He shook his head at however it might've gotten into his fire, but he didn't care. He took the body, and dragged it behind a tree, the corpse unrecognisable entirely as whoever it once was. No matter. The skull shrivelled in one swing of his cane, the teeth plucked one by one by the guardian, and set on the lap of the corpse. It wasn't often he had to hunt like this, but the brigand put up a good fight, that's for sure. Dinner and a fire became less of a challenge for him as the war waged on against the darkborne, and sometimes he wondered if the would ever be a forseeable end to it. He shook his head, and jammed a piece of mystery meat jerky into his mouth to keep his mind off the state of existence. He walked alone in silence, just like he always did.


Another page tumbled to dust off the cover of the book as Raethe tried to glean anything he could from the copy of "Glimshod's Tips and Tricks for Light Housing!" that had been so mistreated long ago. He had just flung the remnants of the book to the trees when he heard movement. He crouched and slid to cover, creeping behind the crumbling, moss ridden wall of the dilapidated ruin.

A jangling, surely, the crunch of boots and the softer tap of shoes. This wasn't the usual roaming band of miscreants or haggard soldiers. This was a band of completely non-uniform designation. An armored figure, a mage, clearly, but then... He couldn't place the species of the tall one, and the fae creature made him wonder what exactly would these four be doing in the ruins? What might their motives be? He decided that maybe, it would better serve him if he introduced himself later on in the trail, shadowing them until he found it necessary to reveal his presence, just like in his old recon party. Or maybe...

He drew his hood over his head, peeking over the wall to watch them, before noticing another ruined book on the ground. "Introduction to Fine Dining" His composure completely fell apart as he bent over to grab the similarly destroyed book to finger through the pages again, completely forgetting the people that he felt the sudden urge to follow and watch, as he audibly oohed at the different ways that you could skin and cook rabbits. It would change the way he looked at them completely. Stewing rabbits with pine leaves? Who would've thunk it?

Noticing his quarry was just upon him, he stuffed the book into his robes hurriedly, the dried paper getting all over the legendary robes that he had so disregarded at the very moment for a decrepit cook book. He peeked again, and felt something that most bandits didn't have about them. Light energy. He hasn't seen that in such a while, who were these handful? With walking stick in hand, he left the ruin through the front door, or, the hole that he presumed the front door would be. There was a few holes, but he chose the biggest one, it felt appropriate to him. He stopped right at the side of the little path, and glanced at the travellers, waving a curt wave before shouting a question at them.

"Guardians?"

Unwavering Knight Vyseryx QizPizza Kabboom

 

[Epiphany]

Aymeline

QizPizza
The Giant nods to Taryn and slowly returns that smile. Though smiles come easily to Aymeline's face, it doesn't seem that she's used to people smiling back at her. Instead, she dips her head slightly to break eye contact before mumbling, "We each have our role to play. This is mine. You're welcome." When the other woman opts to accompany Pyronn, she simply makes a mental note to better track their relative locations once the teams split up.

Midrick
"Sorry," Aymeline says, her voice soft and her eyes averted from Pat as the man shakes his hand off. Pained? Or disgusted? But then the man hefted his axe and chuckled as he made it plain he intended to come with her. Carefully, she gives him a smile of welcome and sets her own White Warcry on her shoulder. The white jade and steel alloyed warhammer is enormous beyond belief, large enough to knock trees out of the ground or shatter boulders. "We're here to search," she says, remembering their mission orders. "But if we encounter the Darkborne..." she lifts her warhammer off her shoulder and slaps the head into her left palm. "No more Darkborne."

Unwavering Knight
Sensitive to mood, Aymeline's good cheer fades upon seeing the caution in the knight and the worry in his fairy companion. But then he took her hand and her Soul Tie was set, though she flexed her fingers several times, shaking off the surprising, mysterious pain that'd radiated from that contact. Some kind of defensive Light magic? Or a Guardian's power? It hurt. But she senses no malice from the man and his agreeability with Margot's plan spoke well of him. Though it was unlikely they would work together, at least this time.

BioshockRP
When Cris volunteers to go with her, Aymeline looks relieved. They didn't know each other especially well but, in her experience, that was true of everyone she met save a few Guardians no longer living. At this point, being able to partner with someone whose name she knew, whose capabilities she'd seen before, is a welcome predicatiblity for her to count on. "Thank you, my friend," she says to Cris after he volunteers for his role. "We'll need your eyes, I suspect, to find what we can and avoid what we should."

Trappy
Aymeline spent most of the trip to the Ruins somewhat nervous in the company of a renowned warrior like Maria Theodosiel. Though relatively recent to the Guardian ranks, Aymeline knew of her past repute as a general and warrior. Mixed stories, truth be told, but the woman had a confidence and certainty to her bearing that spoke of real competence. Certainly the plan that Maria lays out is an excellent one and Ayemline nods her enthusiastic agreement. "I'll be watching for the team on the left side, since I'm used to monitoring others through the Soul Tie. I'd suggest someone on the left side volunteer to watch the right as well, for reinforcement if needed or for choosing a battlefield and bracing if we have to flee towards you. It works best if it's not someone in command, so they're not distracted."

Kabboom @all the rest of the Right Side Ruins team.
As the teams separate out, Aymeline peers towards the sky and says "We'd best be moving if we're going to keep good daylight for this. Let's start with this nearest building here." The Giant approaches cautiously, using her greater height to look further afield for danger both around the building in question as well as potentially from the surrounding forest, in case Darkborne decide upon an ambush.

As they approach the building, Aymeline bows her head at Maria's praise and visibly blushes. "As is yours," she returns to the other woman. "I'm grateful our team benefits from an experienced commander and warrior. And yes, I had noticed that many in the Guardian supply train weren't Guardians. Surprising. Not many without the Light and training we bear would come to the front lines. I'll try to keep them alive, for as long as I can."

At Maria's question, Aymeline brightens. "You'll be aware of emotional extremes and general health, at any range. I haven't tested an outer limit but it's worked for several miles at least." After a moment of thought, the Giant's eyes widen slightly. "Be careful about touching others with the Tie, though. Surface thoughts can come through the link that way. Useful for silent communication, not useful if you have an undisciplined mind and you have a thought you don't want others to see."

Approaching the most obvious point of entry to the ruined building, Aymeline pauses and peers about it. "Cris? Can you have a look inside before we enter?"

 

[Unwavering Knight]

Pryonn & Kaatl

It was only minutes after the other half of the group had passed from sight, the decrepit walls of the cathedral towering above them, that the party found their path adjoined by a veiled figure, boldly addressing them as Guardians.

"Ho there, cowl-frame!" the knight replied to the figure with jolly tone, banner-lance raised in greetings "What a strange location for you to call out a merry questing group such as ours! Is there something you need? Some worthy errand for us to fulfill?" His helm dipping to the side as he inspected the robed figure, feeling the call of adventure urging him to relegate proper deference to it. Standard humanoid size, shadowed features, ragged robes stretching leisurely over unseen matter. Perhaps to many, such a conspiciousely inconspicious frame might invite suspicion, yet to the knight and his questionable sense of normalcy, Raethe simply appeared as a sufficiently-agreeable enigmatic figure.

A sideglance to the fairy of his shoulder only led to her shrugging her shoulders, giving a little wave to the robed bystander, before returning her attention back to Taryn, trying to parse her more 'mature' reaction to a greeting such as this.

Finding nothing that disagreed with his judgement, the knight pressed on "Say, good sir, you have the mysterious air of one steeped in the ways of yore! Would you have knowledge of this cathedral here? Any eldritch beasts locked in its stone-bowels that we might slay? Would it guard a grand item, perhaps a scroll, ring or sword of ancient telling?" Curiosity and the possibility of slaying another legendary creature feeding into one another, Pryonn's voice quickly betrayed his growing enthusiasm as he turned to the rest of the group to inform them "I shall lay claim upon any romance-poem or song the beast's hoard might contain, certainly, anyone else may have the trifling frippery such as jewels, gold or somesuch."

Addressed: Spireshade
Mentioned: QizPizza

In Ruins Group: Midrick Vyseryx Trappy BioshockRP Kabboom Epiphany

 

[Soviet Panda]

Buras was quite frankly getting tired of listening to the incessant chirping of the little bird that had decided it would be their leader. Well, try to be their leader. He was no leader of Buras', that was for certain. Not when he was told to do something he was already going to do. "You, human, help or leave, that is your choice. The fortress is that way and the enemy that way. Run or fight." With that said, he set himself into motion. He didn't get far, not peacefully at least, for a Darkwolf appeared. The enemy had been so close all along, and they had not known until it had decided to reveal itself.

Cocking his arm back, he hurls one of his axes at the creature. Flying end over end, it buried itself into the Darkborne. "MOVE! NOW!" He roared at his commrades. "More will come!" That had to have been a scout, and that lone bark was no doubt to relay information to the others. Perhaps he was giving the creatures to much respect, they were mindless beasts after all. However, Buras knew better. The Frostborne that plagued his homeland were not to different from these creatures. And he had heard tales of a single pack wiping out an entire tribe.

 

[BioshockRP]

Location: Farther Away || Right Group Closest Ruins Building.

Ears heard not the incessant clamoring of ideas, but only sensible plans. Paying no heed to the debacle between the others, he assumed a rested position. When finally, the giantess' orders broke into his ears, engulfing his hearing, he stood alert. With her beckoning, he followed vigilantly, tilting his head to the sides with owl movement. As he approached the gates of dismemberment, what partitioned one building from the other, his eyes caught the attention of fresh rat. Hunger echoed in his stomach, and the sunlit dance of cellular mitochondria lavished the prospect. But no, he thought, for rats broke their bone in a brittle similar to wooden splinters stuck in the fingers. He hoped none saw, as he began to pocket the creature with serrated knife.

Before he resourced the rat, he answered Aymeline's question with no hesitation, "Yes." Still his mind misunderstood, whether she wanted him to peer through the doors, or check the skies, or demand a cellar to crack at hidden barrels. Either way, knowing a giant's mind, he thought she preferred the frontal assault. So a noise maker came to mind, as he lifted himself over the stoned fence to meet the rodent.

Epiphany

Location: Right Group Closest Ruins Building.

Wretched animal protein torn asunder, as rotten sinews blistered from the rat's sunken body. Nimble, and careful, Cris placed his soft hands around the rodent, gripping it gently. He lifted the carcass off mossy stone with a single sharp knife. As the bone poked out second rib in the rat's cage, it excised in natural momentum displaced by Cris' sudden steps. CRACKLE went the floor in audible clearance, when Cris deliberately crunched a twig. Like a spice, he sprinkled the wooden splinters along the rodent's fur, and then at the ruined building's vacant walls, he utilized his vision.

While his eyes adjusted, he sought the closest entertainment apparatus, a discarded set of chess tokens lined the floor near a table. Although, he couldn't hear through the walls, he spotted the darkborne slither intermittently across the wooden planks that assembled the floor. He deployed a mixture of his night vision and see-through prowess to distinguish the amenities that lingered in the dark building. From his viewpoint, he noticed a dank hole lighting a collapsed stage, scattered tables, rotten food contained in cabinets, and corpses; many, many corpses. Before entering the ruins, he gestured to Aymeline to prepare for combat.

Trudged boots, and licked cahoots, his mind prepped the group: "Witnessed Darkborne. Will check door. Easy night eye. Collapsed stage; Wooden floor; and debris. Watch step." Slick, slides on the feet, as tablets aligned into bricks prodded Cris' back. He crawled forward, ebbing slowly to the door, with hands locked onto the wall. Now at the door, he crept his neck, drifting it down midway to the knobs. Peering inside, he sported his night sight, peeking, while his left hand clutched the knife skewering the rat. Like his prior spying, he encountered a similar structure, but this time, he detected an opening within the stage's exterior. The crippled floors certainly provided a devilish trap, should noise encourage the beasts to curiosity. And so, he warned his team telepathically, "Prepare now. I make noise. I stay shadows. Above roof."

CLANK alarmed the knife. CRINKLE and CRACKLE, as wood scratched wooden splinters, bolstering the noise. A rotten rat noise maker, accompanied with splinters dealt an intense fervor of sound. After throwing the makeshift clapper, Cris instantly transformed into an owl, escaping to the roof. Hopefully, if the darkborne remained distracted, he may snipe a few above, or locate from bird's eye other sources of darkborne. For now, his role as a scout explained his removal from close combat.

Midrick Vyseryx Trappy BioshockRP Kabboom Epiphany Unwavering Knight

 

[QizPizza]

Audun the Fallen

Location: Ridge
Status: Frustrated/In Combat
Disposition: Generally Good
Interacting With: U UnbelievableCow Albion
Mentioned: Soviet Panda Sybil

As Buras instinctively threw an ax at the Darkwolf, Audun knew that a fight was coming. He had no objections to slaying Darkborne, but this one was quite strange in that it did not attack the moment it detected the Guardians. Maybe if Audun was by himself, that would not be such and oddity, but with a much more varied group, it was certain that a Darkwolf would've instantly attacked . The Seraph drew Harmonious Discord in his right hand and Deimos in his left. As he poured in magic into the demonic weapon it, grew to match the size of his greatsword.

He would have have to deal with Arthur and Desmond as he fought. A hindrance and annoyance at best. Having to keep an eye on them without getting too close and killing them by accident was a challenge. More so than accidentally losing them in the chaos of the battle. It didn't help that Audun was never one for working with a team. The only one he was able to work with efficiently was Taryn, and even then, they didn't fight side-by-side. The Succubus let Audun and her illusions take all the hits while she engaged the enemy from behind. Needless to say, fighting alongside two swordsmen would force Audun to be much more careful. "Swordsmen, with me. We will make our way through the clearing and destroy any Darkborne in the way."