Recovering a Broken Heart

[Grimsvald]

Music​

Silence sits heavy in the night like a ton of stones crushing a long dead witch. Even the howl of the winter winds lands dull on the ear. For an hour that silence is unwavering, but then the sound of thunder cracks. Thunder in the form of a heeled shoe on marble tiles. A persistent sound that builds to a crescendo at the exit and shatters the silence of the night. It is the sound of you walking away from another dead end.

It's hard to believe this wasn't it. A long cobbled road named Arterio lead you here to the church of Sacred Hearts. Father Cardiac's corpse sizzles on the floor next to the broken pews. You searched every inch of this place and there was no heart shaped ruby to break. Your mind shuffles through clues like a dealer trying to play with two decks of cards. No matter how you stack it there is no winning hand.

The wet tongue of fidget winter licks your face and leaves it pale. It has been many years since you stood in a cold like this and it took you a lot of walking to find yourself here. The warmth of the burning church behind you beckons you to return to its blazing bosom. Somehow it seems welcoming. A part of you wants to turn back and drink in the embers, but some greater power sets its hand on your shoulder and pushes you out.

This is the first step on a new lead. This is a step in the right direction. This time things will be different. Something carried on the wind told you to travel to Crestwood. You won't let this omen go unheard. You're not mindlessly chasing the whispers of a dead man, you are trudging after screams of vindication.

 

[Congenial Organism]

Location: Church of Sacred Hearts
Mentionable people nearby: MsPolite Error 420
Name: Luci Felwhit
Mood: Exhausted
HP: 19
Level: 3 (CS)
Class: Rogue

Music
She looked down - heart still pumping hard from that killing blow. The gelid air only dulled for a moment by a tepid gust of wind from the blazing fires of the once illustrious church; now reduced to rubble. Her eyes settled on the pale yellow bone of a slain Skeleton. She presses the hard rubber sole of her boot tip into its cracked skull - leaning down and sharply pulling her dagger from its head; wiping the dust across her tattered cloak's edge before sheathing it.

She gathered her wits for a moment, blurred lines and hazy feelings of exhaustion swept over her body - no doubt the adrenaline had run it's course... her heart, no longer pounding ferociously - nose flaring from latent breaths. As she felt herself coming back to reality she examined herself for wounds briefly - nothing, luckily. Looking around to scout for any additional treasures or clues in her immediate area (Perception check). Aside from her investigation, her only attention was on her fellow traveling companions. An ex who most likely couldn't escape her feelings of endearment... and her disturbed mentor from ages past.

"hm..."

The only thing she could manage to get out regarding the current situation they were in. However, a small gleam of hope still lingered in the back of her mind... they had come too far to give up now. A heart-shaped ruby; the ultimate tax for this trip. Letting out a sigh before brushing her legging's off she expressed with deep resentment - for the time being all she wanted to do was rest, but the path beckoned from beyond;

"We need to get going. Let's take a look around... then get out of here."

She could feel the synergy with her team seething from the air - they had the same sense of vindication as she did. Being with them at the same time felt surreal but not in a whimsical way - rather a burning sense of duty kind of feeling; something she rarely felt.
If you want any of the code I used in this post, feel free to ask. - Grimsvald (tagging separately as they're not an actual character atm)

 

[MsPolite]

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• MsPolite
• Aug 3, 2018

Location: Church of Sacred Hearts
Mentionable people nearby: Congenial Organism Error 420
Name: Alura Aldici
Mood: Weary
HP: 28/28
Level: 3
Class: Paladin

A heavy breath escapes Alura's lips. She stares down at the cold gray ground beneath her as she regains her bearings. The fire in the back beats and whips in a steady rhythm that calls to her. Alura clenches her eyes and stands looking back at the fire as if entranced by its warmth. Yet she feels a wind inside her that pulls her away. Alura closes her eyes for a moment and mumbles to no one, "Ilmater calls to me.." With a renewed vigor she looks about to see Luci Felwhit; a woman dear to her and the only reason Alura is still on this quest... And Garrick Varkasian, Luci's mentor and more or less a stranger to Alura.
"We need to get going. Let's take a look around... then get out of here." Luci says. Alura sees the same push that she had felt herself
"I concur, but their is nothing but bones and rubble here.." Alura presses her lips for a moment.
"Luci... I felt the hands of Ilmater on me, and... And I believe he calls to us to move to Crestwood." Alura's heart pounds in her chest. She hated how nervous she got around Luci. Alura didn't understand why she felt the need for her attention and acknowledgment. It hurts.
Yet Conviction in her faith and her love is what drives Alura forward, and will continue to do so. Alura tied her lance to her back along with her shield as she began walking ahead before facing the two once more in a gesture to move on.

Grimsvald

 

[Grimsvald]

The seething fire in the church swells to shift stones and beams. The Ambulatory, Transept and Nave bloat like a beast's belly, cracking and groaning as everything shifts out of place. There is a mighty bellow when the flames rise up from the belly of the beast into its bell tower throat. That bellow morphs into an explosive belch that shreds the spire and shatters the rose windows.

The great church bell tolls as it tumbles down the collapsing throat of this tower. The bell crashes down upon the pews like it weighs two tons. A storm cloud of embers and ash is blown out into the court yard around you and you can smell the priests cologne haunting the dust in the air. If there were any clues left behind you're sure they will be read by the dead long before you can pull a word from the charred parchments.

Your heart, the gods and a voice on the winds calls you to Crestwood, but what will it take for your feet to move? Where the tomb stones stop and the trampled wooden fence pretends to be a barrier against the dead, you see something. There is a one eyed crow sitting on top of the Crestwood road sign, taring at flesh pinned beneath it's claw. The creature caws and flies north leaving the hunk of flesh behind.

 

[Congenial Organism]

Location: On the Road
Mentionable people nearby: MsPolite Error 420
Name: Luci Felwhit
Mood: Exhausted
HP: 19
Level: 3 (CS)
Class: Rogue

Quickly Luci turns at the sound of the erupting chapel tower with handle of blade in hand. She realizes that the eruption came from the church - beautiful embers cascaded across the wind like a hundred fireflies. She watched in awe as the bell sang it's last note before slamming into the ground with an enormous hum. The fire that had roared from the tower's throat eased and all that was left was the deafening silence only second to the ambient ringing in her ears.

She stared for only a few more moments. Quite rare she has ever seen such a spectacle - but it was worth every second nonetheless.

Luci looked up at Alura with a glint in her eyes; taking the hint to get a move on. She was already eager to make way onto the road. The sound of the wind, the dreadful scrapping of cold against her skin, they were all just temporary reminders of the chagrin she currently felt. Their walk along the cobbled and cracked road eventually led to dirt and just up ahead was a toppled wooden fence. A clear sign with the word "Crestwood" etched onto it's weathered front. Slight movement caught her eye and her wrist reflexively twitched but it was no more than a solemn crow carrying its last feast away in its beak. Her eyes watched as it left into the sky - not long after it became too difficult to see. She trudged on beside her mentor and ex-partner.

A small wave of relief swept over her, knowing they were almost there. A warm bed and maybe a pint of mead would be a welcome luxury.

Her lips were pressed together. She didn't feel like initiating small talk. She wanted to know more about why they were here, and why they had come all this way.
Grimsvald

 

[Grimsvald]

Music

The hoof pounded street that lead you out of town slowly began to twist. The traveler's tracks in the mud before you become more sparse. The tracks that remain grow frantic and scattered. The tall oak trees begin to coil and turn black. As bad as this seems it is only a temporary setting before the roads horrific finality. Thick fog rolls onto the road from a white wall beyond the coiled trees. It is only now that you realize that fog has haunted your journey and cut off your retreat.

This road is a dead end, blocked off by boulders and a small running creek. You know your are traveling North, but it may be difficult without a road to follow. Among the barricade of stones sits a bloody tattered back pack. Bite marks have ripped the leather bag and rag marks lead away from the stones into the ominous dark woods. Where the drag marks meet the tree line bloody hand prints pepper the bark. Silent crows begin to gather on bare branches to stare down at you.

You can hear slow moving foot steps stalking you from the woods. Dry leaves and twigs crunch beneath their heavy feet. Distant screaming builds and falls away into the unknown. Trailing behind the screams are the daunting growl of an unseen beast and a low hum that quiets the crickets.

Where would you like to go from here? Would you like to make a survival check to pick a direction? Do you want to stand your ground against what every may be out in the fog? Or you could check the tattered backpack and follow the bloody drag marks.

 

[ZombieMancer]

Location: On The Way To Crestwood
Name: Arryan Nlea Falen
Mood: Curious, and nervous
HP: 42
Level: 3
Class:Cleric/Ranger

Arryan had been traveling on the road to meet up with an acquaintance from her past, Luci, who had sent word that she was on route to “The Church of Sacred Hearts” and that they should meet there.

She walked and walked through the night until the church came into view in the moonlight, she stopped and examined it for a moment and thought to herself “A funny looking church… what unique architecture! I wonder what gods they worship?” She then shook her head a moment then thought “Let’s meet up with Luci first, that is a much more pressing matter in the current state of things”

Arryan began walking down the path with increase speed and anxiousness. It had been so long since she saw anyone from the old days let alone someone who used to be close to her previous mentor. As she walked she did let her mind wander a bit.

Soon she what looked to be figures walking away from the church. She then slowly crept near them to see if she could make see Luci in the group.

As soon as Arryan realized Luci was there, she stood up and ran towards her. “LUCI, Q Elen síla lúmenn' omentielvo!” Then she hugged her tightly then speaking in infernal they caught up for a moment just as if they were sisters that hadn’t seen each other in years.

Luci fills Arryan in on everything that has happened thus far in her quest, and asks Arryan to join them to finish the quest. Arryan accepts and follows Luci down the trail.

They follow the road and it begins to twist and the fog begins rolling in.

Arryan begins to get very weary, almost wanting to go back and run away but she wouldn’t have anywhere to run to. She sticks her hand into her pocket and grabs her prayer beads and begins muttering a protect prayer under her breath.
She then looks and notices the bloody drag marks “Someone is hurt, I must do what I can to help” Arryan whispers to herself. Then she careful walks closer to the the marks and the tattered bag to see if she notices anything else about them (Rolls perception check 12 + 4 perception)

 

[Congenial Organism]

Location: On the Beatin path
Mentionable people nearby: Zaxs ZombieMancer Grimsvald
Name: Luci Felwhit
Mood: Cautious
HP: 19
Level: 3 (CS)
Class: Rogue

She'd be lying if she tried to convince herself that this place didn't make her uneasy. However, with her traveling companions and their particular... skillsets... it was easier to focus, not having to worry about them as much. Although figuring the next best course of action would be beneficial to the current situation. She stifled her footsteps as her mentor taught her. Only a moment escaped her when she realized her friend Arryan was about to wander off again. She could see that same inquisitive glint in her eyes after all these years. Luci swiftly brought her hand to Arryan's shoulder to halt her from wandering off (after the perception check of course, and with ZombieMancer's permission). She brought a finger to her lips as a queue to be quiet. Luci hunched down a bit and began talking in a hushed voice.

"Now... this probably isn't a popular opinion but I have half a mind to say we light the woods ablaze in hopes to clear this fog. Heat rises and as such would surely create large enough gusts and would illuminate our path..."

She stopped giving a second thought to this...

"For those of you not keen on immediately drawing ourselves to attention... perhaps a spell?"

Her shifty eyes fixating on Arryan.

"What about you Cleric... what do you propose?"

Luci said with a sly smile

(Leaving the post open-ended in case any of the roleplayers come back and want to jump in immediately)

 

[ZombieMancer]

Location: On The Way To Crestwood
Name: Arryan Nlea Falen
Mood: Excited
HP: 42
Level: 3
Class:Cleric/Ranger

Arryan pulled out her spellbook and flipped through the pages.


“I know that spell is somewhere… hmmm….it is.. Right… HERE!”


She put her finger on the page and said reading aloud “Create or Destroy Water!” Then she looks up at Luci and explains “I can destroy the fog with this spell”


Arryan then stands up with her book in her hands and starting reading the spell aloud, as she read small white lights starting emerging from the pages and began dancing around her hands.

( Grimsvald - Rolls 19 with +4 modifier)

 

[Grimsvald]

( ZombieMancer that spell shouldn’t need a roll so we can just hold on to that 19 for later)

I side the abandon leather backpack you find some damaged clothes, a damaged knife, 4 rations and 5 copper. The side sachle that held the money was torn open and you find 3 more copper along the bloody trail to the woods. When you reach the tree you notice two types of blood muddled in the hand print, one type being old and black. Cuts are taken from the bark that assure you this is a battle and not a slaughter.

The fog gives way to your spell. As the white fades away it reveals a visage of distant battle. A large hunched beast ravaging an adventurer of some kind. Electricity bolts from the monsters back giving a moment of clearity to their battle. Then they are obscured in a swirl of black mist and shrieks.

The image of their battle is getting bigger, no wait...its getting closer! A sidewinding tornado of black smoke, lightening and cawing crows comes barrelling out of the forest towards you. The beast and the adventurer are screaming as the smoke crashes into trees along the way. When the conflict reaches the clearing of the road it spins to a stop and spews the injured adventurer out onto the dirt.

The beast stands to its feet and gives a horrifying caw war cry. Its bird like twitches bring it back to a slouched hunting pose. The monsters head its forged from blood rusted steels but a fleshy toothy enemy lays beneath the armor. Electric coils extend from its back randomly giving bolts that scourch the ground or surf the surface of its steel. The monsters body is black feathered and its feet are talons. A long bone tail trashes around behind it hitting areas that the bolts of electricity miss. It walks on its winged arms that have large blood rusted blades extending from them.

 

[ZombieMancer]

Location: On The Way To Crestwood
Name: Arryan Nlea Falen
Mood: Terrified
HP: 42
Level: 3
Class:Cleric/Ranger

Arryan had only ever seen beast like this before in books, but to be witness to it’s power while feeling the air literally electrify in it’s presence was something entirely new to her. Her legs started shaking and her mind started racing, she would have fallen over if Luci wasn’t right next to her.

“Luci... let me help you fight this beast” Arryan then grabbed Luci’s hand casting Enhance Ability : Cat’s Grace


( Congenial Organism this grants you +4 to dexterity checks, prevents you from getting injured if you fall from 20ft or less, and it lasts up to 1hr)


Arryan then looked toward the injured adventurer and sees if there is a way that she can make it towards the explorer. ( Grimsvald perception check?)