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Post by sapphiresmoke on Jun 20, 2011 14:49:39 GMT -5
(OoC: Oh, good.)
BiC:
Mura stood frozen as Adrian approached the dead cat. She'd never really grown used to the violence of the animal world, and seeing the dog shaking the cat like that... It would have been shocking even if she hadn't been partial to cats.
Adrian knelt and touched the poor creature, and Mura found herself moving forward in a sort of daze. He was singing something, but she couldn't hear the words, just a faint melody. As she reached Adrian and stood behind him, a sort of mist rose from the cat's matted fur. What...? Mura blinked, shook her head, and looked again. The mist had gathered into what looked like a cat itself, and it seemed to be looking around. Before she could really absorb what she was seeing, it ran off.
She put a hand on Adrian's shoulder to get his attention and said quietly, "What just happened?"
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Post by Genesis on Jun 21, 2011 1:36:23 GMT -5
A slight smile pulled at his lips. "I kept it home." He sighed. "I have very little idea what it is per say, but I know where she's going... to her child." He jerked his head in the direction the smoke was heading. "Want a kitten?" He didn't wait for an answer as he scampered off after the spirit.
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Post by oracle on Jun 23, 2011 15:07:49 GMT -5
(OoC: Everything's fine by me guys. I would suggest doing your thing with the cat, and heading over to the inn with a time lapse. Incidentally an animal familiar like a pet cat is not uncommon in this world, but usually among high powered adventurers who bind a sentient spirit into the animal. (Presto mindlinked animals that can cast spells!) But yeah, you can have a kitten. The thing you probably find you can't do is go hunting around town, because the sherrif will discourage it on the grounds of the farmers needing the game for their own food.)
OoC: So yeah, I'm good with what you've done so far, lets just finish it off.
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Post by sapphiresmoke on Jun 27, 2011 22:44:16 GMT -5
(OoC: So I keep telling myself I'm going to add to this, but it keeps not happening. If you want to go ahead and lead with Adrian, Genesis, I'll just have Mura follow along. Sorry.)
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Post by Genesis on Jun 27, 2011 23:13:18 GMT -5
The cat's spirit seemed somewhat erratic. From time to time it would stop and hiss or meow, but eventually, it lead them out of the villiage. The few inhabitants that did notice it were startled to say the least. And in a small hay shed, was a tortishell kitten, a collection of different hues. It mewled in fear at the smoke attempting to communicate with it, and at this point Adrian sang several notes, and dispelled the spirit. The kitten lay trembling and frozen and didn't utter a sound as Adrian gently lifted it. "Let's find something for him to eat once we get back to the inn."
(ooc: not much, but I'd rather fart something out than keep everyone waiting)
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Post by oracle on Jun 28, 2011 16:22:03 GMT -5
As the day wore on and more citizens moved in on the inn for an evening of socializing, many new sets of eyes saw the travelers. Soon the other members of Rynak's team returned and many began to wonder what a party of such people was doing in their little village.
Wren was the first to return, followed shortly by Mura and Adrian with a guest. In response to their new party member Rynak greeted them with a, "Where did you get a kitten?"
Before any response could be made though a thickly built farmer interupted them, he asked Adrian, "Traveler I wonder if I could talk to you and your party for a moment."
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Post by Genesis on Jun 29, 2011 15:28:33 GMT -5
Adrian almost stuttered, taken aback that he was the individual being adressed rather than the guards. But Adrian was able to reply calmly in his gentalmanly manner, "Why, of course you may good sir. After all, this is your home."
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Post by oracle on Jun 29, 2011 21:55:19 GMT -5
The local guestured for the party to fill up the table that Rynak and Liam were seated at. He did not take a seat himself until everyone else was seated. "The others did not think it worthwhile to ask you travelers for help, but I figure there can't be any harm in the asking. You can say no if you like and nothing is lost."
The man paused for a few seconds before he realized that he had yet to ask any questions. He started to speak again, and it became clear that he was making eye contact only with Mura, Adrian, and Wren, but would look away as quick as he could when confronted with Rynak or Liam. "See I also figured that you were all headed for the hills from the direction you were traveling when you came into town."
Once again he paused for several seconds before realizing he hadn't actually asked a question, "See we've been having this.... trouble with monsters coming out of the Rainbow Mounds. Then there's the fact that you're all going to have to pass the Rainbow Mounds to get into what little there is in the hills as far as paths. So as long as you were passing them, much better equiped to fight monsters than we are, would you please help us?"
He continued to try and avoid eye contact with Rynak or Liam, but Rynak leaned in anyways. He squinted for a few seconds at the man who cast a few worried glances his way. Rynak eventually stated, "You are not telling us all that you know, but more importantly you're not telling us what made you get up the nerve to come ask a bunch of heavily armed strangers for help without payment."
The man stared back into Rynak's gaze as though petrified. He held for a few seconds and then gasped suddenly. He covered his face and sobbing noises issued from him. Without lifting his head he managed to say between sobs, "They've got my youngest son and her older sister!" He was interupted by more sobs, "I've got no other hope!"
Rynak breathed out and ran his right hand through his hair. He shook his head once and asked, "What do you all think? We are kind of in a rush, but this is just..."
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Post by Spectre on Jun 29, 2011 23:50:09 GMT -5
At first, Wren was about to quickly say that they should help, but something made him stop. Do I want to fight simply because of guilt; that I didn't aid in the battle before?
But it really doesn't matter, he realized. After Rynak's question, the farmer was looking hopefully at Wren himself, Mura, and Adrian; both the villager and commander were making this their decision.
He spoke quietly, trying to keep his voice level. "I say we help them. If we can do something for people, but just avoid the problem... then we're no better than the-" he stopped, unsure if it would be dangerous to speak ill of the king in public. "The one we met back in Nia," he finished.
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Post by sapphiresmoke on Jul 2, 2011 19:00:21 GMT -5
Mura would have answered immediately, but the sight of the man's grief sent her spiraling into remembered grief of her own. His family must be similar to hers. How young were the children? Did they have any hope at all without help? Her own family hadn't stood a chance. The sight of them when she'd returned to the farm...
Wren's voice brought her back to the present.
"We have to help," she agreed. "We can't just abandon them! I'll go alone if the rest of you won't come."
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Post by Genesis on Jul 2, 2011 21:18:50 GMT -5
"Sorry to be a cynic, but if they were taken by monsters, more than likely they'd already be dead, and the dead don't rise..." Adrian said before trailing off. For he knew that the dead very well could rise. "Just how long have they been gone?" If there was enough left of them, Kamen just might be capable...
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Post by oracle on Jul 6, 2011 7:58:19 GMT -5
The man sniffed and responded to Adrian, "Since late yesterday." He appeared to have cheered up a little at the responses from Mura and Wren, but certainly not very much. He was past words now.
(OoC: Sorry, had a few busy days in there)
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Post by Genesis on Jul 14, 2011 13:50:58 GMT -5
Adrian wanted to help... but he did not like the thought of battling a pile of hairy monsters. But then again he could practice his magic, and prove himself to the rest of the party... not to mention the treasure and artifacts that may lie within their dens. He turned to Rynak and whispered, "Sir, if we gain respect from the people, it may increase our influence. We could more effectively garnish some form of a resistance against the Srabians... there may even be treasure, artifacts within the lair." Not that he cared to much about the empire seizing the island. No matter how much resistance mere people put out, they would fall before the empire's might. He would make sure to be reunited with his masters before the day of the invasion.
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Post by oracle on Jul 15, 2011 18:41:18 GMT -5
(OoC: Lets kill some baddies. Hmm... future note I should set up these debates so you lot go back and forth amongst yourselves instead of back and forth with me. I think it will end in more creative ideas.)
BiC:
The group was largely in favor. Wren made a good point, the King had been letting this entire country outside of his capital fall into disrepair for years, and it was time someone stood up for them. Besides that Rynak didn't doubt Mura was serious about going on her own, and while Adrian's points were long shots at best, they were worth considering.
"Now I can't believe I even let this be a debate. You're all clearly correct, its time these people stopped getting ignored. Saving Naost isn't about saving Nia, its about saving the people from death and enslavement. We'll leave tomorrow morning to attack these creatures, and get back your children."
************* (Time for some action, lets skip ahead)
The next morning the group set out for the hills, and specifically the entrance to the Rainbow Mounds. They left the village and headed straight for a small valley carved by a weak stream. It wasn't much, with rough hills rising in either direction to both sides, and the path was incredibly overgrown. The whole group was forced to proceed slowly on foot, but according to the directions from the villager the Rainbow Mounds were not deep in the valley or very hard to miss.
In fact after roughly two hours of walking they were in full view. Unlike the brown hills around them, the Rainbows were clearly much more rocky, and the rocks really were rainbow colored. Various rocks throughout the hills were unusual colors, most of the color to them was green, but there were very definate hints of purple, blue, orange, and many other colors. Clearly the rock that made up the Rainbows was completely different, indeed it was different than any color of rock Rynak had ever seen.
Following the narrow valley up to the foot of the Rainbows led to the tallest of the hills, exactly where the villager had told them to go. A small clearing appeared where the "trail" (if it could be called that) branched off into two equally overgrown trails. One was very skinny and led around a corner into the heart of the Rainbows, and the other continued following the stream.
"Well that looks like a side road if I ever saw one." Liam pointed to the one leading into the Rainbows. Rynak took a deep breath, he didn't trust this terrain, narrow corridors, and goodness knew what kind of monster was around that corner. Liam and Rynak absentmindedly drew their weapons.
"Stay close." Rynak said to the group and led the way down the trail. The trail twisted and turned through boulders, and got narrower as it went. Rock walls loomed over the trail, and seemed to keep closing in allowing only one person through at a time. The trail was not long, but it was one of the most twisty, and just as the walls appeared to be about to close the trail off completely, open sky appeared just ahead.
A small clearing opened at the end of the trail, and directly opposite of the trail was a circular cave entrance into the side of one of the hills. "There it is, we're going to need some light." Rynak moved forward across the clearing and pointed with his mace into the cave. As the rest of the group entered the clearing though a hissing noise came out of the cave.
Rynak stopped in the center of the clearing, and held his shield and mace at the ready. Liam also stood ready to fight whatever was coming out of the cave. Shortly after the hissing a large reptillian head poked its way out of the cave, forked toungue flicking out in front. Hard scales the color and texture of solid stone appeared next as it moved out of its cave. The lizard was certainly not like most, it had six legs, and skin the color and texture of solid stone. Added to this was that it was the size of a small aligator, with the dentistry to match.
As the lizard got the last of its six legs into the light another lizard head appeared out of the cave darkness, of the exact same type, and another lizard slithered out. Rynak took an instinctive step backwards and another hiss came from slightly above the cave. A third lizard was clinging to the side of the stone wall the entire time, camoflauged by some of the normally colored rocks in the Rainbow Mounds.
"It looks like they're sizing us up for dinner." Liam said to Rynak.
Rynak scanned the lizards again, "No... they're not waiting because they're sizing us up. They're waiting for reinforcements. We've got to get past these before they draw a whole horde to us."
(OoC: Sorry for the time skip, and the length, and any possible weird phrasings, I'm kinda running on low sleep.)
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Post by Genesis on Jul 17, 2011 20:56:43 GMT -5
The canyon was hideous... piles of odd colors that rocks should never be were everywhere. Adrian was far from claustrophobic, but he didn't like the feel of the narrow trail that was infested with monsters... he made sure to stay in the middle of the group. His attention was evenly divided between making sure he did not trip and the soft bundle of fur in his arms. The kitten had made a place for itself in his spacious sleeves, cradled by the poet. Emery was her name, and she could care less as long as she was petted thoroughly. She was quiet though, perhaps mesmerized by Adrian's nigh incessant sing-song cooing. or perhaps the shock of her mother's ghost flying past her face had scared the mewling hell out of her. Either way, Adrian loved her.
Once they reached the clearing, the beasts appeared. While the guards went for thier swords, Adrian went for a little book tucked in one of his many pockets. There were only several simple spells within, such as activating his rune (which he was very fond of using in the catacombs), starting fires, and several illusionary charms. He was not well versed by any means, but making shadows, sparks, and heady scents he always found rather entertaining and sometimes useful. Adrian had assumed upon leaving the town that nothing they encountered would be as frightening as a lich or multilimbed zombie, but the sheer naturalness of these creatures deeply unnerved him. They seemed like animals rather than monsters. And animals wanted one thing: food. To put it simply, Adrian did not want to smell like food. He quickly flipped to a page that he'd read on numerous occasions in the crypts he was not supposed to be in so that he'd smell like one of the dead. Several short phrases later, a potent vinegar-alcohol vapor poured from his mouth. A little taste of home.
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