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Post by Bloodtrailkiller on Jan 27, 2018 12:09:39 GMT -8
/Dominic/
"Peter!"
He blurted, almost excitedly, before looking about and presuming his more intimidating guise with a nod.
"Peter... He was my scribe during the Crusades. He ah..."
Dominic cleared his throat, looking behind him, then to Braund.
"... He didn't do brands. Wax-stamps..." Realization seemed to come slow to him before he tapped the point of his blade into the earth.
"I am Dominic, Darkslayer. Let my comrades pass, Man; we wish not to tarry."
\\
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Post by rumsztyk on Jan 27, 2018 12:44:27 GMT -8
Wonderful.
Aria and Mal would hear a stifled whisper: "Great", before Grom took off to the side at the merest hint of trouble. As the two heavy warriors were locked in the conversation, neither had seen him hide behind the pillars standing amidst the ruins of the mansion.
What he didn't realize is that the stonework monstrosity had, in fact, noticed him.
Immediately, Grom began looking for a way to loop around the battlefield stealthily. If none was present, he would stay and let the situation develop.
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Post by relentless on Jan 27, 2018 12:59:09 GMT -8
Braund studied the man, only briefly, his rather jubilant response made him shake slightly from surprise, though he came back around as he gave out his intimidating positioning. His guise was, interesting to say the least.
A pang of humanity seemed to strike at him at his 'weakest hour', without the need to slaughter, he seemed docile. Being called a 'man' seemed rather strange for Braund. Was he a man at this point? Braund gave a shake of his head toward the ground, the grip on his sword tightening more and more.
"The crusades? Ah. The ottomans won't last, though it was amusing to watch them be burned on pyres. Did you happen to notice the Easterners style of execution? Wrapping them in linen, and letting a stampede of horses trample them, breaking them both mentally and physically..."
Braund rambled on in momentary bliss as he recalled his memories, staring up to the grey sky.
"Alas, tis' but a happy memory."
Braund finished off, his gentle breath passing through the thin line of his visor as he leveled his gaze with Dominic. His glare glanced toward the Gargoyle briefly, in a rather disgusted manner, his hands visibly going whiter as he gripped the sword tight.
"I am Braund."
Braund meagrely stated, though he quickly carried on with his 'research'.
"Let me pose yet another question, perhaps you could pose me one in return: Why invade these grounds, Sheep and Shepherd? Haven't the dead had enough of the toils of life?"
Braund challenged, leaning forward on his sword with increasing intrigue as he eagerly eyed these people.
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Post by Bloodtrailkiller on Jan 27, 2018 13:06:01 GMT -8
/Dominic/
Talking helped, though the flair of macabre trophies started to wear on Dominic as he reaffirmed his grip on his blade; nodding to the man's casual recounting of the horrors, he swallowed hard.
"Well met, Ser Braund." He presumed, nodding in respect as he bowed his head, taking another step forward.
"These grounds have proven foul; evil emanates from where these dead have risen, and have--" Dominic shifts his hip, letting the helm of a deceased Knight, the skull of the Priest, clatter together.
"-- dragged others, unwillingly, into The Dark. I was sent here with my comrades to put them back to rest, by any means necessary."
"I would not... demand of you nothing, but we are weary of the work and trials brought forth by this day; we would pass peacefully, if you allow."
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Post by The Carrying Blade on Jan 27, 2018 13:08:00 GMT -8
The Gargoyle moved off to the side grumpily, on all floors it moved back and forth behind Braund as the Cultist questioned the group. It was just a matter of time, either Braund would try to back out and leave the group or there would be slaughter. It half wanted Braund to try and leave, see what happened when the man backed out of a deal with his master.
-------
Aria tried hard not to look past Dominic, she didn't want to see the gargoyle, she didn't want to see whoever he was talking to, hell it was all she could do not to block the man out. When Braund questioned about someone named P, it was odd to hear if anything else. He most likely had a brand, where the P was an initial, and hoped perhaps this person would just leave them alone if they did not know.
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Post by relentless on Jan 27, 2018 13:22:42 GMT -8
"No hurry, no hurry... I left the corpses of other adventurers who plundered a helpless sheeps wagon. The dogs, the cultists and the brigands are clouding over there as we speak..."
Braund warned, plucking his sword from the ground and throwing it over his shoulder with one hand, whilst the other delved into one of his pockets, keeping it there.
"One more question, Ser Dominic. Then, you may leave. To the right, that is. Tis' be the longer way, though the scent is blood scours the left path more, afoul with hounds and other pestilent creatures."
Braund promised, taking a few steps forward toward Dominic, though he stopped eventually until they were five meters apart, the hazelnut glow of his iris could be seen from within, clouding by natural shadow, though his eyes were crazed yet tired at the same time.
"How do you view, me? A monster? Or perhaps we are all monsters in this life. From what I've dreamed of when my... heart stops every night, it's intriguing to see what lies beyond. Though it's always murky, and blurred across the lines."
Braund paused, giving a sway of an open palm toward the group before setting his hand back down in his pocket, and taking a couple steps back after producing his last, and final question.
"Are you monsters? Perhaps. But what say you, Shepherd and Sheep?"
Braund sighed in a tired manner, looking to each and every individual as he brought his sword down to point itself back down onto the mud speckled cobblestone path they stood on in this courtyard.
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Post by Bloodtrailkiller on Jan 28, 2018 15:03:37 GMT -8
/Dominic/
He stared hard at Braund, though the intensity was only ever constant in the dark slit of the visor of Dominic's greathelm. The Crusader shifted from one foot to the other, one set forward a touch, the other back.
"You ask two questions Braund." He pointed out, though he huffed, shaking his head as he held the torch high still. He waved it left, then right, beckoning Braund and the Gargoyle's attention.
"You are man, Braund. The Light forgives, but it will demand penance for what vile deeds you've wrought." He nodded, rolling his shoulders,
"I am a slayer of wicked things, Braund, but to slay does not demand bloodshed. If you agree to let us pass... I will return, and we may slay what vile Dark holds you to such deeds to make you monster." The Crusader nodded again, his battered and bruised chest swelling with pride and confidence.
"The Light is prismatic : what is monstrous and what is not is as everchanging as rays of sun in morning fog. What is a monster today, may yet be a saint on the morrow." Dominic brought the cross of his sword to his chest, rapping upon it twice with a rattle of chain on cloth.
"I ask you not to decide now, but to remember that there is Light in all of us. The Dark is ravenous, and feeds upon it... Like two wolves, we must decide which we feed more."
He cleared his throat,
"And to let us pass."
\\
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Post by black379 on Jan 28, 2018 19:14:12 GMT -8
The hunter clutched her rifle to her chest. There was an unsettling urge for her to use it, to get a shot off on Braund while the pair of warriors were still conversing. But even if she had more than that urge, her body was frozen still, barely even maintaining her heavy breaths.
She longed for the flesh-clad cultist to listen and to let them pass. Mallilie was famished, and yearned for a break from her incessantly beating heart. From the corner of her eye, she saw Grom sweep into the shadows and silently begged for him not to cause any problems.
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Post by The Carrying Blade on Jan 29, 2018 19:53:48 GMT -8
Aria just wanted to go back to the Hamlet as well, to eat, to sleep, to finish what had to be done with her arm. Looking past Dominic she spied Braund and the gargoyle, glad at least one of them seemed non-hostile. Her almost torn arm would be in clear view, every so often a little spark of light appeared from the wound before going back to normal, the residue of power still there.
-----
The gargoyle was getting impatient, not only was it clear Braund was going to let them pass, but it's death might soon be nearing. Grom hiding behind the pillar did attract it's attention, no doubt the man was just waiting for them to all die or do something. It didn't like that, and it moved forward past Braund like a hound sniffing out its prey, entirely focused on where Grom his with an angry rock filled growl in its throat.
However it didn't advance anymore than a foot away from Braund, the brand on its hand slowly glowing brighter as it moved away even that far it seemed. Braund would also feel his hand with the brand start to burn, not anything serious but it would surely be a very tiring nuisance to the Champion, which would slowly increase the longer he dawdled.
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Post by relentless on Jan 30, 2018 10:57:59 GMT -8
Braund seemed to stare, albeit blankly at Dominic as he reinstated his firm claim. It was a tense situation, though quickly reprimanded as Braund lowered his blade, and turned his helm to look at the gargoyle scurrying away. He felt his palm tingle with pain, scrunching his hand into a fist before he turned back to Dominic.
"Mhm. Tell that to the walking corpse that stands before you, with daemon encased in my ragged shell, raping my soul. Though I do not care for sympathy, I was not given that in my childhood. I am no man, least I'm not anymore. Let me say that again..."
Braund said to the group, before he turned to the right and began walking that way toward the thick brush of the weald that remained.
"I am no man."
Braund stated as he continued to walk with sword trailing in the dirt, bringing about cut roots and grass as he moved away.
"Monster."
He spat bitterly with humanity prominent in his voice as he moved to the far end of the courtyard, stepping over shallow graves before reaching a stone bench. Braund, the cultist caked in red, slumped himself down on the stone bench constructed beside a mausolisk, laying his blade against the stone as he sat down in deep, meditative thought.
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Post by Bloodtrailkiller on Jan 30, 2018 12:10:03 GMT -8
/Dominic/
He nodded solemnly as Braund moved away, his attentions immediately shifted to the Gargoyle who now stalked forward with such intensity that Dominic raised his blade from the ground, though he kept it pointed at it.
"Monsters may yet serve the Light, Braund." He intoned grimly, as he held the intersect of his blade to his chest and moved to square off against the Gargoyle, while moving the torch to beckon his comrades to follow, utterly unawares of Grom's movement.
"Rags can be sewn, and rape, retributed. When I return, we will slay that demon and let a corpse rest."
"... And The Dark Warrior was cursed and cast out by the Light; though he swore to serve it still. He fought and died for The Light; though he lay cursed and cast out still. And he smiled, for it was good that he died for the Light, and not the sinful Dark. Brucellus 12:18" Dominic offered in prayer as he continued on, and towards the exit of the Courtyard should his comrades follow.
\\
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Post by The Carrying Blade on Jan 30, 2018 13:24:14 GMT -8
There was nothing to do now, it's master would let this happen, would let someone break a deal. But it couldn't leave, it felt compelled to attack and to die for what was ordered.
Even if Braund let them pass the gargoyle wasn't done, and not even Dominic's imposing figure would stop it from at least killing one of the group. Letting loose a primal scream, one that would chill even the bravest hearts, the stone monster charged towards Dominic. Even if it meant certain death he was bound to its duty to keep the group from leaving alive. He had no master to help him, no ally to call his own, all of this added up to the anger and sorrow bursting inside its head.
It closed the distance quite easily, leaping from the ground it threw itself, arms outstretched towards the knight of light. Dominic, would see even in the deepest red of its hellish eyes, a persons will, a living man of flesh inside this stone carcass. This would make him feel the strength in himself be empowered by the hunger of battle, of righteousness, and it would make his next strike, devastating.
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Post by Bloodtrailkiller on Jan 30, 2018 13:45:47 GMT -8
/Dominic/
He expected as much...
His teeth ground together like a growl of a mountain as he saw the creature's stoney muscles, so finely clove by some dark master of stonecraft. Like a landslide turned to an Earthquake, Dominic's growl turned to a roar of righteous fury as, with torch held high, he matched the Gargoyle's charge.
"HEEL, FIEND!!!"
THIS WAS HIS PURPOSE, HIS VENERABLE GOAL AND SINGULAR FURY.
TO SLAY THAT WHICH WAS DARK AND VILE.
In what felt like moments between the blink of an eye, Dominic dipped the torch into the crown of his helm which suddenly and viciously caught flame; fire exploded out in a dazzling display of sparks and cinder, as he tossed aside the torch whose flame was dwarfed by this combustive crown atop Dominic's helm.
"I WILL BREAK YOU." He swore, as with one hand holding the hilt of his sword, and the other coming around to clasp the blade itself; he shot the twin skulled pommel of his Darkslayer sword into the snout of the beast in a quick, stunning strike
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Post by The Carrying Blade on Jan 30, 2018 17:23:55 GMT -8
Dominic's strike was so powerful, that anyone, even Dominic himself would be amazed at the spectacle which happened before their eyes. The gargoyle seemed locked in the air as its face made contact with the twin skilled pommel of his Darkslayer sword, as if frozen in time it stayed aloft but rigid like stone should be. The sound of cracking started small, crescendoing into a tremor like vibration that shook the entire creatures body as red light poured from the cracks formed.
In a spectacular explosion, one that sent a shockwave so dangerously awesome that even Grom hiding behind the pillar would feel it. It would shake the bones underneath and give the holy blessing of the light to all who felt it, even Braund, rejuvenating their health and stamina like no meal could ever do. This was the true power of the light, and with Dominic being the blazing beacon of hope to guide it nothing would stand in their way!
Grom would feel his fear wash away, Mal would feel her mind be cleansed of torment, Dominic would feel the proud praise of Holy Flame, Aria would feel her hopelessness disappear, and Braund would find the mark on his hand to disappear in a crackling blaze of gold sparks. This was truly a moment to remember, to tell stories of, and now all there was to do, was head home.
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Post by rumsztyk on Feb 4, 2018 6:40:50 GMT -8
Grom stared with mouth agape at the impressive display of strength. His cheeks puffed when he exhaled the breath, held when the beast charged in. His hand ran through his short hair, the other still clutching his belly wound.
He tried to say something, to break the silence, but words were stuck in his throat. He grunted, coughed and spat. "That's... good job." he managed to squeze out these few words, knowing fully they didn't even begin to describe what he saw. "Yeah... Let's get out of here."
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