|
|
Post by EloHim on Jun 30, 2019 19:19:38 GMT -8
The 21 of June. Solstice. 10 days passed...
The sun was still rising, cowered by thick layer of clouds but the group was already on the road. They didn't have a lot of time to maneuver, being restricted to this day and the night after it... so it was important to get to the ruins as soon as possible. They were equipped with torches and medicine enough to last them a day and night of bloodiest combat in the darkest pit and shovels enough to dig their own way out of the Ruins should such a need arise. They were also provided a small supply pouch - enough to make at least one stop, once within the ruins. All that was equally dispensed between members of the group.
The road was mostly the same for the two women in their group… whilst others were mostly going in “blind”. Closer they got to the door they remembered more traces they found - all leading them in the same direction. Seemed like a lot of people were gathering for the same purpose from all over the Hamlet’s surrounding areas. |
|
|
|
Post by Kidney on Jun 30, 2019 20:30:46 GMT -8
With the advancement of time, Semyon grew more and more irate. His smaller than average legs already cramped and swamped within his tough pants. His head was similarly underwater, tight fur hat leaking sweat from an ever-half-full pool above his head. "This...is number one bullshit." He stated, a common phrase as of late.
He held his rifle tightly though, with a seemingly endless amount of grip strength. The barrel sat aimed forward, side saddle and ready, though not cocked. He sneered, looking around, "Oh heck."
|
|
|
|
Post by Spookery 💉 on Jul 1, 2019 9:59:06 GMT -8
"No use complaining now," Valeria said firmly as she passed the smaller man and turned to face the group. "It'll only be worse down there. I've met a few of you previously,"--she glanced toward Talea and Sarak--"but you other two..." She gripped her halberd. "I am Valeria, Vengeance of the Light. I trust we shall all work in each others' best interests. If Miss Talea and I were able to get out once before, the lot of us can get out now--with the captives." Her expression was serious. "However, we will be facing something fierce. So please, let's remember to make teamwork our priority."
|
|
|
|
Post by Bloodtrailkiller on Jul 1, 2019 12:24:26 GMT -8
/Taas/
As best she could, Taas held a scout's perimeter on the group; treading just barely in sight of the posse t'ill they'd trekked long enough for the Pale Haired Mercenary to come trundling back through brush and stone to sidle up to the vanguard of the party.
"This ain't even half way to bullshit, Rus." She chortled with a small snort that she stiffled with a rub of her nose.
Her attentions shifted to Valeria, bedecked in bedazzling battle armor, Taas felt the need to squint lest she be blinded by the glamour of her armour. But, she spoke true and wisely, which was more than the debatably more rational looking Semyon could say... Taas' one good eye looked to the man speculatively; she wondered if the man understood the words 'Vengeance' and 'Teamwork' at all... she supposed it didn't matter.
She assumed to position herself at a respectable flank to Valeria, the apparent Vengeance, wherein Taas adjusted and tightened the bandages covering the veritably roasted half of her face, and squared her bulksome and signature gambeson pauldron set upon her left shoulder.
"Understood, Lovely Vengeance--" Taas' flared a cheeky and toothy wolfish grin at the party with a shrug just touching upon the fringes of respect to the lady and the situation at hand.
"-- I'm Taas. Two 'a's and one 's'. Don't make the pun 'cause it ain't clever." She quickled nodded out her own introduction before flicking her gaze to Valeria.
"Now..." Taas blew away a lock of her stark white hair, once... then twice, "... I've saved a damsel more times than I can count; and I've found counting's awful important in these sorts of situations : counting time, heads, stabbers, cutters, and shooters." despite her upbeat and Cockney lilt, there was some experience and sincerity in the hoarseness of her tone.
"Reckon you and Bone-head got a count of the baddies last time you were in there?" Taas inquired as she cocked her one brow, shifting the bandages slightly while her hands settled on the belt about her waist.
|
|
|
|
Post by Kidney on Jul 1, 2019 21:22:12 GMT -8
Semyon was terrified at the arrival of Taas, eyeing her with subdued ire borne of fear. He aimed his rifle at her first, then aiming the barrel towards the ground, walking behind Vengeance and the white-haired Boogeywoman before he stopped as the ironclad woman introduced herself. He offered little in the area of understanding, but knew it was time for introductions.
Well after Taas has finished talking, Semyon formulated his words. "I! Am Semyon. I shoot bird, and deer, and wolf. Also, bear. I shoot man, he die the same. I shoot manacle off, and save person. I shoot manacle off two people, I make two friends."
|
|
|
|
Post by EtherealNoire on Jul 2, 2019 2:54:58 GMT -8
She lingered afar light's lascivious grasp, encompassed in what shadows bled beneath boughs and fronds as though they could claim the earth one candid caress at a time. So too the clouds lent their aid upon the ravished soil till greys hung muted amidst mortals and fauna, and the air tasted of rain.
Its solace would surely perish when the sun drew its scepter. Alas whilst shade granted her passage through those harried grounds, Talea followed its oscillating steps, straying no further than the stones that gathered in silent vigil at the walkway's demise.
There, her sight drifted o'er the crimson seraph at the lightdwellers' helm, familiar in her gilded valor while darkness claimed Talea's own. She need not offer words when tales of woe had spread betwixt their rally and the hollow left by he who could not vanquish the taint.
Natheless, at the border of corruption, Dawn and Dusk reunited once more in voice.
"Their wars wage in bones; specters called forth from those souls and sinews tethered to vile want."
Her words leveled in warning before the twos' foreign soliloquy.
"Numbers carry nay more appellations than wind amidst the waiting dark."
Yet to her, verily must they brave its festering rot. None could oppose the will of Night.
Drifting away from those who watched with narrowed eyes, she melded with the shade. But so too did it falter. She could not abscond light's wanton touch as it played against her skin, lest abandon those who rallied to face their quest alone.
Thus she remained.
And within the light's spiteful gaze, her ivory visage shone; marred beneath a tapestry of scars.
|
|
|
|
Post by Capster on Jul 2, 2019 13:53:45 GMT -8
Sarak looked at the group. He didn't belong here with these hero's but he needed the gold. As they walked he began to make his way up, off to the left flank. His dirty leather armor and bow in hand, read to pull at a moments notice. As he listened to their introductions he just cleared his throat. "Sarak...I do what you do but with arrows." He says before rolling his eyes at his own explanation, squinting against the light.
His off hand went to his hip, checking to make sure his dagger was their when he heard the words of Talea. He smiled at them, grim and macabre but somewhat enchanting. He didn't comment on them.
He then looked up to Vengeance. "Paladin...how many did you face before...And how tight of an environment are we in."
|
|
|
|
Post by Spookery 💉 on Jul 2, 2019 15:56:06 GMT -8
Valeria shifted the halberd to her other hand. “In truth...I do not know how many there are. What I know is it is a cult, and I am told they have a monster that guards their captives,” she said. It was better to be honest, even if she didn’t have all the answers. “We were unable to find exact numbers last time. The captives told us we had to leave before the monster came, and it was coming. I pray we will have the manpower—but I also believe in us.” She places one hand on her hip and looked at them sternly. “What we scouted was a hallway, a small room, and the cell the captives were in. In the room, there were skeletal monsters, and something that took and killed Leoman. Something that tried to tempt us to give up our goals, and give into it. Whatever we encounter in there, if that happens again, you must resist it. Leoman burned to death at its hands, and I want us all out alive.”
|
|
|
|
Post by Bloodtrailkiller on Jul 2, 2019 20:45:19 GMT -8
/Taas/
"Rrrrriiight." Taas slowly drawled out as her eye slowly squinted up at Talea; her jaw tensed with an urge to reply, but she eased up and recognized unfamiliar company. It was better they thought less of her wit than she'd honed, but there was something in Taas' blood that wanted to bite back... a flash of a snarl might've made it literal.
"Think I knew that Leoman; creepy lil skull on a mop." Taas muttered nigh to herself as she shook her head in due respect to the loss, "We'll avenge Leoman then. That'll be the least we can do." she decided with an affirming nod as she thought on the prospect ahead; with the singular hallway and small room, it was a pretty straight shot it seemed... for better or worse. Less planning meant they could focus on fighting and tactics there, but it also meant they'd have to make sure their fighting was better than whatever came at them.
"S'alright though, we look like right proper monsta's ourselves." Taas guffawed merrily and nudged Valeria with her elbow in due comradarie. Her good amber eye scanned over Sarak, who seemed a reliable sort, she gave him an approving nod as he joined the group... somewhat. She couldn't help but loose a preparing sigh; two stand-offish folk and a dunce with a gun. At least this Vengeance character looked up to snuff...
"... But uh, what's up with her? She looks..." Taas nosed her snout at the girl with a skull on her crown, and sniffed, "... Off. Pretty as a poppy but... was she always like that or did that tempter do that?"
|
|
|
|
Post by EloHim on Jul 3, 2019 16:26:10 GMT -8
As they reach the familiar part of the road, a small camp appears in their sights. Few wooden carriages with men around them...villagers by the looks of it. Two of them armed with pitchforks, whilst others sit around with axes, usually used for tree-cutting. Nothing to go to war with, but enough to protect one-self from the things lurking in the woods. Close to the open iron doors leading into the deep - two figures, standing one near each side of the way. The figures were at least 6.5 foot tall, dressed in robes of red and brown, and their heads seem like they were made of bone, shaped like a bird's skull with eyes made of something yellow,and somewhat see-through... one could assume amber, or colored glass.
"- Look alive, men. Our suicidal squad of heroes is here." - the one on the left called out with the tired, low, raspy voice. Villagers at first looked a bit spooked by a group of armed men and women, but after taking a good look they went about talking with each other.
"- Forgive my skeptical partner, he always assumes that the world is going to end in the next five minutes."- the right one talked to the group, his voice a little bit more soft and chirpy, and certanly a lot kinder and nicer on the ear.
"- It will, just you wait." - the left one grumbled, hunching down a bit, his beak touching the ground for a few seconds.
"- Yeah-yeah. Anyways, I'm Beak, and that grump is Claw. We and our little helping party were sent here by the Heir and were here since yesterday. We're supposed to deliver any men that get out through here to the Hamlet, and provide medical attention to those who might require it." - the right figure informed. One could suppose they were looking like plague doctors who took their attire and nicknames to the whole new theatrical level.
"Assuming that anyone at all gets out."- a cruel chuckle followed from the Claw. - "Those chanting loons were congregating here the whole week, and now they don't even guard the entrance. Sure of themselves."
Talea could see the specks of dust flying around those two...the colour of old, worn out gold. Other than that they seemed...normal, as far as souls and spiritual sphere were concerned.
|
|
|
|
Post by Kidney on Jul 3, 2019 21:01:52 GMT -8
All was good, villagers, doors...birds. Semyon raised his eyebrows, face twisting into deep and fearful concern. He raised his rifle to the birdpeople, but lowered it slowly as they began to speak. His breathing, shallow and fast, signaled a change in demeanor. He was fearful, but angry. "Big. Birds." He whispered.
"Trolls. Bad. Ghosts. Bad. Ants. Terrible. Birds? Worst."
|
|
|
|
Post by Spookery 💉 on Jul 4, 2019 13:34:07 GMT -8
Valeria shrugged at Taas as they walked. “Long as I’ve known her, she’s been this way,” she said, then came to a stop when they approached a small camp. She lowered her halberd a bit, but halted when the men at the forefront—plague doctors?—spoke to them. Perhaps the heir had sent them, as well. It would be good to be able to send the captives up to freedom while their group fended off whatever was down there. Valeria reached out to clasp her hand on Semyon’s shoulder firmly.
“We are grateful for your help,” she said, squeezing his shoulder briefly before letting go. “Hopefully none of them will be wounded if we are swift.” She glanced over her shoulder at the others. “Is everyone prepared?”
|
|
|
|
Post by Bloodtrailkiller on Jul 4, 2019 14:25:53 GMT -8
/Taas/
"H u h.", it was as much as Taas could surmount as she trundled on alongside Valeria, though her eyes were set on the curious girl. She felt sorry for the girl, something must have tilted her off her rocker, and it was a shame such a beauty would be lacking its wits... but there were greater tragedies, she supposed with a quiet sigh as her attentions went with the Group's to the stranger bird persons standing aflank the door before them.
She mimed Semyon's defensiveness, though with less enthusiasm as these apparent Guards looked to be pushovers, given their garb and unwieldy masks... and lack of guns. Taas' amber eye squinted at the curious pair, before rolling her shoulder as she passed Valeria.
"Dunno about you chums, but I haven't seen no guards with weird masks like that in the Hamlet." Taas held her ax loosely in her hands as she rested it tangential to her thighs.
"Strangest thing bein' that no one told us we'd be meeting two sorry sods..." Her eye squinted at either of them, noting their restrictive, veiling garb... strange, and their masks certainly occult and weird... but she never knew many Cults to be clever enough to try and dupe travelers. She was skeptical, but she looked over to Valeria, then Talea with a small beckoning motion with her lefterly hand.
"... You ever see these birdy-fools before?"
|
|
|
|
Post by EtherealNoire on Jul 5, 2019 18:09:50 GMT -8
Doubt was no stranger to Talea as their path twined amidst the trees, assualted by queries. The she-mortal bathed in it till its stench permeated every sound and motion she made, fiercer than the potient aura of beasts that lurked in her silhouette.
Talea remained teether to the darkness, silent in passage while her mind rang with words. Yet where her sight traced weapons and female locks spun from starlight, settling on cloth beared proud as medallions, her fingers brushed o'er her own scars, and their rough edges where passion and possession had burned.
She offered nay speech nor action, yet she alone was the first to sense the stir of voices, tied with malaise, that rose from the forest before them. Light-dwellers, mortals, beings of every form, stirring into greetings as keen as aggression.
Talea faced all beneath the ivory gleam of bone.
Still a glint stole her gaze. Around those clothed in paltry mockings of birds, it wove.
Dust. More ancient than opuscules found forsaken in catacombs far beneath decay's grasp. She refrained from drawing breath nigh their foreign acts, lest absorb that which surely carried the bane of time.
Instead melodies fell from her lips, questions strung like requims for those who would follow.
"Name thyselves in truth. Whom dost thou serve in raptor garb? And to what nature shall we trust thee?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Capster on Jul 7, 2019 10:12:51 GMT -8
The birds or rather, the men made Sarak uneasy, and now Talea's speaking made him even more so. Taas' comment seemed to pull him out of his daze. "Aye, I agree. Granted I 'avent been here long so I am not sure what sorts of fucked up things still live here. The Pigmen were enough to set me off for a bit." He says before looking over to Valeria, an arrow being nocked but he then rephrased his original question.
"I meant how much room will we have to move. Will we be in a choke point or will I have enough room so I don't shoot one of you in the back of the head on accident." Which he was more than capable of avoiding, but he was better safe than sorry.
His fingers lightly rested on the black and red fletched arrows, the nasty sharp long bodkin points more than capable of piercing scale and ringmail. He just prayed these cultists didn't have plate. Cause then he would need to aim for the eyes.
|
|
