OOC: Not sure if this is in the right place, but it should be?
The Month of Optia, Spring, Era XV Post Fractum
The map had appeared accurate, but only for now. The half elf had never tried to go through with the whole "demon hunting" business so he couldn't say for sure how correct the map may be. Perhaps it was the wrong map that the Thane's workers had given, but the half elf would not know until he followed the map through. It was strange. Given the half elf's behavior, he would have rushed off as soon as the map had landed on his hands. However, he didn't. Instead, the half elf waited, until another adventurer would come. The incident was, after all, posted in the Herald, so there was bound to be some brave adventurer that wanted to find mysteries and treasures in his demon hunt.
So, instead of battling it out in the labyrinth, with unknown demons and devils, the half elf stood outside the city's gates, eying the whole area, as if looking for an bumbling fool that may have passed by. There was a great chance that, if he stared long enough, that someone would come up to him, and inquire about his reason for standing in the same position and spot for the last candlemark. Ilfirin rubbed his eyes, scratching the red orbs until he merely closed his eyes and wrapped his hand over them. A yawn escaped from the half elf. Apparently, the half elf did not regard sleep as an important factor for good health. There were visible black bags under his eyes, and despite his best attempts to stay awake, he was clearly losing the battle.
"Anyone brave enough to battle it out against a possibly evil demon?"
It was sarcasm in its greatest form, and the half elf tried the best to hide his smirk and instead, a smile of false sincerity formed on his lips as he waited for any innocent bystander to join the mission.
After hearing the announcement Leon walked up to the half-elf with his armor clinking and said "I be a brave adventurer/Mercenary by the name Leon Kraus of the House Moonstar. Owner of Ranch Moonstar and benefactor of Moonstar Mine. Also friend of Sir Bink knight guardian of Clan Grittlesticks." Who might you be?" He would then wait for an answer while inspecting the half-elf before him. He noticed the eyes and said "If we are going to be battling any Demons you will need a wee bit of sleep don't you think?"
It was perhaps by chance that at the moment when Ilfirin barked about someone to go help him battle a demon a column of Imperial Legionnaires mounting battlehorses passed by at a slow pace. Enormous and muscly hardened veterans wearing black scalemail battlearmors and corynthian styled helmets with black crests they were, their black cloaks swirling in the Brightening's breeze and their black shields, the origin of the group's name proudly carried on the left arm of all but one and that was their commander. Where the others had resembled enormous this man resembled gigantic, he stood at least seven feet in height towering above all but the tallest mortals and mounted on his black Carmelyn Warsteed and wearing his armor and carrying his weapons he seemed like a hero coming out of some tale of old. His flaming red head cascaded down his colossal back and fell to a side as his head turned to see the duo who had engaged in a boresome conversation about sleeping and resting.
The one handed man pulled the reigns of his steed and turned it in the direction of the Half Elf. His ten followers halting their horses as well and waiting, spear and shield in hand. They were after all, the Black Shields. The most hardened of all Legionnaires, they were the cream of the Imperial Army. Were they more than five hundred and no army on Telath would be able to stop them, unfortunately it seemed that Eyvind's fate demanded him to have them in little numbers. There were numbers elsewhere anyway, vast numbers and vast armies.
Walking in between Leon and Ilfirin the Vagaran leaned to the Half Elf's side and took the map he held with his left hand, the right one had been lost in a most unfortunate duel against the mightiest swordsman Telath had ever seen, Fidelis Meridius. Redbeard had been lucky enough to survive and could now tell a tale, a tale of how he had clashed with Fidelis and how a Vysstichi had saved his half dead head from complete death. A quick look at the map and a relaxation of his fingers and then the map was falling through the air in the direction of Infirin once more.
"I will hunt and capture that demon for you. Lead the way, just don't make me lose my precious time."
The fierce look of the icy blue his of the Vagaran under his helmet was easily spotted by anyone. This was his chance to gain some favor of the city before engaging in a diplomatic meeting with the Thane, it would be interesting to see the reaction of the only person who had denied him help during the Sherin War to be forced to consider helping out because he brought proof of a victory against this beast. He just didn't want to lose a minute and if Infirin and this Moonstar wouldn't help he'd go on his own. Moonstar...he remembered Roland the Lord Protector of Paxia very well, but that had been long when Eyvind was nothing but a recruit.
The long road from Ieffreon had been largely uneventful. Travelling was always a bore, but Rami wondered if there was anything else worth doing with his time. The sight of a city on the horizon was always the beginning of the best part for a long walk: The end of it. The Relequis, of course, was never one to ignore familiar faces... so when he got close enough to see the mounted column of Black Shields, he couldn't help but be curious. They moved with purpose, it seemed; they always did. Rami paused in his walking for a second and shrugged to himself, figuring that he could afford to take the time to indulge his curiosity about what his favourite group of insurgental maniacs was up to.
Ramadi casually stepped up to the horse of legions' commander, his cloak hiding his figure from shoulder to mid-thigh, the talons of his segmented boots flexing naturally with each step he took. "Commander Eyvind "Redbeard" Björnsson Avornmagor... I greet you." He said softly with no trace of deference or, for that matter, any emotion at all save perhaps for the slight back-and-forth swaying of his tail. "And the answer to your question is No... You've never met me before... But I know you just the same, and we share common interests."
__________________
" Unchain your obscenity, desirable enemy,
Await my enlightening... Allow what your fate can bring...
Now - you're caught inside my cage! You - the object of my rage!
Sin - I wash you clean again!
I'm your redeemer... "
Having recently wandered through Vortex's gates, Tiarela Iceglitter found herself unsure of exactly where to go, and attempting to recall the instructions in the short Herald article. Adventure was something that had not crossed the fae's path in awhile - okay, well, a little under a season if you were to ask her about it - and so the faerie had set off on a mission to "reason with the demon" that was bugging Vortex. After all, Tiarela considered herself a fairly decent Mystic, and though she wasn't sure if demons actually had minds to mess with, it was always worth a shot. Perhaps she could just turn herself into a tea cup again if things got out of hand. That was one thing Tiarela seemed to be pretty good at - becoming inanimate objects when the going got tough.
Peering around this way and that - and being rightly confused, having never set foot inside Vortex before, the faerie overheard a few people talking in a cluster and, well... being the curious thing she was, found herself fluttering over in their direction. Someone addressed someone else as Commander Evyind ... something...something... (she'd missed the rest of that!), and it became apparent that these men that flanked the tall.. human? on horses were either members of the "Imperial Legion" (at which the fae couldn't help but roll her eyes - swords? Seriously? How dull.) and knew each other. Or maybe they didn't. Tiarela was too engrossed trying to understand what Evyind's name was to actually pay attention to the rest of what Ramadi had said. All in all, there were four men standing here, all of races bigger than Tiarela's small eleven inch body, and one was a rat - disgusting! Or something close to it. Tiarela couldn't tell.
Wrinkling her nose and attempting to silence her nerves, the faerie approached them in an attempt to figure out if she had somehow floated off to the right place, as serendipity would have it. Clearing her throat and eyeing Ramadi carefully - since fae folk seemed to be a delicacy to many of the less refined races - Tiarela piped up to the big scary "Commander Evyind" and his rat-like friend. "Ehmm... Are you guys here to bug Vortex's um... Demon too? Never been here before and... well... Can't really recall what the Herald said about it other than Vortex?" Tiarela had ignored the Legionnares at Evyind's beck and call and rightly so - who cared about them! They were, as these violent types would have it, merely cannon fodder. Step back boys, let the Mystic do her work. Maybe she could do something terrible, something cruel, and convince it to kill itself! Probably not. But it was hurting the pretty Unicorns, and despite her best attempts to suppress such emotions, Tiarela really did love the forest and all of it's peaceful inhabitants. Hurting Unicorns didn't make you peaceful, it made you someone that should jump off a bridge, hit the rocks below, burn, drown, and never come back. And if the measly Faerie that dabbled in Mysticsm and had no use for physical combat (being only eleven inches tall, after all) had anything to say about it... this reject of creation was going to do just that! It disgusted the very moral fibers she possessed, harming such innocent and beautiful creatures of myth and bed time stories!
Flitting nervously about in the air and unable to keep herself positioned in one spot for too long, the little one found herself buzzing like a humming bird in anticipation and confirmation that she was in the right spot. Hopefully the gods had liked her enough to send her right into the fray of those that shared her concern and determination.
Raven had merely been wandering until she heard the half elf's call for adventurers to battle a demon. She had to admit it was a strange idea but one look at the man told her he was serious and still she remained out of his sight until any others arrived.
First was an old friend of hers, Leon Kraus. A face that brought a small smile to her lips, the last time she had seen the warrior had been near Taralon when they had been exploring an old house. He had been captured and apparantly in no need of the help she and her friends had attempted to give. Lost in thought she barely noticed the next arrivals; a tall redheaded man on a horse followed by more men, also on horseback and a cloaked man.
She did however register a fae join the group, flitting around as she spoke. Silently the half dark elf pulled up the hood on her dark cloak stepping from the shadows and towards the group, stopping at Leon's side with a half-smile directed at the warrior. "I am Raven, I'd like to help." She told the half-elf in front of her simply before falling silent and awaiting an answer.
__________________
Not All Who Wander Are Lost
Last edited by Raven Keyla; October 28, 2008 at 01:17 PM.
Looking at the map he had Kiarin was wandering out of the gates wondering how many other adventerous souls would be embarking on this mission. He'd been in town for a couple days since the Thane had said to wait for anyone else who might want to join.
So he'd woken up this morning and prepared himself. He'd re-coated all his blades with the poison he'd bought in this very town. Laced up all his armor and loaded his faithfull mount zilla with thier belongings. Speaking of the giant lizard Kiarin was dragging him along by the lead not likeing to ride in towns.
Staring at the contours and trying to memorize as much of the map as possible Kiarin didn't notice the large group of men on horseback and so unlike his normal considerate behavior of going around the animals which always reacted so poorly to him he wandered right up to them. Well in to them to be exact.
-ooc- I'll leave it there guys good luck on the adventure.... case you couldn't tell I'm a Katta and horses hate us.
It was perhaps the strangest gathering of beings the Hayan had ever seen conglomerating in one place. It was amazing that so many could be drawn by the apparently delusional ravings of being with Syl'rosian lineage. While Olvann had at one point been first and foremost a devoted scholar, intent on expanding his knowledge of the world, his priorities had changed. He hardly read the Herald now, its pages containing the pointless and misguided drivel that so many of his surface kin seemed to absorb like naive children. As such, he didn't know that there was a demon eating unicorns, nor did he know that the call had gone out to rally any fool who might dress himself in a bow and deliver himself for a feast.
It was with great interest then, that the Hayan watched the odd meeting evolve into a group of those very same fools. A self proclaimed mercenary, a massive soldier of some standing leading a score of men, a foul ratta, a fae, a katta and a half elf. And they all wanted to play with the demon.
What fun.
So it was with great hilarity that the man dressed in the robes of a priest leaned back, hands together, sun shining off his pallid shaved head, and watched, waiting for the party to get under way.
So many people, so many voices. The confusion of the situation was almost heretical. It would be impossible to go anywhere with such a varied party that was for sure. A glance at Coates and Eirik, two of his most trusted soldiers, and their similar outrage was enough for the massive Vagaran to turn his mighty black Carmelyn warsteed away from the never quiet civilians. Still it would be a bad idea to depart with his men only, none of them was trained in the Arcanic arts and they were about to face a demon who had killed an unicorn. If legend was true an unicorn wasn't exactly the easiest thing to kill.
Icy blue eyes avaluated the assembled group. The half elf who had adquired the map that showed where the demon was, a map Redbeard had seen and memorized, a Moonstar who claimed to be a mercenary, Eyvind had his own opinions about mercenaries and their lack of professionalism, a Relequis who knew his name, a Fae who certainly knew something about Arcana, another half elf, too young to have any real use in battle, a Katta and a Priest.
It was time to speak for everyone and well...show who was the boss.
"I suggest we split in two groups. The Relequis, the Fae and the Priest will come with me, the others go with the sleepy one. The others, try not to get killed..."
Turning Arthalof the Vagaran ordered his men to start moving down the road. Three riders stayed behind though, one waiting for each of the three selected civilians who would accompany them on their quest. Ramadi would see a young and blonde Vagaran with sharp blue eyes waiting for him, Tiarela would be welcomed with a smile by an Elf and Olvann was told to mount behind a huge dark haired man that resembled a barrel.
Secrets :
OOC: Here is the link for the side thread: The darker path of demon hunting [private]
I am just dividing the thread so both can move at a faster pass and the mod doesn't get in trouble with the number of posts, I hope no one minds.
As the soldier appeared Leon snorted and looked at the Relequis that was following the soldier. Leon hated Relequis and decided against making a remark when a Fae made her appearance. Leon bowed and said "Nice to meet you." Once Raven made her appearance Leon marked the half-smile and said "I wonder what is going on in that head of yours Raven old friend." The sentence was more of a statement than a question. The next but not last to arrive was a katta and Leon greeted him as well. The last to arrive was a priest that looked a bit suspicious. Then the soldiers decided to split the group in half. The priest, Fae, and the Relequis decided to leave with the soldier and the last remark of the soldier made Leon angry.
Once his anger subsided he turned to Ilfirin and said "We might want to hurry to catch up before we lose the bounty. He then motioned for Raven and the rest to follow him. Once they did he would look at Raven and said "Nice to have you with me. Who else would bail me out of trouble?" He added the last remark with a laugh and waited for their journey to start.
Raven watched the arrivals in silence, examining them with cold professional eyes but the small smile remained at her lips as she muttered a reply to the warrior. "Most people do Leon." Raven felt the smile slide from her face as the soldier spoke, splitting the group in two. The familiar anger boiled and she clenched her fists as the soldier made the also familiar assumption that she couldn't keep herself alive.
Breathing shallowly she turned away from the retreating soldier and towards what remained of the group. Raven smirked up at Leon at his words. "I thought you said you didn't need saving."
Ilfirin stood there for a while, watching the two other members of the group converse and talk. He didn't mind that the other people had left. In fact, it was all the better. There was no shame in admitting that he lacked the fundamental skills for making friend and such. If all went well, perhaps the other group would meet the demon first and...well, there would be this group to clean up the mess.
His vampire sword hung below his belt. Though he had no idea on how to use it, he figured it would be better to bring it. Even if he did not know how to use it, it might be able to serve as a threat.
"Serale, friends." His words were coated with a false sincerity. He spoke softly, as if trying to lightly edge his way into the conversation without being seen as rude. After all, there was no reason to make them his enemies. Anybody was better than the Vysstichi.
"My name Ilfirin Elensson. Would you mind if I followed your group." He turned to the katta, "What about you? Which group are you considering to join...?"
Leon looked down at Raven and just smiled. He took a deep breathe and smelled the fresh air. "We will get underway as soon as I get everyone situated" He said as he looked at the Kiarin and Ilfirin. As he eyed up Ilfirin and he sat his pack on a dry part of the ground. As he looked he pulled out various daggers and laid them in a neat row and sat his new helmet on the ground he smiled at the red hue and continued looking until he pulled out a chainmail vest and offered it up to Ilfirin. He then said "Wear this during the mission and when it is over be sure to return it to me." He then divided up the knives and took the knife with a Wolf's head pommel. He picked two daggers that where sharp and handed them to Raven then the last two daggers where divided up between Kiarin and Ilfirin. The daggers that where divided up didn't have any major details but they where very sharp.
Once everyone was ready Leon would pack up the rest of the stuff and hand Raven his helmet. Leon would then ask to see the map from Ilfirin. Once Leon received the map Leon would set in on the ground and ask them to crouch next to him so he can see where they where and get Raven to read the map.
OOC: Forigve me that I just copied the first part form the other thread. The beginning is the same for everyone. It’s there to set the scenery, but your experience will be a slightly different one – unless you decide to join Eyvind’s group again.
Spring in Arium, this close to the mountains, was different from spring in the rest of the Empire. Here, winter still had a firm hold on the land, and the sun had not managed to melt all the snow yet. It could still be seen everywhere. There was dry, brown grass under it. Only here and there did a bit of green show itself. The trees were still mostly bare. The sky above was a deep blue. Not a cloud could be seen. The sun was shining – it was almost blindingly bright – but it wasn’t warm enough yet. This was a harsh land. It tolerated no mistakes. The people that lived here were true survivors …
The map they had been given was fairly accurate and easy to read. For a while they travelled on a road – or rather, some kind of path. It was not paved, but it was there, and it made their trip easier. Trees grew left and right of them, and in the distance they could see the mountains. There were few other people besides them. The wilderness outside of Vortex was sparsely populated. The people that lived there were hunters, maybe a handful of farmers, criminals that had fled from the law, semi savage people that had long left the civilized world behind. Even closer to the mountains there were giants, trolls, and a few groups of orcs that terrororized the area, but for now they were safe.
Neither those dangerous creatures nor the demon they wanted to hunt were to be seen …
There was only that sound …
They could hear a piercing scream. A child was screaming, as if it was in danger, screaming on and on and on …
Eyvind and his companions were already closer to the mountain where the cave was situated. They were not to be seen …
Ilfirin, Leon and Raven were alone for now, and there was somebody that was in need of help, somewhere behind a large rock that was lying at the side of the path. The demon’s last victim or something else?
![[Adventure] Dangerous Demon Discovered [Open]](http://www.playbypost.com/forums/iconimages/vortex/adventure-dangerous-demon-discovered-open_ltr.gif)
Linear Mode