The Vale

Unknown,
Currently

The great raven's booming and echoing caws rang throughout the dense woodland, disappearing into its forests of wonder just as the beast did itself. In fact, it dared not hesitate or wait and vanished into the great boughs somewhere unknown at hasty speed. All that was left now of this scuffle, aside from a few tremendous feathers, were the two unusual orbs. How one fit a raven the size of a warhorse into one was a bit of a perplexing thought, but the reality was that such a thing had happened and the only other source of evidence had lofted itself up and away.

The vast fields beyond them, not of this branch of the wood, seemed to sway in the slight mountainous breeze that proved pervasive throughout; life itself seemed indifferent to all of this, as though such conflict was to be expected. Granted that was true of nature, but monstrous birds were not! These animals seemed a bit malevolent, at least as much as any other crow, but evil? Probably not, at least those who had touched the orbs new. Regardless, this instance was as much a mystery as anything else here.

What now was to be done?


@Big Dread, @Cu Chulainn, @Gordian Nought, @Hekazu, @JBRam2002, @Zverda

Cesar Lorenzo Tidesong Bolivar
The Vale, Betting on horse-sized birds.

@Hekazu@Big Dread@JBRam2002@Gordian Nought@Zverda

"So... any of you scholarly types have an idea what just attacked us?"

Cesar let out a yawn before he started dusting his armor off. He was brought down to the ground, earlier, by a horse-sized bird, so of course there'd be a fair amount of dirt in places, much to the bard's dismay. Despite that, Cesar still had felt rather curious about those birds. Maybe if they deduced what they were, they'd figure out where they even are?

Cesar put a palm to his forehead, grunting a bit. Too much thinking tends not to be good for this sailor. Or well, It could be that, or just his wounds from the battle that had taken place mere moments ago.

"Before we get to that, though," Cesar said, before continuing to dust himself off, should we rest up before we continue on? Get our bearings, treat Theodore's wounds, at the least?"

As Katia watched the final raven fly away in fear, she dug out the gem she had earlier pocketed and examined it closer. Why a bird would be condensed into this tiny orb was beyond her, but she knew one person who would know. Ever since Katia had known her, Wick had been ready with a kind smile and an insight into the arcane, especially with magical devices. When it was obvious that the bird had no intention of returning, Katia hopped down the tree, swinging between branches to land safely on the ground.

”Milya, some assistance please!” Katia called out, using her pet name for Wick as she approached Theodore. She looked down to the shorter ranger, giving an apologetic shrug. ”I hope you do not think ill of me, Teddy. It was the fastest way I could ensure the Really Big Crow did not fly away with you. My next option was to jump on its back and force it to land one way or another, but that would likely have ended poorly for all of us.”

She turned her attention to Wick, holding out the orb. “You can tell us all what this is, right? I know it’s magic, but that’s about it. When I hold it, I see them again. The birds: but not angry. Majestic and beautiful, caressed by the wind. I propose we rest, let milya look over these stones, and journey on when our wounds are tended. We have journeyed far already, perhaps to another place beyond what we had ever dreamed before.” Katia plopped down at the base of the tree, leaning against its trunk. “This place is fun!”

@Gordian Nought - Wick | @Hekazu - Theodore

The last raven fled, scattered into the vale’s veil, nevermore to be seen.

Theodore did not bear the scars of his avian fallout, nor any radiating shock from the blows commiserated by the forest. His health appeared intact, without any semblance of wear or tear on the flesh that shrouded his religious bones. The feline quickly apologized and scrutinized the cultist, offering an explanation for the chaotic series of events. The veneer of his sacred mask and armor suffered slight corrosion from talons, magic, and the subsequent dive. Otherwise, the Templar appeared in an ironic nirvana, whereupon his flesh did not herald for any want but the toll of war witnessed, suggested the contrary.

The bard was right. A rest was in order.

Flourishing her scythe and with a flick of Wick’s wrist, the Fey gift glided within its ornate scabbard. Staring past the foliage into an upward heaven, the earth beneath the staff quivered as the diviner whistled for her feathered assistant from the cirrus sky. Instead of gracefully plunging through the branches, a hawk miraculously phased into existence upon the shoulder of the monster slayer, extending its wingspan to shield the wild, rejuvenate his health and release the vise slowly dragging her fellow Aasimar into the depths of this unconscious mystery.

Look over these stones?

The Tabaxi voice tinted while her concentration lent mystical aid to the Celestial. Wedging her staff upon her breastplate, the cleric tossed the plum jewelry from hand to hand, peering into their dense hearts. The ambivalence of the gems did not reward her with the discernment of their alignment. Rather the deep violent hues prompted more of a perfect mixture of raw energy and passive worship, prompting sensations of aerial veneration.

Extending a set of fingers into her belt pouch, the Warlock seemed suddenly distraught, realizing the pearl must have been lost in the transitional trek from home to this plane. Frustrated, the reborn sage gathered a charm in either palm, manipulating them between thumb and ring finger, exposing each to the sun’s radiance, hoping a prismatic reveal would occur.

Nothing.

“Youth and fate have not blessed me with the necessary equipment to decrypt these sparkling cyphers. Their secrecy does not appear to divulge any transparency to the Light, yet they do not sprout shadows within the Darkness. I sense no foul or warmth. Deep in its roots exists a kernel of power. Whether these seeds will blossom into a friend or foe remains to be seen.”

The former librarian lobbed back each stone to the approaching ranger and monk, then began to sit against a sapling's bark, leaning heavily on its trunk. A familiar diary soon manifested once more, with accompanying ink.

“For now, my musings stamp them as untrustworthy strangers, at the very least.”

Theodore watched after the giant bird as he flung the crossbow back onto his back. He was distraught with the discrepancy between how weak he felt but how his body remained as able as ever. Even if it sounded quite on the contrary to how most would think, Theodore would have welcomed pain and spilled blood over this hollow emptiness. Yet this very feeling gave him an idea about the true nature of the gems. He'd have to think whether it was actually plausible, but this train of thought was momentarily stalled by Katia approaching and relaying her apologies.

Theodore took a deep breath, as if to ascertain his ribs were all in order, which they obviously were due to the injuries being of the nature they were and gave her his answer: "Better for me to take a fall than to be flown far away. We all know none of us could have fought them off alone. Thanks." With that said and Katia already moving her attention to other things as was typical of the hyperactive tabaxi, he turned back to pondering the nature of the gem. Without him even noticing it, Wick's familiar descended on his shoulder, a wave of warm energy rushing along him, bringing some comforting content to the void he felt within himself.

The avian creature on his shoulder provided him with another magical effect, as it led his thoughts along. His idea was incomplete, but he could be certain of a few things: Whatever these were, they housed certain divine energy. And none of what he had thought of broke the teachings of the templar, so there were no foul demons in play here. "I do think... this is the raven's soul. Think about it: Do we not feel their very being as we touch these gems?" He let the thought settle in with the others before he went on: "We have already noticed how this realm does not exactly work like we'd expect... were it not for the unmoving sun, the fact our bodies need no sustenance and how pain itself is gone, only to be replaced by this hollow feeling... friends, I propose our bodies in this strange place are but manifestations of our pure willpower... and if we were to 'die' as these birds did, we would leave behind a gem much like this."

He raised his eyes from the gem, looking around him. "So, yeah, there is some divine nature in this phenomenon like Wick said." Now Theodore hoped to hear what others thought of this, him believing his explanation to be in line with Wick's but more detailed.


@JBRam2002 - Replied to concerns
@Gordian Nought - Shared thoughts on the nature of the gems the ravens left behind

Thea had remained rather silent as the others spoke, she really wasnt a fan of birds... Especially ones large enough to lift you into the air and drop you to your death as no amount of armor would save you from such a fall. Considering her silence and watchful eye on the sky, it took her a moment to register what Theodore was saying in regaurds to the gem. "I had thought as much myself," she told the male as she moved up to him, her Great Sword resting on a shoulder, "I wonder if a resurrection could be done with these stones, or if they are good for anything at all past housing what one believes may be a soul." The young paladin peered at the object for a moment longer before a slow smirk crossed her features, it seemed the Templar had forgotten about his mask for a moment.

"You know, as much as I love seeing your face Theo... I am pretty sure I am not supposed to be seeing it at this moment," she teased, "Come now, cant have people thinking that you are a heathen now can you?" Still chuckling, she gently bopped her hip against Theodore's as the others seemed it best to concentate on the gem that had fallen from the slain creature.

@The Harbinger of Ferocity@Hekazu

The frisky foreplay between Aasimar were noteworthy, especially from a hawk’s perspective.

Full of tenacious punctuation and aberrant exclamation.

Inscribing in the now repossessed journal, the beautiful solon feverishly confined her perverse cogitations onto the paged mausoleum, subjects spanning from the disentombed avian ornaments to the Celestials’ theories on exhumed spirit and resolve. Most of the ruminations' paragraphs dedicated a redundant anaphora on the clumsy topic of passion regularly exchanged amongst their troupe.

Wit willfully wrestling with worship.

To the reborn sage, it seemed, their corporate empathy and friendship organically stemmed from the company’s evolution of a haphazard storge into a brotherly philia, now ever marching under a united cause. The natural affection, each possessed for one another, spawned forth from the trenches of this accustomed kinship mounting into that meshed mob felt amongst all as a closely knit family, who forever would tend to their clan’s wounds and afflictions as if they were their own.

No matter what.

Fascinating.

If this was the case, this inkling struck the cleric as not dissimilar from the recent brawl against the giant ravens, no less instinctually foraging and buoying resources for their younger brood above the waters of extinction, engineered to do so from a mindless, genetic lineage. Bred from thelema and other erotic programs. Built upon hormones and decaying obsessions.

Could such mechanical adoration ever paint an agapé, decorating altruistically the ceiling of their emotional chapel upon the scaffolding of charity incarnate? A worthy legacy against demonic self-aggrandizement, portraying virtuosity amongst Light and creation. Was this love not gentle and kind, but deterministically self-serving? A contingency constructed out of social trust and expectations?

A sigh expelled.

“I believe my eyes have questionably stomached the tyranny of conscious and archived thought, long enough. It happens our jaunt pukes forth both sharp and flat…”

The warlock silently capped her pen, while closing the chronicled memoirs to such fleeting fantasies, as the pirate poet commenced a song of rest. She comprehended and thrived within that isolative honesty and detested the intrusive confusion such expressive relationships fetched. However, discussed dialectic was an echoed necessity. Her face generated a fascia of camaraderie to camouflage any buried awkwardness. This new body proved useful to this ulterior intention, where her former elfish existence would have been slightly less graceful. Mocking a fake grin, the erudite youth sculpted a supplement to stalk the denouement of one of Cesar’s tunes.

Then, a yawn. “… notes in our wake. Low and…”

Standing and clapping, she continued. “High. Excellent, Cesar! Your melody’s clout merits that of ten armies. Life requires such a militant pulse. Bravo!”

Wick’s smirk and applause quickly dissipated as she glanced upon this world’s luminary, simultaneously treading further into the vale’s orchard.

“The frozen sun appears to never twirl to the tempo of the day, though. Come! We must not be ensnared in the silence of its vigil. Our boots should disperse soon and dance to the wind’s music.”

@Zverda@Hekazu@JBRam2002@Cu Chulainn@The Harbinger of Ferocity@Big Dread

Theodore had been slightly absorbed in his thoughts, but Thea's words of agreement knocked him out of it. "Yes, I wondered something of the sort too", he in turn agreed to what she had said, the potential for resurrection could hide in these stones. Or perhaps in this realm even lesser forms of healing could restore one to being? There was no way of knowing without testing it out, but he wasn't one to rush awakening birds four times his size from their death. That could very well end all sorts of badly.

Thea bumped his hip with hers, commenting on the fact he hadn't a mask on him now. Theodore turned his head slightly, more of the gesture being in his eyes and replied: "I am wrestling with the most intriguing problem right now. It's a fight, even if merely on the intellectual scale. But you might well be correct." As he wrapped it up, he dropped the gem into his bolt case and snapped the lid shut, releasing his mask into his hand which he moved to his face, a smirk aimed at Thea being the last thing visible prior to being hidden again.

He wanted to also return the hip bump, but that was beyond what he dared do. Even with the mask on, he couldn't quite focus on things other than the Paladin. However, he had to say something out loud to the whole group, so he tore his gaze away from her and spoke out in a louder volume: "Yes, if we could rest for a moment, I would very much appreciate it. That was quite the fight..." That being over and done with, his eyes slowly drifted back towards Thea.

@Zverda - Spoke with Thea

The Vale

Unknown,
Currently

After having had the luxury of a much deserved rest, the heroes as they were - not that anyone would dare challenge such a title - found themselves back again on their trek and adventure. For the next few hours they continued across the great vale before them, left to wonder just what at all had happened; their bountiful and numerous theories hovering about them like low flying clouds to provide much needed shade. Not because the sun above was hot, as it was always rather temperate, but because the implications of all what they were saying were so tremendous and profound. Were it not just a few days prior, such thoughts would have been relegated to the fringe of credibility, left beside other crazed notions like that a pantheon of every form and kind existed, or that every stone, stick, rock or animal had some sort of patron spirit.

It was very clear there was a Kingdom of Light and a Kingdom of Darkness, both forces so well opposed and ancient that their existence created everything, apparently this place as well. That seemed to fit the experience no less, as the birds themselves proved that they were just birds, even with these odd, potentially supernatural gems made of "soul". Again, it did not fit what cosmology they knew, but who was to say anything of that at all? This, this great land before them certainly wasn't mentioned anywhere and that they all knew, yet here it was, vast and rolling before them.

With the notion of rolling, as they crested one of those hills, they witnessed before them something... rather unexpected at this rate. A town, not just any town, but a town that had ramparts made of thick logs twice as tall as a man yet just as broad, longhouses that churned with early evening smoke, cobbled low walls and a few farms scattered about in the greater distance. It took them a few moments to quite realize what they were looking at, but after a day of wandering the wilderness, the sun starting its seeming descent behind them after far too many hours of being up, they discovered that other people actually lived here, let alone created a civilization. No less, the deeper they peered into the town, the more dense it visibly became.

It had a hall.

A hall, a place of stone and wood, was where heroes went to feast and drink on their nights before they again picked up their arms and explored out into the dangerous world beyond. From what they all remembered in fact, such places were now considered sacred in many cases - after all, the dangers of the world up until the shadows had all but vanished. Yet this? This hall had actual livelihood to it, in that as with many of the dwellings, candle and firelight could be seen from within their thick stained glass. It was no mere shell of itself from a past age of glory and righteous conquest!


@Big Dread, @Cu Chulainn, @Gordian Nought, @Hekazu, @JBRam2002, @Zverda

Hmmmm... A town.

The diviner elevated her rod and appealed to those leading their venturing band. Soon, words baptized their petrified station before the noted Hall.

“Everyone. Be still.” Shuffling to the Templar, she hissed and caressed the sleeping Hawk upon the monster slayer’s shoulder. “Let us stand here for discretion, prudence, and caution, as I am unsure who and what this settlement houses. Whether they bury the dead. Care for beast and child. Possess a place of worship. Loftier eyes should peek into their affairs since skies grow ever grim, before all march into their muddy matters.”

Leaning on her gemmed staff, the mage furrowed her brows and fastened her lids, while the white bird unlocked sight and flight. The snowy familiar bolted into the dusky firmament, scavenging the landscape with eagle-like vision, eager to discern the common business of this peculiar civilization.

A mouth broke breath. “I see."


@Big Dread, @Cu Chulainn, @Hekazu, @JBRam2002, @Zverda,@The Harbinger of Ferocity

Theodore nodded at Wick, crouching to help her in retrieving her hawk off his shoulder. She was the only one he would have to do something like this for, her being the only member of the party shorter than him. While a lesser man might find it troublesome to be shorter than one's allies, Theodore paid it little mind. He had grown in the grace of Light and the Light had chosen him to remain at this length. It helped in hiding, too, when the optimal strategy came to it. Leaving these thoughts behind, he followed as the fellow Aasimar sent her familiar on its way towards the settlement they saw further before them.

On the order to be still, Theodore reflexively hopped down on one knee and prepared his crossbow. Realising that it might be a bit too much he slowly and somewhat awkwardly placed the crossbow back on to his back and followed the hawk's mission with naked eye. The templar prided themselves in their quick combat reactions, but right now might not be the moment to be quite that prepared. "Wick, I don't think it's that dangerous to be honest..."

To be fair, the settlement didn't seem like there would be that much threat to it. There would likely be warriors that knew how to handle their weapons, but there was no reason to outright assume them to be hostile. If they had a hall like that, it could well be a gathering place for many, thus meaning outsiders would not immediately be thought of as thieves. However, he let her have her moment and soon enough she muttered the words "I see."

@Gordian Nought - Shared thoughts with Wick

Thea had offered Theodore a smile after he had put his mask back on, but that had been it as the idea of a rest seemed rather appealing. It was during that time that she inspected her sword and gear for any potential damage despite having not done much during the last altercation. I should look into getting some javalins at some point if there are going to be giant birds around, she thought to herself before letting out a sigh. She hated flying enemies, they left her relatively useless without the use of javalins or the like. While she enjoyed thenuse of a bow as well, it was not something she was particularly good at using, just... Average.

When the rest was over and their journey began anew, her worry for their templar subsiding when she noted he was managing to heal himself just fine, she kept quiet. Instead, she simply left herself to her thoughts and the things that had brought her to where she was and the events that had paired her with the people she was with. Then her thoughts drifted away from times mixed with her own darkness and the light her friends helped her find once more and began to wander to the place they were in now. The existance of the gems were rather strange to her, but they were in a world completely foreign to them, so it was likely normal to the world's inhabitants. Maybe they could ask someone if they ran into another intelligent living being.

Just as that thought crossed her mind, the group finally came across what appeared to be a town of some sort, though it seemed empty enough in the late evening. Eyes scanning the area, she could see nothing out of the ordinary and she had no real desire to check for the presence of evil or good, there was nothing to check as buildings never truly held any alegence one way or another. Moving over to Haemar, she looked at her old friend with a raised brow, "Any thoughts old friend?" she asked the High Elf, though she said no more than that.

@Big Dread - She finally broke her long silence.

As the group rested, Katia pondered the orb she held. Magic was not her strong suit, but this orb gave her the feeling of the rush of wind and the majesty of a soaring avian far above the ground. She felt some sort of energy from this orb, almost akin to the energy of ki that flowed through all living things. Did this thing have a soul? Was it a soul? Katia could not tell, but her intuition told her that the gem might be able to bring one of these Crows back to life if paired with a suitably powerful spell. She briefly wondered if something similar would happen to her should her combat tactics fail her.

The thought was not a pleasant one.

When the group continued its movements, Katia pulled a thin wooden stick from her pouch. A quick glance over the stick would reveal its patterned holes along the top and the fact it was hollow. A few moments later, and its purpose was revealed to all nearby. As they walked, Katia blew into one end, creating a steady tone. Her fingers switched positions, and a new tone sounded. She was certainly no bard, and her music lacked the empathy and soul of Cesar’s, but she knew a handful of marching tunes and lullabies, as well as a few songs she had written herself. This particular tune was a soulful melody that dipped into a minor key, evoking the plight of the Really Big Crows they had just encountered. It may well have been Katia’s best musical work ever, surprising even herself. Perhaps the gem she had stowed in her pack had inspired her.

The song continued for much of the time that they walked, a soft background tune that should not interrupt any other conversation, but still hopefully evoked some imagination and enjoyment from her companions. It ceased abruptly as they crested a hill and looked down over what appeared to be a Hall. At Koan’s words, Katia lowered herself close to the ground, waiting for her ally’s command to stay or pounce. The hawk began its survey, and Katia peered into the distance to see what she could in tandem. The town appeared mostly empty from this distance, but the Hall’s lights were ignited. Theodore’s assessment was that the Hall lacked danger, but Katia was less sure.

”We have seen nary a soul so far, Teddy,” she replied. ”Perhaps they have all holed up in here, or perhaps there are none. I have been to many towns like this one where as soon as you step through the gates, they find some reason to lock you up. If we could see what manner of person existed here... but no. We must approach, and we lack the cover to do so stealthily.” Thea turned towards their wizard, requesting his advice, and although her question was not directed towards the tabaxi, Katia offered her own as well. ”I think we should march in proudly, our weapons sheathed but ready. Perhaps they will offer respite or a place to purchase supplies. If the Hall is empty, it may serve as shelter for an evening.”


@The Harbinger of Ferocity - DM, @Cu Chulainn - Cesar, @Zverda - Thea, @Gordian Nought - Wick, @Big Dread - Haemar, @Hekazu - Theodore

"This no simple town." Haemar said as he crossed his arms over his chest, planting one elbow in his palm and resting the other on his chin. He eyed the town. It was odd. Many small towns like this did not possess any fortification at all and yet this one did. Not only did it have fortifications but also a hall at the center. Whoever lived here, or once lived here, had martial inclination. That was the very least of his worries though. What caught his mind more was that if they felt the need for fortifications that meant that they had something to defend themselves against that was enough of a consistent threat to need walls.

"Whatever this place is they face a threat that worries them. Either their people or lord has deemed it needed for them to construct fortifications around something smaller than a true city." he looked about the horizon, "I see no castle either. That means that there likely is only a militia here, or, perhaps only a few skilled warriors to make use of the hall." his hand migrated to his mouth and covered, golden eyes narrowing.

"I think Katia is correct about how we should proceed. We should not conduct ourselves like thieves or bandits for we mean these people no harm. If we are turned away we will just have to accept that, but, I do not think we will. If my hypothesis is sorrect I think a group of fighters will be welcomed here as long as we do not cause them trouble." he said to the group at large before turning his gaze specifically to Thea, "This place reminds me of Hale only with walls. I only hope the people here are not as in dire straights as they were." the memory of the town they had spent a good deal of time in many years ago. They had not needed help with bandits or armies but the town had been near to ruin when they arrived and they had given them as much aid as they could. He wondered if Hale still stood. He hoped it did. He hoped everywhere he had known still stood, even if he would never see those places again.

"Wick," he began, looking at the scrying scholar with a raised brow, "What does the eye of our avian companion see?"



@The Harbinger of Ferocity
@Cu Chulainn
@Zverda
@Gordian Nought
@Big Dread
@Hekazu

Nothing.

Whenever the diviner abused the senses of the majestic hawk overhead, she was deaf and blind to the world, cruising through cumulus and nimbostratus, observing the curious township below, while soaring from the transcending safety of the setting heavens. With adopted eyesight able to pierce distance and piece clarity, the reincarnated librarian massaged rationales for the mores of this newly discovered civilization but with…

No movement.
No sound.
No people.
Nothing.

The conclusion remained a dubious one.

“A void. I heed a scent of purpose and commitment amongst the architecture, yet I feel an abyss. Empty graves beckoning unlucky souls to fill their coffins. It is as if they intentionally share nothing with us, save a burning effigy, with flickers of smoke and fire.”

Introducing again her fiery pupils into the conversation, she barely caught the murmurs of the Tabaxi’s ending suggestion.

”I think we should march in proudly, our weapons sheathed but ready. Perhaps they will offer respite or a place to purchase supplies. If the Hall is empty, it may serve as shelter for an evening.”

Or our tombs.

“Yes, Katia. Let’s meet the men of these mansions.”

Action was demanded before the apparent witching hour.

No longer standing, the band of misfits quickly assembled their ensembles, pompously bearing arms in their scabbards. Their orientation mirrored a militaristic model with Thea, the paladin heading the mishaped pack, with negotiation or steel readied at a moment's notice. Directly behind, the monster slayer remained close but slightly afar to not hint crude engagement of friend or enemy. To his immediate right, and the dead center of their crew, shuffled Katia, with Haemar flanking as her first mate, with prepped perception scouring the town. Consolidating the rear, the Bard recited ballads of trojans and marids, while the diviner sluggishly accepted the fate brandished upon their clan of Celestials, Elves and her Beloved, meditating upon scholars of old and the Seeker of Knowledge.

Dusk approached.

Soft words soon coordinated its harsh rhythm into the unconcealed stride of the party.

“Sway like giants, deliberately fetching attention on our forward tour. Soon, the moon will ripple its white flag in surrender to this night. The asylum, before us, fosters ever more so as a necessity now as this town prefers to be caged, while daylight escapes us.”


@JBRam2002@Big Dread@Zverda@Hekazu@The Harbinger of Ferocity@Cu Chulainn

The Vale

The Town,
Currently

With the party marching on and soon finding themselves before the gates, having followed only the faint path through the rolling grassland that still existed, they discovered the town was indeed as quiet as they had seen from an hour's walk away. Their hail never found an answer, as unusual as that was, so when they came to push open the gates, they discovered those too were unlocked and open. Both giant wooden doors, heavy and great as they were, swung inward and allowed the heroes to witness the calm of the town. It was as strange as anything else, but the clear signs of inhabitance were here; a few carts loaded with hay, a few wooden merchant's stalls with their wares gone for the evening, baskets and pots set out in stacks.

Yet not a soul to be seen...

Not initially at least until a ways down what appeared to be the main road, a very small figure dressed in rich purple robes ran from one end of the street to the others, darting between buildings. Before the wardens of light could even react, the tiny person was already gone - until of course a kaleidoscope of colors erupted from where he ran and he again crossed the street back toward where he came. This time, now ready for whatever was going on, they noted the figure wearing an equally purple, albeit absurdly tall and pointed hat near as large as he, and sprinting for his apparent life back the other direction after whatever magic just happened. His hands in the air during his flight, they could faintly make out him yelling incoherently.

In his wake followed a gang of shadows, but not just any shadows, several of them large enough to be the size of a man and all of whom were wielding longswords and armored shields made out of inky blackness that fit the rest of their unsettlingly humanoid look. They chased him back from where he came across the street in their mob, with one lingering further behind the rest, seemingly staggering around dazed and confused.

"Someone!? Anyone?! Help!"

The voice peaked louder and clearly as another rainbow eruption occurred throughout the town in a burst of light and twinkling sounds; bits of glittering color drifting wildly. It seems the gnome was in desperate trouble and they had arrived none too late. The real question was, what now would they do? Time was short to think and act.


@Big Dread, @Cu Chulainn, @Gordian Nought, @Hekazu, @JBRam2002, @Zverda

The sheathed weapons did not remain sheathed for long. Almost as soon as they had passed through the gate, signs of struggle were evident. When the gnome came into view, pursued by its shadowy counterparts, Katia had already taken off on all fours, rushing forward to help. ”Hold on, mage!“ she cried out, hoping to garner the attention of some of the shadows and draw them away from their prey.

As Katia approached, she climbed up on a canopy on one of the buildings, conjuring from within a ball of ki energy to fling at the shadows should one approach. Moving too far forward was likely to result in her own harm more than protecting the wizard, as her allies were somewhat slower than she was, but this building should hopefully provide some shelter from oncoming foes while allowing her clear shots. She could only see a handful of the Shadows, but so far, none wielded ranged weaponry. That worked in her favor. She stood up proudly, radiant energy brimming from her palms, and called down to the enemies below. ”Hey, Shadow Things! Pick on someone your own size!”


@The Harbinger of Ferocity - DM
@Gordian Nought - Wick (next)

”Pick on someone your own size!”

Abhorrence of the oozing ink, that seemingly aggravated all lands it stained, began to well into a furious spring of righteous rage within the warlock. Her wrinkled wrath, evident even before the Tabaxi glided over the surrounding edifice, accrued further spiritual solidarity against these smoky foes, as her boots rapidly waded between her fellow sunshine soldiers, dashing to procure a better angle of the enemy at hand. Her fingers crackled and sizzled, offering a muffled incense into the ambiance whilst she scampered along the walls to the right. A sputtered smoke trailed the diviner, like a fragrant prayer attempting to supplicate a farfetched deity. Her left palm soon birthed a revolving world of radiance, exhibiting a pitter-patter of murky silhouettes stranding behind any constitutions the light chanced upon.

Once in range, the cleric shrieked, desiring all optical orbits on her.

“Over here!”

With that exclamation, the miniature planet illumined a launched path into the fray of shadows. Three, in particular became outlined in the frenetic luminary, consuming the feverish wisps. Once the violent brightness dissolved, the shadows endured, durable against the beaming strike, hinting no harm nor destruction. Her annoyance crowded out the notion of the gnome’s health and well-being, let alone coordination with the rest of her troupe.

She whispered a petition, to herself, in doubtful irritation.

“Can any remit this recalcitrant pestilence?”


@Big Dread, @Cu Chulainn, @Hekazu, @JBRam2002, @Zverda,@The Harbinger of Ferocity

The faster she made it over to the shadows, the sooner they would be able to save the man calling for help. She had no desire to allow harm to come to anyone if she could help it, especially from such evil creatures as these. Knowing she wouldn't be able to get fast enough at first, she darted straight forward, leaving about 40ft between her and the only shadow currently within her sites. Looking off to the side for a moment she could see at least three other creatures of the same size and armory, she would have to find a way to get a one up on these things. It was already clear that an advantage would need to be had, and it was one she planned on doing now. "علامة هنتر..." she murmured under her breath, her chocolate brown eyes focusing on the target before her. A soft glow could be seen for a moment before it faded away, she had successfully marked her quarry and when this one went down, she planned on marking more.

"Just hold out a little while longer!" she called out to the bystandard, hoping that her voice rang clear enough for him to hear. For now, it was all she could offer until they were able to send the creatures back into the shadows they seemed to have come from.



@The Harbinger of Ferocity
@Big Dread - Up Next

Haste. There was a life to save and there was a very limited time to do it in. It seemed his assessment of a continual threat was not a false one. The shadows that had plagued the Kingdom of Light for so long were here as well, where ever here actually was. The matters of what and where could rest for now though. Now it was the time to act and make sure that the large hatted gnome would live long enough to tell them what had become of this place and maybe shed some light on those questions now on hold.

As his companions sprang into motion so did the wizard. He launched himself in a full run just as he noticed the movement of both Katia and Thea. He did not alter his straightforward path nor did he concern himself attempting anything particularly impressive. Now was the time to close distance and draw the attention away from the poor fellow who had draw such ire. He dashed forward and drew his longsword into his right hand, readied for the coming fight. These shadows seemed different and certainly more hardy than the previous incarnations, but, mostly the same. Haemar shouted as he ran, trying to draw the attention of the shadows to him as much as he could.

@The Harbinger of Ferocity@Cu Chulainn - Next