Having been in the exact same position a couple years (?) ago, let me be the first then to welcome you back. Enjoy your stay, mang; you just won't find many RPs that have you coming back like that, especially ones that still live at the appointed time.

I am intimidated. I am never intimidated when it comes to the possibility of joining a RP.

> I am intimidated. I am never intimidated when it comes to the possibility of joining a RP. I feel ya.

> I am intimidated. I am never intimidated when it comes to the possibility of joining a RP. Well, if it is a possibility that you are considering (which I presume it is with you making the comment), let me just reassure you that while the scope of what happens in this RP in terms of unpredictable and far-reaching consequences with every action and the sheer vastness of its eternally expanding lore can be rather intimidating, you're never alone with the challenge here. If you have a question or need advice all you need is to ask. So if you're tempted, feel free to give it a try.

> I am intimidated. I am never intimidated when it comes to the possibility of joining a RP. Trust me, you aren't the only one. But that's why I love RPing in this RP. It's so challenging as a writer and it demands greatness (which, in turn, makes a great story ^^)

Alright, I've caught up now. You guys seem to be in the midst of being held up by a group of guards. From what I can tell, a woman is dead (is it night time?) and only 3 players are at the scene. I could use a summary of this scene because I don't understand what's going on (why is the woman dead? Who else is here? What time is it?) Since I don't know what's going on, I won't jump in until I understand it better. But I can always have my character join up the old way: by meeting you guys at an inn.

> Having been in the exact same position a couple years (?) ago, let me be the first then to welcome you back. Enjoy your stay, mang; you just won't find many RPs that have you coming back like that, especially ones that still live at the appointed time. Thank you, Ashgan. I appreciate it.

> > I am intimidated. I am never intimidated when it comes to the possibility of joining a RP. > > Well, if it is a possibility that you are considering (which I presume it is with you making the comment), let me just reassure you that while the scope of what happens in this RP in terms of unpredictable and far-reaching consequences with every action and the sheer vastness of its eternally expanding lore can be rather intimidating, you're never alone with the challenge here. If you have a question or need advice all you need is to ask. So if you're tempted, feel free to give it a try. I'm going to thumb through things the best I can. I work quite a bit but I will slowly catch myself up. I'm going to shuffle between the IC and OOC posts until I have some sort of understanding about what is going on. I am interested. I'm just behind.

**@InspectorGadget:** Welcome. As Jack already said, we will answer any questions you have. Perhaps you already noticed, but there is a link to off-site resource containing the world info and also replicas of the IC posts in the OP. [Also here.](http://http://theprophecy.nefaerious.com) (You might have easier time reading the IC posts in the Compendium's archives, since in there they are sorted by story-branch rather than interweaved randomly. The textwall at the end of this post is a summary of the happenings in Zerul City) **@Ink Blood:** Welcome back. **@Ashgan:** You've a new avatar, I see... **@Veridis Quo:** Here is a not-too-short (but still the size of a long post rather than literally seventy posts long) hopefully adequate summary of events in Zerul City from before the rise of NuGuild to the present moment... A young rune mage, Thomas Remdal, son of Dennis Remdal, was waiting by the gates of Zerul City in order to welcome a group of adventurers bent on curing the plague known as the Withering, a penin called I'onriyi, a rather well-known individual in Zerul and a friend of Thomas', was just returning from a mission to exterminate an unusually massive ore-lizard, and an assassin by the name of Ixion Ecthalion had just completed his end of a contract. Thomas had a brief chat concerning their respective activities and a recent ongoing influx of refugees from Nemhim with the returning I'on, a chat which was interrupted by a confrontation with Ixion. It was tense, but as luck willed it, did not come to blows, and ended with a poison from unknown source catching up with Ixion's system and making him collapse on the spot. I'on had the guards nearby take Ixion into a church of Reina for healing and invited Thomas for a drink, something which the rune mage declined since he still had a duty to fulfill by the gate, leaving the penin to depart on his own. Ixion, however, did not opt to wait till someone came in to question him, but fled the church shortly after having regained his senses. Ixion's affiliation with the demon known as the Grand Master triggered a magical "alarm" as he stumbled down the streets, prompting an unknown woman dressed in blue (although one spot in her opening post refers to her garmets as 'indigo', which is a rather ambiguous descriptor and can be pretty much as purple as purple goes according to some color palettes ... but I'm digressing; might be a note to Jack if anything ... I am quite certain she's supposed to be dressed in *blue* blue) to track him down and try to make him reveal whether or not he was the person she was supposed to find, one known as "the Fixer". The confrontation also caught the attention of a vampire sniffer named Morgan lurking above the street level. Ixion was suspicious of the woman, questioning her and not allowing her to get close enough to examine him and ascertain whether or not he was the Fixer. The woman, however, remained adamant, and the vampire watched on. In the end, the woman's last attempt to physically close the distance and take a look at Ixion's eyes prompted the assassin to attack and request the vampire nearby to call guards (a request the latter found ludicrous). Fighting ensued, Ixion was further injured, and the woman took damage, too. The smell of blood was a bit too much for the vampire, and e stopped spectating and joined the fight, attacking the woman. It was uncertain how the fight would have ended otherwise, but at one point during it the woman drew a curious sword, which caused a fourth character to appear and promptly end her life. Neither the vampire nor assassin were particularly amused by this outcome despite the newcomer stating that he had no business with either of them. When the figure drew out a book and mentioned a "gift for good ol' Blue", however, it gave Ixion a pause and made him successfully halt the bloodlust-driven and quite irate vampire. Tense waiting ensured during which both mostly just wanted to see what the book was for. They also derived this was the "Fixer" the woman had been looking for (note that neither the Fixer's identity nor deeds are publicly known, despite what the IC posts may suggest; there are no legends of the Fixer). The book turned out to contain the life story of Blue - the woman who had just been killed -, which was one of being born to a mother who didn't want her and abandoned her, being picked up by something referred to as "the Corpse Forge", turned into a tool rather than a person, and then assigned to the Duke of Zerul, who was the only one to treat her as a person despite her not being able to comprehend the act. After paying the woman her last respects, the Fixer closed the book and inquired Ixion about his poisoning. Any further conversation was soon interrupted by I'on wandering into the street and, to which Fixer responded to by attacking Ixion - to convince the witness that the assassin and vampire were victims rather than his accomplices in killing Blue. Fighting ensued, I'onriyi demanded to know what was going on and started casting a spell, but in the end, the Fixer decided it was enough and dematerialized himself, although not before making it very clear that he could've killed Ixion if he so desired (In the form of a gaping hole in the street, less than an inch from Ixion's head). The curious sword the woman had drawn and the Fixer had seemingly wanted, however, was left behind, and Ixion opted to retrieve it. The penin demanded an explanation, and Ixion gave one to him - although he bended the truth and left some things unsaid in a manner that painted a more innocent picture of the vampire, and to a lesser extent, him himself. I'onriyi was content, for he had seen the Fixer being engaged with Ixion with his own eyes, and took it upon himself to explain what happened to the guards (who conveniently showed up just a few moments later) and offered to pay for their stay at the Drunken Dove inn. Ixion agreed to I'on's offer, if somewhat tentatively, the vampire remained more suspicious. I'on indeed did convey the situation to the guards as Ixion had described it (although he included himself amongst the people the Fixer had attacked). However, he also claimed the two would not be leaving town, and noted that they can be questioned tomorrow. Ixion nodded, grudgingly, but to the vampire the notion of being bound to one place and possibly being questioned was too much, and he initiated an attack. Whether it would be intercepted without the situation coming to more serious consequences remains to be seen.

That's great, thank you. It is late at night, correct? Where are the other members of the Zerul group?

**@Veridis Quo:** It is actually daytime for those within Zerul City (the vampire has a hood and a full face mask with just tiny slits for vision ... well, and also the shadows of the nearby buildings). A group of those who are going to join the people in Zerul city are currently in a borderhouse near Zerul's border (they will depart and head for Zerul soon, and presumably arrive the city in the evening towards the night; probably will spend the night at some inn or such establishment, possibly provided for them). Another three who will join this branch of story are in some rural area near Zerul City and will be picked up before or after the main group has been to Zerul city. **@Jack:** Little compact list of what mainly separates éireannach from humans and forestfolk from highlanders... Both: Hemocyanin instead of hemoglobin in blood. - Which is to say, they have blue blood (dark blue when oxygenated, can go almost translucent when completely deoxygenated - but the latter is not likely to happen in atmospheric conditions) rather than red. Other than when they bleed would also be somewhat - but not strongly - apparent from their skin and especially lips (more discernible in the pale highlanders). Slight differences in circulatory system, also probably slightly higher average breathing/pulse rate. Also makes them completely incompatible with all red-blooded humanoid species. Forestfolk: No collarbones. Allows them to put their shoulders together in front of theirselves and increases their ability to fit through narrow spaces. (As a sidenote, lack of collarbones rarely also occurs in humans.) Increased flexibility and range of motion, also slightly different distribution of muscle (more oriented for climbing). Their characteristic "patchwork" skin of various brown and green tones. - Typically shorter and lither than highlanders. Highlanders: More resistant to cold than humans. Also somewhat less resistant to heat. On average also less susceptible to altitude sickness. - Typically taller and more sturdily built than forestfolk.

_Reads Rhae's post with Morgan, immediately rubs his temples_ Well, it's realistic, which is great, but I swear nothing can ever be simple. Granted, that sort of makes this more fun doesn't it? xD With any luck our assassin will stop him, because I'on is physically too small to entirely impede Morgan, though if he used some magic it'd be something of a cinch since the vampire is effectively in what appears to be a (nearly) unthinking bloodrage. Well, Mercinus, do you want to post, or is it my turn before we have the guard's react?

> _Reads Rhae's post with Morgan, immediately rubs his temples_ Well, it's realistic, which is great, but I swear nothing can ever be simple. Granted, that sort of makes this more fun doesn't it? xD > > With any luck our assassin will stop him, because I'on is physically too small to entirely impede Morgan, though if he used some magic it'd be something of a cinch since the vampire is effectively in what appears to be a (nearly) unthinking bloodrage. Well, Mercinus, do you want to post, or is it my turn before we have the guard's react? Firstly, I deeply apologize. xD I tried of thinking a different way that Morgan could react, or that he would be under more control. However, seeing that he was feeling trapped, on top of the guard's tone, and the general hatred he has for the law... There was no avoiding it. I'm just hoping they keel over, but you know. Nothing is ever simple in RP, haha. However, this whole incident could be easily blown over, assuming that Ixion sees this as an opportunity to create a "no-witnesses-allowed" situation (Getting rid of the guards is just putting the group back to where it was - going the inn, but this time, nobody with the law will know their exact location ;D). But we'll see. Guards always seem to have more back up than they need... :(

I kind of find it hard to believe a person like I'on would accept killing innocents who were just doing their jobs... He is smaller, but also stockier and can always just hit the vampire over his head with his staff, no? Since Morgan is a vampire, there is probably a somewhat smaller chance that he'd be permanently brain-damaged from it. (Well ... there'd be quite a bit of explaining to do afterwards, but at least people'd not be dead. NPCs are persons, too, and shouldn't treated any differently IC than played characters.)

Lol, it'd also make I'on...less likely to side with the two if they end up killing guardsmen. He has lived in Zerul for a good while, has a good reputation, and is a generally upstanding individual for the most part. Ironically, Morgan's assessment of him never having lived outside of society is quite inaccurate, but that is from his perspective and the vampire hardly knows the little penin well enough to think otherwise :P We'll see how things progress, but if they end up fighting the guards, I'on will quickly second guess his alliance with them, and have to very swiftly choose whom to unleash his magic upon to deadly efficiency. Either way this goes it should be interesting, and that's what's important ^_^ Edit for Shien: Very true, as I mentioned above briefly. That does bring a good point up, as to whether I'on would do so. I'm sure he'd sense the killing intent to at least some extent, if that's even a reasonable way of putting it. Plus Morgan's movements are not exactly ones someone takes who isn't about to be blatantly hostile/dangerous. So knocking the fellow out, or knocking him from his frenzy, is quite possible.

> I kind of find it hard to believe a person like I'on would accept killing innocents who were just doing their jobs... He is smaller, but also stockier and can always just hit the vampire over his head with his staff, no? Since Morgan is a vampire, there is probably a somewhat smaller chance that he'd be permanently brain-damaged from it. (Well ... there'd be quite a bit of explaining to do afterwards, but at least people'd not be dead. NPCs are persons, too, and shouldn't treated any differently IC than played characters.) I mean, I would agree. However, Ixion did mention inwardly that he wasn't exactly pleased that his cover had been/could be compromised and was making best of the situation. But given the opportunity... the possibilities, heh. Then again, the right moral choice could override the need to hide. And don't vampires pretty much recover from any mortal wound? > Lol, it'd also make I'on...less likely to side with the two if they end up killing guardsmen. He has lived in Zerul for a good while, has a good reputation, and is a generally upstanding individual for the most part. Ironically, Morgan's assessment of him never having lived outside of society is quite inaccurate, but that is from his perspective and the vampire hardly knows the little penin well enough to think otherwise :P > > We'll see how things progress, but if they end up fighting the guards, I'on will quickly second guess his alliance with them, and have to very swiftly choose whom to unleash his magic upon to deadly efficiency. Either way this goes it should be interesting, and that's what's important ^_^ > > Edit for Shien: Very true, as I mentioned above briefly. That does bring a good point up, as to whether I'on would do so. I'm sure he'd sense the killing intent to at least some extent, if that's even a reasonable way of putting it. Plus Morgan's movements are not exactly ones someone takes who isn't about to be blatantly hostile/dangerous. > > So knocking the fellow out, or knocking him from his frenzy, is quite possible. Well, naturally. Who wouldn't want to protect his life from a rampaging vampire? :P And of course, Morgan's assumptions are incorrect, but they're also judgmental due to the fact that he assumes that I'on is with the law. I do believe the death of him will be due to his hatred for such people... But anyway, I can't wait to see responses - this will be indefinitely interesting.

> _Reads Rhae's post with Morgan, immediately rubs his temples_ Well, it's realistic, which is great, but I swear nothing can ever be simple. Granted, that sort of makes this more fun doesn't it? xD > > With any luck our assassin will stop him, because I'on is physically too small to entirely impede Morgan, though if he used some magic it'd be something of a cinch since the vampire is effectively in what appears to be a (nearly) unthinking bloodrage. Well, Mercinus, do you want to post, or is it my turn before we have the guard's react? I think that despite him being injured from the previous fight with the Fixer, Ixion still has enough go-go juice to try and knock him unconscious. The only thing that I can see is that the assassin just wants the day to be over without any more confrontations, least of all the guards of the city. I do, funnily enough, see some sort of a response that he would take. M3

Quite the response Merc, now I presume it either DJ or Rhae's response(again haha). Likely Rhae should go first so as to react to Ixion's counter. Depending on whether that is successful or not it would then be Jack's go, followed by my own methinks. That way the guards and our little penin mage don't get left behind :P

So where should I start? After you guys get into the city? I imagine I'll be meeting with the group which Gregory already has some level of familiarity.

What town were the refugees from again?