[IC] Haunting Revolutions

[Skinner35]

WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF MELAKIA

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This world seems like any other Fantasy setting that you'd imagine. Magic, Monsters, and Fortune are to be found. The wonders of the worlds are there to be found. Endless power and your dreams lie, waiting for you to take it within your grasp, and make it your own. But, we will get to that soon. First, let's pave your way to your dreams...

All seems normal. It's in the middle of the Summer months, and the days just tick by. Today is a day just like any other, nothing special. Cities working as normal. Traders and merchants selling and buying various goods. Each of our soon-to-be adventurers living their everyday lives, whatever that may be. The world is, somewhat, at peace. Of course, there are small incidents and fights that happen every now and then, but it's nothing more than people wanting too much, then being knocked down. Although, for only a few people, today would hold events that will change the world, for either the better or much worse.

For our Adventurers, it's roughly midday. You all are just doing what comes normally on a Summers day. But, suddenly, you feel a strange energy wash over you... It's strange... You don't feel threatened, or afraid, but calm. Your heart rate slows, and your breathing slows, causing you to stop what you're doing. Then as you are there, in this new/odd serenity, you hear a voice in the back of your head, the voice sounding like that of an Old Man. "Hello. I know this is fairly odd. But I request your presence. The Gods have chosen you lot for a Divine Adventure. I would like you to come to me quickly. I am in the Temple of Castor in Petro. If you don't know the way, trust me, you'll find it. Now, come come. We haven't much time to waste." Then the voice goes silent, and the energy that you felt disappears. Then, you realize that on the ground in front of you, there is a rolled-up Scroll. Upon unraveling this scroll, you see a basic map, which leads directly to the Temple, from your exact location.

Now, it is on you all. Do you embark on this adventure? Or do you run due to the fear of the unknown?

[AwesomeZero5]

Book-worm was reading away at a book of alchemy whilst resting inside the cave. The strange energy was not fought against, as it could very much well be their patron aiming to commune with them again. It seemed particularly early in the day to be able to hear their patron’s voice but it would certainly be welcomed.
It was a bit of a shock to hear a voice of an older gentleman who was not Book-Worm’s own patron. They brought news of the gods choosing them, but that was already obvious though they knew not about the adventure that was spoken of. They did however recall their patron mentioning something about a force coming, and Book-worm being instructed to strengthen their own abilities to subdue some vague threat or entity.
They themselves did not personally knowing of this temple nor its location but the map was definitely helpful to find it. Seeing as the location was days away, there would be not particular rush to leave now. It would be better to speak with their patron once the sun set and then to get moving. It also lowered the risk of encounters with aggressive adventures in the area. An example of which, lie unconscious further into the cave with a potion left in their hand. Hopefully they would be able to drink it later.
Night fell, Book-worm’s patron spoke to them to go. They left, quickened by the groans of a person waking up in the small cave. It was much safer to travel by night. It would me half a week however until they finally arrived at the temple during the night, and did their best to sneak toward it by remaining out of sight.

[Sharidi37495]

Margaret was selling some lace at a beach-side market in Readingia, just as any other summer day would have her do. She was working on more doilies to sell, when she feels the energy course in her. Then the Voice passes through her head. Gasping softly, she drops her work. When the message is finished, and the strange feeling fades, Margaret's soul seems to return to her body, to see a crowd gather. At the inquiries, Margaret apologizes and affirms that she is fine, and had just felt a chill. She stays at the market through the day and sells most of her goods, an average day's work. She keeps herself busy to prevent herself from thinking about the surreal event that occurred midday. She knew she was special, different than the mediocre humans she surrounded herself with, tilling around day in and day out, but this? This was strange, even for her.
When night fell, she convinces herself that, after half a day of internal conflict, she decides she might as well see what the Gods want. She had tried to think she was special before, and do something, but every time she either almost died, was completely useless, or had to fake a death and change form, or some combination. With a heavy sigh, she readies a pack, hoists it over her shoulder, and shifts into the stable boy next door. Silently asking for forgiveness, she slips into the stables, hides the meager pack in a hay pile, sneaks behind the victim while he's in the tack room, and locks him in. "I'm sorry!" her disguised voice is a perfect echo of the boy's. She picks a roan gelding, grabs the bag, already saddled, and jumps onto the horse, startling it into a gallop. She prefers to travel by night, as the day posed no threat, even to someone sleeping, especially to a burly, well-known street fighter, Margaret grins.

[Shadow Dragon]

Far away, in the crumbling ruins of an ancient castle, set deep in a long forgotten kingdom, a large stone coffin sits on a long table. Blood red eyes open for the first time in centuries. An long forgotten evil has awoken for the first time in living history, and it hungers for the destruction and ruin of ages long past. A surge of black power blasts from the being, and storms begin to gather over the dark stone fortress.

[Sharidi37495]

Margaret would've stopped her horse when seeing the odd pillar of darkness on the horizon, had her horse not completely freak out and rear up. Margaret hangs onto the horse for dear life, even as it bolts back towards Titamakia. What on earth?

[Shadow Dragon]

The clouds are blasted away from the black as it begins to spread across the sky, and the pillar slowly gets thinner.

[Skinner35]

As the Priests, and Paladin, wait in the temple for the hopeful adventurers... The spire of darkness rises. The Paladin then walks out to the front of the Temple, and slowly says, "Gods above, and below... Lend me your fighting spirit... Hell itself has awoken."

For anyone who reaches the temple, you will see this Paladin, who is staring to the horizon in fear.

[Sharidi37495]

Once the horse has had it's little fit, Margaret steers it towards the pillar of darkness. The horse gallops to it, seemingly entranced. As if suddenly remembering her mission, Margaret corrects the horse to head for the Temple, and it speeds through the wind under the cover of heavy foliage.

[Shadow Dragon]

A dark whisper fills the air, telling forbidden secrets and of evil powers, in a long dead tongue.

[Sharidi37495]

Margaret grunts in effort, pulling away from the beckoning of darkness, an old friend she has welcomed for so long. Too long. Margaret rides for the whole day, staying in the wooded area as much as possible.

[Skinner35]

@AwesomeZero5

As you arrive at the temple by night, as you get closer, you see a Paladin standing there motionless. He looks afraid, even though he is standing near a Godly temple.

Do you approach him?

[Sharidi37495]

Margaret narrows her eyes, carefully considering every detail of the Paladin. She rides up beside him, still in the form of a tough street fighter. She follows his eyes to the dark beam, then quickly tears her eyes away. "Did you hear the voice too?" her rough voice asks.

[Skinner35]

@Sharidi37495

As you approach and speak, he stands unmoving and doesn't look away from the Spire. "The voice came from a High Priest. Go inside... He will tell you more. I must wait for the others."

[Sharidi37495]

Margaret raises bushy brows. "There are others." She ties up the horse and goes inside, looking around to check no one was looking before shifting into her favorite form. She stretches her back, moaning softly. "That's much better." She looks around. "Hello? High Priest?"

[AwesomeZero5]

Book-worm would look into the night sky as they traveled along. They could not tell the nature of the dark pillar from here, but figured it had to do with the divine mission. It could have been part of their patron's interference. The patron had only been quiet tonight. It was, abnormal for them to be even this quiet and secretive. It did keep Book-worm on their toes as they moved along.

Book-worm would hear the dark whispers in the air. Their mind would be quick to translate the meaning of what was being said as they went along. A common use of their own abilities, and it was not the first darker entity they had conversed with or known of that spoken of locked away secrets in ancient tongues. In fact that was how they met their patron in the first place.

Seeing the paladin sent a shiver of fear into Book-worm, they needed to be careful. They needed to be very careful. They would keep their distance and gather their courage when someone else enters the scene. They overheard the conversation between the two and it was rather clear they arrived at the correct location.

None the less, they feared rushing in.
A voice whispered into Book-worm's head: Careful my chosen
At least that was a twisted relief. Their patron was watching...

Book-worm reached out toward the paladin's mind from the shadows. They would begin to speak to the paladin through that manner: Be careful warrior of light, and be calm. For another chooses to approach you. Do not raise your weapon.
Book-worm would slowly try to approach the paladin

[Sharidi37495]

Margaret looks back towards the opening to see if anyone else came. "What the...?" She frowns when she notices the strange figure.

[Skinner35]

The Paladin then senses the presence of another. "Yes... You are the one we were waiting for." He says while still watching the horizon... Or he is at least facing that direction. "Go into the temple. It's time to get to work."

As both of you enter the Temple, a very old Human walks into the room from a back door. He is wearing very torn and tattered robes. As he walks forth, he speaks in the same voice that you heard in your head not but a week ago. "Welcome welcome. I see that my messages and maps reached their destined heroes. We have much work to do. I am Gerethor, a High Priest of the God Castor. My Paladin out there, he is Ariues. Forgive him, his sight left him many months ago. He is working on returning to his normal functions without sight." As he says that, you hear a door shut behind you. Ariues enters the room, the door closed behind him. He then sits on the ground next to the door, leaning back against the wall. The Priest speaks up again. "Now. To the reason you're here. I have no doubt that you've seen the Spire off yonder. That Spire marks the awakening of an ancient, dark evil. I relied on the Gods to bring me able Champions, and here you are. I do pray that the Gods chose the right people. I have no doubt that you will end this. Are there any questions before the next step?"

[Sharidi37495]

Margaret's eyes darken. "How powerful is this evil? Have there been others sent to defeat it? What happens if we refuse to participate in this quest?"

[Skinner35]

"This Evil..." His face loses its smile, and he looks genuinely scared. "This Evil is unlike anything in recorded history. If you don't want to have a part in this, it will only make Destruction more certain. We must fight to destroy this Devil."

[AwesomeZero5]

Book-worm's shoulders and thus the cloak slumped downward in relief in hearing that the paladin was blind. It was not that they wished to give the Paladin such an ailment, just that it was relieving in an odd manner. It seemed less likely that the two would attack another, especially not with ease.

Book-worm's 'voice' would call out toward the High Priest's mind to speak: My only next question would be that, what our next step would be. Beyond that, I do wish to ask if you know of this evil or perhaps have any records on it so that we may better understand our target. Once that is settled, I guess I do not have any further questions on the matter.

They did however, forget to allow Margaret and the Paladin hear it. A slightly bad habit when often focusing one particular being at a time.