BurningDaisies

Overlord : Advent of the Gods

Sorry for the delay everybody, but its finally up.

I swear the universe conspires to keep me too busy to finish a post most days. Ugh... x-x'

For the Brightwing City group:
If you haven't already checked it out, the information about the NPC character, Akena, being referred to is in the character list now.

Overlord : Advent of the Gods

Whiteside Village

@Rune_Alchemist@drewccapp@Spanner

"The Watcher? What kind of name is that?"

Rath shot the elven ranger an incredulous look. Titles were uncommon in the frontier and typically reserved for powerful adventurers, or for noble lords who did little to earn them. None of these strangers were registered adventurers--not unless they conveniently lost their membership plates along the way. Most adventurers would pawn the shirt off their backs before even considering selling the plate for coin.

"... As far as your comment about not having a guide. I am particularly skilled at wilderness survival in all types of terrain. I asked as we simply have found ourselves suddenly and mysteriously where we should not be."

Rath blinked slowly as he pondered those words.

'Did he seriously just admit to being lost? There's no way someone can navigate these mountains without already being familiar with them. It doesn't make sense. The only folks capable enough to do that are the local Uldra tribes.'

He rolled his eyes in disbelief and shrugged casually.

"Right... I'm not going to ask, but you may want to invent a better excuse before you reach the lodge. One too many sudden disappearances has left everyone on edge." He shot a glance at Lena and Cain. "I don't know what your circumstances are, but you had best be cautious. The people here, like the mountain, aren't the compassionate type." 'Speaking of which, I should take my own advice and leave before any other weird strangers show up.'

He staggered to his feet and stretched his shoulder. The muscles were still stiff and sore, forcing him to stifle a grimace, but his bones certainly weren't broken anymore.

'Damn good healing! That Lena girl is going to be overwhelmed with work, if anyone else finds out what she can do.' A slight grin played at the edges of his mouth. 'I can't be falling for a pretty face though. There's too much for me to do still.'

Snow crunched beneath his feet as he sauntered over to his mount, and caught the bridle. He whispered a soft, nearly inaudible, sibilant tune--half prayer, have song. A halo of distorted air resolved around the horse as if something was boiling the air.

Rath leaped into the saddle before his mount could react, and took hold of the reigns. His steed was quickly recovering from its horrified trance.

"Sadly, I have still have emergency deliveries to make, and don't have the time to thank you all properly. But, if you folks are still in town when I get back, I'll buy you a dri-" The horse lunged forward into a run without being spurred on. Its instincts were still telling it to flee and moved its legs vigorously as if Death itself were nipping at its feet. Rath's final word trailed off as he flew down the mountain trail.

A cold wind blew down from the mountains as the galloping figure shrank into the distance. The adventurer's lodge loomed just ahead; the column of acrid smoke billowing from its chimney tilted towards the party with a windy nudge.

---

December

@IceHeart@Stern Algorithm @Baraquiel

Out of sight.

Out of mind.

Out of sight.

Out of mind.

Out of sight.

Out of mind.

December chanted the words in her mind as if reciting a mantra to will away evil spirits. The ordeal with the guards left her dumbfounded to say the least. Her expression during the performance couldn't have been more incredulous. She had only heard of Beyonce during a historical documentary, and after this incident, she had no desire to look into it ever again.

Thankfully, Danielle's magic soothed the situation and allowed them all to easily bypass the city's security. The two exchanged knowing looks. December had a calm facade, but a deep appreciate shone through her eyes she looked at Danielle. If the situation had devolved into violence, she wasn't certain she would be able to hold back her urge to just freeze everything into immobile blocks of ice.

When they entered the main thoroughfare of Brightwing City, she sighed sharply, letting go of a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. Exasperated, she just wanted to find an inn with an actual bath and wind down for the day.

She still had work to do however. Brightwing should have some kind of archive or library. The real question was how to gain access to it? Additionally, who maintained it?

She recalled a conversation she had with Bertram York, one of the merchant's traveling the main road alongside them. By his reckoning, the best place to discover more about magic would be the Magician's Guild. If any institution in the Dragonic Kingdom would have information on what she was looking for, that would be it.

December knew, however, that she was poorly suited to the tedium of research. It bored her in-game and it bored her in real life. It was necessary though. And she was not without help.

Just as she thought that a surge of power prickled her skin. Her hand unconsciously brushed against the silvered chain clasped around her neck. Akena is finally awake.
She turned to Lexus Dominiel. Her eyes were clear and held a thoughtful gleam, while her thin brows were knitted together pensively.
"Lexus?" She unhooked her necklace and offered it to her servant. A smooth, black river stone etched with symbols of arcane power hung from it. "Could you take Akena with you to the temple?"
December obviously looked troubled. There's no telling what the Magician's Guild is capable of, and I'll be damned if I let them get anywhere near her. She told herself.
"She is always vulnerable immediately after manifesting, and where I'm going next isn't a safe place for her. I believe it would be better if she stays with you for now." She pinned Lexus with a urging stare. "Protect her."

It was a selfish request.

She doubted any of the magician's at the guild could forcibly take Akena's heartstone from her, but it would be hard not for them to notice a magical artifact hanging from her neck. The real problem was December had no idea how to deal with Akena. She spent an excessive amount of time and effort to make an accurate facsimile of her real world sister, personality and all. Countless questions raced through her mind. How did the 'update' change Akena's AI? Would are relationship still be the same? What if she's too much like Phuong and grows to hate me?

Treating Akena, an expertly crafted homunculus, as her sister in-game helped a great deal in soothing December's regret over the hostile relationship she had with her sister in real life, but she had no idea how things would develop with Akena now. She wasn't even sure she wanted to know the answers at this point. Ever since they left the guildhall ruins, she had been quietly dreading the moment when Akena awoke.

She turned to Danielle and Himitsu. "I've some business to attend to with the local Magician's Guild. They are the most likely ones to have the information I want. Did you two want to join me?"

Overlord : Advent of the Gods

@Hammerman
That'll work fine.

@Rune_Alchemist
@drewccapp
@Spanner
@IceHeart
@Stern Algorithm

I should have my replies finished this evening. ;]

Overlord : Advent of the Gods

Still not sure where our money is stored now.

@Hammerman

For the sake of convenience, if you have a extradimensional item box/bag, I'd say it's in there.

Overlord : Advent of the Gods

Arcos City

~ En Route ~

@Rune_Alchemist@13org@Hammerman

"We are on your hands, Lessig. If you see or hear anything weird, things like bandits & etc. Please tell us right away. We will be glad to help you."

@13org

"I welcome the offer, Miss."

Once the trio had settled into the wagon, Lessig whipped the reigns, and the surly auroch began trudging forward at a sedate pace.

Each them seemed pleasant enough, but this dragon-blessed warrior somehow set him on edge in a way he could not fully describe. His instincts told him to stay on guard, but he was convinced that they were, at the very least, not bandits--perhaps even allies? He wouldn't mind having strong adventurer's as friends.

"So, Lessig...I can call you Lessig can't I?" She spoke in a seemingly friendly tone - definitely a bit overly familiar, perhaps. "So what do you do, hm? Rather dangerous to be traveling alone isn't it?"

@Rune_Alchemist

The road was long and often lonely, so Lessig welcomed the company. He stifled the lingering sense of alarm through force of will and jovial laughter.

"Danger? Ha! Call me a fool, if you like, but I much prefer the danger." He wore a triumphant grin. "Working the fields was never the life for me. No~ I was a willful and petulant lad in my youth. 'Too much gumption' they said. Like every other boy, I wanted to be a hero one day." He let out a deep bellowing laugh, but his eyes seemed to twinkled distantly with the specter of crushed dreams.
"I'm but a humble merchant now. Heroes aren't cut from the same cloth as us common folk, but I've managed to earn generous share for my family. Beaten my fair share of bandits too!"

Lessig was a lively storyteller and an expert at weaving tiny embellishments into every story. He continued at length, regaling his guests about his numerous brushes with ruthless brigands and wily thieves, and his adventurous affair with the strong-willed daughter of Margrave Mernard.

In particular he recounted tales of a few dragon-blessed adventurers. Each possessed some gift of the Brightness Dragon Lord: enhanced strength, horns, special powers.

He spoke proudly of his daughter, Giselle, an intrepid explorer and fellow adventurer, who was in a group with a dragon-blessed folk hero known as Orinos. His son, Velan, had just started gaining recognition as a talented painter and bard in Arcos. He regretfully admitted he didn't believe Velan would ever become successful, and their relationship had been tense for a long time.

A few hours passed.

The forest thinned into sparse hills dotted with briar thickets and loose groves of young trees. The precipice of a stone tower rose above the horizon. A long silver banner flowed in the wind just above it.

As the carriage crested a hill, the road led down into the rocky flatlands of a basin. The fort had been built into a craggy hillside, which has been terraced to support more guard posts and shabby barracks, and a narrow gravel road appeared to be the only way in and out. A smattering of wagons, makeshift stalls, and shoddy abodes surrounded the fort's northern perimeter, and more than a hundred people bustled between them all.

"Ah. Wolf's Run... A fine trading post." Lessig played with the bristles of his moustache while he pondered his statement. "It may not look like much, but the shadow of the fort is enough to keep most bandits away. It'd almost be perfect if it didn't flood every summer."

The wagon lurched forward as the auroch took the steep sloping road into the basin.

"If you need a carriage to Arcos, you'll find it here. I'll let you off at the marketside, once we get closer."

Overlord : Advent of the Gods

I'll be available again this Wednesday once I'm back in town, but if some spare comes up before then, I'll try to get a post in.

Speaking of which:

@Rune_Alchemist
@drewccapp
@Spanner

I haven't forgotten about you guys. ;]
You're on the top of my to-do list.

Edit;
FYI: My post for the Arcos City group is actually almost done.
@Hammerman
@13org

Overlord : Advent of the Gods

Southbound, Lost in the Mist

Faithful of Tesarion

@hivekiller

Theme Music

The cool mist swirled and twisted around the archways and pillars. Little eddies spun themselves in and out of existence. Faint drumbeats and chimes rang throughout the ruins with a somber, yet uplifting sound. The lyrical, wordless aria stirred the air.

A precession of cloaked pilgrims, eight in a line, entered the glen. Each wore a painted white mask styled after a common beast. While it hid their face, it did nothing to hide their obviously inhuman features. Some had horns, either small pointed studs or curved like a ram's, while others had obvious tails and feline or canine ears.
Half of them sang in a delicate harmony, while the other half played an energizing melody through chimes, flutes, and drums. The music was strangely entrancing, like a siren's song, and seemed to awaken every living thing in the area. Even individual blades of grass swayed to their tune.

The precession slowly marched forward into the ruins, but stopped abruptly when the first of them spotted SilverCoffee. His visage juxtaposed against the intricate carving of the nameless, bull-headed god was a compelling sight to behold.
The music came to a disorganized end as each of them stopped to peer through the fog and discovered an enormous Minotaur standing before their altar. Their awed silence was suddenly broken when the leader of the precession dropped to her knees and bow reverently before SilverCoffee, the tips of her curled horns digging into the ground. The others quickly did the same.

"Our prayers are finally answered!" she proclaimed in a thin, wispy voice.

She slowly raised her head and removed her mask, revealing her youthful face and eyes brimming with so emotion, they had become wet with tears.

"A Lord of Tesarion has returned from the Lands of Fright!"

The others removed their masks and made similar comments exalting SilverCoffee. They were all obviously some form of demi-human possessing bestial features, but seemed much more human than the typical beastman tribes.

"M-Milord... I-I am Lethe, first servant of Tesarion" Her voice was quivering, but her expression was filled with excited anticipation as if she experiencing the happiest moment of her life. "If you have returned, does that mean the Neverborn are finally defeated? Will you lead our people once more?"

Overlord : Advent of the Gods

@hivekiller Still working on yours. I have an exam tomorrow, so I'll try to knock it out afterwards.
@Stern Algorithm
Once we get past the gates, I think it would be interesting to have my oracle/wizard NPC, Akena, follow Lexus to the temples. For various reasons...

Overlord : Advent of the Gods

Whiteside Village

~ En Route ~

@Rune_Alchemist@drewccapp@Spanner

The rider let out a muffled groan as Lena pulled him away from the edge and began tending to his wounds. When he finally opened his bleary eyes to behold the regal elven beauty and her refreshing smile, for a moment, he believed he had already died, and some holy saintess had come from heaven to collect his soul.
The spreading warmth from her healing magic brought him back to reality however. While there was no pain, the bones and sinew stitching itself back together was a strange and uncomfortable feeling, like rocks grinding and snakes wriggling under his skin.

He shuffled back on instinct when the small fae creature fluttered out of his savior's armour. He was about to protest and begin reciting a protective chant, but the little fairy seemed more fixated on the elf's ample bosom than cursing him. If he were a little less sober, he'd probably be loudly praising them too. He was left speechless when his savior casually batted the fairy away like an annoying insect. He snorted a laugh at the comedic scene.

"And here I thought I was done for. Elves, fairies... If you're willing to risk yourself to save me, you can't be too bad." A slight grin tugged on the edge of his lips. "Strange maybe, but not bad."

"It seems you little fairy friend is a live one. I appreciate you saving me, so I'll give you some advice: Don't let anyone around here see her. There's evil fae in these mountains who are all too happy to lead travelers astray and harass them until they starve or freeze to death. To tell the truth, I thought she was one until she opened her mouth." He winced a little as he let out a quick chuckle; the nerves around his shoulder still ached. "The evil ones aren't that talkative, but the people around here are the cautious type, and tend to stab first and ask questions later."

He leaned back groggily and took in a few deep breaths, still trying to calm the adrenaline rush. "I'm Rath by the way."

Before he could continue introductions, another elf approached, calmly retrieving his hat and satchel for him. He squinted up at the fellow, trying to look past the whitewash of sunlight shining through the heavy clouds and obscuring his features.

He looked over his satchel, inspecting it for damage. A few glances across the slope thankfully revealed nothing had fallen out of it.
"If you're looking for someplace safe and warm, then you've come to the exact wrong place. Everything near the Frostfell is cold and barren. But... If you don't mind fighting someone for one of the good floor spots, the adventurer's lodge at Whiteside over there has a nice big fireplace." He pointed with his chin at the wooden log house perched in the center of the gully ahead.

Rath curiously looked over the two elves and at their other party member standing a distance away.
"You know... I'm a bit amazed you made it out this far without a guide. Maps are useless here. When the seasonal ice melts and the glaciers shift, everything changes. The safe paths disappear, and others open up. This trail is the only reliable path in and out of the mountains. It leads from Whiteside to the Giant Downs in the foothills below."

Rath caught sight of his mount and narrowed his eyes suspiciously. Odd. For being the most rebellious stud in the stable, something has gotten him so scared he won't move.
He hadn't noticed the fear magic at all really. His innate talent made him immune to magical fear effects.
"I appreciate the help, but... if you don't mind my asking, what did you do to my horse? I've never seen him act like that."

Overlord : Advent of the Gods

Unless @IceHeart has something else in mind, I don't see a problem with it, given you don't progress too far ahead of the other groups time-wise. =P