Randomness

Sovereign's Will: A Fantasy Roleplaying Game. [CONCLUDED]

Solomon Sparrow

Location: Fanghorn, Kindeance

---

This box. Well, if it was premature to assume the sealed room was worth investigating, this box was certainly not. It lacked an easy was to quickly access, with the only entrance like areas lacking an obvious means of opening. A notable discovery. Solomon noticed that the rest of the room lacked any supplies, making the ballista useless. By now, he could see the servants summed by Asevor, and the preparation of another spell. So, for the time bring, Solomon’s priority would have to switch again. What lay in the box would probably be safest within. Solomon turned his attention towards the sky back out within the open air, embers blowing across the lower sky, Asevor flying well enough away from the flames.

Violet floated listlessly where Asevor was previously located. Unfortunate his altitude was much farther than Cedar’s plant tower could reach. Solomon began preparing another spell. He needed range, and he lacked his own. Likewise, the shadows were useless in combat and Violet was out of sorts. Likewise, many of his allies also lacked range, at least from what he could see. Jazdia had her bow, but Cedar’s beanstalk seemed to be the extent of his range. The others were either incapacitated or close range fighters. The only other archer he was aware of was Veronica, but her whereabouts were unknown to Solomon. Black wisps of magical energy twisted with silver began to coil around his arms, collecting within the palms of his hands.

“August, leave the brambles, give aid here. Violet, come to sense.” said Solomon needlessly. Yet, he spoke anyway to help give him some clarity. The range of that spell was unknown to Solomon, but he saw the effects it had when it was contained within the dining hall. If Asevor could magnify its area of effect, then such a caustic cloud would be detrimental, not only to his allies, but to the servants and citizens who remained in the village, fighting the fire.

Up until now, August fed mana into the brambles, growing them even as Asevor’s wizards burned them. He remained below the ground, making it very difficult for them to drive him out. When Solomon called, he positions the thorny vines over as much flammable material as possible and then immediately drew the mana from within. This effectively killed the vines, letting the fire burn them into ash, raining embers onto various buildings. Though most of them were evacuated, the ensuing uproar of fire could still keep the mages busy leaving them to deal with the fire they started. This action also helped supplement his own mana stores along with the pools Cedar had created funneling them towards the keep. The ground rumbled as August gave Cedar’s sky scraper another burst in height. The growth of the structure was no where near as far as Cedar’s initial burst, but should be just enough to attempt another grab at the floating mage. The remaining mana went into the pool for Cedar’s access as well as reinforcing the stalk as to not topple over its own weight.

Violet momentarily remained still unaware of what had occurred. The three effects cast upon her were of little consequence, but it left her mind scattered. Aware but not observant, she took a moment to realize how inactive she was being. After regaining her composure, Violet resumed what was requested earlier. She flew higher to match Asevor’s altitude, though a fair distance father than her previous encounter. He was surrounded by some odd raven human hybrid monsters. If they do not engage, Violet was to deliver another ear piercing shriek.

As for Solomon, he was finalizing his spell, calling upon yet another of his undead allies. Despite being several stories above the ground, the floor broke as another entity formed from a mound of newly formed soil, as though it had always been below the surface. The figure of a woman, dressed in a formal dress rose. The dress was yellow and white, a large bow tied around the waist. Puffed fabric was held at her shoulders leading to fine silk sleeves. The front of the skirt held several frills, and outfit trimmed in lace. Her features were fair, though grayed. As one of the dead, she was very well preserved. She had blond hair with a single braid that flowed down over her shoulders. Suddenly, her body lurched forward as the back of the dress tore. A ghostly mirror of the woman, joined by the hip, almost like a soul escaping from her own body emerged. The physical body and ghostly upper body of the same woman remained conjoined in this way. The only difference between both forms was the spectral woman was dressed in under clothing, of simple loose fitting garb and less than neat hair. Likewise, unlike the color that made up her dress, the ghostly apparition was entirely pale white. Two bodies it appeared to be, yet only one entity she was.

“No!” the odd undead spoke. The voice came very much from the spectral head, the physical body displaying very little animation. Whatever she did, it was the ghostly torso, the physical body not acting at all. “No, I swear whatever it is you call, I refuse.” The woman folded her arms, turning away from Solomon, the physical puppet turning shortly thereafter.

“This is not up for discussion. I need your skill in the arcane arts to combat Asevor. How you fair afterward will rely on it. If you so require, I will speak indomitably. Favor is earned, and otherwise you leave me without choice.” Solomon spoke softly, yet sternly. As so much he had allies that saw him favorably, circumstances of their past where Solomon could not save them, there were those who looked upon him with disdain. Petra was one such person. If one knew of the atrocities Petra was a part of, her fate might not seem so undeserved. However, it mattered not. If it were not for Solomon’s binding, she would nary care for what was happening. Yet, his words were true. Even without the control Solomon had over her, she was still bound to him.

“Fine. You want to bring down the man surrounded by Xelthos birds? Don’t call me again once that’s done.” No longer heeding any of Solomon's words of advice about Asevor or otherwise, the physical body moved for once. Her arm latched onto a small book once stashed under the thick ribbon tied around the torso of her dress. Flipping through the pages, she held the book up in which her ghostly hand laid upon one of the pages. She quickly lifted her hand off the page. Bright light emanated off the page, streaked from it to her hand, and then from her hand it flew straight towards Asevors location like an arrow. Shortly after the ray of light, Petra also took flight in a similar manner Asevor demonstrated.

Sovereign's Will: A Fantasy Roleplaying Game. [CONCLUDED]

Solomon Sparrow

Location: Fanghorn, Kindeance

---

The blast was quickly cast and versitle enough to strike both sides of the paranoid wizard inciting a reaction of incorporeal form for Solomon, and retreating through the structural walls for Violet. Solomon’s body as injured from the arcane blast, and deaf from his own banshee, but it did not hinder him much. His undead body felt no pain. He followed Asevor to the next floor shortly after he retreated. Unceremoniously, Asevor continued up and out of the keep, destroying the door towards the battlement. Solomon could technically follow him out, but his shadowy form would be plainly visible, and he lacked speed to evade any other evocations Asevor might cast towards him. Violet had an advantage as she could fly up remaining invisible.

For now Solomon hid among the crates and a decommissioned ballista when a sudden tower of plant material snaked its way up towards Asevor. This wasn’t August, as he was still propagating the flames against the casters that used them to burn down the brambles. This was Cedar’s handiwork. It was impressive and quickly gained height. Cedar seemed to have developed a special hatred towards the paranoid wizard enough to fully exert himself. If only Solomon was more adept with a martial weapon, he could hide among the vines of the newly formed stalk and surprise Asevor as well.

Cedar’s command of his bean stalk might bring up another opportunity for a surprise attack. Violet traveled to Asevor’s position in a straight line, the timber and stone of the keep below not hindering her travel. Assuming Asevor’s attention would be towards Cedar and his leafy tendrils attempting to grab at him, Violet could appear again, striking at the more desperate wizard with jagged nails that were more like sharp claws. The spell constructs Asevor forms seem to unravel when disturbed. Solomon knew enough that whatever Asevor was casting could be devastating if he needed fly as far as he did before casting. Attempting to disrupt it seemed to be in order.

Asevors position should theoretically make it easier for Jazdia to fire upon him. The lack of exploding arrows probably meant she wasn't in a position to witness him. Or she wasn't in a good position to fire. As for his other allies, it didn't seem likely for them to be able to take advantage of Asevor's position. He watched to see what would unfurl. If Asevor was able to succeed in his spell, perhaps incorporeal form would help wane off the brunt of the effect. Otherwise, if Cedar and Violet could not halt him, perhaps he could make use of the ballista. It would take some strength of reposition it to better fire at such a sharp angle, but as it stood, Solomon himself lacked range.

Sovereign's Will: A Fantasy Roleplaying Game. [CONCLUDED]

Solomon Sparrow

Location: Fanghorn, Kindeance

---

The keep shook, more so than it has recently. Whatever the explosion origin was, be it Jazdia or another trick of Asevor, it was enough to finally clear out the undead on the first floor. The corrosive properties of the acidic fog and the final shock wave of the blast was enough to finally halt Bartholomew. The flame on his head smoldered down in deep red before completely extinguishing, whatever power holding his body together diminishing along with it. They pieces clattered as they fell apart. Those of his recently raised regiment also collapsed, leaving Solomon with no touch among those in the keep. Luckily, those among the second floor were untouched as was his connection with August. However, he could see out of the window to just what extent Asevor’s men were going to deal with the continuously growing plant life.

The corners of the sill glowed orange as fire competed with the morning sun to light the halls. So close to the wooden walls and that of the thatched village houses, they risked setting the village itself on fire. A prospect Solomon suspected August would propagate. At this point, there wasn’t much Solomon could do for those outside of the keep. He let August continue to grow the brambles as the roots remained safe from the flames above, routing mana and energy around to not lose the energy from the charred remains.

After the brief glimpse outside, Solomon witnessed Asevor as he approached the sealed room through the hall. Of course the ruined staircase was no obstacle. Asevor’s hands began crafting a spell. This time, Solomon could recognize the tesseract as the energy flowed from Asevor into his construct. From behind, Solomon reappeared from the shadows stepping silently upon the wooden boards. He needed to do something before the spell could be cast. A quick flash of magic Solomon stared intently from underneath his hood.

Dagger hold.

It would be of no surprise if Asevor was equipped with a magic trinket or enchantment prepared to deal with the spell. Ideally, it would completely stop Asevor in his tracks, his less than youthful figure unable to break free from it causing him pain and discomfort if he tried. However, even if the spell broke, the goal was to halt him. Much like how Solomon provided a brief window for his allies with Ragnar. If he could make him slip with his spell and break the concentration, it might be enough. By now Asevor was aware of much of what Solomon could contribute to the hindrance of his plans. His only answer so far seemed to be that purge spell. Perhaps Solomon could abuse that. At the very least, he needed to stop Asevor one way or another. He knew something either about the prince and or prospect of war between Kindeance and Meche. What that was lied with either Asevor or what lay in that sealed room.

At the same time as the cast of dagger hold, another ghostly figure would have emerged from where Asevor was traveling. Violet, the pure white grown woman of uncomfortable physique hovered in the middle of the hall. Her arms with long sharp nails at the ends of her long cracked fingers out stretched. She opened her mouth full of rotting and misaligned teeth. Without inhaling, Violet lurched forward as visible sound waves escaped her maw. The paintings along the walls swung on their pegs. Anything glass or ceramic cracked and shattered. The piercing shriek continued as the volume and pitch increased. This close to the banshee, the scream would be enough to burst the ear drums of the listener, even knock unconscious. Outside the keep, the piercing scream was clear, the stone wall doing little to mute the noise. Solomon himself would be caught within the shriek, his undead form more easily dealing with the after effects than that of the living.

Sovereign's Will: A Fantasy Roleplaying Game. [CONCLUDED]

Solomon Sparrow

Location: Fanghorn, Kindeance

---

Solomon came across a room, thoroughly monitored compared to the rest of the facility. It reeked of Asevor, as several bands of mana encapsulated the room. If the prince was here, this would have been the most likely room to house him. If Veronica’s visions of the prince were accurate and only redirected, then chances were high. Solomon took a moment, his eyes closed as he contemplated what to do next. Any sort of penetration of the wards would alert Asevor.

Solomon could still feel the tempest, giving him confirmation that he has not been eradicated, yet. It was clear enough that Bartholomew’s fight was diminishing. However, his presence alone was not enough evidence to prove his comrades were pushing victory. The clash of steel quieted down, as did the explosions. For now, that is all he had to go on without returning to the dining hall.

Solomon willed for his shadows and Violet to return to his side. Violet appeared next to him, becoming visible once again, and two shadows manifest from the behind a painting on the wall. There was a moment of silence as Solomon’s mouth opened and closed though nary a sound could be heard even had eavesdroppers were on top of him. Shortly thereafter, the shadow shades sank into the those cast from the light unknown of where they were traveling. Violet returned to being invisible, seemingly unmoving as she faded from view. Solomon himself silently as he could crept to the stairwell. If what Violet reported was true, he was not worried about any more soldiers on this floor. He took a peak down the flight of stairs. From up here, they remained intact, though perhaps farther down, the stairs could have been destroyed, removing quick physical access back up from that room.

Solomon returned to the Baron’s room, knowing that directly below it was the main hall they were served breakfast. Becoming incorporeal, Solomon shifted through the floor, careful to not emerge completely through the ceiling of the floor below. Holding himself among the rafters out of view, Solomon saw the state of the battle. The room was much smaller than he could recall, filling with ghastly smoke. Bartholomew with only one limb remaining was attempting to intercept Ragnar. Vines covered almost every surface, and Asevor was protected behind a barrier of magic. Shifting through the newly created partition, Solomon could see the other’s breaking down the door to escape. Given the potency of the magic fog, He now understood what was happening. Turning his attention back towards the foliage covered barrier of Asevor, Solomon had an idea. The fog would leave him alone from any immediate aid from his comrades, but hopefully if things turned south, Violet could provide some support. Ideally, she would not have to, but at least she was close.

Solomon snaked across the ceiling, through the crevices of timber and stone and around the few vines that had begun to take root there. Entering the antechamber of the remains of the lower level of stairs, Solomon returned to form. If successful in his stealth, he was just close enough to the others he began his spell. Swirls of black and silvery wisps would travel from the large tome at his back, down his arm and towards the ground. From there the stream would split and slither across the stoned floor merging into the remaining bodies of the six dead mercenaries, purposefully avoiding the baron. Those whose bodies were still mostly together would rise as undead zombies, and those whose bodies were otherwise decimated would rise as ghosts. If successful it would make much of the protections provided by Asevor meaningless.

After this attempt, Solomon once again turned incorporeal, hid, and waited to see what develops. At the same time, he hoped his allies would be able to escape. Assuming no unforeseen hiccups, in just a moment the two shadows would push through the barriers placed over the guest room. It would undoubtedly alert Asevor. Anyone trying to physically inspect the door, such as Asevor or his men, Violet would appear in the form of the hideous banshee screaming with enough force and volume to make deaf the interloper, and potentially knock unconscious. If Asevor had another means of bolstering the room, Solomon waited to observe.

Sovereign's Will: A Fantasy Roleplaying Game. [CONCLUDED]

Solomon Sparrow

Location: Fanghorn, Kindeance

---

It was much quieter up at the second floor. The faint sound of combat and further explosions shook the floor beneath Solomon was evidence enough. Dust scattered down from the ceiling and wafted in the air through the beams of sunlight from the near window. The room was obviously some kind of bed chamber, probably the baron’s with how well furnished it was, with rugs and tapestries, and a large bed. After a quick look around, and finding the room empty, he noticed a magical box on the nearby table. It rested with runes glowing over its surface. What magic was contained inside Solomon wasn’t sure. However, he did deem it best that the inhabitants of the keep not have access to it, with swift movement, Solomon tucked the box away.

Now, as to his current mission to locate the prince. He held out his hand as another stream of energy radiated from the large tome near his back. It streamed in ribbons of silver and black mist culminating within his palm before dispersing into the air, as opposed to that of the ground. Slowly a white aura appear and then formed into the figure of a hideous woman. She was without legs, had long arms that ended in frail looking but lethal claws. Her skin held tightly to bone in form, warts and lashes about her angled face. Hair like static frilled all around, flowing general behind her head. Tattered dress with shredded frills around the hem covered her figure. She cackled before her eyes went wide and the form diminished back into a misshapen mass of ethereal ectoplasm and reconstituting into that of a child. An unassuming child in leggings, traveling vest, and short skirt entirely white with as her skin, the scenery behind visible through her form. She levitated inches above the ground, however her feet remained flat like she was standing on a flat surface.

“Violet.”

“I know.” She said softly. She looked up at the necromancer through the shadow of his hood. “I’ll help find him.” The ghost of a little girl then disappeared. Violet was more or less a ghost for the purposes of what Solomon was doing. Freely able to travel through walls much like a shadow, Violet was able to do so completely invisible even if her movement was considerably slower. Likewise, she held more power within herself, hopefully able to better withstand the purge spell Solomon felt earlier. No wonder his shadows were so easily dismissed. Likewise, his skeletons were probably also gone. For now, it was him, his tempest, Bartholomew, and Violet. For now at least, it would be her and he searching room to room. Violet would head to the third floor while Solomon would remain at the second.

Finished with his plan, Solomon once again became incorporeal and traveled through the door out into the hall. At the same time, he called upon the two shadows still on standby near August and also had them come to the keep. Should Asevor cast another purge, they would cease to be, but the more eyes within the keep the better. The quicker he could find the prince, the quicker he could evacuate him and return to aid his allies. As it stood, the battle quieted down, but Solomon doubted that meant the fight had ended. Though weak, he could still feel Bartholomew, and his fighting spirit was still burning.

Speaking of the tempest Bartholomew, the purge spell had done a number on his already failing structural integrity. The flame upon his head diminished in luminosity, no longer burning white, but instead a cooler deep red in color. In no time, he was bent in half, collapsed to the ground, and shortly after used as a flail. As it was, he was not much use, but as he was caught in the vines, he reached out with his free hand and attempted to pull himself from Ragnar, should the redirect not free him. He was prepared for even if it meant losing the arm he was being swung by. Even without his legs and potentially missing an arm, Bartholomew would not give in, yet. If it was possible, he would swing himself using any remaining vines roots above and body slam the barbarian.

Sovereign's Will: A Fantasy Roleplaying Game. [CONCLUDED]

Solomon Sparrow

Location: Fanghorn, Kindeance

---

Along with the rubble of wood and stone from the blast of the explosive arrow was the clatter of bone as the three skeletons got caught in the blast. The order for the crossbowmen to fire wasn’t much concern for them, but it was for Solomon. As the men lined their fire, Solomon became incorporeal hid among the multitude of shadows. He wouldn’t escape Asevor for long if at all in this form, but the men relying on martial weapons would be useless. Whatever Asevor was planning could not be good. Solomon saw him stay behind the foot soldiers, relying on them for cover as well to prepare his next spell. Another tesseract. Solomon did not know what it would entail, but Solomon would not be able to deal with it without opening himself up. It might be too late, and he’d have revealed himself at the moment of casting.

After several moments of dialog between Solomon’s party, the Baron, and Asevor, the clatter of bone continued again. Just as quickly as they were scattered, the bones began to align themselves as three fully formed skeletons assembled just before the line of foot soldiers that remained. Two of them were able to reclaim a weapon, a sword and pike, but the third continued weaponless. They were focused on Asevor, stepping through the newly formed break in line created from Jazdia’s explosion.

As for Solomon’s tempest friend, he seemed to be in quite a bind, literally. Despite succeeding in amputating the enchanted brute’s leg, he was now caught in his vice grip like hug, crushing the tempest inward. Metal straining and even splitting added to the cacophony of sound that the battle wrought. Still, being set hollow, the tempest was still mobile if limited. He was unable to swing his axe and the damage to his chest piece was hindering his arms further.

“Kindly stop that you fiend.” Bartholomew attempted to headbutt the barbarian. Despite being a literal ball of fire for a head, it was surprisingly solid within the outer flicker of the flames. It wasn’t much use. The most he could probably do was burn the man, but given Ragnar’s tolerance to pain, Bartholomew was quite stuck. He struggled again the brute, unaware that aid was coming his way.

A second explosion, this time in the stairwell behind the paranoid wizard. Solomon watched as Jazdia exacted justice towards the baron. Prior to, the Baron's response to Jazdia’s bargain was interesting. There was no denial. As long as Asevor and his men were occupied here, it could give Solomon just enough time. Quickly, his shadowy form climed through the ceiling, disappearing between the masonry stones and timber that held the ceiling. In no time at all, he had made it to the second floor despite never using the stairs. One of these rooms contained the prince. If he could only secure him.

Sovereign's Will: A Fantasy Roleplaying Game. [CONCLUDED]

Solomon Sparrow

Location: Fanghorn, Kindeance

---

Asevor. Now everything made sense. Or at least, the mystery behind the magic securing the keep. The deflection of Veronica’s scry attempts, the detection and eradication of Solomon’s shadows, any other attempts to look inside, Asevor was probably behind it. Solomon didn’t know much about the wizard beyond that he was paranoid to a fault, preparing for even more unlikely situations or encounters. Strange it was to see him here, meddling in Kindeance affairs. Given how most of the baron’s men were still slumbering if knocked unconscious from the multiple blasts, it would be safe to assume that Asevor was using the baron as a pawn. More so, the likelihood that the illusory wall would be of much further benefit diminished considerably.

Solomon used the distraction provided by both Kaito’s ambush and his own boasting to cast another spell. Energy went into the ground and the earth began to stir again. From the very mound Bartholomew had emerged three other figures. Somehow held together despite lacking muscle or ligament, three complete skeletons arranged themselves. Bones yellowed with age and scratched as time progressed, their only other defining feature was an ominous purple glow from within their eye sockets. Each claimed a weapon lying around, two with swords, and one a pike. The each went after Asevor. Though they may be knocked down, even knocked apart, should enough of the bone remain unbroken, the skeletons would continuously reassemble and resume unrelenting. Despite their undeath, these skeletons were no more brittle than that of any of the other combatants.

In the meantime, Bartholomew was being pushed back by unarmed blows from the now buffed Ragnar. Even with a body of pure steel, with one blow there was an imprint of of his fist embedded within the chest piece. The sudden increase in strength did not deter the tempest, but he was startled by it.

“Steel verse steel.” is all Bartholomew said as he attempted to strike back. The ball of fire he had for a head flared as his resolve rose. His metal gauntlets tightened around the shaft of the axe as the tempest swung the axe with a twist of his torso. At that time, Solomon cast Dagger Hold on the barbarian. The man beast’s strength alone would mean Dagger Hold would fail almost as quickly as it was cast, but it should stop all movement for the split second for Bartholomew’s axe to cleave the already injured leg. Solomon hoped his timing would match. If he was successful, the spell should also do some considerable damage akin to charging through a wall of knives, and he’d experience actual pain for the first time in this fight as the final aspect of the spell.

Sovereign's Will: A Fantasy Roleplaying Game. [CONCLUDED]

Solomon Sparrow

Location: Fanghorn, Kindeance

---

The explosion wasn’t a small one, easily breaking apart sections of the stone frame that surrounded the doorway. Yet, the man stood undeterred by the blast, perhaps even enjoying the prospect of more in the coming battle. As the dust settled, Solomon could further see just how unaffected the man was. Injured and covered in scars, but not a drop of blood. Completely unarmored, but armed, the man was eager for a fight. Jazdia’s arrows could take out a bridge, so already his resilience was intimidating.

The illusions cast from his recent friend, Kaito showed great effect. Though some of their allies were actually asleep at the table, many of them hid within the false walls. Cedar was the first to attack the muscled man, swinging the butt end of his pole arm against the flesh of the man with one swing after another. Blunt metallic pangs rang from the pole arm, but the bear’s momentum kept his assault going. Jazdia joined in the battle, firing another arrow, glowing as it flew through the air in no time towards the otherwise naked man.

Solomon was not so sure of the effectiveness of the attacks. The physical strikes of the weapons were dull, as though they struck something sturdy, as opposed to the soft fleshy pulp one would expect from being hit with the strength of a bear. Solomon slithered through the shadows of the ground until he was hidden within Kaito’s illusory wall. Even as a bear, Cedar was just as armored as his current opponent. Should he somehow withstand Cedar’s beating, Ragnar was going to devastating that that axe of his.

Solomon returned to a physical form. His shadow magic was perfect for escape, but he would be nigh useless in the battle. And then there were also others to come following the boisterous fellow. Whispering to himself, he started to build in energy as it flowed in split streams from his book into his open palm. Luckily, the narrow space of the illusory wall was able to contain it. Soft whispers emanated from Solomon’s mouth and the energy gained some luminosity as silvery and black swirls of energy mixed together.

“I call upon thee. Bartholomew of final retribution. I request your presence. Heed my command and come forth.” Solomon’s voice was almost incomprehensible as the magic distorted his words. The collective ball of black and silver shot into the ground, just outside of the illusion, unfortunate requiring more space to fully activate. The stone floor rumbled and cracked as a mound rose from underneath the granite. Debris fell to the side as a dull metallic sheen reflected the little sunlight of the nearby windows. Suddenly there was a burst of heat as the mount erupted in fire before condensing into a ball. The armor began to assemble as the figure emerged. The figure stood tall, covered in metal armor blackened and tarnished with age and tempering. A raised emblem resembling the coat of arms for the kingdom of Kindeance lay etched upon the thick pauldrons. Likewise, the colors of the surcoat also showed alignment to Kindeance. The figure’s most striking feature was it’s head. The ball of flame now replaced where a helm would be, featureless, but glowing bright white with orange hinges. The figure bent a knee, lowering himself to the ground and stabbed its arm into the mount he emerged. With a quick motion, the figure rose back, pulling out a long metal shaft with a metal head wedged at the end. Two large and wide axe blades at either side. The continued with its momentum before it came back down into the other hand of the flaming armor, wielding it with both.

“Ho ho. After all this time, you’ve finally called upon me, doctor? Have you finally found an opponent you can’t poison?” despite not having a mouth, or even a face, the figure spoke. His voice very masculine, clearly this entity once was a young man now taken the form of a tempest, an undead soul animating his former armor to endlessly seek combat. “Now where are you?”

Solomon spoke quietly as to attempt to keep the illusion from being discovered as best he could given the new circumstance, “Where I am is of no importance. The axed man fighting the bear, he is our enemy. More are coming after him. Keep them at bay, and protect our allies.”

“Say no more. I relish this opportunity.” said the tempest enthusiastically. Gripping the axe tightly with both hands, the tempest jumped onto the dining table, charging straight towards the man who hasn’t bled, yet. He yelled a heartly battle cry as he flew across the room ready to strike.

Sovereign's Will: A Fantasy Roleplaying Game. [CONCLUDED]

Solomon Sparrow

Location: Fanghorn, Kindeance

---

Well, Solomon was right. The whispers were nefarious. Intense whispers led to a harsh scream. Be it magic or otherwise, it gave Solomon the impression a banshee. It didn’t matter too much. He considered himself lucky. A lich never sleeps. As for the staff, the baron, and some of his party members, they fell as their minds went unconscious. For what felt like an uncomfortably long time, the room became eerily silent. And then Cedar almost drowned in oatmeal, and Yvonne fell out of her chair.

Kaito seemed unaffected by the spell as well, quickly thinking of a plan to hide, casting perfect duplicates with his illusions. Rather than hide straight into the wall, Solomon’s body became black, resembling the shadows he commanded throughout the morning, and merged within the shadows of the room, leaving not a trace of him even if the illusions were not present. He also willed for August to engage. Not to enter the keep, not for now. Instead, August was going to keep the mages dismantling Cedar’s mana pools busy. He was to stealthily restore the mana pools Cedar had planted from below the earth. By doing that, he was allowing the thorny vines to resume rapidly growing. Hopefully in this way, those mages would be too occupied to lend aid to the men inside the keep.

As for the troops already making their way down, Solomon didn’t have time to prepare any of his usual antics when it came to conflict. Appearances were made to be kept, and the enemy unknown. Furthermore, he didn’t have time to summon a more combat oriented ally. So far the only thing that kept him in the room was the unknown entity’s ability to detect shadows, and him leaving might prematurely reveal Kaito’s illusions. He wouldn’t be the first to act. If opportunity arose, he might be able to use the soldiers against themselves, if not summon another undead ally.

Sovereign's Will: A Fantasy Roleplaying Game. [CONCLUDED]

Solomon Sparrow

Location: Fanghorn, Kindeance

---

Solomon sat at the table with only minuscule amounts of food on his plate. He wasn’t terribly familiar with the customs of barons, and emissaries, but that didn’t really matter for the most part during their interaction. Baron Otto von Kruber seems eager to please. Quickly calling for a doctor, preparing the feast of a breakfast, and striking up conversation. He was very prideful of his farmlands, which Solomon would agree given the display of food on the table. It was rather short notice for such amounts of food. Then again, given Otto’s physique, it wasn’t a stretch for his kitchens to be used to preparing such large quantities of food.

Solomon waited as the others began to slowly start to eat, taking notice that they hadn’t done so until the baron had consumed his slice of bread. Solomon wasn’t too worried about poison, well aware that most if not all toxic concoctions would not affect him. However, despite the food already collected on his plate, he had not taken a bite himself. The smell was enticing, and he was sure it would have great flavor if the reactive expressions of his colleagues were to be believed.

Solomon sat at the table, choosing to remain cautious. This was the keep that not only detected his shadows, but had destroyed them effortlessly. It was this caster that Solomon keep August outside of the city limits. And anything short of a command would keep the shadows from entering. The shadow sent to search for Cedar returned shortly before the party had left for the northern gate. Understandably, it had no desire to return to the keep. For now, both it and messenger from Pesti remained with August. They waited for some kind of signal to call them forth. August was eager to tear down the walls of the city and let the thorns that remain lay claim.

Instead of the current conversation which Solomon assumed people were making to keep up appearances, his eyes slowly drifted about the room. As a standard dining hall with rich decor and fine fabrics, not much could be really accessed as out of the ordinary. His hood helped to obscure where he was looking. As he continued his futile search for some kind of clue, something felt off. Having spent countless hours listening for the soft words of the passing spirit, something similar drifted through his ears. Where it was coming from was impossible to tell, but there was something though fleeting.

Solomon wasn’t the only one to hear it. Cedar, who up until now appeared rather uncomfortable, spoke aloud asking about it. It was bold to speak out about it, but breakfast was going to be cut short for one reason or another.

“If there are whispers, I wonder if they are echoes of the other inhabitants within the keep?” said Solomon shortly following Jazdia’s dismissal of his concern. He attempted to make it sound as he acknowledged cedar, while at the same time giving a possible excuse for the baron to play should he be aware of what the whispers truly were. Solomon did not believe the whispers to be benevolent.