Takashi

No One Escapes The Guilds

2 days later...

Kiori and Rylee walked down an obscure path through the woods, doing their best to avoid as much human contact as possible. The Assassin's Guild would undoubtedly know that Kiori had betrayed them. There were no bodies, and no reports; an assassin was coming for both of them now. While in Cedarburg, Kiori had used the modest amount of money he had on him to buy the two of them food and supplies for travel, as well as a new set of clothes for Rylee so that she would no longer have to wear that conspicuous constable's coat. However, his funds were nearly depleted, and their supplies would not last long. They would need to think of their next move. Kiori had learned to navigate through the woods and had basic -- very basic -- survival skills, but he doubted that they would be able to make a living in the wilderness, especially since an assassin would easily notice extended human activity. He was trained to kill, not to survive in the wild, not to hide, and perhaps most notably, not to protect another.

When it came to fortifying a location or dismantling an enemy's defenses, when there was a clear and concrete goal, Kiori had little difficulty making quick decisions. But now, he had no idea what their end goal ought to be. All he had said was "we need to move," but for how long? They would die of exhaustion if not by an assassin's blade if they just "kept moving." Now that they had finally put a great distance between Cedarburg and themselves, there was finally time to think of their next move. He stopped walking, which they had been doing at an abnormally brisk pace, and took a seat down next to a tree. "Take a breather he said," as he made himself comfortable in the moss and leaned his head against the tree. He sat quietly for a few moments, but finally decided that he had better ask the question that had been baffling him for so long now.

"So, what now?" For the first time, the uncertainty was audible in Kiori's voice. It was clear that this was no rhetorical question. Up to this point he had been giving directions, but now he needed them. There was no target, no objective except "survive," and he didn't know how to complete that one. "What were you planning to do if you managed to slip away? Did you have a hideout prepared, some place we can fortify?" He was grasping at straws and he knew it. If Rylee had a plan, she wouldn't have been hiding in an abandoned tavern. But maybe she did have an idea.

No One Escapes The Guilds

So, then we'll need someone to be the first assassin. Would you like me to do the honors, or did you have an idea for that?

No One Escapes The Guilds

OK. Perhaps a time skip is in order. Skip ahead a day or so to when the guild would be sending other assassins after them. Kiori and Rylee would be on the move, trying to figure out where to go and what they want to do.

The Horde of Evil - Tresspassing through treacherous tribes' territory! (RP closed)

Don't feel too bad Genni. My dude Kor has a modest power set as well. B

No One Escapes The Guilds

As Rylee laid down and pretended to sleep, Kiori went to work getting the two kitchen knives into a usable condition. First, a little bit of spit and some vigorous rubbing with his cloak got most of the dirt off. The blades were tarnished from exposure, but since he didn't have any oils to clean them with, they would have to deal with it for now. Still, he did have a way to sharpen the blades to a level where they could at least be used for self defense. He took one of his own knives out of his boot and used it as a grindstone to scrape the dull kitchen knives against. The procedure was crude, and he sacrificed the keenness of his own blade, but he felt it was worth it to gain two reasonable sharp knives. The work was finished well before his shift was over, and he returned his knife to his boot and turned his attention back to watching the room.

If this was a test, the assassin would likely come when it was his turn to sleep. It would be the earliest opportunity where their ability to defend themselves would be at its lowest. It didn't matter if the assassin knew that Kiori figured as much -- in fact, the would-be assassin most definitely understood what Kiori was thinking -- but it was a matter of maximizing the chances of success, not a mind game. With that fact established, Kiori quickly located the position that was furthest away from both the entrance to the room and the window; that was where he would sleep.

As he scanned about, his eyes fell on Rylee. Something was off... It was her breathing. She wasn't breathing like someone who was sleeping, but rather as if she were still wide awake. However, Kiori couldn't blame her. Smart girl, he thought, knowing that if he were in her shoes he certainly wouldn't be inclined to trust an assassin enough to sleep in front of him. But she would need to sleep eventually, and he hoped it wouldn't happen while she was keeping watch. He gave no hint that he even noticed it, and had no intention of voicing his concerns. Arguing over reasonable, if inconvenient, behavior would not foster trust. However, if they were ever going to trust one another again, they would eventually have to allow themselves to be vulnerable to one another. With a start like this, it seemed like it was going to be a long time before that would happen.

Finally, Kiori's shift was over. He walked over to Rylee and gave her a gentle shake to wake her, just as he would have if she were actually asleep. "Alright Rye, it's your turn," he said and waited a bit for her to "wake up." Then he decided to show her the two knives he prepared. "While you were sleeping, a sharpened these up for you. I take it the only weapon you have is your constable sword? That won't be enough." He held out the handles of the two knives to her and continued. "If you know how to use a knife in combat, take these now. They're not particularly sharp, but they'll suffice. If not, it will be better if I hold onto them until I have a chance to show you how to use them." As he waited for Rylee's answer, he eyed the doors and windows carefully. He deliberately turned his back to them to try to bait the attack. But, it seemed his paranoia was thus far unwarranted.

The Horde of Evil - Tresspassing through treacherous tribes' territory! (RP closed)

Name: Darkwraith Kor
Physical Form: The darkwraiths are beings that were once humans, but were twisted to depravity through the temptation of a dark serpent. These beings feast on the souls of their victims, and also on their very humanity. The darkwraiths have a drug-like addiction to humanity and in feasting on it, they drain the sanity from their victims to retain their own. Their skeletal appearance is actually a suit of armor granted to them by the serpent. Beneath it, the a healthy darkwraith looks very much human, but a starved one will have their nature revealed with wrinkled, rotting flesh. Kor stands at about six feet. Beneath his helmet, his face his stern and gaunt, with unkempt black hair and dark brown eyes. He has a muscular build derived from years of hunting down his prey.

He Hungers for Souls

Abilities: The Dark Hand- This is the magic weapon granted to all darkwraiths by the serpent. It is a manifestation of the darkness in their souls, and in its idle form appears to be an ethereal orb of blackness with streaks of red squirming about its wielder's hand. The Dark Hand can warp into both a sword and a shield with a complete physical manifestation. Due to the ethereal nature of the Dark Hand, it cannot be broken, but at the same time it will often yield to sturdy materials.

Lifedrain- The most feared of the darkwraith's abilities. The user channels his hunger into his Dark Hand and lunges at a victim. Upon contact, he drains the victim of his humanity. This does no physical damage to the target, but destroys its sanity, turning it into a soul-starved creature that will attack friend and foe alike. This ability does not work on those that are already corrupted or depraved, but on those that are valiant and righteous.

Abysswalker- In this world, there exist magics, indeed entire planes, forged from darkness itself. The darkwraiths are one of the few beings that thrive in such darkness. They are immune to the effects of darkness-based magic and can freely navigate through any realms made of darkness.

Red Eye Orb- A blood-red orb with a menacing eye carved into it. This orb seeks out the pure of heart, and once a target is located the orb will begin to pulsate. Once the target has been located, no amount of walls or barricades can stop a Darkwraith. They can use the Red Eye Orb to transport them to the general vicinity of the target. This comes with great risk, though. The orb does not reveal who the target is or what defenses are established, and it will only bring them withing 100 feet of the target. The darkwraith may be stepping into his own doom.

The Dark Sword- The melee weapon of choice for darkwraiths. The Dark Sword is a straight sword with a thick, wide, blade. The additional mass makes it good for staggering heavily armored foes. Though heavy, Kor can wield this blade masterfully, preferring to unleash a flurry of quick strikes rather than large single strikes.

Ring of the Evil Eye- Legend has it the this ring contains the spirit of a terrible monster that assaulted the lands long ago. Now, the power of this beast's cruelty is channeled into the bearer. With every slain foe, some of the wearer's energy is restored, and light wounds begin to heal.

Personality: In a word, voracious. Where others look at a battle and see terror and carnage, glory and honor, Kor sees a king's feast. These peaceful times have left Kor anxious and irritable from his hunger, but once his appetite becomes satiated he becomes as morbidly jovial as the next minion of darkness celebrating his victory.

Wants/Needs: Kor is driven by a relentless hunger for souls and humanity, but also takes pleasure in the dark. However, Kor is also reasonably intelligent, so any tools that would assist him in his hunt would be seen as an ample reward.

Backstory: Kor was once human, but that is all he remembers of his days before he was a darkwraith. For one reason or another, Kor found himself at the bottom of a pitch-black chasm, unmarked on any maps. He was terrified a first, but then he heard the voice of the serpent. It was a soothing voice, an infallible voice: "You were born from the Dark, why do you fear it?" Kor's pulse slowed and he sat upright. That's right, it was only darkness, there was no reason to be afraid. "Ah, you are not like the others who tremble at the Dark! Come, let me give you this gift, and you can be the savior to usher in a new age!" Naturally, the years of hiding in the shadows merely to sustain his own existence was grueling for Kor. However, when he heard of the new dungeon keeper, the prospect of open combat was appealing, plus he liked the new age that the dungeon keeper wanted to usher in.

No One Escapes The Guilds

Kiori was glad to see Rylee grin and wanted to return the expression, but it seemed as though the only muscles in his body that had atrophied were those required to make a smile; all he could muster was another faint curl of the lips. He remembered their disastrous first drink together well. The ale was horrible but he put on a tough face and pretended that he liked it. Rylee had made no attempt to hide her opinion of the drink. "I've been to many towns and cities," Kiori began, "and I have sampled drinks both exotic and traditional from all over the world, and to this day my father's ale remains one of the repugnant liquids that ever made its way past my lips. I don't know how my father drank that stuff, or how I even managed to keep it down for that matter. But I guess its a good thing that you don't drink. All alcohol does is turn decent folk into fools and fools into dead men."

The room was cleared of rubble and the bed was set up. "Well, you'd better get as much sleep as you can now. We'll have a lot to do tomorrow." As he spoke, Kiori began walking about the room, surveying the building for anything that could be used against an intruder. "I'm going to the cooking area. I'll be back," he said quietly, and proceeded to examine that area. Just as he figured, their cook had left behind a couple of knives. They were not particularly large or valuable, and they were dull and rusted from exposure, but they were not beyond repair. Rylee's constable blade was a far more effective weapon, but if they were going to survive she needed at least one spare weapon.

He returned to their room with the knives in hand, but didn't bother explaining what he was doing with them. If he could clean them up tonight, he could give them to Rylee in the morning and explain how best to use each one. For now, it was best that he held them lest any intruders decide to use them instead. "I'll wake you when it's time to change shifts. Goodnight." It seemed that the warmth that had been so desperately trying to force its way into Kiori's voice as soon as he took his role as a vigil. Even though meeting Rylee had rekindled some of the humanity within him, it would take more than one meeting to undo the mental conditioning of the Assassin's Guild.

No One Escapes The Guilds

Yes, I've been dropping hints, but if we want to really flesh out their past I think we'll need to take some liberties with them talking about things that happened. I would say feel free to write about things they said or did together without worrying about writing over the characters we had in mind. They're essentially different characters now anyway.

The Horde of Evil - The main thread is now up! I posted the link in here.

I hope you're still accepting because this RP sounds awesome. Also, I hope you don't mind if I introduce some Dark Souls lore into the mix...

Name: Darkwraith Kor
Physical Form: The darkwraiths are beings that were once humans, but were twisted to depravity through the temptation of a dark serpent. These beings feast on the souls of their victims, and also on their very humanity. The darkwraiths have a drug-like addiction to humanity and in feasting on it, they drain the sanity from their victims to retain their own. Their skeletal appearance is actually a suit of armor granted to them by the serpent. Beneath it, the a healthy darkwraith looks very much human, but a starved one will have their nature revealed with wrinkled, rotting flesh. Kor stands at about six feet. Beneath his helmet, his face his stern and gaunt, with unkempt black hair and dark brown eyes. He has a muscular build derived from years of hunting down his prey.

He Hungers for Souls

Abilities: The Dark Hand- This is the magic weapon granted to all darkwraiths by the serpent. It is a manifestation of the darkness in their souls, and in its idle form appears to be an ethereal orb of blackness with streaks of red squirming about its wielder's hand. The Dark Hand can warp into both a sword and a shield with a complete physical manifestation. Due to the ethereal nature of the Dark Hand, it cannot be broken, but at the same time it will often yield to sturdy materials.

Lifedrain- The most feared of the darkwraith's abilities. The user channels his hunger into his Dark Hand and lunges at a victim. Upon contact, he drains the victim of his humanity. This does no physical damage to the target, but destroys its sanity, turning it into a soul-starved creature that will attack friend and foe alike. This ability does not work on those that are already corrupted or depraved, but on those that are valiant and righteous.

Abysswalker- In this world, there exist magics, indeed entire planes, forged from darkness itself. The darkwraiths are one of the few beings that thrive in such darkness. They are immune to the effects of darkness-based magic and can freely navigate through any realms made of darkness.

Red Eye Orb- A blood-red orb with a menacing eye carved into it. This orb seeks out the pure of heart, and once a target is located the orb will begin to pulsate. Once the target has been located, no amount of walls or barricades can stop a Darkwraith. They can use the Red Eye Orb to transport them to the general vicinity of the target. This comes with great risk, though. The orb does not reveal who the target is or what defenses are established, and it will only bring them withing 100 feet of the target. The darkwraith may be stepping into his own doom.

The Dark Sword- The melee weapon of choice for darkwraiths. The Dark Sword is a straight sword with a thick, wide, blade. The additional mass makes it good for staggering heavily armored foes. Though heavy, Kor can wield this blade masterfully, preferring to unleash a flurry of quick strikes rather than large single strikes.

Ring of the Evil Eye- Legend has it the this ring contains the spirit of a terrible monster that assaulted the lands long ago. Now, the power of this beast's cruelty is channeled into the bearer. With every slain foe, some of the wearer's energy is restored, and light wounds begin to heal.

Personality: In a word, voracious. Where others look at a battle and see terror and carnage, glory and honor, Kor sees a king's feast. These peaceful times have left Kor anxious and irritable from his hunger, but once his appetite becomes satiated he becomes as morbidly jovial as the next minion of darkness celebrating his victory.

Wants/Needs: Kor is driven by a relentless hunger for souls and humanity, but also takes pleasure in the dark. However, Kor is also reasonably intelligent, so any tools that would assist him in his hunt would be seen as an ample reward.

Relationships: NA

Backstory: Kor was once human, but that is all he remembers of his days before he was a darkwraith. For one reason or another, Kor found himself at the bottom of a pitch-black chasm, unmarked on any maps. He was terrified a first, but then he heard the voice of the serpent. It was a soothing voice, an infallible voice: "You were born from the Dark, why do you fear it?" Kor's pulse slowed and he sat upright. That's right, it was only darkness, there was no reason to be afraid. "Ah, you are not like the others who tremble at the Dark! Come, let me give you this gift, and you can be the savior to usher in a new age!" Naturally, the years of hiding in the shadows merely to sustain his own existence was grueling for Kor. However, when he heard of the new dungeon keeper, the prospect of open combat was appealing, plus he liked the new age that the dungeon keeper wanted to usher in.

Other: NA

No One Escapes The Guilds

Ok. Then let's just keep playing this out for a bit. No assassin attacks just yet.