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In The Hourglass Order → 1 yr ago Forum: Casual Roleplay




Assani 16th

Location: ReTan, A now annihilated mountain, Ogauraq Camp
Day of the week: Pandes
Time: Night
Characters: Abdel, Dayanara, Rikard @Force And Fury, Kaureerah, Ingrid @dragonpiece,
Valerian @yoshua171, Trypano @A Lowly Wretch, Yalen @pantothenic,
Wu Long, Golden Monkey, Lucky Dragon

♫


What the hell am I doing here?!

Abdel had entered the cave with his colleagues, but he never truly wanted to. There was a sense of obligation that took over, and he even put up a brave face for his girlfriend when encouraging her to stay behind while he went to war. He regretted it all. The meeting with Brother Ash that turned into a battle with the Black Guard and a demonstration of power from Wu Long should’ve been enough to remind him of his place. He almost missed the popsicle state he had been forced into by Cold Soup when comparing the situation he was now in.

He took a light cut on his cheek from a White Guard he had attempted to control, while the other was successfully robbed of his free will and made to dance around Yalen as a human shield. The cut did not make Abdel panic, but the mild pain made him realize this was indeed all real.

... Daya?

And in just an instant, his mighty Skuggvar, a beast that almost seemed invincible, had been ragdolled effortlessly by a golden blurr neither he or any other teammate was able to keep up with. Paranoid, he pushed his back against the stony wall behind him, terrified of what such a strike would do to his much frailer body. Abdel was sweating profusely, and eventually tears ran through his face.

Mister Escarra! Marci! Jocasta! Help …! I can’t do this!

Abdel was but a boy, far too young and experienced with the world. And now he was made to feel helpless, a mere audience member to the carnage that was going to take place. Waiting for his turn to be made a volunteer to Golden Monkey’s next magical display of sheer brutality.

Just do it already! This is worse than death!

“COME ON!”

But his turn never came. Instead, in the midst of his wallowing in despair, he had actually paid attention to his colleagues. They were still all in the fight despite the odds, with Ingrid in particular concocting something that felt like it could match the obscene energy coming from the speedster. And, as his mind entered this bizarre transe of intense focus, he could finally lead the unfathomably fast target via his Tethered sensing. It was that Yasoi.

I can’t get a lock on but … Daya, I need you!

Focus on his puppet diminished, and instead he just barely managed to keep Golden Monkey in his peripheral vision while he tried to heal his beast. It was just enough to get her to stand again and glare at the assailant. Aided by her master, she sniped the monkey in his rare halt, failing to strike true but offering an opportunity for the others to position the ape just right.

It was all coming together like a perfect equation. The portal, Ingrid’s nuclear preparation, Trypano’s web, Rykard’s tenacity, Yalen’s crowd management. It was going to culminate into a finale the Godly ape couldn’t see. A glimmer of hope shined in Abdel’s eyes, and so he positioned his Skuggvar to ensure this outcome.

Wait … No.

Then he sensed Valerian. The odd addition to their team he had barely seen. A dapper fellow, one that easily impressed a youth like Abdel. But what he sensed was anything but impressive.

No! NO! Stop!

“NO!”

He shouted, but he had no real prowess in sonic magic. What he was good at was Magnetic magic, and he could practically SMELL the copper melt and the magnetic charge weaken to oblivion. The heat was too much and the outcome was nothing good with the trajectory it was going. What was a perfect equation turned into a perfect disaster. Little did he know just how accurate that view was.

Ba-bump. Ba-bump.

Everything went quiet. All he could see and hear was the tinnitus-inducing screech of Ingrid’s spell. Before any other could, Abdel ran. Where? He didn’t know, but he ran and got closer to whoever he could find. The only way he’d survive is if he was mobile.

“RUUUUUUUUUUUUNNNNNNNNNNNN!”

Abdel yelled. No need for sonic magic, he strained his vocal cords just for this. Dayanara sensed the signal near-instantly and got to dashing as well.

Portals opened just as the explosion was about to pop. His running paid off and he made it to one before most. And so did the bullrushing Dayanara that likely carried a couple of strays that latched onto her in the last two seconds they had.

Once home free, right at the edge of the portal, Abdel turned.

Move, move!

Abdel didn’t think, he just acted. He had no idea what he was doing, but he created an electro-magnetic barrier to delay the Cataclysm for under half a second. It was, hopefully, enough for any straggler to make it.

He did not hear the explosion. The young Tethered was propelled back just as the portal closed, landing on his back and coughing dust. He was alive, despite his stupid choice to not keep running.

“Damn …”

Abdel sat up, body sore from all the exercise and taking a ton of kinetic energy all of a sudden. His vision was settling. First quads, then triples, then doubles, and finally he could see one of these non-speaking giants. It kneeled before him and offered their hand. Abdel blinked and accepted it. He then looked around and saw more of these big people, in a camp with a few others that seemed to have come out of a portal too.

“Did … They all make it?”

He inquired sheepishly, his mind gravitating to the three girls that mattered most to him.
In The Hourglass Order → 1 yr ago Forum: Casual Roleplay





Assani 16th

Location: Xochiyeiteteo - Sweetwater Farmstead
Day of the week: Pandes
Time: Night
Present: Zarina, Classa @Force and Fury, Zox, Raiders, Tennaxi, Cozesteo, Cuimits, Torrix-Basté, Alqasas.

♫




Classa was tucked in with a sleepy Nibbler to keep her company after a few moments of storytelling and tickles.

Zarina returned to a grisly sight. More death and suffering. The prisoners were terrified for the most part, with the current ‘victims’ screeching for help as Zox immediately intervened to separate the rabid Tennaxi from the others. “What the FUCK just happened?!” the barely armoured Virangish growled, eyes to the golem. Zox focused on keeping the three concerned parties separate but answered her nonetheless. “It was fast. Before I could hear anything, she had killed two.” Zarina clicked her tongue in annoyance. “Shit. They were lip flappers too.” her glare was directed to Tennaxi who had since come to and looked both panicked and confused at what just happened.

Soon came the fear, and then the pleading. Zarina was rightfully suspicious. “You better not be fucking me.” her sharp and armoured finger pointed at the legless girl. The three were separated and their arms bound while the two bodies were dumped outside for the time being.With Tennaxi still overwhelmed by what happened, one of the assaulted was approached first. One known as Cuimits. “As you may have deduced, Cazenax often have names with meaning. Unlike us.” stated Zox flatly. “This one means Nine-fingers.” Zarina, as if on cue, paid attention to the recently bound hands. “Huh. From some fancy name like Midnight Moon to Missing-Finger-Joe. ” she chuckled, already calmed now that order had been restored. “Names are earned in Cazenax society. There can be a story behind his missing finger. Or simply how he is known. I could not say.”

Tennaxi was isolated while Cozesteo was made to wait with the others. Cuimits, one Zarina had identified as having a head over his shoulders, was her first target.

Zarina pulled a chair, sat in reverse and crossed her arms over the seat whilst Cuimits sat on the floor, back against a wall. Zox was the translator. “Let’s start simple, then. Who sent you?” and then it just became a staring competition. So she repeated herself. “I only took orders. My lieutenant is dead.” translated Zox in a similar, flat tone as Cuimits. There was evidently something about this one that kept Zarina’s attention. The way the others looked at him and his composure reeked of unspoken authority, like a high ranking member of a mob that dressed like any other local.

“Why’d you do it, then?”

“Money.”

“Why did she want to kill you?”

“To silence us, maybe. We got captured after all.”

“Was it one of those elites that sent you?” Zox made sure to use the appropriate terminology to qualify who she was talking about.

“He never met the one that paid. It went through the boss.”

“And so who’s the boss?”

Zox paused as he heard the answer. “I have killed him, it seems.” he sighed.

For a moment, Zarina had an idea to turn up the heat. Do something a little extreme to get this one’s lips to flap. But the corner of her eye caught something: Tennaxi. She gestured for Cuimits to be put aside, for now, and bring in the calmed Tennaxi. “Are you going to tell me what happened?”

“Lasto! Lasto …” Tennaxi lowered her head, only for her to see the grim reality of her mangled body. She shielded her eyes briefly before looking up at Zazzy. “I don’t know what happened, she says.” Zox shuffled a bit in his corner, his stoney gaze shifting between the prisoners. Tennaxi paused before being hit by a moment of clarity, index finger raised. But just before she could speak, Cozesteo shouted something she didn’t understand with Cuimits adding to it.

“Shut up.” Zarina said, but they continued. “I said, shut UP.” they both felt immense pressure applied above them, forcing their cheeks to hit the flooring. Cozesteo was quick to apologize the same way Tennaxi would, but Cuimits showed continuous defiance. The rest of the captives began to panic, to which Zarina was sensitive enough to cease her show of force, and in turn the tension of the air faded. Except of course for Cuimits’ continued ranting. As a result, Zox intervened with his intimidating form and just taped his mouth shut with some conjured leather. Again, the group was frightened, but the golem’s imposing size was enough to keep them in order. With peace returned, the interrogation could continue.

The timid Tennaxi, upon seeing Cuimits bound up tight, felt bold enough to speak. “She says she felt like she ‘lost her body’, and was all numb.” Zarina blinked and then squinted. “Like her body had a mind of its own?” to which Tennaxi nodded once the sentence was translated. Zarina drummed her fingers over the wooden seat. “It could be a spell. It could also be bullshit.” Zarina bit her uncovered thumb’s nail as she pondered, eyes locked to Tennaxi’s. She wanted to believe this girl was honest, but she had indeed killed two.

There wasn’t much to get from Tennaxi that wasn’t already said, and so the interrogator moved on. Her attention drifted toward Cuimits again, bound and gagged with consistent defiance in his eyes. But then there was the sidekick, Cozesteo. Clearly of lesser intelligence and standing. Quite bulky too. “What’s his name?” to which Zox replied with a slightly amused voice, as if he was in synch with Zarina’s observation. “Cozesteo. Big Rock.” the corner of Zaz’s lip twitched. It was the rock’s turn in the spotlight.

“Who sent you here?”

“‘Dunno’, as he would say. He says for money.” Zox internally frowned. “The exact same formulation the other used.” to which Zarina scoffed. “Is that so?” Her attention was entirely on the Big Rock. “Who’s your boss?” and for a split second, Cozesteo peered over at Cuimits, only to then shift his eyes about to lock them onto Zox, acting as if he was the bigger boulder among the two. Unfortunately for him, Zarina caught that and shot a knowing glance at Cuimits. “Potojax.” he said before cackling like a buffoon. A laughter that slowly degenerated into awkward titters as nobody laughed.

What followed were a series of awkward but ultimately meaningless questions, poking the man’s daily life and intentions. The more she went, the more it became clear this robust look of his was a façade. And the more his slipped looks toward his true boss, Cuimits. Realizing what was going on, a very brief sonic bubble was formed that enveloped Zox too.

“Is this man your boss?”

Cozesteo, taken aback by the sudden use of magic, just shot a confused look at Zarina.

“Tell me now. Is he your boss? Did he have something to do with the murders?”

A moment of hesitation took Cozesteo. But then he chuckled, again looking at his superior to feel emboldened.

“He says you must not be very smart. He’s his own boss and gets paid.” he didn’t bother to translate the ‘poxa’ in there.

Zarina’s arm unnaturally extended to seize the Cazenax’s throat. Her platinum hand was suddenly huge and could easily pluck the smaller being’s head. “I don’t honestly know or truly care about the bullshit behind all of this.” she snarled, the sound-bubble pointless in hiding her intentions. “You’ve hurt people that matter to me. You tried to kill some kid because you hate demons or whatever. And I’ve given you a second chance. I can easily take it away.” it’d be so easy, easier than pulling a trigger. That draconic shield-arm was so big and the claws so sharp. It’d be like passing a hot knife into a stick of butter.

“Zarina.” a concerned Zox felt the need to speak up, and the audience was growing agitated once more. “Please.” the golem reached for the girl’s shoulder. After a moment, she calmed down, but it had worked in getting Cozesteo to whisper something. “Zé …” he said. “They’re all afraid of him. You can see why.” Zox added, looking at the pool of dried blood at the corner.

Zarina sighed, lowered the barrier and shot a menacing look at Cuimits. The head of the troupe immediately her numb and his chin hit his chest. He was asleep after a strong dose of chemical magic was applied. But with one potential problem gone, a new one arose. The prisoners were terrified at this point and just about ready to explode in their foreign ramblings. The Virangish girl opted to not use force this time, raising her hands as a sign of peace while speaking pacifying words they did not understand. Zox, being the terrifying monster that killed many of their peers, did little to help too as intimidation wasn’t going to cut it after what had happened.

Just as catastrophe was about to strike, Tennaxi mustered the courage to speak now that Cuimits was unconscious. “Zag. Zag!” she pleaded to her fellow Cazenax. A display of good faith was made, Tennaxi showed her desire to help despite the suspicions around her. Given that it actually worked, Zarina was more inclined to believe her. A second female Cazenax, Torrix-Basté, added to Tennaxi’s efforts and provided testimony of the events that unfolded, making external magical influence the likely culprit here.

With peace restored in a fragile state, she continued her interrogation with Cozesteo.

“He says that for the record, he has nothing against demons and even owns a few.” Zox translated the words of Big Rock, still rattled by the recent threats but more willing to talk now that Cuimits was out. “The king’s changes aren't good for them. They’ll lose their sense of purpose. Being entirely dependent on the Vozas has more than just the obvious risks.”

“Risks, but you’ve been using this for … A long time I presume? Why are you worried about risks?”

Cozesteo looked to Zox, and then to Zarina before sarcastically cackling. “They want to have more lax admission standards for the Vo-Wola. The people who make use of the Vozas. He says it is insanity to be this careless with the most dangerous thing in the world.”

“Okay, but what does this have to do with them raiding this place?”

Torrix-Basté interjected upon hearing this. “She suggests that it might have something to do with land speculation following King Stazen’s policies.” to which Zarina shrugged. “For just a quick buck? Really? And going as far as killing your own? So who exactly sent them?”

Torrix-Basté was unable to say, as she only did it for the money and a general dislike for demons. Cozesteo, on the other hand, had more to say. He needed a little more squeezing, but a light bit of internal chemical did the trick. “There was a meeting with an intermediary that referred to their client as female. Apparently this was done to ‘help a friend’, and that the actual motives are a mystery to him.” Zarina sat back on her chair, arms crossed and attentive. “He thinks that the people in the Batarsca, the elites in a way, wanted to acquire this land expecting King Stazen’s policies to suddenly change, like what she said, but he believes an assassination attempt will be the cause and it may have already happened. The sweetwater guild in particular was keen on dealing with this land due to it remaining independent.”

“That would explain why they’d want to keep a lid on things.” she spoke to Zox, her platinum claw scratching her chin. “Sweetwater guild, jaded elites and a reformist King, it sounds like we’ve stumbled into a web of power plays and we’ve just caused a very unexpected mess.” so far Zarina didn’t seem too alarmed, and she was left to wonder what were truly the stakes here. There was a reason Upta and the Silent Ranger had dispatched them, and the only conclusion she could make was an extreme case with the Vozas.Was Stazen’s elimination a good or bad thing? It all hinged on this, she just knew it.

Tennaxi was brought back to the spotlight with Cozesteo left to breathe in his own corner. Zarina didn’t have to ask anything, she just began to talk. “She doesn’t know that much more, she says. But she’d be happy to serve as a guide at the city, but she’d need to be mounted.” Zarina, Zox and Tennaxi all looked at the poor Cazenax’s stumps. The girl still hadn’t fully registered how her life was going to drastically change. But with this grim reality made real and recalling Classa’s words, Tennaxi had something of an epiphany. “She’s realized that Samaxi, Mr. Jascuan’s daughter, is Potés-Palix. And- …” Zox just stopped talking and ‘glared’ at the legless girl. “What is it?” Zarina dryly inquired, smelling something was off and deeply concerned considering her friends had gone to search for that individual. “It’s mere speculation. But … She suggests that the timing of the raid looked to have been done in accordance to Maxi’s absence. They did not expect more than just me to protect the stead.”

Zarina clenched her jaw. A woman had hired these goons via an intermediary. Samaxi’s absence was conspicuously timed with the raid’s. There’s a lot of money and political capital involved. All surrounding the Vozas, or better known as the wicked Void that had nearly taken three close to her. The Virangish rider had gone from mildly concerned for an inquest she did not grasp the importance of beyond finding a culprit, to realising the potential gravity of it all.

Cozesteo was brought back in. Forceful but non-physical, she asked plainly. “How do I get this asshole to talk? I’m out of patience.” to which the Cazenax continuously shook his head and insisted he didn’t know. Zarina didn’t have time for this. A bag of a few magi was tossed to his lap - currency that wasn’t common but had its use in the supply wagon from Nashibansek. With such a handsome reward, the Big Rock could put his conscience away for a brief moment.

“Zarina. Are you sure you want to go through with this?” Zox, concerned by what he had heard, wished this could end already.

“Just say it. We can’t find the head of this serpent without this guy’s cooperation.” she growled whilst glaring at the still slumbering Cuimits. The other Cazenax looked concerned as well, shooting expectant looks at Zarina. Was she going to actually do this?

“He has a family that lives west of town, at a place called The Dive. It’s … a red domed residence occupying a gap in the hoodoos.” then everything got quiet.

Zarina just nodded before stepping out.

She opened her right, metal palm. The flow of time became tangible to her as she began to draw from it. And then, once imbuing her claws with the abstract energy she was far from mastering, she dug them into the air before her and dragged her hand downward. A forcefully opened a tear into time and space and created a portal in a cruder manner than most did.

Zox stepped out, and so did Tennaxi. Both would see the magnificence that was Alqasas stepping out of the rift and into a land not too different from where her mother had laid her. The reticulated and pearlescent Alpha Froabas sniffed about, recognizing Zarina and unknown parties. Naturally, she inhaled to prepare a loud and domineering howl. Quickly, the beastmaster created an improvised sonic bubble, only for it to partially succeed. The earth-shaking scream was heard by all the Cazenax, perishing all notions of trying a breakout at this time.

“Be quiet.” the strict mother ordered before flicking the mighty beast’s snout. It recoiled, growled and then sniffed some more. “It’s late here, as you can see.” she clearly spoke to the beast, and reached out to caress that previously assaulted snout. “I missed you too.” the animal shot her a challenging stare, but was otherwise docile.

“I’m not gonna threaten some asshole’s family. I'll get another lead.” she reassured, head turned as she still faced her dragon. “You.” she turned and pointed toward Tannaxi. “You wanted to be a guide, right?”

“I’m going to visit that guild. Can I expect good demons like you to translate? Or must I make preparations? I’d bring you, but …” she looked to her dragon, still not fully mature, and then to the stead where Classa slumbered. “You’ve got more important things to care for. Watch over Riesco for me, yeah?”
In The Hourglass Order → 1 yr ago Forum: Casual Roleplay


Present: Ashon’amar’loiyang @Ti, Cal’tuuro’jaros @Suicharte, Casii’fyret’alan @Pirouette, Dorothea Hohnstein @Jasbraq, “Ismet’ych’lahiin’dichora” @Force and Fury, Kaspar Elstrøm von Wentoft @Wolfieh, Edyta Łaska, Manfred Hohenfelter, Qasem Laghmani, Ymiico’luun’yoru [@Salsa Verde], Lycans, Father Jacques Dubosque, Brother Baudile Dubosque, Viktor Strauss, Cristophe Wiliken, Margot, the Highwaymen





“I did not want to interrupt.”

Viktor was sitting on one of the few remaining pews that hadn’t been destroyed during the battle. He had been fully concealed through expert use of his magusjaeger skills and had no trouble duping an otherwise quite observant Baudile. “And I was of the mind that all were welcome in the house of the Pentad, Herr Dubosque.” he said with a smug tone as he pushed himself up to his feet.

“Not willing carriers of bad omens, Viktor.” dryly replied the priest as he found support on the still intact tabernacle. “Words hurt, Jacques.” continued Viktor as he began to pace before the altar, arms crossed. “And you know I’m here to help. So far, things have been under control, haven’t th-”

“Stop it. Just, stop it.” Dubosque desperately searched for a place to sit, but he could only stand with growing discomfort. “All these deaths, Viktor. I’m not going to continue with this farce. I’ve kept my end of the deal, but where is your promise? A few kids are too much for you, Strauss?” the injured man, still wearing his loose nightly outfit, glared daggers at the blonde soldier. “I should do what I should’ve done months ago with you.”

“Kill me?” asked Viktor, halting his pace and staring up at the man that had threatened him. “You know how that ends, Jacques. Your people won’t care - they never did. And those kids? Neither you nor I can wrangle them away from this.” he took a couple of steps to the altar, and were mere feet away from the older man of similar stature. “If you and the people of this town are to survive this storm, something must be done.” he shot a knowing look at the priest, and the implication was thoroughly understood. Jacques scowled.

“How long will this continue, Viktor? How many have to die for … This?” Dubosque exhaled from his nose and continued before an answer could be provided. “No. No more. I will not take more innocent lives. By Oraff, I will no longer stand for this impossible choice that leads only to death. I’m done!” the man shoved the tabernacle with enough might to tip it over. It didn’t break.

Viktor arched an eyebrow. “You’re not done.” he dismissed Dubosque as if his resolve was a mere temper tantrum. “You’ve got nobody, Jacques. Your Church doesn’t care. Your country doesn’t care. Your own GODS do not care.” he stated as he reached down for the fallen golden edifice and set it back on its pedestal and wiped some accumulated dust. “Because you, as is this whole town, are meaningless to grander schemes. You’re nothing. Just as I am. What are you next to a whole civilization that they’ve gradually burned down?” Dubosque went silent, again pained and seeking the comfort of sitting down, but the closest pew was so far …

“I promise you this, however.” Viktor pushed his forearm over one of the wooden beams and leaned close to the tired Dubosque with his back against the wall. “Get through these final nights. Take care of these kids. And Mandelein will fade to obscurity as it has for fifty years.” he reached out to the priest’s shoulder and squeezed. “That is your reward for what your people had to endure. It’s almost over, Jacques.”

Jacques Dubosque looked at the hand that touched him. He wanted to react - to lash out. But he lacked the strength to even raise his voice. And for the sake of those he protected, he did not utter a single truthful word in his mind. He merely shot a scornful glare at Viktor, to which the latter scoffed and backed up. “Tomorrow night, do it.” he ordered as half his body began to fade. “I will be reclaiming some goods. Wrangle the rest to make this clean. I’ll be sure to clean up on my end too.” and then he was gone.





♫


It took a few hours to gather supplies, heal the wounded and gather their bearings for the group to finally opt to just leave the smuggler camp. Qasem, much to his dismay, could not find an opening without being surrounded by confused but defensive allies of the crown-wearing witch. He would have to find another way, but time was running short for him as he felt his arm pulsate even more and hiding it was becoming impossible, even for a seasoned chemical mage like him.

With Hunds awake, they could begin their trek through the forest again. Tranquil and without disturbance, there was little chance of a wild animal attack. Although …

”Sqwaaaak! It is time! Time of the night!” rang a red bird perched on a branch with a demonic copy of itself by its side. ”Time to die! No more precious!” the demonic one mocked the group. There was no overt hostility, not even an ounce of energy drawn nor its massive flock nearby. ”But if you don’t die.” said one. ”Then mayhaps one precious can be found before the big one eats you!” uttered the other. ”The prison key! Super precious! Very old! Key, key!” they both bobbed their heads in excitement. ”Precious keys, for a precious reward!” then they began to groom one-another, and eventually faded through the stream of time and space.

By the late hours of Dami, they would reach Mandelein.



Taleja saw it before anyone else: Four Moons were full, shining bright through the crevices of the dark clouds. It was all coming together, from her role in all of this to the small piece of information Cal had blurted out. And the worst case scenario was confirmed when her drawing range flared with massive heat signatures all of a sudden. For the first time, the Kressian scholar felt backed into a corner. Then came the moans of pain. They were everywhere!

The group returning from the raid had entered the town from the East, and until then nothing had been too suspicious beyond things being a little too quiet. That was until Hunds started to cough incessantly, and so did two of the highwaymen. Some squirmed on the ground, while one held his throat as if he was choking on something. Then came the bone cracking, followed by the sound of skin and ligaments tearing. “Erin!” yelled Cristophe right before the woman smacked him away with immense might, further into the forest.

All three had turned relatively quickly into the same beasts they had fought the day prior. All with the same, feral eyes that only saw humans as enemies and meals.

Qasem, too, felt an intense pain within. But he did not turn. He began breathing rapidly, his skin stretching and his bones swelling in an attempt to take a new form. A clenched fist would break the miniscule flask of plushtail oil that had been recently emptied. Such a small amount was only going to briefly delay the inevitable, but that was all he needed. In the midst of the thrashing from the other three beasts, Qasem seized the opportunity: A still weakened Dory had her thigh slashed with a dagger, exposing her to a toxin that acted very quickly and made her go numb. With his increased strength, the Darhannic envoy caught her before she could fall and made good use of his superhuman strength to jump out of the way. “I’m sorry.” he said as he performed his treason, with Manfred not too far and capable of hearing his shame.

The kidnapper pushed to go deeper into the forest, where a Hunting Lodge was said to be. As others sought to pursue, the grim reality of what was truly happening became apparent. Converging toward them, from every direction including the forest itself, were burning hot masses that were unmistakably wildbloods. It wasn’t just two dozens scattered around, however, but hundreds. They almost looked coordinated in their attack, quickly blocking off an easy passage to tail Qasem with only a couple capable of closing the gap before becoming easily flanked meals.

From the Forest (East), West and South they were getting boxed in. Almost like they were coordinated. This left only Northbound, through the streets that led to the Square. They had to be quick, these creatures were everywhere, but mostly concentrated toward the middle of town, slightly South of the actual Square (that wasn’t the genuine centre). If one were to sense, they could detect massive energy flares, but walls of transformed townsfolk were going to be a problem. They had to keep moving, lest they get swarmed from all sides.



Ymiico only caught the vaguest glimpse of her attacker. A man that hadn’t even touched her and yet put her out like she was nothing. She was, after all, at her most vulnerable. But that face, she recognized it. She had seen it many times, way back at her first year in Ersand’Enise. The betrayer, Viktor.

She awoke not in a cell, but in the abandoned tavern that the Pentad and Hexaic collaboration took place, right under the bar and both pairs of limbs bound by rope. It was already late at night and she still felt numb from the dose of magic she had been shot with. Wiggling out of the bindings was no issue for a shinobi, even less one that felt her power swell considerably with every passing moment. There were constant shuffling noises behind the walls.

Once on her feet, the Nikanese Yasoi could begin to focus on her surroundings and sense more accurately. She met quite the sensory overload. Massive balls of heat surrounded her. The noises persisted. No, they got louder and they came from all over just like the heat signatures. Feeling boxed in, she opened the door leading out of the tavern, only to witness what can only be described as Hell on Sipenta. Wildbloods much like the ones she had fought the other day, were running rampant. Structures were severely damaged, beasts hopped onto roofs and some began to develop the ability to unleash flames, although they were considerate of their environment in that regard, strangely enough.

Before long, they caught her scent, with the tavern’s roof giving in to the weight of three hirsute creatures eager for Yasoi flesh. But they were ignorant to the power she shared with them - a power given by the moons. Ymiico wasn’t trapped with them, they were trapped with Ymiico.

Thus began Ymiico’s stand, surrounded by over three hundred beasts.



“Heh, easy. E - Z, easy.”

Margot stared at her winnings for a good ten minutes in one of her cave-like hideouts. She really was just looking at the pile and just triumphantly stood before it. “Turin, you dumbest bitch.” she spat by the pile. “Should having not fucked with them like Margot said.” she scoffed.

Schleim was equally obsessed over the pristine Magi that had been acquired. Then, it looked at Margot.

“What? No regrets.” she answered with a narrowed gaze. “Don’t care no more.” but Schliem continued to stare, while Tock arrived at the hideout to demand food. “No yums, only cashish.” she then shot the same look toward the Echobird. “Stop. Not Margot’s problem herein again.”

Both Schleim and Tock just stared with their heads tilting in synch. “Margot tried! And we nearly unalived! Ownselves can be helped alone.” she crossed her arms and rolled her eyes. “Margot’s fault? What debt?! Tch!” the pile of money was wrapped back into the leather bag and stashed deep into her hideout. “Magot did not gift the poison to water hole …” she grumbled. “But Margot did helpmuch Turin the bitch, and the fucking Ghost.” she recalled that last one in particular, the only reason she was caught and locked up. “You’re right, Schleim. It is a littlelike Margot’s fault it’s herein happen.” she scratched her neck and looked toward the town from outside her cliffside hideout. “And that asshole need to get what’s comin’ to him.”



“Move.” ordered Taleja to Cal as she seized one of her concoctions from her bag. The two had been spared the worst of the beasts as they retreated back into the Trade Guild, however the young researcher found her opportunity when her group of peers was nearing their position. They were intercepted by a row of beasts that had emerged from the various businesses and homes nearby, with quite a few bursting out of the inn, and were going to block off the group with sheer numbers. The concoction, upon impact, unleashed a discombobulating explosion and a foul gas that struck the enhanced olfactory sense of the beasts. “We need to get to higher ground! They’re everywhere and too many. We need somewhere defensible.”

Indeed, the whole town had seemingly turned and were aggressively seeking out humans while having formed an unusually sophisticated perimeter in the forest. Escape wasn’t going to be easy. Bursting from the Tapisserie business were two beasts, one particularly keen on mauling Kaspar with minimal regard for its safety, while the other acting more like the fold and sought to trail and surround the group.

And as they continued North, the elevated Church that wasn’t too far from the Square. They were losing distance between themselves and the beasts, with many stalking the group from the roofs, and strays standing in their paths. There weren’t that many at the Church, however, with the gate open and swinging as if it had been used very recently.

“Hey!” the doors of the Holy edifice opened to show a single, Stresian monk waving at them. “Over here!”



The First Hour of Assani 21st

0 Days Remain




In The Hourglass Order → 1 yr ago Forum: Casual Roleplay





♫


Qadira arrived in Chuanwei with the rest of the group. She could sense the imminent threat approaching, her snout flaring at the smell of smoke and gunpowder. The Nikanese vessel took notice of them as well and fired barrages of projectiles over the coast and the settlement. Qadira stood ready, blubber giggling and tail beating the ground.

In the face of imminent peril, I beseech you, dear frail mortals, to release the tendrils of fear that seek to constrict your hearts. Be comforted, for I shall rise as your guardian, steadfast and resolute, warding off the impending onslaught launched by this vessel. Fear not, for I shall muster my formidable might and tenacity to repulse the audacious assault, ensuring your safety amidst this turbulent encounter. Trust in my unwavering resolve, and witness as I unleash my unwavering power to thwart this boat's belligerent advance, shielding you from harm's insidious grasp.

The beast gurgled and stomped its thick feet onto the dry dirt. Where many humans had failed to deflect the incoming projectiles, Qadira had repulsed all those in her vicinity with aggressive drawing and swift smacks of her tail. Her black, beady eyes glared at the incoming ship, her claws dragging against the ground like an angry bull’s hooves.

Then, the beast felt a warmth within - a great strength surged through her! The doings of a human named Yalen.

In the presence of your esteemed wisdom and benevolence, oh revered monk, I humbly offer my profound appreciation for the precious boon you have bestowed upon me. With deep gratitude, I pledge to wield this bestowed gift as a formidable weapon against the forces that stand in opposition to our noble cause. Rest assured, dear clergyman, that I shall strive unwaveringly to emerge victorious in our shared struggle against our adversaries.

When the largest cannon fired, Qadira syphoned the entirety of the projectile and fired back with an even larger blast mixed with flammable mucus to accelerate a chain reaction. The boat was struck, but did not fall. Not until Zhao’s cataclysmic charged attack after a second rain of projectiles. Many were knocked out by the blast, but neither Maura nor Qadira were out of it.

As the olfactory senses awaken within me, permeating my very being, I am graced with the unmistakable fragrance that belongs solely to my beloved sister. Forsooth! In this pivotal moment, I implore you, immobile human, to muster your courage and embark upon a swift and resolute advance, for the time has come to surge forth with unwavering determination in pursuit of our shared objective with alacrity.

Qadira unleashed a loud sound that nearly came off as a ‘moo’ and dashed into the ruins of the settlement with Maura on her back. An entity attempted to get in their way, but Maura picked up on the interference and guided Qadira appropriately. They would eventually arrive at an impasse: A human with a delicious fish-person. Qadira growled at the woman.

In the depths of my innermost sentiments, I find myself harbouring a profound aversion towards the individual in question, for their presence evokes within me a palpable sense of disfavour and discontent.

The talks between Maura and the Nikanese envoy didn’t work out, and conflict erupted with the unconscious Kaureerah freed. There were also Dayanara and Jiang. But in order to save them, this interloper had to be dealt with. Qadira was not easy to control and would find herself particularly aggressive toward the woman, frequently charging at her, and yet there was another presence that consistently interfered and threatened Kaureerah in particular. Qadira unleashed a massive roar, prompting Dayanara’s slow awakening.

Hark! In order to staunch the insidious advance of this enigmatic and imperceptible force that has left us consistently flummoxed, it is imperative that we remain steadfastly resolute in our collective endeavour, persistently launching a relentless series of attacks with unwavering determination and unyielding resolve!

With the help of a hidden Xiualan and Dayanara, the group of four were able to not only wound the assailant but also repulse her until the appearance of a strange individual. One that deleted the woman entirely. Qadira flinched, and curiously sniffed about. But the man was swiftly gone, leaving them with … A happy ending? Her attention was immediately on the drops of blood left by the supposedly dead Nikanese.

Following the act of savouring the flavours bestowed upon me by indulging in the gustatory delights of this culinary experience, I shall proceed to convey my deep-seated appreciation through a lighthearted gesture of affection, namely by engaging in the act of playfully caressing my limber muscle specialised in gustatory functions against the personification of piscine characteristics, thereby giving rise to a whimsical and comical interlude wherein the very entity that initially posed as a potential menace now assumes the role of an unexpected companion, epitomising the ironic twist that has manifested within this unique and memorable juncture.

Qadira licked Kaureerah and let out happy little grunts. Although the atmosphere in the air wasn’t perfect. A confrontation between Zhao and Maura occurred, tackling the subject of Xiulan. Qadira was still Maura’s ride, and kept on uttering grunts that could easily be seen as threatening to others.

My fellow chaps of good breeding and social stature, pray tell, how fare thee in the realm of existence?

The moment was cut short when a witch appeared among them, along with a slow and peculiar figure that remained silent. Qadira perked up, her body language suggesting she wasn’t all too comfortable with this person. She felt Abdel hand by her ear. Her eyes briefly peered at his direction.

In light of the bond that intertwines us within the realm of instruction and guidance, I feel compelled to impart upon you a word of caution, dear fatherly figure, urging you to exercise utmost vigilance and prudence in your dealings with this mysterious and enigmatic figure, who assumes the guise of a witch. Given the circumstances that currently envelop us, with an awareness of the intricacies and potential challenges that lie ahead, it is imperative that we engage in a meticulous and thorough process of thoughtful readiness, leaving no stone unturned, as we lay the groundwork for our forthcoming endeavours with utmost precision and careful consideration.

She burped.
In The Hourglass Order → 1 yr ago Forum: Casual Roleplay





Assani 15th

Location: Xochiyeiteteo
Day of the week: Taldes
Time: Day
Present: Zarina, Ayla @Ti, Classa @Force and Fury, Tku @dragonpiece,
Riesco, Zox, Raiders, Demons, Yolk Demon, The Olive Tree and Dragon.

♫


The heat of battle was something Zarina had almost forgotten and a taste she never wished to genuinely acquire. Despite being prepared - some would even say over prepared - it did not make the ordeal any more appealing or easy. But she accepted this mission knowing full-well the inevitabilities it engendered. And so she charged in with her trusted steed, circling the horde of enemies with Classa not too far behind and her allies riding the Zox.

Fucking demons. Fucking Void-lovers.

Facial features twitched under her platinum helm. Malefic beings from another realm had been called upon to bolster the raider forces, and one had taken particular interest to her.

I am so sick of these foggy shitters.

But try as she might, her armour and raw might did little to repulse the corrosive blob of intangible darkness. It burned so much, invoking furies that only emerged after incredibly acute pains - like stubbing one’s toe. Taken by frustration over her situation and the pain, Zarina acted out in pure impulse. Her dragonhead greatshield, an item she had used to protect, opened its wicked maw to reveal a small cannon.

Now you burn.

There was a moment of hesitation. The remorseful Zarina that knew she was going to hate this tried to stop her. Had it just been the burns, she’d have held back. But there was more to it - there was fear too. And fear made people do many things. The flames were vomited out on a group of raiders, scorching at least two and injuring two more. The screams and the smell were atrocious, but she did not linger. There were demons and over fifty attackers.

The battle raged on with Zox clearing many of the pack. Tku eventually became the author of the mist’s second demise, Classa covered her new friend Riesco, and Ayla neutered the speed demon. They were going to win this if they held strong. The platinum warrior had to ensure the titan did not fall, and she did just that as the team’s immovable temporal shield.



Then came the finale. A duet with Ayla and the birth of a shining God-like giant. The enemies knew nothing but terror at their end, and the final titanesque demon met its match with the golem of pristine metal. They had won, and their first prize was a massive Ayla.

“We’ll need to revisit living arrangements, Ayla.”

Although she spoke, there was little chance the giantess could hear Zarina without some sort of sonic enhancement. There was one thing missing. Zarina, realising there was still a loose end, approached the familiar egg-entity she had seen once before.

It was not easy to find, for the conflict seemed to have buried it. Then, from within the shifting sands, came a faint glow, and Zarina dug. The glow expanded and then, bursting from the ground, came a glowing millennium egg. It shot into the sky and hovered there, a halo about its form, face beatific and arms outstretched.

A PRIMORDIAL EGG had ascended.

"An angelic Egg? It is a good Egg" Tku decided to move focus onto it.

“A Promordial egg, destined to be eaten.” Zazzy added.

The egg turned its magnificent head and blinked. "You have my neverending gratitude for aiding me in my ascension. I was summoned by wicked people, my chance at redemption tarnished from the start, but you fought with honour and decency and I am born anew in the light of the Pentad."

Zarina blushed in awe. So majestic.

Tku was in awe. He was so proud to have helped.

Its great white wings flapped softly under the burning desert sun, casting a vast and peaceful shadow. Brilliant pure white feathers drifted and fluttered down from above.

The PRIMORDIAL EGG smiled.

"Mister Egg, are you able to help my friend Zox?" Tku asked, unsure of the nature of the egg.

"It is already done." It... winked. "Enjoy six more hours as titans. Then, you shall both be returned." It clasped its hands before itself.

"And now I must go," said the egg, "but I first bestow upon you these gifts as a token of my gratitude." Three glowing black and green orbs - egg-shaped - appeared before the angelic being, and they wafted slowly down towards the sand, where they lay, warm and waiting.

One, however, landed elsewhere, coming to rest atop the great olive tree.

The tree pulsed. The egg disappeared.

arina nodded sagely at the egg. No more words needed to be said. This was a good ending.

The armoured girl approached the landing site of one of the eggs.

In his head, Tku heard a voice.

"Step forward, child," said the mystical tree of the desert.

In the distance came the echo of hooves and, with them, a dust trail.

"Eat of my fruit and you shall be nourished."

Classa could feel its words as well. "You too, young one."

Classa looked up at Zarina and leaned in. "But I don't really like olives..." she whined, scrunching up her face. "Do I gotta?"

Zarina cackled at that answer. Oh kids. “It's a special olive.” she said before tapping the centaur's back. “Only the best of us can even get a lick.”

From within the great tree's branches came a mist, in the midst of the desert, and they were filled with gentle clouds and a soft light. A small serpentine dragon rested within it contentedly, eyes half-closed. Then, in Tku's mind: "What do you wish for?" Classa trotted up and took an olive as well.

Riesco also approached. His simple horse mind was attracted to the tree for some reason. Zarina just watched him do so. He leaned toward Classa, lips flapping. Ready to suck in her winnings.

Classa held it out in her hand, looking at it and working up the courage.

Frightened by the horse coming up to take her prize, the girl swallowed it. She, too, heard what Tku had moments earlier. Riesco began to nod heavily, frustrated but excited!

"I wish..." The girl trailed off, suddenly and perhaps for the first time, lost for words. She regarded Zox, then Tku, and then the giant Ayla. Last, she looked to Zarina. "I wish to... be free." She paused. "And the others like me: them too."

Classa took a few steps back toward the others. "So is this like a trick question or something?" she asked, "'cause I'm totally just gonna ask the tree to grant it."

Zarina did not know what to feel. Relief? Her job felt just a tad easier now. But, without Zox or Classa, this farm would have been good as gone, and Jascuan very dead. She exhaled from her nose, and then chuckled. “No trick. If that's what you really want, then so be it. No wrong answer, Classa.”

Classa stepped forward. "Are you a tree or a dragon?" she asked with childlike curiosity. The dragon's eyes slid open and it seemed to smile, floating languidly through the air as it descended, looping and twirling about her shoulders. "Why can I not be both?" It chuckled and the tree's leaves seemed to tremble.

lassa's face scrunched up inquisitively. "How can you be a tree and a dragon?" She pawed at the ground. "Sounds like something Mr. Jascuan would say when he's trying to sound all wise and stuff."

The dragon stilled and tilted its head. Then, there was a small surge of energy of a type that none of them had felt before and the child's eyes widened. "Ooooohhh," she exclaimed, nodding knowingly after a moment. "I get it!" She paused to consider, sticking a lock of hair in the corner of her mouth and nibbling on it. "I think I actually undewstand a lot of things now. Give us what we need and we will free ourselves." She looked up and smiled uncertainly.

Classa stamped her feet happily. Nobody was quite sure what she'd received, but she seemed to know. The little girl twisted and cracked a shit-eating grin. "Wait 'til you see what I got!" she boasted. Then, momentarily, she turned back to face the tree and bowed her head. "Thank you Mr. Dragon-Tree."

With that, the dragon settled back upon the branches and the rolling mists took it away from that place. The tree stood still and silent in the desert.

Then, it crackled and bent. Its branches groaned. Its fruits withered.

The ground seemed to open and it disappeared as if it had never been there in the first place.

A single millennium egg sat there in the sand. The other was in Zarina's hand.

Classa perked up. "Oh, I want it!" she exclaimed, hurrying forward. Then, she looked up at the massive figure of Zox. "So I can save it for him, of course." She blinked, smiled, and looked up, holding her hands out towards Tku.
In The Hourglass Order → 1 yr ago Forum: Casual Roleplay




Assani 17th

Location: Wánggǎng, ReTan
Day of the week: Pandes
Time: Day
Characters: Ming, Qadira, Abdel, The Traveller @Force And Fury

♫




Ming and Abdel were the pair sent to follow-up with one of the trails captured by Qadira the Skuggvar, and brought her along too. By having such an imposing beast in their disposition, the group thought it best that the trio would go to the more back alley location they had sniffed out. It was a warehouse of sorts, near the Foreign Quarter, with a few other larger buildings neighbouring it.

A garage for older carriages was selected to stake out the place. Two heads popped out of the wooden railing of the roof, with Qadira curiously pushing on her hind legs to get a look as well, nearly breaking the structure! Luckily Abdel had a hold of her. Ming could count four guards from sight, and the young Tethered could confirm it with his sensory capabilities.

“We must go quiet. We gain nothing from raising alarms everywhere and cause more collateral damage.” said Ming, ever the steadfast worker.

“We can try to sneak, but that’ll be hard with Qadira.” Abdel looked at his Skuggvar. “I don’t want to leave her unattended either. Maybe we knock one out?”

Qadira grunted.

“The beast is big.” Ming shook his head. “It is too dangerous. I will go in, and you will cover me. Understood?”

Abdel wanted to say something. He really wanted to prove his worth and actually do things. But alas, this was objectively the best way to go about it. Ming was to go alone, attempt to sneak, while Abdel watched from a block away. From there, he had Qadira ready to attack if things went awry.

And they did, sort of. As Ming employed the gift to try and slip in unnoticed, three of the guards dressed in plain clothes were none the wiser. Except for one. He was walking toward Ming with clear intent and off his initial patrol path. Abdel had half a mind to try and attack to knock out, but his intuition told him this was far too risky. They had to act like they had been made.

Just as Ming was going to be intercepted, Abdel and his guard dragon walked up to the man. A man slightly taller than him, which wasn’t common in ReTan. “NinHao!” greeted Abdel with a very forced smile. “我是政府。我需要检查地方 (I’m government. I need to inspect place)” he uttered with minimal charisma which mattered little when Qadira had sublime timing with her burping of her recent meal. It was enough to get the guard’s attention, if he hadn’t noticed the hulking beast already that served as very obvious intimidation.

The guard just smiled as he saw the beast, and even seemed like he wanted to approach it. “政府？但一切都井井有条，长官。(Government? But everything is in order, sir.)” his expression dulled once he addressed Abdel’s approach with a very distinct accent. To which the teen replied. “我们很仓促。也许我们快点？ (We are hasty. Maybe we make quick?)” he took out a pack of rolled cigarettes that were in a red box, clearly made to be of high quality. It was a box he had gotten during his classes, and said to be a typical means of ‘acceptable’ bribery among everyday men. Added to this, he had a few incantors to go with it and Qadira’s loud breathing as incentive. Ming exhaled in exasperation from his hidden corner.

The man just chuckled, only looking at the offering once before addressing Abdel again. “先生，我们遵守所有规定。(We are complying with all regulations, sir.)” again, such an odd accent. And this time Abdel picked up on it. “... هل انت من هنا؟ (... Are you from here?)” he inquired in Virangish, much to the enjoyment of the guard. “أرى أن لديك أذن جيدة! أنا أكون. لكنني لست كذلك. (I see you’ve got a good ear! I am. But I’m not as well.)” he beamed at Abdel and shot an even happier smile at the Skuggvar. “من المحتمل أن يكون المستمع الجيد مثلك قد استنتج أن هذه قاعدة ثورية من نوع ما. (A good listener like you has probably deduced this is a revolutionary base of sorts.)”

Abdel gulped. He felt like he had just landed in the lion’s den. His hand reached out for Qadira’s snout. “لا تقلق ، لن أؤذيك. لكن يجب أن أسأل ، لماذا تساعد حكومة مثل هذه الحكومة؟ هل أنت خائف حقًا من عالم يتساوى فيه جميع الرجال والنساء؟ (Do not worry, I will not hurt you. But I must ask, why would you help a government like this one? Are you truly afraid of a world where all men and women are equal?)” Abdel began to draw while the guard enthusiastically began his speech. “هناك حاجة إلى رجال طيبين مثلك إذا كنا سنفوز بهذا! ماذا لو ذكرت لصديقك أن هذا مجرد شيء مضطرب للغاية. عموما لا يهتمون.(Good men like you are needed if we’re ever going to win this! How about you just mention to your friend that this is just a very turbulent enclave thing. They generally don’t care.)” shrugged the man, to which Abdel replied sternly. “لن أفعل. (I will not.)”

Just as the Tethered was ready to use his Magnetic magic in tandem with Qadira’s might, the guard had one final thing to say. “Then, you need to know a few things before you take any step further, Abdel Varga.” Abdel’s ice turned cold as the world around him distorted.



The Rettanese man fell to his knees and nearly hit his head on the stone pavement, only to be caught by Abdel at the last second. Everything was back to normal and not a second was lost in the present. To Ming, the guard had simply fallen over after telling something he couldn’t hear to Abdel. Sceptical of what happened, he emerged from his hiding spot and joined his foreign partner. He wanted to say something about Abdel’s methods, but he ended up just nodding. It got the job done and they had more to do.

“Bring the body inside, we won’t have much time until they suspect something.” whispered Ming as he opened the door to the innards of the warehouse, letting Qadira in first while Abdel started to drag the unconscious ‘Traveller’. The boy could still not believe this was, in some form anyway, the ‘great menace’. He could end this whole shebang right now, potentially. Or not. Chances were the traveller was too strong, that it’d have no effect. But in truth, he had massive reservations over doing it even if there were guarantees of it being permanent.

Once inside and the doors closed behind them, they would be greeted with a few stacks of crates. Near the centre was one crate in particular. It was smaller than the others and placed on a table as if it had recently been filled. Ming nudged his chin toward the box, and Abdel nodded. There were no signs of traps, not in this crate or the others. They began to gut them, starting with this one, though Ming was keen on opening a few nearby ones while Abdel examined the contents.

“Anything beyond clothes and a gun?” he asked, and Abdel had indeed removed both a rifle and a whole set of clothes. A Black Rezaindian set to be exact. “Yeah. You don’t have many Quentics around here, right?” to which Ming denied, it was definitely a rarity and always foreigners.

“Hui - Ash …” mumbled Abdel to himself. “Church clothes and a gun.” he blinked, recalling something from about a year ago. He couldn’t quite put his finger on it, and yet it felt vivid. Like he had known someone that had all these pieces fit nicely together. But these weren’t the only things inside. There were also stacks of correspondences, mostly in Perrench.

Good thing Abdel had taken Perrench, and liked it more than Rettanese.

It was a back and forth between two authors: Ash and the one dubbed ‘Sifu’ by the former. Sifu - Teacher. Abdel could deduce that much. And in turn, recalling his trippy exchange earlier, he could already piece together a relationship with the traveller. They were the Sifu. And as he skimmed through the letters, he’d come to discover a breakage in the relationship near the end, shortly after being told of his moniker of ‘Ash’ translating to ‘Hui’ in Rettanese.

“Je regrette cette séparation, Sifu, mais je n’ai pas le coeur de me dévouer aux masses comme vous le faites.” read Abdel out loud. The falling out ultimately came down to Hui’s lack of drive to prop up all the masses and considered himself far more than the master did. Ming perked up, not nearly as proficient in Perrench as Abdel was. “Which means this isn’t about the traveller … The people are being used by Hui!” concluded Abdel, discreet but not enough to not get Ming’s attention. “What isn’t about the traveller?” to which Abdel simply passed the letters to Ming. “I don’t think the head of your problems is the Traveller.”

There was a final piece to consider. An old scroll, worn by age and the ink faded. It was in old Perrench, stuff that Abdel definitely couldn’t read. But he recognized some words. By the date written it was about eight hundred years old, at the time of the Great Heathen War - a piece of History the teen wasn’t too familiar with. Not that he knew much of History in general.

“Service,
Great,
Sacrifice,
Heathens.”

He could deduce these big terms among the faded words, the obsolete formulations and old spellings. That, and the seal of Arcel the Victorious.
In The Hourglass Order → 1 yr ago Forum: Casual Roleplay


Present: Ashon’amar’loiyang @Ti, Cal’tuuro’jaros @Suicharte, Casii’fyret’alan @Pirouette, Dorothea Hohnstein @Jasbraq, “Ismet’ych’lahiin’dichora” @Force and Fury, Kaspar Elstrøm von Wentoft @Wolfieh, Edyta Łaska, Manfred Hohenfelter, Qasem Laghmani @Tackytaff, Ymiico’luun’yoru @Salsa Verde, Jocasta Re, the Menacing Interloper, Lycans, Father Jacques Dubosque, Brother Baudile Dubosque, Constable Laura, Ines Baum, Viktor Strauss, Cristophe Wiliken, the Highwaymen


♫




























Dawn of Assani 20th

1 Day Remains

♫


Life continued in Mandelein. The calamity of the day prior did not stop mouths from needing to be fed, brews to be concocted and materials to be worked. Despite the tragedy, not everything was glum. More people smiled when they saw our student group, Ines was particularly receptive to them and a couple of constables volunteered themselves to assist in the inevitable clash with the outside force that had been plaguing them for so long.

Now they had a chance. They had young foreigners who had fought off the monsters, and they were going to help now that they saw a reasonable out. Not that many trusted them - far too many were older and grew comfortable with their isolationist views.

“Sie brauchten Hilfe? Sie brauchen Zahlen, um eine Garnison niederzuschlagen, wissen Sie. (You needed help? You’ll need numbers to take down a garrison, you know.)” said Laura with a cheeky smile, accompanied by a middle aged man wearing a coat and carrying a rifle.. “Viktor machte sich auf die Suche nach diesem Blutsauger, aber er ließ uns mit einem guten Koppelman zurück. (Viktor went off to track that bloodsucker, but he left us with a good Koppelman.)” she held said Koppelman 49 with her two small hands. The thing was nearly as tall as her.

“Auch Sie werden unsere Unterstützung haben. (You will have our support too.)” it was none other than Cristophe and four of the highwaymen that remained loyal to him. “Ob Sie es wollen oder nicht, wir haben mit diesen Leuten noch eine Rechnung offen. (Whether you want it or not, we have a score to settle with these people.)”


In The Hourglass Order → 2 yrs ago Forum: Casual Roleplay


Present:
Ashon’amar’loiyang @Ti, Taleja Drakenknecht, Cal’tuuro’jaros @Suicharte, Casii’fyret’alan @Pirouette,
Dorothea Hohnstein @Jasbraq, “Ismet’ych’lahiin’dichora” @Force and Fury, Kaspar Elstrøm von Wentoft @Wolfieh,
Edyta Łaska, Manfred Hohenfelter, Qasem Laghmani @Tackytaff, Ymiico’luun’yoru @Salsa Verde, Jocasta Re,
Father Jacques Dubosque, Brother Baudile Dubosque, Constable Laura, The whole damn town




Dawn of Assani 19th - 1:00 HS

2 Days Remain

♫


The evening prior, a small hunting team composed of Sister Edyta Laska, Dorothea Hohenstein, Casii’fyret’alan, Manfred Hohenfelter, Ismet’ych’lahiin’dichora, Ymiico’luun’yoru and led by Viktor Strauss had hunted down and retrieved the corpse of what was later identified as a Wildblood “taken by the beast”. The corpse was kept in an unused barn South of town, with many villagers attempting to take a peek, if they weren’t gathering around the Inn for the latest gossip. The night remained quiet, and it made way to a morning that was bound to be agitated, to say the least.

Most of the town had gathered at the old Trade Guild under the directive of Fr. Dubosque.

“Ist das Biest wirklich tot? (Is the beast truly dead?)” asked an anxious baker named Sofia who had pushed through the crowd to be at the front of the town meeting.

“Unmöglich. Nach all diesen Generationen?! Von einigen Kindern?! (Impossible. After all these generations?! By some children?!)” yelled out an outraged Günter, the retired seamster.

“Warum sind sie noch hier? (Why are they still here?)” asked Bertha, the old seamster’s daughter, her vehemence palpable, “Das Biest wurde nur durch die Anwesenheit von Außenstehenden wütend. Unser PROTECTOR ist jetzt aufgrund eines von ihnen verursachten Problems verschwunden! (The beast only got enraged by the presence of outsiders. Our PROTECTOR is now gone because of a problem they created!)” many cheered in agreement, many also seemed to be reluctant to say anything.

“Sie haben Anna gerettet! Haben Sie etwas Anstand. (They saved Anna! Have some decency.)” retorted, ironically, another Anna, this one the wife of another farmer, “Unser Beschützer war schon lange nicht mehr da und sie halfen uns mit dem Monster, das ihn ersetzte. (Our protector was long gone and they helped us with the monster that replaced it.)” she nodded toward Dubosque, and the students she could see that participated in the meeting, “Thank you for helping mein friend.”

“Bußgeld. Sie halfen! (Fine. They helped!)” growled Bertha as she tossed her arms in the air, “Was jetzt? Sie sind fertig. Wir können das Problem jetzt lösen, da der Wald sicherer ist! (What now? They’re done. We can deal with the problem now that the forest is safer!)” again, the mob seemed to be quite split, though there was a clear majority for xenophobia.

“Bertha,” began the good Father, sitting on a chair in the centre of a long table that would accommodate a council. There were a few older villagers among him, and a few students were allowed to join as well, “Ich verstehe deine Ängste. Als wir uns das letzte Mal nach außen öffneten, waren wir verletzt. Andere wurden verletzt. (I understand your fears. The last time we opened ourselves to the outside, we were hurt. Others were hurt.)” his hands interlocked with one another, the man was not going to succumb to emotion and fan the flames of fear, “Vergessen wir nicht, dass sie sich selbst in große Gefahr begeben- (Let’s not forget that they put themselves in great peril for-)” then he was cut off, for the third or fourth time this morning, by emotionally driven villagers.

It continued on and on. For all the good the students could have brought, the aversion many of the villagers had for any outside interference was more than obvious at this point. Maybe they were right, there hadn’t been attacks until they appeared, and the beast held an important role in their culture. But it was without a doubt that a threat was slain, and many also saw that.

“Und was ist mit den Schmugglern? Und die anderen Monster? (And what of the smugglers? And the other monsters?)” a familiar voice with a broken Kerreman piped up from the back. The entire gathering of people turned to notice Father Dubosque’s own brother, Baudile, indulging in a smoke and with smug confidence on his face, “Es gibt noch viel zu tun, oder? Soweit ich weiß, sind diese besser als alle Halbheiten bisher! (There’s still a lot to do, no? From what I can see, these ones are better than any half-measures so far!)”

Father Dubosque shot a glare that could only convey disappointment and even resentment for his own brother. And, like clockwork, the people erupted into a rabble. The mention of more beasts and the outside threat of smugglers had them bicker on borderline nonsense. Even the more reasonable townsfolk appeared hostile at these notions, dismissing them as ‘beside the point’ and ‘divisive lies to pull Mandelein further down’.

"It appears to me," interjected Manfred, his voice frosty, "That you are doing a fine job of that yourselves." He removed the pipe from the corner of his mouth and exhaled, filling his immediate vicinity with a whitish haze. "Your fear is almost comical were it not so damaging. No wonder the town is withering. No wonder there is none of the trade that used to flow through here. He punctuated his gestures with his pipe. “You come to rely on some ‘beast’ to see to your interests instead of your fellow man.” He shook his head, letting his feet down from where they were crossed over another chair. They landed with an audible ‘clap’ on the wooden floor. “There is no more water in your fountain. There are scant few shoppes in your square. The hospitality of Mandelein used to be renowned and its name spoken with respect, at least in the lands that I come from, not so far from here.” He scowled deeply. “Yet you stay this ruinous course you have chosen, despite its clearly evident damage.” There was an extended pause. “You are fools,” he declared. “The lot of you. Outsiders come to help and you focus on them being outsiders, instead of being there to help." He gestured with the pipe, taking in the angry and disorganized mob. "So you tell lie upon lie, and to what end? How can one expect the desired result if those who are enacting it don’t know what it is?" He let out a snort. "Though that is a familiar story here, I see."

“You don’t know what you’re talking about, boy!” shouted Morritz, the carpenter.

“We never desired anything.” scoffed Melanie, constable Leonhardt’s wife. "Yasoi, outsiders, destroyed our trade. Smugglers, outsiders, plagued us for generations. We were FINE."

Dubosque shot a concerned look toward Manfred and then toward Sister Laska, but kept his piece for now.

The sister, as well, said nothing, her warm blue gaze sliding from one man to the other. Not so for Manfred. "Oh, hogwash!" he retorted, waving a hand dismissively in the villagers’ direction. "You really are in love with your little narrative." He shook his head tightly and rose, gesturing with his pipe. "If you were plagued by outsiders, you also benefited from them." He snorted. "How much trade flowed through here? Were your tariffs not the lowest in our entire nation at one point? What need would there be of smugglers when merchants paid mere frosch for the privilege of doing business here?” He began pacing. “And, before they closed themselves off, did you not once call these yasoi friends and neighbours? He scowled. "Before you, too, closed yourselves off?" He was doing his best to maintain an even tone, to defeat their emotional and backward arguments with reason, but their sheer…pigheadedness was beginning to get to him.

Manfred was not wrong. His reasoning was rational and grounded. And yet he was met with pushback. A lot of it. Most came from indignant villagers that couldn’t accept being told off by an outsider youth, one dressed so proper and smoking a pipe right before them. They had been living through hard times and this pampered kid was telling them they were fools for surviving the way they had to for fifty years? The uproar was overwhelming, counterarguments drowned into a sea of emotional outbursts. It wasn’t just Manfred that was antagonised but the villagers bickered among themselves too.

“Enough!” the priest’s voice boomed with the help of the gift, and the crowd ceased their yapping to pay mind to their leader figure, “We’ve enough burdens without imposing more onto our fellow men and women. These young envoys have come to help, and help they did.” he took a deep breath as his hand descended onto his aching leg. Moments like these were when it flared the most, that and when it rained. “They have our thanks. And when their near-finished mission is over, we will find our peace again.” the people were clearly not entirely pacified by these brief reassurances, and none of them were going to extend the same thank you, but whatever drove them to incessantly voice their frustrations had been quelled, if only slightly. The priest turned his attention to Manfred, “We are to understand that the final loose ends have been found and a plan is in motion, yes?” he asked with a faint smile forming under his thick moustache, “If anything, you have the Church’s support.”

Manfred had tried, but these people were obstinate, and they were hiding something: something that had nearly killed Dory and possibly himself. And what had they received for it but hostility, and since the very start, as well? It was a wall of lies, in truth, and the priest was in on it only, he was far better at placating than the townsfolk were. Ungrateful Schweinhunde he thought to himself, not quite succeeding in suppressing a scowl. He nodded, taking a moment to light his pipe again with some quick arcane magic. He took a gentle pull - people who did not know how to smoke often pulled hard and broke out in fits of coughing - and savoured the rich aromas and flavours of the imported tobacco. "That is comforting to hear, Father." He addressed the others with a pressed-lip smile. Fuck you. Fuck you all. I’ll save you from yourselves. “I cannot speak for my homeland in Meckelin-Thadau, but I know that the academy, as well, offers its assistance. It is clear that many here cannot bring themselves to trust the word of mere biros such as ourselves, so I promise that you shall have more.”

More? That single word resonated through the old trade guild. What was once a room full of fiery emotions was now growing agitated by the implication they quickly caught onto. The school already knew of this place, that much was for certain, but special interest that warranted more than biros? Many looked to Dubosque for reassurance, and all he could provide was a question, “Herr Hohenfelter,” he began, eyebrows furrowed and voice rasped from the previous strain he put into it in his previous words, “what are you saying?” he wasn’t the only one showing growing concern, Baudile was as well from way back.

Sister Laska’s eyes shot Manfred’s way too. "Merely that help is on his way," he concluded. It was not so very long a distance for her eyes to travel to Fr. Dubosque’s. They met.



Jacques Dubosque’s early walks were part of the town morning ritual, and a reassuring sight for the townsfolk. If the good father made his rounds, it meant things were going to go as usual. Only the worst of the Mandelein storms could keep the ageing chief in his abode, and even then he made it a point to visit his people.

“I prayed at every opportunity yesterday,” he confessed as he continued his walk with the aid of his hazel cane, “as my thoughts were with your friends, and you as well. It pleases me greatly to see both Oraff and Eshiran answer and bring both you and that young woman safely back among us.” he waved at the botanist who had been opening up her humble shop. In fact, he saluted every single villager that shot him a glance, “You have my thanks, sincerely. They are grateful too, in truth,” he said as they passed by more villagers that eyed the two, some more jovial than others, but few held a smile when they peered at the priest’s one up, “even if they wouldn’t ever say it. I’m sure, as a Rezaindian, thankless jobs aren’t foreign to you, Sister Laska.”

“Not at all, ksiądz.” Edyta Laska shook her head and managed a rueful smile, “But few so thankless as this,” she admitted. Her hands were knit before her as she walked. She pursed her lips as if something were bothering her. Then: “Tell me, father, with Dami’s candor, is it truly at an end? For I do not feel that it is.”

The good father didn’t answer right away, as they passed by a couple of masons eager to shake the priest’s hand. Pleasantries were shared, and Laska’s question was left to linger. Eventually, they were back on pace. “If it were just that one beast, sister, we would have long since recovered.” His attention was always at whatever was forward, with only a passing glance to his walking partner when she spoke. “There is an outside menace, as you’ve probably discovered, that has recently returned after decades. They made good work of profiting off our isolation and predicament.” a sonic bubble formed around them before he continued, “And they’ve made sure to keep us trapped in this isolation, knowing how vulnerable Mandelein had become since the fall of our Yasoi neighbours.”

The rezaindian was straight to the point.“These vile creatures are their doing, then?” Her fingers came apart and her fists clenched and unclenched a handful of times. “Tell me where they are and how many, and I shall once again employ my talents in the name of Eshiran.” Her eyes burned with righteous fire. “I swear it.”

“I cannot tell you the exact location. Their operation thrives on mobility.” he said plainly, “But I’m aware that my brother has spoken to one of yours. He has been seeking them out too.” They were approaching one of the exits of town, and so they continued through the outskirts as small droplets befell the two, “An astute investigator such as yourself would have seen the castle by now, and what its bowels may be hiding. The beasts are the fruit of an outsider, but not these ones.” He clenched his jaw; something hot was bubbling inside the older man, “They merely took advantage, and turned a tale of protection and community into a scourge. I will pray for you as you deliver Eshiran’s will onto these foul renegades.”

“But not these ones?” the nun prodded.

“Indeed.” he looked over at Laska and gave her a curt nod, “The story of the beast of Mandelein began many centuries ago, a time not too distant from the great heathen war. A lot of it has been, how would you say …” he gestured circles with his hands as he mused, “lost to time, I suppose? The story has been thinned down to be enjoyed by children before bed. Many elders don’t remember it either.” He liked to talk and, in truth, it was enjoyable for the man to have a fresh mind to exchange with, and so he made it last. “The first beast of Mandelein, and the first known Graf of the region, are one and the same. Cursed by an outsider wielding unspeakable power. However, rather than indulge in one’s impulses as would a beast, the Graf’s love for his land and people took precedence. And so began the story of the Beast of Mandelein. And a culture of fear of the outside … Until trade and profit superseded irrational fear, anyway.” he chuckled.

One could tell, simply by looking at her, that the wheels of Sister Laska’s mind were racing. “I…see,” she replied, after an extended pause. “I thank you for your candor.” Her brow was furrowed, face pensive. “It would seem that the Graf was… a man who held Ipté close in his heart. There are no others I have seen who can forestall the beast.” She glanced about her surroundings uneasily. “So then, do I have your word that there is nothing that remains of this vile affliction among the townspeople?”

“If I were to say no, Soeur, would you kill them right here, on the spot?” he kept on walking, his voice unperturbed just like his imperfect gait.

“I am an instrument of Eshiran’s will, and that of the most blessed Optimates.” If there was any uncertainty in her voice, she did well to hide it. “I would do my duty, ksiądz,” she replied immediately, “regardless of my personal feelings.”



“What help, Hohenfelter?” Dubosque raised his voice, demanding an answer.

Manfred’s eyes narrowed and there was something almost… smug about him. "Aaah, there we are, your true colours," he remarked. "No more false smiles and dodged queries, and insincere placating words. How wonderful they look on you. Of course…" he pulled out his pocketwatch and twirled it between his fingers. "A bit of truth would look even better."

Dubosque was singleminded, however: more agitated than they had ever witnessed him. “What. Help.” he grated, all-but glaring at Manfred.

"The help that I have deemed you need," the Graf answered. "Since people are dying under your watch, but it is a ‘help’ very much more than capable of erasing this little problem of yours." He narrowed his eyes and flipped the watch open, glancing down at it. "Of course, this doesn’t have to be unpleasant," he continued, snapping the cover shut. All at once, then, he rose. "All that you need to do is to stop protecting criminals” he roared, ”And start telling the Gods-damned truth!!" He stopped, let out a breath, and straightened his collar, smiling with only his lips. "You have… five minutes."

Dubosque was pale, something about this sinister ultimatum had scared him more than the disappearance of Stigenroth or the arrival of outsiders. It wasn’t the look on Manfred’s satisfied face that got to him, but visible panic growing among his flock. Then the first insults came out, and before long, constables had to keep a few overeager men from trying to smack the grin off of the Hohenfelter’s face. Again, the priest shot a look at Laska, the one he believed to have at least had an understanding with. He felt betrayed. She shook her head tightly, expression, helpless, and glanced at Manfred with something less than anger but more than annoyance.

“Your words evoke help, but your voice and body say threats!” a loud, feminine voice from outside the crowded building challenged Manfred directly and did a good job in catching the attention of the mob. It was Laura, mostly recovered, although she still used a pair of crutches. “Why would we trust you? You come here, we have MORE problems! You come here, my BEST FRIEND gets attacked!” her blue eyes glared right into Manfred’s. She was no longer the little victim from before, or the subtle little watcher in the barracks. “What best way to solve a problem than to create one first? Hmmm? Very strange that they can kill the beast in a day. What is this new HELP, Graf Hohenfelter?” that title, it startled more than a few, but it kept them quiet too as they watched Manfred expectantly, Dubosque included.

If Manfred was cowed, he did an admirable job of repressing the outward signs. "I hear accusations," he replied, "when I asked for truths." He was sweeping the room with his senses, actively searching for threats. "The truth as I see it is that there is more than one beast, a fact which nobody volunteered." He ticked it off on his fingers. "There is no Graf here, which also was not shared." Finger two. "You hire brigands to waylay travelers en route here and complain that the town is dying!" Finger three. "Your livestock was disappearing before we arrived, despite whatever lies you’ll tell to the contrary and, what’s more: my associates have witnessed those killing them come from -"

A woman was there in the room. She had not been there a second earlier. She was small and young and pretty, with long blonde hair. She sat in a wheelchair, hands folded upon her lap, and her arrival cut Manfred’s rant off where it stood. She glanced around the room, immediately trying to take the temperature of it.

Everything was silent, all eyes on the newcomer who had formed out of nothing. None of the villagers had ever seen such magic before. It was a terrifying sight, even to Laura. Dubosque wasn’t intimidated, but he understood the implication of bringing temporal magic onto the table. For now, he could only watch and listen with little done to appease the fear in his people’s hearts.

She looked about uneasily. “I’ll confess to having no idea of what I’ve just walked into, but I see plenty of worried faces.” She offered an uncertain smile. “I’m here because Manfred called for me, though, because he is certain that there is a danger this town beyond what he - or you - can handle. ” She had already begun sweeping the town and its nearby environs for signs of danger. “I’m tethered, as you may have guessed - a Zeno of the academy. I’m looking for dangers in the town now. If you know anything, that might make things a lot easier.”

As expected, nobody in the crowd spoke up but the attitude had also been culled. That wasn’t to say they were content. No, quite a few, mostly those outside that had been listening, were gone. “We appreciate the help Zeno-” it didn’t feel right, she was far too young to be a Zeno, and yet how else could she display such power? Jocasta could feel it without even using an ounce of the gift: They were afraid of her, including the priest that awkwardly awaited a brief introduction out of politeness. What were once howls from the masses were now venomous whispers and secretive glares shot at the students, but with a particular focus on Manfred and the blonde arrival. That was until … “A Zeno? At that age? This a ploy, I tell ya’. A ploy.” a not-so-discreet handyman ‘whispered’ to his associates in Kerreman, but anybody with experience in Kinetic magic could eavesdrop. “I agree with Laura, there’s no way some dumb blonde kid with a little magic is from the School. It’s one of those Tethered mercs.” more and more people were evoking this conspiratorial narrative, and in turn conspired while some others began to overreact and unleash their fears and frustrations on loved ones. Jocasta could feel it all - the agitation her presence had brought and the potential unrest that was to come.

In truth, Jocasta knew a little bit of Kerreman - though it was only a little bit. It appeared to be enough to piece together the hostility that was clearly being directed her way, however. She shot Manfred a look, for just a flicker of time. Then, keeping up an increasingly strained smile for the people of the town, she conducted another sweep. More than one demanded her name as proof that she was truly a Zeno of Ersand’Enise, and that was the final straw. “Ich gebe meinen Namen nicht an Leute weiter, die mich beleidigen.” (I do not give my name to people who insult me.) she replied in awkward and heavily-accented but correct Kerreman. She cast out her senses once again.

The masses had mostly dispersed. Jocasta wouldn’t be in need of any long range sweep to detect the first inkling of a threat. Sudden, large energy signatures with much higher heat levels than normal humans suddenly appeared in town, and briefly following their emergence came screams. They came from the Western farms.

Then the barracks.

And again in the cluster of homes Northeast of the guild.

In just a matter of seconds, there were calls for help in almost every direction and the sound of homes being destroyed reverberating through town.

She acted almost immediately. She seized one of the beasts by the mind and those closest to it would see it collapse before their very eyes, enough tranquilizing agent in its bloodstream to knock out a skuggvar. Then, a second.

Realistically, Jocasta would have been about to continue in this vein indefinitely, dealing with every crisis at a speed that no mage could match. But then came the disturbance: one a couple of kilometres out of town, taunting anything that could smell the temporal stench it was leaving behind. Like it knew it would be found, and banked on it. By the amount of energy it had produced, it could not be ignored.

“What the hell have you idiots gotten into!?” the tethered muttered beneath her breath. Then, louder: “There is something upriver. Something… monstrous.” She shook her head and glanced between Manfred and the rezaindian whose name she could not quite recall. “I… if I don’t go deal with it, this town…” She trailed off, already gathering energy. “What in the five hells!?” she cursed. “Fight them!” she ordered in frustration. Then, Jocasta was gone.

Jacques Dubosque wasted no time. When the screams begged for help, he seized his cane and “dashed” out with the help of the gift, shoving anyone in his way. “If you wish to help, now is the time!” he shouted in Avincian before heading to the Barracks, where he sensed a large concentration of these overheating entities.

All hands on deck! Arm yourselves! Ring the church bells! The enemy is in your homes! We are under attack!

♫



In The Hourglass Order → 2 yrs ago Forum: Casual Roleplay





Assani 15th

Location: The Desert, Somewhere
Day of the week: Victendes
Time: Unknown
Present: Zarina, Ayla @Ti, Jocasta @Force and Fury, Yalen @Pantothenic,
Benedetto, Desmond, Tku, Evander, Fiske, Silent Ranger, Riesco, Nibbler, Classa, Sand Bat.



Don’t go.

Zarina internally begged for Jocasta and Yalen to stay among them as she was being healed. Arms crossed, posture too cool for school and her expression hardened, one would never know what she was truly thinking.

We need you.

She looked at both of them, first to Jocasta, the almighty being she had grown so close to. And then to Yalen, the moral compass and ray of light of the group. Both of them were so integral to the first group she was in, and now they were leaving.

I can’t keep them alive all alone.

Zarina clenched her armoured bicep and nearly gritted her teeth. But just as she was about to say something, the pair was just about to leave. All she could muster up was a wave and a look that very briefly communicated the distress she tried hard to keep bottled up.

The Virangish sighed as the Silent Ranger spoke once more, announcing the departure of the group to lands yet unknown. Zarina took this time to look at her group. None, other than the brutish Benedetto, could use temporal magic that she knew of. The weight of responsibility, true responsibility, had never been more overwhelming as it was now. This wasn’t just financial decisions and risky expansion efforts, people she cared about now had their lives depend on her. She knew it would, at some point, come down to such magics for survival, as it had been against the Sand Wyrm. The helm was put back on - a means to feel safe and hidden amidst the agoraphobia she was starting to feel - and she readied herself for what was to come.






In The Hourglass Order → 2 yrs ago Forum: Casual Roleplay




Assani 16th

Location: Wánggǎng, ReTan
Day of the week: Late Taldes
Time: Night
Characters: Abdel, Maura @Ti, Ingrid @dragonpiece, Niallus @McKennaJ71,
Yalen @Pantothenic, Trypano @A Lowly Wretch, Reekar @Force and Fury,
Kaureerah, Xiulan, Peng, Ming, Zihan

♫


It was Abdel’s turn to be questioned. He felt his stomach sink when he realized the possibilities ahead if he or his Skuggvars were deemed a threat. His nervousness was palpable and his body language said it all. Ming had likely expected as much given the boy’s age and the intelligence he had on hand regarding Varga’s case. The interrogator gestured for the Virangish teen to sit, “Do not be worried, Abdel Varga.” he began, “No charges are being held against you. Our current testimonies clearly show an attempt to help diffuse the situation.” Ming looked Abdel right at the eyes, “The building was not secured, correct?”

Abdel swallowed and nodded, “Yes, there were peo- hostels that I could not sense initially.” he explained, and then quickly added another remark, “They did not hide all traces. My beasts found them.”

Ming took note of the details, especially regarding the beasts, before nodding, “I’ve been told you’re a -” he peered at the little bit of notes he had on Abdel, even if Ming fully knew it all already, he tried not make Abdel feel like he had been a thoroughly scrutinized special case, “Bounty hunter? Investigator?” to which Abdel nodded, “I see, and they caught you off-guard.” he concluded without a tone that could give away his true thoughts on the matter, much to Abdel’s anxiety.

“And your beasts - Skuggvars? - What use are they to you?” Abdel gulped and scratched his cheek at the question, feeling as though he and his girls’ fate could be hanging on this answer, “U-uhm. They’re excellent trackers. Especially if they taste the blood their prey.” Ming furrowed his eyebrows at that detail, nonverbally demanding an elaboration, “Anywhere. They can track someone almost anywhere with a few drops of blood. They, uh,” he knitted his hands together over his thighs, “used to hunt Skuggvars if someone got injured by them, because they’d always be found.”

Ming nodded, “Do you believe yourself capable of using these animals to find those responsible for this evening’s events?” Abdel nodded too with increased enthusiasm, “Yes! I’ve already given one of them a sample. Unless they’ve left the continent, there’s no running from the Skuggs.”

Ming smiled, “Good.”






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