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Alias Dot
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You see, unbeknownst to the people of Kenabres deep in the abyss a plan to crush Queen Galfrey's crusade has been set in motion.
Yet no sign of the coming danger can be found in Kenabres today. For today is the Festival of Armasse: a day to
-pick squires,
-ordain new priests,
-drink lotsa ale, and
-joust eachother off horses,
And in the plaza of the Cathedral of St. Clydwell, parents donate 5cp to buy their children "dragon rides" upon the great Silver Dragon Terendelev, who rolls on his back and laughs as the kiddies tickle 'neath his magical scales. An execution is about to take place on the steps of the cathedral which puts everyone is in a good mood. What a day!
Speaking of jousting people off horses, there is one entrant who is having none of that horse crap! His smelly self and his smelly camel (who is exhibiting an uncanny intelligence) are busy giving as good as they take, sometimes better! For Bruno, the festival wholly comprises two areas, the tournament yards and the tavern. Or taverns. Honestly, it's ask starting to blurr together.
How exactly he found himself in the courtyard of the cathedral by a fruit stand... Oh, ya, they were going to execute a cat and he wanted to see how many lives they had to go through before it stayed down. He chuckles to himself. He was betting five.
I doubt if I will see mom and dad here, I can catch up with them when I get home, now lets see if we can find any pompous crusaders who have more money than wisdom Iradyiel wanders carefully through the crowd, spotting marks as he moves around, finally setting on the first lesson he is going to teach. The young nobleman was wearing shiny banded mail, talking loudly, one follower in cheaper chainmail carrying his helmet, another carrying his shield. Iradyiel begins to follow the young nobleman watching him flip his long golden locks back with one hand as the other hand rests on his bastard sword, much larger than he would be able to use. His friends following him around, laughing at everything goldilocks says, as he points at different people in the crowd. Iradyiel slips his dagger out of the pocket of his bandolier he weaves through the sycophants, lightly bumping into the pretender in the banded mail, slitting his purse, removing the coins therein. Iradyiel appearing quite embarrassed "Pardon me m'lord, my humble apologies" as he quickly palms the few coins, smiling he walks away from the group of young pretenders. wondering how long it would take the young nobleman to notice.
Stopping and standing at random intervals a traveler aloof from the jubilations of the others in the square slowly made her way to the center. All these happy people, celebrating, laughing, and carousing without a care world. All while the demons were breathing down their necks just outside the city gates, and not even outside for some.
It annoyed her.
Moving about there was no energy or regalness to her movements or appareance. Silver hair once cropped pixie length short had been let to grow wild and long, only slightly hiding the dark circles around her eyes. Her sackcloth clothes and canvas cloak she draped around herself was in tatters and she even foregone footwear, some cloth wrapped around her feet was the only thing that offered them respite from the cobblestone path of the market.
The mottled and pitted dark grey greatsword strapped to her cloak, while shabby like the rest of her, was probably the only thing of value upon her person, especially up here in the Worldound.
Whenever she stopped and gazed about she clutched her hand to her chest, something to her chest. "... home." she says to no one in particular finally.
Wearing only a loin cloth for modesty, Shear was shackled. The cathedral didn't have a dungeon, but if it did, he was in it. It was a side room that was never used for anything. You could call him lucky that they didn't kill him on sight but they needed a symbol to execute to rally their peoples. He weakly struggled his chains, as he pondered his end. He was taken from his home and his family, almost died battling the demons, was turned into one only to be executed in front of children. Their laughter he heard outside, it made him miss his sister. Nazz was close to his age so he looked to her for support and friendship. But now she would never even recognize him. The claws, the fiendish hide, the fur. He wished that the demons could have just killed him and then he wouldn't have to suffer.
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Iradyiel:
Goldilocks doesn't notice you cut loose his pretty butterfly embroidered purple purse. Here now, vagabond, leave off! You'll soil my linen shirt. He flips back his hair and continues on.
Darya strides through the main thorougfare in a rather good mood. After all, it was the Festival of Armasse, her favorite holiday. All around, the festivities gave momentary respite from the grim reality of life at the Worldwound.
In her well kept armor, and with her massive hand and a half sword strapped to her back, the stunning redhead cuts a rather striking profile, her fiery mane living up to her nickname, her body language that of one accustomed to a wary existence, a tigress caught in a moment of lounging.
The jousting was entertaining enough, but today was a day to celebrate survival, drink with old friends, and generally pretend that everyone around her weren't part of the thin line between the world most people knew and complete and utter chaos.
As Iradyiel tucks the gold coins in his bandolier hmmm, butterfly purse, wonder if he was a follower of Desna, well if he is he knows she is the goddess of liberation, and I have liberated his purse, so praise her name. No need to get caught with it, or this ugly orange fingernail polish, how gouache. He walks away through the crowd and finding a trash receptacle he drops the purse and polish into it. Headed toward the Cathedral of St. Clydwell he slows a distance away, Clydwell was a great hero, recovered the Demonscope, and all. Wonder what he would think about them killing people on a porch with his name on it. Iradyiel continues a little closer. What would they do to me if they caught me thieving? Display me out in front of everyone? Course they wouldn't kill me the first time, just cut off one of my hands and brand me. Yeah, that's real civilized. Crooks in ever merchant shop and every temple charging outlandish prices for things of no value, commerce they call it, it's just another name for stealing. Iradyeil eases closer wanting to see the criminal they caught for the execution. So am I going to recognize this guy? Must not be a demon or they would have killed it outright, must me some criminal from a civil matter. So what did this poor bastard do to be put down?
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Suddenly a bright light shines from the west, as if the sun were rising from the wrong direction. Terendelev's shadow falls huge and distorted across the cathedral's facade. A moment later, the sound of a thunderous explosion rips through the air and earth, along with a violent tremor.
The armed crusaders in the plaza begin to rush west toward the disaster. Terendelev looks at you all.
Here, he says, Take the children. Trouble has come and i must fly...
Turning to the West, horror fills Darya's eyes as she tries to process the utter absence of the city's greatest defense. The demons had brought the war to Kenebres.
Drawing the sword from her back the Paladin nods in response, looking around at the others in the area, a sigh of something akin to relief when she catches sight of Bruno. At least she was guaranteed there was one other capable of handling themselves when it all went to $#!+.
Bruno catches Darya's eye at about the same time. He smiles as if to say, "Round 2, FIGHT!" He then mounts up and snatches his lance from it's place. With a mighty roar he defies the mushroom cloud to the west as Esmeralda trots over to cover the children's retreat.
Shear struggles against his chains as he is left stranded. "Anyone wanna let me out? Or at least get me some food before the world ends?"
The atmospheric force and violence bringing her out of her reverie Nazz' hand languidly move to draw her sword before she herself has taken full stock of the situation.
Watching the others, crusaders charging, peasants fleeing, Terendelev soaring and issuing commands to a few others, a tiger thing chained at the center of the square and talking. A demon? No, probably a tiefling. Poor bastard.
Leaving behind her aloof wandering for a moment the former crusader calmly strolls over to the current crusader, a camel crusader, and the children. "Do you know why the one up there is chained?" she asks, weighing what help an imprisoned Tiefling might be able to offer against any casualties it might add to.
Bruno smiles at the girl asking questions, then at the cat-person. Nope, but it's your lucky day, criminal! You get to die with dignity!
He trots over and threads his lance through the center ring of the chains. With a bit of force from Esmeralda and the leverage of the lance, the chains easily snap.
shocked by the explosion, Seamus stands an watches the plume of smoke and fire hearing the great dragons voice ring out, Seamus begins to come out of the shock the children we need to help the children turning to do as the dragon requested Seamus sees a mighty dwarven rider on a camel, and others heading their way. it seems the children have a protector or two. then hearing a voice behind him. turning Seamus realizes that the prisoner, in all the chaos seems to be left unattended. Seamus approaches the feline and asks, "that might be possible, not the food part, the unchain part, what did they catch you doing, and don't tell be your innocent, none of us are, you know." seeing the dwarf ride his camel over to the prisoner and shatter the felines chains with his lance adds "well that's one way to do it"
Siff Doren re-entered her home, in a cloud of dust raised by the crowd of people streaming into the town.
Maneuvering through the crowded streets, Siff dodged jugglers and hawkers alike as she made her way towards the plaza of St. Clydwell. She could hear the excited shrieks of the children beside "Terendelev's here! Terendelev's here!"
Smiling despite herself, Siff found herself lost in their thoughtless joy, until she caught one of the mother's sneaking a suspicious glance at her, at her hair, at her tatoos, though not the Spiral on her neck, that was hidden , for the moment ,by her cloak.
Fighting down the momentary alarm that rose in her heart, Siff bulled her way forward through the press of bodies unti she came to the plaza proper.
Pressed forward by a gaggle of children rushing towards Terendelev, Siff approaches the dragon...she could see the other attraction...an execution.
Walking towards the unfortunate in chains, she's brought up short by the destruction of the fortress! Crouching in alarm, she straightens to watch the bright smoke and unnatural flame shoot up into the sky.
Fists clenched, she turns at Terendelev' plea, strands of her blue hair turning a dark purple edged with red. "Aye, I'll help." she says throught clenched teeth.
With a glance to the tigrish prisoner, she runs over to the children that had been playing with Terendelev, lifting them one by one off of her back and arms.
"Uh thanks." Khan replies as he is abruptly unchained by the dwarf. "Well at least I won't die chained up. Now what? Can I go?"
Iradyiel, looks on a little shocked my parents would never free a captured criminal, I must get to know this dwarf, find out why he is different As the cat-person address the dwarf, Iradyiel points to the explosion and says, "Unless your friends with whoever would do that, it looks like your in the same pickle as those of us who live here, It's not a question of if you can go, it's where to go and survive. It looks like it's fight or die time, or will be soon enough" looking back to the west and the ominous cloud and knowing what the wardstone prevented, Iradyiel adds "looks like hell is breaking loose and headed this way."
And bring it on! I've been through worse than the end of the world and survived!
He re-mounts and his smelly beat bellows.
Time to see what the Afterlife is like!
"I don't have friends so that's not likely. Living is overrated I guess."
"... pretty much." Nazz answered back to the cat creature.
living is over rated.. pretty much...time to see what the after life is like? you have got to be kidding me Iradyiel looks at the camel ridding dwarf and says, "seeing we aren't mounted as your good self sir, it will be harder to charge into the fray for us." turning to those nearby he says "May I recommend a defensive position," then pointing back behind "If not for us then for the children." seeing the chains still attached to the feline he approaches the creature hands in the air "what ever your going to do, it will be easier without those on your wrists, do you want me to take them off for you?"
Shooing the children towards their screaming patents, Different manages to clear the dragon of its infantile burden.
Turning , she sees a group freeing the tiger- man. Walking over she overhears the last of their conversation.
Standing next to the half elf, looking up at the soaring cloud, she says "Just in case you didn't know, Hell probably had nothing to do with that..."
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is it the abyss, I always get those places I never plan to visit mixed up, at least she's not talking about dying Iradyiel smiles at the newcomer shrugging his shoulders, and says "I never paid much attention in class, especially the religious ones." turning back to the feline he reaches into his bandolier and retrieving a couple of lock picks he asks "May I"
"Yea. Go ahead."
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Thank you says Terendelev as Siff takes the children. Then the ancient Silver Dragon roars and rises up into the air. Above, another form appears, as nighmarish as the dragon is breathtaking: a humanoid shape three times the size of any man, with skin coated in fire and lightening, gripping a flaming sword and whip. The creatures identity is immediately obvious: Khorramzadeh, the Storm King of the Worldwound, has come to Kenabres!
High overhead Terendelev and Khorramzedeh clash above...
Iradyiel takes the manacles off of the creature, as he works he says, "My names Iradyiel, my parents are crusaders, lived here my whole life, there that should do it." turning to the small group of people he asks "where should we take the children?"
Looking up towards the nightmare in the sky Nazz' eyes widen. Staring lifeless up above she eventually lowers her head back to the others. "... she's beat him once, she'll do it again." she says with resolve in her blank voice.
"You can call me Khan."
as Iaradyiel walks toward the children, he waives the lock picks before he puts them away and asks "So what did you do to get locked up Khan? Just a occupational interest if you get my meaning"
As Bruno watches the battle above he experiences the closest thing to a religious awakening he ever has. It was stunning, inspiring! Nevermind the outcome. It was all about the dance. It had always been about the dance! Life. Death. What did they matter when by living and dying Beings could bring such terrible majesty into being!
"Other than the occasional stealing of some livestock for food, nothing. They captured me because of what I am."
Feeling her blood sing at the proximity of the Demon Prince, Siff tears her eyes away from the aerial battle down to the children clustered around her.
"Come children, lets get you to safety." she says, leading them towards the south and the street away from the stage and battle above.
because of what you are, so its come to that Iradyiel looks shocked, so surprised that he momentarily forget the battle raging overhead. "What you are serious? How can they punish someone for something they had nothing to do with? Where is the justice in that?" realizing the questions were rhetorical, Iradyiel smile and says "Bet you were wondering the same thing when they were chasing you, huh." pointing to the blue-haired lady, Iradyiel continues "Lets help her gather the children, they need to be someplace safe. When were done I'll help you get out of town. I may know a guy." As he begins moving toward the children and waives Khan on to help him.
Seeing the conversations start to splinter into their own groups Nazz starts to help the others shoo out the children to safety.
"Yea, sure." Khan follows the inquisitive half elf.
noticing on the other side of the pavilion there was another woman helping shoo the children to safety, dressed in sackcloth clothes and canvas cloak her Silver hair wild and long, Iradyiel nods to her as they start to bring the children into a group, well she's not here to show off her wealth or status, wonder what her story in, whatever it is that's a huge sword. As they were getting the children closer Iradyiel calls out. pointing, "Take them that direction, it should be the safest." smiling, trying to add a little humor to the levity he adds "Its like herding cats, isn't it." realizing what he said he looks over his shoulder and says, "No offence, Khan"
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Another terrible tremor hits...and the ground spits open - fissures yawning down into the burning depths of the abyss! The plaza fills with smoke. Commoners scream and fall into the pits. Then there is a quiet moment as you all catch your footing.
That's when the children scream. Climbing up out of the pit is smallish monster. This creature's bloated frame shudders with each heaving step, yet despite its shape, the thing moves with surprising quickness - right toward the children!!!