Dot
Dotting too...
Bragh!
Dots everywhere!!
Arnasse has sprung and the town is in am uproar of festivities. It seems like the whole town ignore all their problems about the crusade as they watch competitions and mock duels.
You see everyone flutter to Clydwell plaza near the cathedrals facade staring as a man in shiny resplendent armor slowly makes his way to the stage.
I've come up from Nerosyan to visit friends and to renew my vows at the temple of Sarenrae. It is near the midday, I have completed my morning prayers, and cannot complete the final rituals until sundown. With the throngs of people out and about to celebrate the holy day, I am looking to see if anyone needs the services of a healer, as my deity would want.
Kjellberg was still getting used to Kenabres. Overrun with refuges, constantly being forced to undergo continual invasive tests to prove their humanity (for which Kjellberg had her role to play) – she made her home with many of the crusaders who make camp outside the walls to the north of
the city.
Although not raised in Kenabres, she was aware that the city has always been preparing for war and the threat of attack. One that nobody is entirely sure what form it will take or for what reason it will come.
At least the week-long festival known as Armasse was a welcome diversion for most of the inhabitants.
For Kjellberg she enjoyed watching the faithful of Iomedae, training commoners in combat, ordaining apprentice clergy and picking squires for knights. She listened to their stories of military history. For most, the religious significance had waned since Aroden's death – and now the majority saw it as an opportunity for wild partying – something Kjellberg avoided.
’But then,’ she mused as she watched a particularly enthusiastic and colourful joust, ’At least it puts smiles on the faces of those that are usually either worried, scared or both.’
Clydwell Plaza was usually a dour place but today it was alive with positive energy – and Kjellberg couldn’t deny it gave people hope – and that was never a bad thing. So she daydreamed of silver butterflies, flapping gently in the summer sun, over a field of crimson poppies, just as a man in armour that gleamed in the sun begun to make his way to the stage. Butterfly wings gave way to paldrons as she focused on the man. Surely he was about to make a speech? Her attention was caught.
Being the only lizard within several visible miles of the town, Gnawl had relegated himself to the rooftops during the festivities, staring down on the partying below. Festivals were beyond him: his life had always been in service of either his tribe, or mighty Apsu. He should be either training or working on something, and frivolous behavior like this seemed... bizarre. But perhaps, when you dominate the world and have considerably longer lifespans, such behavior can be afforded.
However, his fringes perked up at the sight of a gleaming man taking the stage of the plaza. His eyes squinted; much as he would like a closer look, he knew simply dropping in, and armed to the fangs, no less, would scare the residents. It didn't help that the reflected light kept getting in his eyes...
Bathed and dressed in his new uniform, Raziel exits the temple of Sarenrae and squints into the bright sun. How you shine today my goddess. Please teach me to love the light as you do and quickly, lest my eyes burn away in the bright of day.
The young tiefling carries a Minkaian sword at his belt (and a few other implements less obviously), and stands proud in the white, gold, and red of the Goddess of Redemption. The white of his tunic is especially contrasted by his red skin.
Raziel follows his feet to Clydwell Plaza, not wanting to miss the festivities.
Eladhir stepped through the city, pulling the cart carrying his things. This was the city that would change his life, had already changed his life. Home to the crusades. But there would be more time to reflect on life-altering -ness later. He hurried towards the plaza where all the commotion seemed to be.
As I wind my way through the streets towards the plaza, I am looking and seeing the joy that this holy festival is bringing to people, given how close to the front lines the city is towards the Worldwound. It brings a joy to me that is nothing like the joy of battle, of crushing the enemy under the might of my spells and Sarenrae's scimitar.
Gnawl continues to hide high above on the rooftops, trying his best not to be seen.
Gnawl gets a good look at the crowd below, noticing a few of those devoted to the temple in their finest dress. Not bad... could use some more scales, a claw or two here and there. Not bad though--
Gnawl ducks a little lower on the rooftops. Stone the crows! He was pretty sure that blonde woman might have seen him. Better to stick lower for now...
Walking down the avenue towards you, you see a woman, slightly taller than the norm, wearing a red and gold jilbab, with a small symbol of Sarenrae pinned to the forefront of her hood. She has dark blonde hair, and piercing grey eyes. She seems to have a glow about her; it could be from the bright sun or it could be something else, it's hard to tell. You can tell that she is following her benedictions for the day, as she appears to be looking for strangers, or at least one that might be sick or injured.
Turning in your direction, she notices you and the cut of your clothing. With a smile on her face that seems to fill the whole head, she walks towards you and says "May the dawn bring new light to you, fellow dawn warrior." She seems not afraid of your demeanor, or your apparent heritage.
Raziel inclines his head. "And may your hearth burn bright through the darkness."
"Are you here in official capacity for the festival?"
"Only official in that I am here to reconsecrate my vows to the Goddess. And to visit a few friends that have come off the line. What about you?"
"I hope to recieve a benediction and be sent into the armies fighting th demons."
"I should wish to be so lucky. I was released from the priesthood about 6 months ago to work on the line, but they took one look at me, realized that I am in fact a healer, and stuck me in an aid station." I look wistfully at the platform, as I see several people in shining armor start to walk up the stairs. I turn to fully look at the tiefling and say, "Listen to me, prattling on like some newfoundling, can't wait to take on the world. If the Goddess wanted me to be on the battlefield, then she'll simply put me there." The smile returns to my face as I read the tiefling's facial expression.
"It seems to me, a healer's place in in the thick with those who will need the most attention. Wouldn't you agree?"
I cock my head to the side and look at you in an appraising manner. 'I wonder if this man can read my thoughts?' "I would agree, but my superiors, at least for the nonce, do not. Who knows how the winds might blow our fates around, however. I may yet serve with you in battle at some point."
Eli (for his aunt had decided to call him that) wanders through the city of Kenabres with wonder. It wasn't like the cities back in Kyonin at all. And he knew that before leaving. He really did, but he hadn't really know what to expect. It was fascinating. And as he quickly turns his head from one display to another, his new hat he had bought while in a port falls off his head.
"Drat! Must remember to get a strap sewn onto that hat."
As he bends over to pick it up, a passerby kicks it and sends it rolling a few feet away. In the bustle, this continues happening until Eli (not looking of course) bumps head first into the legs of a man and a woman talking.
"Ack! I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to do that, I was only trying to get my..." he says as he puts on the hat he is finally manage to grab. He stopped his words short as he looked up from his backside and saw who he had bumped into.
They were still standing of course, for Eli had no great strength, but they had staggered back a few steps. One was a woman, tall and beautiful. She looked to be a priest of some sort. Her companion was also...he had red skin. An enemy! Eli grabs for the staff that was laying next to him and thrusts it at the man with all his might! In other words, he pokes him, a couple of times.
"An enemy! You won't get me, demon! Take this!"
He pokes him a couple more times. And seems to be losing energy at it.
Despite her interest in the man in armour, the cry of "Demon" caught her attention.
Her right hand instinctively went to her starknife - and the sight of a tiefling in the crowd raised her pulse a little more. But a quick scan showed he was in holy garb and accompanied by another of his faith, a woman. In fact it was the elf that seemed to be the antagonist.
But then she realised how quickly she had jumped to the wrong conclusion and suspected the elf had done the same.
She flashed a friendly smile to the group, her hand swiftly moving away from her weapon.
'Think I'd better keep an eye out, just in case.' Inquisitor training had taught her to take nothing at face value.
I sense that the elf's 'attack' is more out of ignorance than anything else, at least at this point. I look at the elf and attempt to palm his staff, and say to him, "Stay your hand, elf. This man is of a holy persuasion and means you no harm."
I then look around to see if anyone was startled or affected by this display, almost instinctively.
Gnawl's fringes perk up again as he reaches for his axes, ready to leap down to try and intervene. But as he does, the female intervenes on the tiefling's behalf. Sensing things were calming down, Gnawl returned to his crouch, still watching the elf with cautious eyes. It just confirmed that jumping into the thick of things would only cause panic.
On the other hand, that woman did intervene on the red one's part... she was worth keeping an eye on. If things got bad, she might be the one to fall back to. And he made definite sure to keep an eye on the elf.
It would be a lot easier to explain himself if he understood what these people were saying.
Raziel looks at his chest where the staff had poked him. He opens his mouth to speak, but Nijena beats him to it.
Once she is finished, "Thank you..." He stops short realizing he did not know the woman's name. He smiles sheepishly. "Well, thank you for coming to my defense."
Raziel turns his attention to the elf. "You were right to recognize my blood, sir. I am of demon parentage, but I do not share their cause. In the future, try to assess all of a situation before crying demon." He points to Kjellberg. "Or people like her could kill me before I can protest."
The sun approaches high noon, as the crowd gathered in Clywell Plaza for the opening blessing of Armasse. The crowd hushes, and you see that Lord Hulrun, ruler of Kenabres, has taken the grand stage erected in front of Cathedral of Saint Clydwell. The aged inquisitor clears his throat and begins the opening blessing, ”My fellow citizens of Kenabres, today...”
He gets no further as a bright light bursts in the west, as if the sun were rising from the wrong direction and Hulrun’s shadow is thrown up huge and distorted across the cathedral’s facade. A moment later, the sound of a thunderous explosion rips through the air and the ground trembles violently beneath your feet. The crowd begins to panic and the screams of terrified men, women and children join the cacophony
Turning towards the source of the light, you see that where the fortress known as the Kite—the location of Kenabres’s wardstone—once stood, a brilliant plume of red fire, lightning, and smoke billows into the heavens.
A powerful roar draws your attention back to the cathedral and you are greeted by a welcome sight, Kenabres’s greatest guardian, the ancient silver dragon Terendelev must have been attending the opening ceremony disguised as a human and now stands revealed in all her glory, preparing to launch herself to investigate the disaster. A few beats of her massive wings lifts her into the air, sending those unfortunate few soul who happened to be close by tumbling. She barely begins to clear the rooftops before another form appears, as nightmarish as the dragon was breathtaking. A winged humanoid shape three times the size of any man, with skin coated in fire and lightning, gripping a flaming sword and whip. The creature’s identity is immediately obvious: Khorramzadeh, the Storm King of the Worldwound, has come to Kenabres!
The ground continues to shake and great cracks appear in the streets, disgorging hoards of demons who fall upon the scattering crowd with glee, while above the dragon and the balor lord clash in an awe inspiring display. Unfortunately, the fight is over in a few heartbreaking moments, the balor’s fell blade cuts deep into Terendelev’s body, as it swoops down to strike the dragon. A few more blows, and the titanic duo spirals downward toward the crowd. The sight of the majestic dragon smashing limply into the facade of the Cathedral of St. Clydwell is one you will never forget. At that moment, another titanic demon erupts at the far end of the plaza, reducing several buildings to ruins in its violent birth into this world. The rift created this shoots across the plaza, swallowing all in its path, unfortunately it seems to be heading right for you and it opens beneath your feet, angling away into darkness.
Even as you fall, the dragon notices your plight. Though death is standing over her, she seizes this final chance to save a few more souls that were entrusted to her guardianship. She utters a few arcane words, stretching out a bleeding talon, and you feel her magic take hold of you, slowing your plummet into the darkness as if you were feathers falling into a pit. Yet the fall remains as inexorable, and as you drift downward into the depths, the last thing you see is the Storm King standing before the ancient silver dragon, his sword lashing out and cleaving full through her neck. As you watch her severed head fall, the rift above you slams shut, and the light of the world above is gone.
In the darkness, rubble rains down on you and you hear a few voices cry out, while others grunt in pain and fall ominously silent. After what seems like an eternity, but couldn’t have been more than a few heartbeats, you find yourself back on solid ground once more. There is one more terrible crash from the darkness above and another violent tumble of stones, and then all is silent, save for the coughs and groans of your fellow survivors.
The sudden explosions send Gnawl reeling, falling from his perch on the rooftops and forcing him to make a dangerous landing into the streets below. But the sudden sight of a beauteous silver dragon fills Gnawl with courage and determination. He was not alone here; another champion of Apsu was at hand. Victory was assured!
But as he hurried to the dragon's aid, the sudden gust of flapping wings knocks the little kobold to his tail and back. And then, he felt the ground split beneath him, sending him tumbling below. And then the fall slowed. Looking up at the sight above him, Gnawl watched in horror, eyes wide even as the sun threatened to blind his sensitive sight. That final image of Terendelev's death burned, almost literally, into his eyes.
Back in familiar darkness, Gnawl looked around, eyes quickly readjusting to the pitch black. He could see citizens in pain, other probably dead. Clawed feet touching the ground, he dropped to one knee, uttering a short prayer in his yappy draconic language for the silver dragon. The mutters turned to growls, before standing up and yelling angrily at the ceiling of rock above him. Of course, being he could only speak Draconic, and a yappy version at that, to anyone else, it would probably sound like a monster was in the cave with them.
Snarling and looking around, Gnawl immediately begins to survey his surroundings, hoping to find some way to get back to the the surface and the battle at hand. His vision of the dark returned, this shouldn't be hard for him.
As the attack begins, and confusion reigns over the crowd in the plaza, I will attempt to try and move people away from the fighting, particularly away from the demons pouring into the area, if possible. There are so many people that fill the streets, it seems like a daunting task, at best. Then the streets open up...
I look up in time to see that dragon, lying on its back, the remains of the cathedral under it, with the Storm King himself preparing for the final blow. Suddenly, everything that was moving too fast has now slowed down to a crawl. I see the dragon stretch out its palm, and gesture in some way. I start to fall, but it feels very slowly. I see others around me, some falling much faster than I. My only thought is to try and save them, but I don't know how in these conditions. Then suddenly, the light above me goes out, and even my extraordinary sight does not penetrate the darkness. I soon land on something, I cannot tell what, but it is (hopefully) rocks and rubble from the destruction above.
It takes me a few minutes to fully regain my senses. I try to stand, making sure that nothing is broken. I also try to get my bearings and determine where I am.
I hear someone cry out a curse in Draconic, and I turn in that direction. Despite the circumstances, I remember that most are not gifted in sight as I am, so I risk using a light spell, placing it on the closest thing at hand. I call out:
Gnawl's fringes flicker a bit, twitching in the direction of the other voice. And by the metallic dragons, she spoke his language! Finally, someone he can speak with. Turning to see who it was, his eyes squinted at the light, backing up and into the darker edges of it's glow.
Adjusting to the light once more, Gnawl could see who it was: that woman from the festival, who stuck up for the tiefling! He was relieved to see she survived... and then worried about her reaction. He continued to stay out of the light, but he responded politely all the same.
"HaHA! Yeah!" Raziel bellows as Terendelev launches into the air. He tears his blade free of its scabbard and rushes to the fight. The ground lurches: cracks. Raziel falls.
Instinct overtakes the boy. He does his best to stay hidden.
Suddenly a light sprouts in the dark and Raziel shrinks away from it, keeping to the shadows. Two creatures speak nearby in an unknown language.
Accursed demons...to slay something a beautiful as Terendelev... Raziel shakes himself. Stay focused, find out what is friend and what is foe.
Raziel creeps forward to try to get a better look.
Gnawl's fringes flicker a bit, twitching in the direction of the other voice. And by the metallic dragons, she spoke his language! Finally, someone he can speak with. Turning to see who it was, his eyes squinted at the light, backing up and into the darker edges of it's glow.
Adjusting to the light once more, Gnawl could see who it was: that woman from the festival, who stuck up for the tiefling! He was relieved to see she survived... and then worried about her reaction. He continued to stay out of the light, but he responded politely all the same.
** spoiler omitted **
[dice=Stealth]1d20+2
** spoiler omitted ** The kobold snarled as he looked up at the cavern roof again. ** spoiler omitted **
After speaking to the shadow, I turn and speak loudly in common,
Shifting out of the shadows immediately behind Nijena, Raziel simply says, "Yes."
This time Kjellberg doesn't just think of drawing her weapon, she does so. The events on the surface still haven't fully registered before she is plummeted into darkness.
'My instincts were wrong. This is demonic work.'
She hears the sounds of a foreign tongue and then sees the light. The tiefling and his accomplice survived the fall - and they're joined by a kobold.
This can be no coincidence - they are clearly part of the plan. Kjellberg looks to see if she has any allies before engaging them directly. The blessing of the gods notwithstanding, the odds are not in her favour.
Fortunately she isn't in the direct light and so she keeps to the shadows, waiting to see who else comes forward to support the demonspawn.
Eli's eyes opened in darkness. Someone was speaking in Draconic, but his head was too muddled to identify more than the language being spoken. Then a light and a second voice. And then a third voice spoke. It was new but familiar. Where had he...
Ah...the demon-blood. Er...Tiefling. He was a good sort, especially for not taking too much offense to my ignorant rudeness. He stands up and looks around, heading closer to the light source after picking his things up.
"Hello there. Seems we meet again. Are any of you skilled in ways for us to escape this situation? We should work together to gather other people and get back to the craziness up there." Eladhir says with a nervous smile and a worried look on his face.
Gnawl was slightly startled by the sudden light from earlier, so he retreat into the darkness left him slightly exposed. The blonde would probably see something scaly slinking into the darkness, but his full figure would only barely be perceivable. Whatever he is, he's short; not more than 3 feet high.
The slick pads on his feet clap the stone beneath lightly as he walks forward, stepping into the dimmer rays of light and holding his claws up, palms facing him. It was a sign of submission for kobolds; claws back, they won't attack.
Gnawl looked up at the cavern ceiling, his frown evident, even in the dim light. He looked around, seeing the others stirring before sitting down on a large rock and exhaling. He shook his head as he spoke; even to those who can't understand him, his tone conveys... sadness. Perhaps regret, or even disappointment.
So, the kobold, the tiefling and the woman have been joind by the elf? Was the altercation before play-acting or have they fooled the elf into believing they are in some way innocent.
She casts a spell to learn what they are up to before she acts.
Raziel nudges Nijena and point at Kjellberg. "Is she not the one who would have opened my throat in the square above?"
Before waiting for the answer, Raziel waves the woman over. "Please, come and join us. We mean no harm."
Gnawl looks up at the ceiling again, before looking over at Kjellburg, then the elf. His sights linger on the elf for a moment, perhaps nervous of his reaction, before speaking again, this time to them and Raziel, it seems.
Gnawl stood up, looking around again as he bore a few fangs. He paused, glancing back at the elf as he spoke in growls, before looking around again.
I see the little kobold come out of the shadows. I can also see how he holds his palms out, and I assume that he means that he won't harm me.
I feel my arm being tugged on, and I turn to see the red-skinned man that I met up above, before the attack. Fighting off the potential shock, I look in the direction that he points. I see another woman, a large one, and obviously armed for bear. 'She is even taller than me! I must make sure not to upset her overly.' I say in common, "Hello, I am Nijena. Are you hurt? I am a healer, by trade."
'I may be seen and I may understand now what they're talking about - but it could all be for my benefit. Trust them? No, definitely not. Attack them? Also definitely not. Let's just see where this takes me.'
Kjellberg steps out of the shadows but doesn't make any effort to put her weapon away, nor hide the fact that she's holding it.
She's also acutely aware that her entire focus is on the group in front of her and she is oblivious of her wider surroundings - but she doesn't want to take her eyes off those in front of her, so she keeps her attention entirely on them.
"I am Kjellberg and no, I am surprisingly unharmed. The gods must have been looking down on us."
'I may be seen and I may understand now what they're talking about - but it could all be for my benefit. Trust them? No, definitely not. Attack them? Also definitely not. Let's just see where this takes me.'
Kjellberg steps out of the shadows but doesn't make any effort to put her weapon away, nor hide the fact that she's holding it.
"I am Kjellberg and no, I am surprisingly unharmed. The gods must have been looking down on us."
Looking down at the weapon that I see you keeping a hand on, I say calmly, "I would like to think so, but I believe that it was the dragon who saved us in her dying moments. Or at least, it looked that way. In any event, I pray that Sarenerae protect us now." Looking around as best I can...
...I prepare more light spells, while turning back to the tall warrior and asking, "Did you hear or see anyone near you that might still be alive?"
The light may be poor but it's quite possible the others might see Kjellberg blushing.
No Nijena, I wasn't aware of anyone but then I...was more focussed on you and your comrades than looking for survivors."
Kjellberg touches the starknife in her hands and holds it out. Immediately the weapon begins to glow like a torch, shedding normal light in a 20-foot radius from the point touched, and spreading dim light a further 20 feet.
She points the starknife in the direction she moved from and looks for any survivors.
Gnawl shrinks back from the light as it is once again cast, squinting as he moves into the darker areas of the crevice bottom. He does notice the weapon, though, and it seems apparent to him that his earlier fears were confirmed.
The taller ones distrusted him.
Drawing both hand axes, Gnawl keeps a watchful eye on the Ulfen as she traipsed back from her approach, perhaps looking for something. A way out, probably.
Gnawl paused for a moment, looking up again before turning back to Nijena and cocking his head to one side.
Gnawl shrinks back from the light as it is once again cast, squinting as he moves into the darker areas of the crevice bottom. He does notice the weapon, though, and it seems apparent to him that his earlier fears were confirmed.
The taller ones distrusted him.
Drawing both hand axes, Gnawl keeps a watchful eye on the Ulfen as she traipsed back from her approach, perhaps looking for something. A way out, probably.
** spoiler omitted **
Gnawl paused for a moment, looking up again before turning back to Nijena and cocking his head to one side.
** spoiler omitted **
Looking back and forth between the kobold and the tall female, I say in common, "Both of you, put your weapons down. This is no time to figure out who has the bigger penis. We have to find out if there are other survivors." Muttering an apology in Draconic to the kobold for the lights, I go about setting more lights and trying to get my bearings in this room.
Gnawl stares back at Nijema for a moment, cocking his head to one side at the apology, and then even further at the very brief explanation of the Storm Lord.
Seemingly forgotten, Eladhir steps between everyone, glancing at each of them.
"Hi! Remember me? Anyway, we should be thinking of a way to get out of here. Weapons in hand may not be the worst of ideas, but try to point them at the evil, evil demons and other things that might want to kill us. Thanks!" he says perhaps a bit more condescendingly than is apropos.
Hearing the kobold speak again, Eladhir thinks about the question that Gnawl posed.
He shakes the recent memory out of his mind and with the benefit of the light nearby, he glances around for a path out of their current location.
Pointing in one direction he exclaims, "Ah yes, this way appears most promising!"
Kjellberg turns slowly to face Eladhir. "Define evil demons? How can you say for sure that none of us are cultists, that serve the demons you would have me kill? How do we not know that you are in league with the demons?"
"Trust me - in my experience, adepts, worshippers and demoniacs come in all shapes and sizes. I'll not run anyone through without cause, but I'd advise you all to be on your guard."
Eladhir stops to think about Kjellberg's question. Placing his hand over his chin and mouth, he bows his head a little in contemplation.
"Hmmmm...Maybe because the Silver Dragon, who are the crusaders of their kind themselves, saved us? I think that such magnificent beings are probably good judges of character. Besides, one couldn't make a stronger argument for an example of kismet!"