He sighs for a moment. "Wait for it..."
Always spoke Apollo with pride, indirectly responding to Aeris.
Turning to the new flying man, he said; I can mess them up pretty good with this thing[b] he said, pointing to his hammer, [b]but I can't take the hits our white haired friend here can. If you can improve my defense and damage output, I'd welcome you with open arms to our cause.
Apollo then smirked expectantly, watching Brek and chuckling a little at his comment.
Well, I'm sure they know we're out on a hunt for them, but whether those stupid dogs are capable of formulating a plan is yet to be seen. All I know is, I'm out for blood and god help anyone or anything that gets in my way.
Putting away his bow, Apollo then firmly pressed his knuckles together as he looked with sheer intimdation at all those surrounding him.
I've got a score to settle.
Aeris' face lights up as the human that is not Dmitri speaks. "While I am not one for the direct route, at least you seem confident." Maybe this will help prove me to be worthy of being a full pathfinder. "It looks like we have come to an agreement. I will lead you to the Gnolls." Aeris says as Boreas flutters in excitement. This will be interesting to say the least.
Looking to his new ally, Apollo smiled; You had me at Gnoll, but lead the way and if necessary I have a few tracking skills of my own!
Kori shakes her head at Apollo's attempts once again to rush into the mouth of the beast, "No, not head on. Don't listen to Lizar.... Apo..llo." She struggles to pronounce the name correctly. "He always wants to run in and sometimes we have to go pull him out. We fight them like we did when we took the Battle-market city. We are a small force, we fight like a raiding party. We strike, hide, and strike again. It's the best way against large numbers."
Meeting up with a new, elemental friend, the group continues to travel forward (with his help). Swinging wide the rest of the way around the Pale Mountain, the group remains on one side of a large ridge for as long as they can before they have to rise and cross it to actually get to where they (and Aeris) believe the House of the Beast is. When they do rise atop the ridge, they're met with a great sight.
Almost accidentally, the Pale Mountain has grown incredibly close during the rest of the day's travel. Barely a mile away, still, the sight of the House of the Beast is finally visible. It's wedged into a wide precipice underneath the mountain, with a very visible and open approach between two large stone ridges.
Like a child’s sandcastle carelessly placed before hungry waves that lap against shore, the forgotten temple rests, nestled in the crags of the Pale Mountain. Its crumbling spires and domes bask in the pale grayish glow of the alien twilight of the mountain skies. The scope of such a creation seems implausible in such a remote location, yet it isn’t hard to question why one might choose such a spectacular setting. Indeed, it seems unlikely that there exists another so close to the realm of the gods. Among the broken stones and empty fountains, dry thorny shrubs poke through packed clay soil sprinkled with shards of bone.
The approach to the temple is several hundred feet of packed and dry sand between the temple's outer towers and a trek into the place's courtyard courtyard in the open.
From this far out, no inhabitants can be seen clearly enough to be confirmed as actually being there. In addition, the sun is slowly slipping down and under the horizon.
His time spent alone gave him a lot more time to think about things than he'd have liked, but travelling with the group, re-united after a year of him going his own way, Apollo was back with the people he conquered Kelmerane and at the same time, back on track with his pursuit for the Carrion King.
Taking the wraps down from his eyes and revealing a rather pale but determined, stubble filled face, Apollo glanced out into the distance as he held Nom's leash loosely in his left hand.
So this is the place? The place where Ghartok resides? A structure as grand as that is only fit for a King. Ghartok has no right to take such a place as his own.
Standing next to his 7 foot dinosaur companion, Apollo turned to his left and took the rags away from Nom's face.
Nom, you see that? In not too long, a great battle will take place here.
Giving out a little roar, it was fairly obvious Nom didn't really understand the words that Apollo spoke, but his senses also gave warning to him that there was something not quite right about this place.
Removing the leash from around Nom's neck, Apollo stretched his arms and reached behind his back for his hammer, gripping it tightly with incredible strength.
I'm taking your Castle Ghartok. I'm taking your tribe and I'm taking your Castle.
There was nothing light-hearted about Apollo's statement. His words, although quiet (though audible for those who wished to listen in) signified something greater than a single mans ambition to avenge his lost loved ones. His words represented something. If the conviction in his voice was to be believed and if he truly did succeed, it would mean the whole tribe he grew up with would no longer be forgotten, for now Apollo and all those he travelled with were deemed as heroes and their very adventures would go down in history. Not a single soul of any significance to each and every party member would ever be forgotten.
Standing there and looking at the house, Dmitri smiled. The waning sun didn't comfort him in the slightest, as he wouldn't be able to see, which frankly bothered him significantly. He'd been in long thought of something since he left. Though it disgusted him to no end that he even gave the man an inkling, Dmitri gained a great amount of pleasure when it came to the prospect of even slightly twisting Apollo's "Destiny" so to speak.
While the gnolls that gave audience to Ghartok were no doubt evil, he couldn't help but wonder if gnolls had the potential for good in them. Humans had always made it a point to fear that which it didn't understand, and very few came to understand evil.
Dmitri had been born innocent, but was swiftly corrupted, yet he knew what good was and how it acted. He had no taste in it whatsoever, but all the same, he knew that he saw a broader scope than most. Demons are fit to fallow in their own filth and lewd desires most of the time if left be. Lilith was a Succubus, or rather, something greater.
He found himself becoming rather introspective when matters of Apollo came into play. Nothing worth turning him at all, but still, he thought it funny how easy it was. No matter how hard he looked at Apollo, and no matter how much "Good" he felt in him, he was still unable to see how the purging of an entire race was ethical, and Apollo gladly would, he believed.
Sitting down, Dmitri raised a brow. "Do we engage at night?" he asked them. "We'll give ourselves away with light spells if we use them at night, and all the same we may see fires lit soon among the house." he said as he began to inspect his scythe's blade. "Perhaps the new blood has a plan?" he said, casting a glance at the Sylph.
"Gnolls tend to be nocturnal and can see in the dark. Attacking at night does not seem like a good idea. They would have the advantage as not all of us have darkvision." Aeris says looking back at Dmitri. "I say we spend the night here. Then we can head out in the morning." Aeris looks to the others for affirmation.
Kori looks at the newcomer, before nodding "Yes, Eagle-bait, it would be bad to attack at night. Especially, if they can all see in the dark, and not all of you can." She looks around a little nervously at her last comment. "We should move a little far away for camp. If they have patrols or raiding parties, we may be too close, and still be seen."
Well, I'm in agreement here. I may have great vision, but we'd certainly be at a disadvantage come night. Guess the fight will have to wait.
Let's set up camp somewhere out of sight but not too far from our destination. says Apollo as he looks around for a suitable area to hold out.
"We shall sset up watches for the night as well, and in the morning, when we are all fresh and ready to fight,to spell blood on to the ruin's floors, we shall go. What good is a fight if neither sside is at their best?"
Aeris looks to the others with a smug look on his face. "I actually have camp taken care of..." with that he pulls a twenty foot section of hemp rope out of his backpack. "I have a spell that will cause this rope to lead to an extradimensional space where we can all sleep. Boreas doesn't need to sleep, so he can watch through the portal to make sure nobody sneaks up on us." Aeris looks very pleased with his solution.
"We should rest and then make plans. Storming them through the front would be unfair. Unfair to the Gnolls at least." Brek grins though he's more worried about how they're going to get through a strong hold of gnolls.
He'd prefered striking them in small groups and removing their morale.
Extra di-whaaat? he questions to Aeris.
I haven't been to another dimension and I can't say it's something I've ever wanted to do. Still, if it keeps us unnoticed for now and allows us to breathe, I'll go with it. Would the local pups not find partial rope hanging from thin air though?
The man then pauses and without looking, gives off a quick response to the fiery friend of the party.
That makes it all the more fun though, Brek! he says, grinning with his glare still focused strongly towards the House of the Beast.
"You will be able to breathe. The spell does not hide the rope, so any wandering creatures might indeed find a rope hanging in the air." Aeris says as he sets the rope on the ground. Aeris begins speaking in Auran as he begins the casting of a spell. His tattoos glow a faint sky blue, casting a dim glow before fading back to normal. The rope that he set on the ground then comes to life. One end of the twenty foot length raises up off of the coil, magically floating upwards. "This spell lasts for ten hours. Try to make sure you are on the ground by then. If not, the fall would certainly wake you up." Aeris says as the end of the rope keeps floating upwards. His eyes following it upwards. When the rope is completely vertical it stretches twenty feet straight up in the air. "Just climb this rope all the way to the top to get to the portal. I suggest everyone takes a watch shift that is one hour and twenty minutes long, sequentially of course. Then no one can sneak up on you. Not to mention if you point a bow down through the portal you can shoot them while they climb the rope."
Kori watches the rope with eyes wide, staring as it stops and stands upright, seemingly attached to nothing. She walks over and yanks on it, walks around it looking up, yanks on it again, then motions for Eagle-bait to go first. "None of your levitating either. I want to see you touching the rope the whole before I go up there. Prove this isn't a trick. Besides, how are we supposed to know what an hour and twenty minute long 'squenchly' even looks like?"
Aeris walks up to the rope and looks over at Kori. "One at a time." Aeris places his hands on the rope and very nimbly climbs to the top. He pauses right before the portal and says to the people below "I will disappear for a moment as I go through. I will come back out. Don't be alarmed. " With that, he reaches up with one arm and his hand disappears. He then seems to get a firm grip on something unseen with his now invisible hand. He reaches up with his other hand and manages to pull himself through the portal, disappearing as he does so.
Aeris then floats back down through the portal. "I am unharmed." Aeris says as he floats down. He lifts his arms and legs to show they work. "Perfectly safe." he says, glancing at Kori as he touches down.
"Don't worry Kori. It's perfectly safe." Brek follows up climbing it easily enough.
Popping his head out from above.
"See? It's safe. Also not fun for the rest of us Apollo. At least not to me. I'd prefer Kori's idea honestly."
Shaking his head, Apollo said; I'm staying here. Nom can't climb and unless you have some way to get him up that rope, I'm not leaving him behind, out here and alone for the Gnoll's to rip limb from limb.
From where he is Brek Scoffs.
"He's a 7 foot beast with lotsa of sharp teeth. Gnolls aren't sucidal enough to come near one such as him. Maybe you could ask him to you know stay here and not go wandering off?" directing that last part to Apollo.
I was left behind! No wandering was done. Anyway, whatever. Gnoll's killed his mother so you shouldn't be too quick to deduct any unforeseen situations.
Aeris turning towards Apollo, "If you would tell Nom to not bite me or Boreas we will fly him up there."
"Worry? Pssh! I'm just being careful. There are enemies everywhere." With that she moves over and climbs the rope.
Well, if you can get him up there it makes little sense for us two to be stuck out here alone, so I'll leave this one up to you.
With that, Apollo turns to Nom and pets him on the head as the T-Rex lowers himself to a suitable petting height.
Do as they say and don't bite the poor guy....or his bird. I know you like trying to catch things that fly.
Aeris nods to Apollo before turning to Boreas. They communicate in their own language and set to work. Aeris sets down his handy haversack so that it wouldn't slow him down. They grab Nom and, between the two of them, they are able to slowly lift him up through the portal. After they lift him up, they return down to speak to Apollo and pick up the magical backpack. "Take this. It is an impact foam. Throw it on the ground or spread it on the area below and have Nom jump onto it. He will not be hurt by the fall." Aeris says as he pulls a container of impact foam out of his handy haversack. After handing the foam to Apollo, Aeris slings his handy haversack over his shoulders.
"We've just lifted a dinosaur into another dimension." Dmitri says as he climbs up and into the strange area. "I believe it's time we call it an evening." he quips.
Strange sleeping situation notwithstanding, the inside of the rope trick is very comfortable and warm, and easily fits everybody, including Nom (who is lifted into the extraplanar space by the concerted efforts of Aeris and his air elemental familiar). The night passes with relative safety and quiet, though the sounds of hyena-like barking and running through the night can be heard during Dmitri's two-hour watch. Obviously, gnolls night hunting. Still, none find Aeris' clever sleeping space and the morning comes peacefully and soon.
The sun rises over the Katapeshi deserts as our mercenaries clamber out of Aeris' space. The memory foam is thrown on the ground for Nom, who, at Apollo's urging, leaps out and onto the thing for no harm.
The day is long, and will be filled with blood (well, probably).
Once they are out, Kori grabs her eagle-slayer bow and tests the string before speaking to the others. "Since we're close now, it's time to kill like we did when we took the town. Quietly and fastly. Like the raids of my people. If you have bows or other shooting weapons, like from far away, use those. I learned that you can usually get a few good shots before the enemy even gets to you, then they go down easy." with that she assumes the lead the best she can given her limp, but refuses to let it slow her down in her determination to act the scout once again.
Upon hearing what Kori says Aeris looks to the sky for a few seconds. The sky is beautiful today Aeris thinks as he looks for weather patterns.
"I do not have a bow but I can hit from afar." Aeris says before murmuring in Auran and gesturing to cast a spell.
The winds around him swell and swirl as he begins to float about five feet off the ground.Boreas grabs onto his back, ready to push or pull him as needed. Aeris takes a quick look around before readying to follow the group.
The day is clear and the deserts are seemingly empty today. Aeris' prediction that the gnolls are nocturnal hunters seems to have been right, especially considering the noises heard by the watchmen during the night.
Of course, seeing anything clearly in the House of the Beast from this distance would be a nightmare - one must get closer to have a chance of even picking out that there are guards.
Throughout the night Je'grik dreams of a woman clothed in sunlight. He feels a bit of peace in his heart and rests well, leaving the safety of the Rooe Trick at dawn to pray. He'd need the Dawnflower's blessing today, and absorbed her warmth.
"It's not a bow, but my sling up has been.. reliable." he was beginning to wish he'd brought his other sword though...
Brek brings out an open flame in his hands before closing it, sending it back to its origin.
"I have other ways of fighting if need be."
With Kori taking lead, Apollo just left her to it as he prepared Nom for the day of adventuring ahead, being one of the last to leave this strange and unusual place.
As the Impact Foam was thrown down, Apollo looked at Aeris for a brief moment.
Well, you say this prevents any injury so I hope at this height, for yours and Nom's sake, this stuff works as well as you say.
As Nom jumps down, the creature just kind of stood there, looking up expectantly to its human friend.
Nom, that's cute and all but I can't jump down if you're in my way!
The dinosaur could hear the man but couldn't see him, so Apollo placed his hand and head through the portal, clinging onto a nearby rock for support...one of the few in this plain of existence, before looking out and nodding to Nom to move.
Right then he said to Aeris. Away I go!
Jmping down through the portal and out of Nom's way, Apollo landed in a crouched postition and as soon as he could gain his barings he moved with Nom over to Kori's side and looked around for any suspicious Gnoll activity.
Well, I can't see any movement....how about you? he says presumably to Kori as he stares out towards the huge building ahead in the distance.
Agility is the name of this game as Brek flips himself out, landing softly and moving with barely the lightest of touch, already seeking cover even as he scouts for enemies.
Moving away from his companions, Brek attempts a perimeter scouting first.
Brek's overconfidence leads to his downfall (quite literally!) as he tries to flip himself out of the rope trick instead of just climbing down the rope. He falls harm on the ground, and a shock of pain travels up his legs.
Oh, how embarrassing.
Dmitri doesn't waste any amount of time getting out of the rope, though sliding down one never really was that difficult. He didn't fancy climbing, or swimming for that matter... he also didn't fancy lengthy jumps, but most of it has to do with his choice of armor.
The armor began to sting in direct contact with the sunlight, but Dmitri truly had great difficulty in actually getting burned for an odd reason he couldn't quite fathom. Heat wasn't one of the things that bothered him, frankly, and the welcome sting of black metal certainly did nothing to bother him, either.
As he descended from the pocket dimension he dusted himself off, as well as flicking a small bit of dust away from his crimson cape. He certainly stood out. He'd made it a point to put his hair into a pony tail, revealing his eye for everyone to see. Today was a glorious one, ripe with potential blood shed, and he was certainly going to make it a point to wear his colors, so to speak.
Walking up next to Apollo, he smiles wryly, eye in full view with a dark, unnatural shimmer about it. "We need to get closer. Locations first. Dogs later..." he says as he walks forward. "Try not to die today, Apollo." he suggests as he walks, throwing a hand up with his sickle in hand.
Good morning to you too Dmitri! smirked Apollo as he continued to stare out into the distance, standing tall with Nom by his side, waiting for.......something.
If I'm to face that towering curr, I need to reach him with as little injury possible. Need to be at the top of my game when I make my stand for honour and all those he and his wretched pups took from me that day.
Perhaps this is the day... he uttered through his exhaling breath, as his eyes remained fixed on the large structure ahead.
I've being spending too much time not practising. Brek thinks even as he tries to ignore the pain in his legs. At least he didn't fall flat onto his face.
Hopefully no one else noticed. Maybe not...
His companions however seemed well and more than eagar to start the day's bloodshed it seems.
With his armor searing in the hot desert sun, Dmitri draws his scythe as he descends. "If we are to shed blood today, we mustn't dally. Remember that we are all insignificant in the grand view of things, Apollo. Fate is not kind to those that cling to her teet. If you're not careful I will rob you of your moment of glory." he says as he continues to walk.
"Kill and survive. It is just that simple." he says with a smirk as he looks back at Apollo. "I'm here to kill a gnoll chieftain that's bothering my city. I have no other reason to be here, save to enjoy myself." he says, turning around. As he does, his eye somewhat stays firmly on the man, but turns when it can no longer gaze at him leeringly.
I'm as significant as I choose to believe, not that it matters really. Everyone has their own views, but Dmitri. says the man glancing back towards his leering eyes.
If you take that victory away from me, because it doesn't take much to know that IS what you're planning... he says, pausing for a moment.
You and I will have a little situation of our own to deal with.
Sighing without much care for concern, Apollo pulls out his Earthshaker, holding it high up into the air, shielding the glare of the sun from all those standing behind it, with its wide and solidly shaped form teetering above.
With Dmitri's attention, Apollo then slams it with an incredibly strong down force, pulling downward with the swing to create a small crater within the hard packed dirt, as the shock of the impact spreads under all those standing within 5 feet of the terrifying impact, almost knocking them from their feet.
If anyone here intends to get one over on me by means of betrayal or through sheer malicious hate fuelled intentions, do not get in the way of my battle today.
If any of you get in my way, I may kill you myself.
And that's not something I want to do. Be wary though, some you might be able to trust, but over this past year, Dmitri's changed. I don't want him as an enemy but if that happens, I'll go out of my way to create subtle ways in making his life a lot harder than it needs to be.
Gripping his fist, he began to march forward past all those accompanying him, as he looked toward the ground.
I WILL be the one to kill that flea ridden s*** coated rug AND I WILL BE TAKING HIS HEAD TODAY!
Looking down towards the ground, Apollo then tries to look for footprints and traces of the local mutts, such as fallen hair, fecal matter and bloody trails, while Nom takes up the initiative and searched for something himself with his ability to scent creatures nearby. this is all happening while the rest of the party chat amongst themselves and decide on what to do next.