[ooc]Natural One. If I may, I'm going to add an extra roll.[/dice]
Orithos stumbles on the next swing, but regains his balance enough not to lose his sword.
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Charging the one to the left, Orithos lets cry the sound of battle with a swing of his rapier.
"I have none. Let's see this through."
"I agree. Maybe, then, we can make a reputation for ourselves and finally get our footing."
Sorry, finished the legal stuff on marriage, my mother-in-law and brother-in-law are sick as a dog, and I might be coming down with it, as well. Getting a post up right now.
Orithos, who had been sitting on a rather comfortable barrel a few yards away, heard the route the conversation took, and figured this'd be when he would step in. With a heave and a sigh, the fiery one walked slowly over to Hadran, and replied, "Give me a moment. I will be right with you. And, no, I won't be doing anything foolish." Continuing his pace over to the priests, Orithos took a moment to collect his thoughts, and then said, "If one can surely find the point where differing waters meet, they will then understand the harmony between. If you understand what I have just told you, then you have no reason to be angry with my friend. There are many faults he has wrought, and though they weigh heavily on his shoulders, he has already taken steps to redeem himself. Holding up a simple hand to silence any replies, Orithos looked the student straight in the eye and said, "You do not know him as I do. You will never know him as I do, unless you see for yourself what he has accomplished in my company. Until then, the judgement you place upon him will forever be a marred and mired facet of your reality. Though today might not be the day you see him for his true self, I will leave you with this. A danger is in the city that might come after you if you continue to show your capabilities. This danger has already attacked Hadran and I twice, and I do not wish for you to encounter it." Looking over to the priest beside him, Orithos continued. "Please, spread the message among your fellowship alone, that a creature is stalking and preying on those of great power. It has a means of traveling between distances, so counter it the same you would for stopping a ship at sea. Also, its hide is only harmed by tools that match those of pure heart. Lastly, if ever you need Hadran's or my assistance, send a messenger to one with flaming hair. Everyone will know what that pertains to, and I'm sure you can find me through those means." With a bow, Orithos finished with, "My apologies for taking so much of your time. Things to do, hearts to mend, you know the drill." As he had said all that he needed to, Orithos turned back around and followed Hadran into the streets of the city.
Within himself, Orithos thought, Didn't I inquire upon him joining the militia? Well, I guess this would suffice.
"Don't hurt him, Hadran. He may be a monk and wonderfully trained, but you are also stronger than the average man. Wouldn't want anything to happen to a fellow man of inner peace."
Following suit, Orithos bows as well, for if he understood correctly, this was how you addressed men who's bodies were weapons.
"Yes, I am ready." Turning to the high priest, Orithos said, "I will return when I can to assist in the healing of your associates. I apologize, again, for the harm that come upon them."
"I am in possession of a scroll of invisibility, and a scroll of cure moderate wounds."
"I'm sure that if I study the powers within me, I should find a means of binding him to one spot. Or rather, do you know how I might prevent him from displacing himself to a new location? And if you came, you could assist us in our venture to find him and stop him. We would most appreciate it."
Without a word, Orithos, with heavy head and furrowed brow, walks up to one of the chairs and takes a seat.
Realizing he was still holding it, Orithos jumped to his feet, placed it gently back on the pedestal, and then, said, "Oh," as he also realized what just happened, kind of. Looking back at Hadran, Orithos replied sarcastically with, "I love the situation we're in. Not only does it seem like we didn't just protect their artifact, it also looks like the artifact did something to me, though I know not what, and how." Placing his rapier and buckler on the marble floor, the fiery one looked the priest dead in the eye and said, "Shackle me and question me. I beg your mercy, yet, give us a moment to explain." Placing his shortbow and quiver on the floor as well, Orithos nonchalantly stated, "Hadran, show this man that we mean no harm. I will not lie before anyone since I have not yet told falsities. I will not tell them in front of a holy man while in his home, nor will I lower myself in such a fashion." After kicking the weapons and gear out of reach, Orithos continued after graciously bowing before the high priest. "Sir, my colleague and I have been battling a cursed one from one of the villages north and across the river. He had taken control of a ruined tower near the village, and attacked the villagers. We had thought him dead, but when we went back the next morning to verify his state of non-being, the effort was in vain. Hadran and I last saw him attacking your artifact, here, and if not for he and I, the man would surely have taken possession of it. The cursed one escaped in a way that we could not follow, and that was when the artifact began to hum to me, as if of song. I swear on my life that I speak the truth! The only thing my mind had sense to do was touch it, but when I did, it flooded me with a fire I have never felt before. It burns in my very breast, though I know not how to get it out. I'm not sure the flame could be brought out, however, I could try to return it to the artifact. Again, I know not what the artifact did to me, and though I will try to return whatever the globe gave to me, I know not whether I would succeed or fail. Please, understand. I meant no harm, and will face whatever punishment you so deem worthy of the circumstances placed before us."
"Agreed. Let us be gone."
Fire roared in his ears, in his fingers, in the air that pulsed around him. He could feel the very stone beneath his feet and the warmth that emanated from it all, but as he reached for it, so did it fade. The power that coursed through his veins seemed to wither and crawl back into the core of his being, waiting to be called forth. "I am alright," Orithos said with a gasp. "I just need some rest." With that, the fiery one slumped down to the stone and rested his back against the pillar.
When the flames had enveloped his rapier, Orithos felt a kind of warmth seep into him that held such a vast amount of power, the only thing he could do to control it was continue with the attack. Now that it had passed, he seemed almost to be in a state of shock. If wood was used to fuel a flame to greater and greater heat, Orithos' body was charged with so much energy, when he looked back at his own skin and hair, everything glowed pure white, as if the very life force of his being was energized. Not only that, but the emblazoned one felt something, a calling perhaps, that seemed to reach out to him, but was just out of their grasp. Glancing to the side, he saw, again, the orb that seemed to be shaking as he reached out his hand to it. Stumbling over to the pedestal, unaware of everything going on around him, Orithos touched the orb without thought, for all that encompassed his mind was the song of flame.
Roaring at the top of his lungs, Orithos charges at the sight of evil.
Smite Evil (Su):
If the target of smite evil is an outsider with the evil subtype, an evil-aligned dragon, or an undead creature, the bonus to damage on the first successful attack increases to 2 points of damage per level the paladin possesses.
Buckler and rapier appeared in a flash as Orithos followed. "Careful, Hadran. It might not be worth saying, but those flames are more ominous they first seem."
Is it okay for me to interact with characters I introduce on the spot? For example, in another campaign I'm pbping in, occasionally, I'll do some dialogue with a barmaid, or maybe a homeless guy down an alley. I do this just to add story, but I've noticed you guys are rather faster paced than what I'm used to, so, what would you guys prefer? An example of my kind of posts are here. I'm Metaflux in this, and at the current part in the plot, the character's met up at the gathering hall, but I took a left turn off main plot road.
Frustration was something Orithos was quite familiar with, and though he wished he could solve the issue at hand, he knew Hadran's point of view and what he was trying to do. Also, Orithos could not pretend to be a different person as Hadran had suggested, but he could do something else entirely. Walking slowly throughout the crowd, the fiery one noticed individuals who were hurt in some manner by the jostling of the crowd. In a few cases, a childs' plaything or doll had been torn or broken in some manner. So, Orithos would take the object in hand, motion with his hand like a blacksmith would during his crafting, and spoke the Ignan word for mend. No matter how long it took to fix whatever had been broken, Orithos had the patience for, though, at one point, when a man's pocket watch of exuberant value had been almost crushed underfoot, the fiery one promised he would personally attend to the fixing of it after the crowd had dispersed. Making a mental note of it, Orithos continued with the task, ahead. Additionally, noting the rather high heat, even for a city surrounded by desert, Orithos brought forth his waterskin. With a waving gesture over the container, and the Ignan word for water, the fiery one pushed a portion of his will into the spell, and instantly, water poured forth from his hand and into the waterskin. Without speaking a word, Orithos walked throughout the crowd and offered the water to those who would receive it.
Everywhere he walked, the sound of civilization followed. Horses with ebony pelts drew carriages of golden silk, while nobles wore luxuriant, flowing attire that reflected the light of the spires. With each step Orithos took, the atmosphere wrapped him in a field of warmth only prosperity could bring. Sure, there was the occasional sullen face, but those individuals were far in similarity to the long, drawn, and suffering villages that he had visited before. The glow of the city, he found, brought a sense of peace to his mind that few experiences thus far had blessed him with. Glancing back to his comrade who had recently finished his performance, Orithos still found it quite cumbersome to wrap his mind around the situation at hand. With all of this talk of deities and man, he knew not how to associate with such people, for how did one worship one who did not walk the same earth as themselves? The fiery one answered Hadran with, "You have yet to tell me who this Sarenrae individual is, let alone explain to me what scheme she plays in this whole thing. On top of that, what other significant individuals are you familiar with? What religion do you follow, and why is it that these people follow profound figures who don't even lay a foot on this earth?"
"In that case, while you gather funds through your performances, I'll familiarize myself with the city by traveling the streets. Additionally, any churches I find, I can go in and provide medical assistance where it's needed. Though I may not be as powerful as you in combat, I'm learning my spells are diverse, and I should be able to create a reputation for both of us; a decent one at the least. Maybe, then, people would want to assist us in our endeavors."
Giving Hadran a look of perplexity, Orithos replied, "Is that not what soldiers do? Or are does this world differ from the definitions that define what a soldier would be?"
Already, a sense of wonder began to seep into him. Golden spires, rising to grace the skies, atop ivory towers and cathedrals only one with a passion for architecture could truly appreciate. How Orithos knew that he loved buildings, he honestly knew not, but the experience was overwhelming. Perhaps, one day, he might have a city of his own. It seemed with each day that passed, Orithos' mist of memories began to clear, and he could make sense of who he was. Not in the same sense of someone who was recovering from amnesia, but rather, one who simply learns about themselves through experience. Watching the people hustle and bustle about reminded Orithos of clockwork, how each moving part worked seamlessly with the others to produce a result of impossible proportions. Humanity was truly amazing when they put their minds to it. Standing on a distant dune, viewing the city from a distance, Orithos then came to a brilliant realization. They had no money. He also had another realization, but wasn't sure how his partner might think of it. "Sounds like a logical move," Orithos said with a pause. "I believe I also know a way we could get some equipment for you. How do you feel about becoming a soldier?"
Before Hadran and Orithos ventured to the city, the fiery one said, "I do apologize for my lack of manners. When next we meet I will surely repay your kindness." After that, he needed to Hadran and exited the hut.
Realizing a certain technicality that might arise from not accepting the gift, Orithos quick stepped in and added, "Elder, though we appreciate you holding yourself to the deal, and though Hadran and I vacated the structure that enshrouds your village, we did not fully accomplish what we had promised we would do, therefore, neither of us can honorably accept the gift you have displayed before us." With a touch of sadness, and slight understanding, the fiery one continued. "As far as moneytary worth and gifts to be given, I am fully sure both Hadran and I can act out our own gifts for others. Riches and troves do not make up all of the wealth in the world, of that I am sure."
Taking off his shoes at the doorstep, and bowing his head in frustration, Orithos replied, "The body was nowhere to be found. Hadran and I have come to the conclusion that the creature that lead the troggs was marked by another not of this world. We have also come to the conclusion that the creature, if it does strike, will come after us rather than you and the villagers, so you need not fear." That creature had been quite difficult, even for Hadran to plow over, and seeing as it had risen from a state of smoldering ash sent shivers down Orithos' back. To everyone else in the room, the fiery ones' flaming hair seemed to dim to the luminous shade of embers, while his skin darkened almost to the hue of ash. "I apologize most sincerely and shall promptly leave this village as soon as possible, for as long as Hadran and I stand within your presence, you and everyone else are in danger."
Finding the cheers to be more annoyance than actually necessary, the fiery one lit a quick grin and wave slip, and then, headed straight to their leader's attention. The walk was agonizing, though, since, they hadn't exactly finished the job. Scratching the back of his neck, and making sure not to set foot in the elder's house, Orithos shook away the weariness, frustration, and nervousness, so that he could actually get his message across. After taking a breath to start his speech, a sneeze broke out behind him. Turning around, Orithos found half of the village standing behind Hadran and he, almost spilling over their own excitement to hear the news. Turning his attention to the elder, Orithos asked, "Might we speak in private? There is much we need to discuss."
A shiver of uncertainty ran down his spine as he pondered what these people would think of him when they found out the results of their efforts. Orithos believed in the preservation of life, and so, he hoped the possessed creature that Hadran and he had slain the day before would come after himself rather than the village. Peace had to be maintained, though, so, the fiery one brought up a hand to wave, and then began looking for the Elder.
"Yes. Hopefully, the creature is after us, rather than the folks of the village. I would hate it if we were the cause of their suffering."
Hey guys, Just letting you all know a few things. Her dog did pass away, but seeing the pain it was going through, I'm glad the dog's in a better place. A couple days ago, my fiance and I got in a car accident, so, though everyone is alright and no one was seriously injured, I'll be preoccupied with other matters. I'll still post up when I can. Sincerely, Dunmuir
First, Orithos tried again to think of any creature he might have a clue about that would explain what was happening here.
With a lack of memories reminding him of the predicament he was in, Orithos instead changed his attention to the floor beneath him, for if the body moved, ash marks must have been left behind.
"Let's head back around and up the stairs. We need to check out the remains of the chieftain. I have a nagging suspicion things might not be as we left them."
"That looks like a good find. We might find a decent price for that in town. In any case, let's pocket it and keep moving." Such a size for the toad was disturbing to Orithos. Blood slick on the stone and stench wafting off the creature made it rather hard to pace by, but eventually he got far enough to the door so that it wouldn't affect him quite so much. With a short glimpse back at the toad, Orithos felt pity for it. The chains that held it in place cut into its flesh, while the collar around its head dug in so tightly that it was no wonder the creature was distressed. Puddles of waste and bile could be seen clumped between the creature's webbed feet, and jagged bones around the corpse stuck into it quite uncomfortably. Confined spaces and rusted suffering was something he wouldn't wish on anyone or thing.
Orithos' stomach churned at the scene before him, and sorrow began to well up within him. Still, he had to turn away from the distress, and keep his head moving, as is the way of life. No matter how much one suffers, they must keep on going.
Glimpsing the beast before him was rather startling. Bulbous eyes, and a knowledge that the beast could jump at a moments' notice made Orithos very wary. Noticing the chain, though, relieved a bit of the tension, but nonetheless, he wasn't too inclined to approach it. That's when Hadran rushed in. With a sigh, and a brandishing of his rapier, Orithos charged in as well, working to hamstring one of its legs if it maneuvered away.
Pocketing the scrolls in one of his chest straps, Orithos follows Hadran out of the room. "This place gives me an ominous feeling. What other higher beings does this world hold?
With flames scorching his brow and forearms, Orithos' concentration was strand. The fiery one knew nothing of a foe who exuded flames in that manner, but that did not mean these creatures wee impossible to fell. Placing a hand and utilizing the flame within himself, Orithos was able to relieve a portion of the burns. To anyone who was watching, the burn marks and blisters seemed to glow, steam started to ripple out of the wounds, and it seemed the afflictions were melted away.
With a measure of focus restored, Orithos whipped his rapier, which reflected the flames around it, and struck once more, aiming for the spine...
...and misses as the skeleton completely dodges out of the way. Using his opponent's reflex to Orithos' advantage, the finessing soldier maneuvered another step to the side and said curtly, "Hadran, ready when you are."
Orithos moved a measure to the side (5 ft. step), so that he flanked the same skeleton as Hadran. Brandishing his rapier, the fiery one swung for a back bone so that the whole construct might collapse.
Nodding in agreement, Orithos starts the trek.
"Well, two options. Would you rather we take a peek at the door upstairs, or climb down the hole to make sure there are no more trogs that might ambush from below?" Orithos inquires to Hadran.
Looking back at Hadran, Orithos said, "Why don't we inquire for information once the tower has been fully explored? That way, the village's safety can be assured, and we'll have all the time necessary for getting to know the region."
Hadran, friend of friends, you surprise me every time. Orithos' mind whirred in more directions than one, but soon he realized they wouldn't be able to converse all morning. Hadran and he would have to check the tower, again, as they had promised, additionally he would be tasked with making sure it was hospitable. Who knows exactly how long it had stood there? "We would be honored, but seeing as we don't have much time, is there a book or tome you could write down any information you might have? Hadran and I still have the tower to attend to."
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