It was the rare moment in the dead of night where only the pale glow of the moon illuminated the deserted pathways and roads leading to the town square of Jastrey just before the wide and welcoming doors to the familiar sight of the shady corner, which was left seemingly completely abandoned and empty as many of the citizens had one by one retired to their own cabins and the comfort of their own cozy beds to embrace the
This was the opportunity that the cloaked figure had waited hours for and they wasn't about to squander it with cowardice or hesitation as the person quickly hefted a large, bulking sack over his shoulder and quietly slipped into the deserted tavern.
From that point the vigilante quickly got to work, pulling from the sack a variety of rockets and explosives ranging from modest to massive and affixing them to the various various support beams that held the tavern secure and in place. Even taking the time to place one of the especially larger rockets right in the cellar where some of the most priceless and potent liquors are stored, housed within aging and shoddy masonry.
The figures work continued as the cloaked being poured out liquor after liquor onto the floor of the Shady corner that was soon to be no more. Finally when the anonymous figure determined that all of the explosives were properly set up in the places where they could have done the most damage a trail of strong alcohol was created leading towards the out of the tavern and all the way to the town post.
The cloaked figure took the time to nail right onto the town post several copies of the same repeated block of text.
"JASTREY, Too long have you been at the mercy of an unremorseful demon that conspires with horrific powers for her own power and benefit!
TOO LONG have you endured her lies of selfless behavior yet were forced to bear witness as the town had to paid the cost of her insatiable lust for personal power time and time again!
NO LONGER must she remain the sole enforcer of the law in our town if we wish to be free of the same demonic taint and corruption that she flaunts so proudly and openly!
TAKE BACK your town Jastrey, Purify the taint of corruption with the blazing hot fires of REVOLUTION! Let us hold our heads high in pride and honor once again!"
The shrouded figure took a moment to reread the completed handiwork in the pale moonlight and ensure nothing was left unaccounted for before blowing a loud warhorn to ensure that those within earshot would be awake for what was to come.
Soon the figure casually lit a match and watched as fire sprung to life from the oily liquor trail and danced up each stair with an almost lifelike excitement as the first true revolution had sparked to life with fire and horn alike.
Chataya, awakened by her sleep from the horn, scrambles out of bed. Hearing the first explosion and smelling the smoke brought her quickly to her senses. Afraid for anyone that might have been near the explosion, Chataya runs as fast as she can for the healers den to make sure there are beds and supplies ready. After seeing all is well, she steps outside to watch the tavern burn.
Rhadama emerges from the Healer's Den and spies the burning tavern. She gasps, runs back inside the Den and comes out again towing several buckets. Spotting Chataya, she lobs one by the Ixifar's feet and carries the others to the town well.
"Fire! Fire!," she shouts as she begins frantically working the winch.
Chataya breaks out of her dumbstruck stare at the tavern and grabs the bucket, running after Rhadama. On the way, she hears a groan and realizes that there is someone stuck under some rubble.
"Oh no!" She shouts. She runs closer and shouts "You're supposed to stay alive!" [Named heal 10] "Don't you dare die on me now!" [Packet heal 20]
Ohren stumbles out of his hut bleary-eyed and sees the tavern on fire. He shuffles over to the smoldering tavern. "with natures fury I chill your bones" [10 ice x 4] "kay, did my part.... im goin back to bed... no more building for me." Ohren shuffles back to his hut and lays down on his cot "ZZZZzzzzz ZZZZZZzzzzzzZZZZZZzzzzzz"
It isn't long before the Sheriff arives on the scene, usually up at this hour of the night regardless. Her eyes gaze along the flaming inferno and sees the the figure trapped under the collapsed roof. She walks over and grabs the smoudering rubble, her own eyes burning with a glow like hellfire itself, whispering dark tainted words as her fingers wrap around the heavy bit of tavern roof. With incredible elegance for such a heavy piece, Akon lifts the rubble off the man and tosses it asside [Strength 3]. She looks to Chataya, lifting and tossing the rubble, digging the dwarf out from under the mess. "Did you see anyone else? Is there anyone inside?"
Edric wanders over to where the assailant is and eyes him murderously. He sees Akon struggling to lift the pieces of the shattered Tavern. "Might as well let him die. If you save him, he's as good as dead anyway. Mark those words down in your little sheriff book if you want." With that being said, Edric wanders back in the woods, sipping greedily from his hip flask.
Chataya, still kneeling near the trapped man, backs away hurriedly from the hellish glow that envelopes the sheriff. Hearing the evil words pour from Akon's mouth, Chataya scowls.
Ignoring Akon's question and fearing for the traveler being so close to such dark magic, she mumbles. "I want you to stay alive." [Packet Heal 20] "Let's get you away from here, " she says, and reaches out for the man's hand. "It's not safe," she growls.
Akon, seeing now that the rubble is well enough clear from the dwarf, spots his ruined and crushed legs. "Edrik! Can you help get this man away from here?" She says, looking for where she heard his voice moments ago. She glances over to Ohren. "Did you see anyone else? Is anyone else in there?"
A faint glowing comes from the forest. The little cheery ball of light looks as calm as a ball of light can. The orb foats past Chataya and Akon. It glides easly and with purpose toward the flame ridden dwarf. It floats over his broken body for a few seconds and lets out a bolt of bright light. *renew body* The dwarf can suddenly feel the blood flowing through his limbs and as soon as there is an inkling of consiousness, everyone can hear whispers coming from Blisdon's direction throught he flames.
Akon looks back to the tavern, and nods. "Keep putting it out," she says as she walks into the burning wreckage. She then calls out. "Hello?! Is anyone in here?! Hello! Can you hear me?!" She says as her eyes scoure the rubble for any signs of a person. She carefully treads where the roof has already collapsed, avoiding stepping anywhere where she might be subject to having the burning building fall on her too. Flames lick along the edges of her robes as she makes her way through what remains of the tavern.
The burning pillar in the center of the tavern creaks under the weight of the ceiling as much of it has already burned away. A chared cinder stands in the center of the room, empty kegs litter the floor and the smell of char and ash fill Akon's nostrils. Several empty kegs and wine bottles litter the floor as small flames dance around them as the puddles of liquor burn away. From inside, the brunt of the damage seems minor, some small rockets are still strapped to posts inside that either never got lit or failed to ignite properly.
As Akon passes through the kitchen to the cellar doors while searching for anyone remaining in the wreckage, a large gout of flame erupts from the basement engulfing her in fire as the remains of the liquor in the cold cellar finally ignites and burns away.
There does not seem to be a sign of anyone remaining in the tavern.
A short figure can be seen running from the direction of the Warrior's Hall, legs pumping furiously as Taklinn bursts onto the scene. He stops and surveys the scene, looking about at the crowd desperately trying to get to the trapped form beneath the rubble. Seeing that he can be of little use in that task, he then slaps his head with his palm and blurts out "the holy water! By Espidrel's beard, it's sacreligious!"
He then goes around to where the ale and alcohol is normally stored and begins picking up barrels, only to see broken wood and ale running on the floor. He continues to try to find any of the spirits intact as he digs through the ruckus, carefully keeping his eyes up as well to watch for the roof to collapse any moment.
Akon squints her eyes, and puts up a hand to protect her face instinctually. The flames engluff and wrap around her, licking along her armored chest. The warlock stands fully unharmed by the burst of flame, but her robes are another matter entirely. She reaches down hurridedly, trying to bat out the flames that are now consuming her garments. "Damn it all..." She mutters as she finally manages to pat out the fire, her robes a mess of tattered ash, with gaping holes from head to foot. She sighs, frowning, and trudges her way back through the rubble to exit the tavern again. "There's no one in there." She says begrudgingly, as she comes back out next to Ohren.
Ohren sniffs the air... "Heh.. cooked bacon... HAHAHAHA.. dats funny dontcha tink" He nudges Akon. [10 ice][10ice][10ice][10 ice] [refresh] Ohren contiues his mild efforts to put out the fires. "Just so you guys know.. i am not buildin nofin else... hope you can get dis tabern fised soon"
It's hard to tell where the wounds begin and end amidst the bloody and broken shell of a dwarf. His face caked with dust and ash as his beard bent, twisted and curled against the blazing inferno that cackles and raged as it consumed the tables and walls like dry tender to a campfire.
As he slowly returned to consciousness he could see from the smoke familiar faces, or somewhat familiar faces amidst the oily smoke that billowed from the flames. The world was spinning for the broken shaman as he took the outstretched hand to him with a surprising strenth to his grip for someone who had been through the ordeal that he had endured.
"The- The town is" Blisdon struggled to find the words as his lungs struggled and sputtered to draw in clean air amidst the corruptive taint of the nearby beast."The town is as Blind as that eyeless,infernal son of a bitch who brought this plague to jastrey to begin with." growled the dwarf as he took the hand, leaning upon the friendly body he recognized as a fellow healer for support.
"Nothin's safe in this town anymore....not while she's in power." despite the venomous rage and hatred that oozed from his chapped and cracking lips, his voice was growing hoarse and his breath was turning more and more shallow as he slowly tried to limp away from the smouldering inferno. retreating in his delerium to anywhere but the wreckage of a half-cooked explosion.
As Taklinn rummages through the broken and empty bottles and kegs, he finds a blue glass bottle that still had its stopper in tact. The bottle is warm to the touch and the label shows a smiling man wearing a tri-colored jester's hat and in block letters the words "Grillys Bear's Muder Water".
Taklinn takes the bottle and looks at it questioningly before looking back up to the roof and thinking better of staying in the inferno. He rushes out of what is left of the tavern and makes his way to the well to look for a bucket, mumbling to himself. Upon seeing Blisdon coming to, he walks over to him and admonishes him.
"By Githal's Arse! Why would ye destroy the HOLY WATER ye dolt! I've a mind to shave yer beard and beat what stuffin' ye have left in ye fer this!" He then walks back to the buckets and tries to organize a proper bucket brigade to make the job of putting out the fire go a bit more smoothly, grabbing up any willing to join and try to put the flames out before the fire gets any worse.
[10 ice][10 ice][10 ice][10ice] [refresh][10 ice][10 ice][10 ice][10ice] [refresh][10 ice][10 ice][10 ice][10ice] [refresh][10 ice][10 ice][10 ice][10ice] [refresh][10 ice][10 ice][10 ice][10ice] [refresh][10 ice][10 ice][10 ice][10ice] [refresh][10 ice][10 ice][10 ice][10ice] [refresh][10 ice][10 ice][10 ice][10ice] [refresh][10 ice][10 ice][10 ice][10ice] [refresh][10 ice][10 ice][10 ice][10ice] [refresh]
Vidrir stalked the forest for his quarry taking soft steps to approach the beast he was after when a loud explosion sounded in the distance. Knowing blackpowder to often be a sign of conflict Vidrir charges off towards the noise.
Vidrir doesn't lose steam as he finally catches sight of the burning tavern he shouts a battle cry while bringing his axes together in the air.
Tregard stands in the center of town, hypnotized by the conflagration. His mouth begins to move and song flows unhindered from him:
The time to hesitate is through
No time to wallow in the mire
Try now we can only lose
And our love become a funeral pyre
Come on baby, light my fire
Come on baby, light my fire
Try to set the night on fire, yeah
The flames die down under the efforts of the bucket brigade and the shaman casting from the sidelines. Most of the tavern still remains, save the hole in the roof and a number of broken windows. With the exception of the cellar and the floor, the insides of the shady corners remain largely intact and repairable over the coming weeks.
Taklinn grabs his last bucket of water in his hands, and after seeing the fire is mostly diminished, upturns it over his head in an attempt to cool down. He then looks about the gathering, seeing Treygard once again going into a fit, and at the Sheriff standing there in the bucket line. He blurts out "Yer all daft!" and he once again walks into the shady corners to find what may be left and salvagable.
Drawn by the glow of flames and all of the noise, Binxs emerges from the trees covered fully by her cloak. She stops at the edge of the clearing, bow in hand, watching the other townspeople scramble among the chaos. The hood of her cloak obscures her face as she stands there, merely observing for the moment.
Rhadama stacks the buckets neatly by the well in case of flare ups. She notes that Chataya is tending to the injured dwarf in the Healer's Den and she decides to search the area for any others who might have been injured.
She notices Tregarde standing transfixed and approaches him.
"Are you all right, Tregarde?"
Tregard's song dies w/ the fire. He stares stupidly at the smouldering tavern. Exasperated, the gnome says " Really, Skip! I thought I got rid of you." Tregard runs his hands over his clothing, searching for fae caca. Snickers run through his head. My little bard may need to get stronger drugs. The fairy shit is becoming a weak prison for me.
Tregard's retort is cut off by the voice. We'll discuss that later. You may want to get to the healer's den before the mob. You must be aching to find out why a good dwarf would set fire to the tavern. Unless you want me to go. The bard unconsciously shakes his head. I thought so. I'll try to stay quiet during your talk. The voice laughs again and goes silent.
Tregard curses. Yet he runs towards the Healer's Den, brushing past the Ixifar healer.
Chataya, very concerned with the safety of the dwarf jumps up and stands between the bed and the gnome. "Tregard! I do not know your intentions, but know this: I'll not stand to have you hurting him! If you wish to speak to him, please do it from a safe distance. The Healer's Den is a safe haven for those that are hurt and if you disturb my peace, I swear I will kick you out of here myself! Don't push me!"
She turns and looks at Blisdon to see if he is disturbed. Seeing him as he was before, she turns back to frown at the gnome. "You may speak to him now if he is willing. Otherwise, sit down and be still." Chataya pulls up a chair at the foot of Blisdon's bed, keeping a careful eye on the unpredictable gnome.
Akon looks around the wreckage, and pulls off the tatters of what remains of her hood. "Did anyone see who did this?" She asks, looking around. "Do we have any witnesses? If so, please have them report it to the judge, one of the deputies, or myself."
She then makes her way to the Healers Den and would peak in around Tregard. "Is he alright?" She asks from the door.
Akon nods. "Very well, I'll leave you to it then. But when he comes around, I would like to have one of the deputies speak with him. He may have seen who did this. Should you need anything....well.." Akon sighs, pulling her head back from the door. "I'll be around."
The moments where the Ixifar led the Shaman into the healers den were hard to recall as he faded in and out of consciousness, Time became a relative thing to the dwarf as a slideshow of one hurried townsfolk and what the Shaman almost thought to be taklinn saying something to him with a furious tone as he .
He could vaguely recall being set onto a bed and tregard entering the room, but it wasn't until feel silent steps of the Fiend itrself drawing nearer and nearer into the healers den falling upon him did he decide to sit up. His stern glare never leaving failing to meet the beasts red orbs as he watched the tense exchange of words occur between it and the fierce Ixifar.
For fear of destroying what careful sparks of rebellion that he had been so desperately trying to fan he chose to say nothing, letting the exchange continue and waiting until after the creature had left before turning to chataya and furrowing his dust covered brow in thought.
"That monster has got to go, The only doom that will befall Jastrey will be by It's vile fingertips." The dwarf himself growled the words out from between his teeth, before himself composing himself a bit more, trying to crack a weary and pained smile at the healer "Heh...a few times I've been at the healers side of the bed in this room but never before have I been a patient, Thank ya kindly Chataya. I won't forget you savin' me like that."
Chataya reached out and touched the dwarf on the arm. "Don't worry about it my friend. You have healed me many a time in the heat of battle. How could I let you fall." She glances at the gnome and lowers her voice. "Besides, I want to see how these fires spread," her tone telling that she does not mean the physical flames.
Blisdon's head bobbed slightly in agreement as he brushed some of the dust from his damaged beard. "Aye but I still owe you my gratitude all the same..Perhaps it's just because of our trainin' as healers that we can see the sickness lmore than others in this town." the dwarf squinted his eyes, letting their gaze wander to the flickering flames of a nearby lit candle. "But this town has got a disease that It must be purged of."
Vidrir wanders off a moment and searches the town post for clues. He sees the freshly made notices on the post and pulls one off carefully, as he reads further he strokes his beard and strides back over to Taklinn.
"Whats this about a demon you have in your town?"
After being out of town on a journey of self discovery, Cail returns to the borders of the town of Jastrey only to be met with the smell of burned wood and sulfur. Still on the dark road a mile from town, he hurried onwards fearing something terrible had happened.
A few minutes later, Cail arrived on the scene. His brow furrowed and his face grew hot with anger. Who could have done such a thing to the tavern? What heartless person would destroy such a place of merriment? It was unthinkable. Cail walked around looking at the wreckedge, seeing that most of the towns citizens had it already well under control. He spied the Sheriff coming from the direction of the Healers Den and a few other people he had not been introduced to inspecting the damage.
Akon looked a little worse for wear so Cail decided against speaking to her for the time being.
"I wonder if anyone else could tell me what happened here," he said to himself.
Waking form his drunken stupor Morzoth stands from the floor of his Newly furnished hut. stumbling out the door he looks towards the center of town. Noticing the plume of smoke and dashes for the tavern. He chooses to take a cut through the woods for it is faster and he is concernd for his brother seeing as the tavern is where he spent most of the time. As he heads out of the edge of the woods he looks around for people he usualy talks to.
Katri wanders toward the tavern from the direction of out of town, alerted by smoke, light and shouts. She doesn't appear to be in any hurry, particularly since everything seems to have calmed a bit. She pulls her hood back just enough to uncover her eyes and leaves her mask to hide the rest of her face so that no one can see the cynical smirk that has graced her lips. Though if anyone near by cared to listen he or she may have heard a quiet, low, and humor-less chuckle. The tavern, or what was left of it was obviously smoldering and even if she had cared to help, her spells mostly revolved around fire. To others close enough to see her eyes sparkled with something unrecognizable, but resembled what could have been intrigue or a mocking of immaturity. She shook her head a milled about the edge of the crowd gathered.
Taklinn looks in the darkness to the figure that has walked up to him. "I'm sorry, do I know ye? I ain't sure we've met, and I ain't sure ye ain't daft. Ye see the smoulderin' ruins afore ye? It used to be the Shady Corner Tavern, until someone decided to put her to the torch. I be Taklinn lad, and what may I be callin ye?" he says with a skeptical look in his eyes and his hand resting easily on his weapon.
Katri passes by the stranger speaking with Takklin, over hearing his question of the source of the Tavern distruction and scoffed. "It is doubtful that she had a hand in it. Perhaps indirectly the cause of it by way of another's stupidity, but most likely it is not by her doing."
Taklinn glances toward Katri as she walks by and says "Well iffin she didn't do it I am sure it is connected to her somehow, but only time will tell lass." His attention once focuses on the newcomer, and looks him over for a minute to take note of him. (OOG what do I see? race, size, Weapons?)
(OOG that completely slipped my mind lol Dwarf, short with two axes)
Vidrir looks at the uorodeq and squints.
"Are you sure this is your field of expertise? I don't smell poison in the air and I haven't noticed a dagger in anyones back." he says turning his gaze back to Taklinn.
"Is there someone who might know more about the attack?"
Taklinn accepts the handshake upon seeing the beard in the dark light, and shakes it heartily. "Well Lad, if slayin' monsters is yer trade, ye be in the right place. As to this..." he gestures to the burnt tavern about them, "This is still a mystery to us all. but far from the most strange of occurrences in these parts. I must go see to a fellow dwarf who was injured here, and see if he is alright. Iffin he is, I am gonna bash his skull fer not getting any of the ale out of the tavern afore she went up in a fiery conflagaration. Yer free to walk with me if ye would like to, and I could show ye about town a bit if ye've a care to listen to an old dwarf ramble on. Taklinn is my name."
A stoic Solas can be seen watching the scene from far off. His blindfold is fastened securely around his head. He sighs as he shakes his head. He felt something wet on his face. Blood? Rain? No... A tear. How curious. He thought to himself. Solas felt something like a breathtaking weight on his chest. What is this? Frustration? Rage? They deserve the hell they brought upon themselves. He thought, once again to himself. Is this what they will do if left to their own devices?
Solas was alone. All he could do was stand there, powerless, wordless, worthless. Is this what it meant to be a hero? The embers went cold as Solas turned his back on the Tavern. No. We will take back this City.
After catching up with Solas and speaking with him briefly, Akon walks back to the scene, deep ponderance etched across her face. She bends down and feels delicately along the sourch marks still left on the stairs, pointing towards the general direction of the town post. Tracing steps to the post, she looks for any evidence of where the fire might have been set, but sees nothing. Sighing, she then looks at all the plastered notes put up on the town post. Plucking one of them off, she holds it in her hand, shaking her head at the destoryed mess of the tavern.
Solas turned from the scene. The cool wind on his face meant something was about to change. He could feel it. However an unspoken fear dangled over the people of the town. Keeping them Silent. Solas was determined to defeat it, determined to rebuild the city, the way he saw fit.
He just... needed a quiet spot to think.
The fires danced quickly along the liquor trail through the center of the tavern where they ended in a pile of broken benches and tables to set a blaze around the central column. As the fire reaches the height of the first rocket, the fuse ignites and sparks begin to fly irratically around the room, catching other explosives alight knocking out several of the taverns windows.
A large portion of the roof is blown off the tavern and lands on the asailant as he tries to make his escape, trapping him under the rubble. The fire continues to burn slowly in the shady corners, but it seems to be contained mostly to the central pillar as the alcohol buns away, leaving only a scorched trail from the door.