A shrill wind begins to churn around the edges of the shard diving in and out of the deep chasms of the void. As it rises from the depts, it brings with it the tortured screams of the planet as a deep reverberating moan. For a moment, the ground begins to tremble under your feet and several of the poorly maintained structures around town begin to show cracks and signs of structural weakness.
Inside The Shady Corners the burned structural beam shakes wildy and snaps under the weight of the remaining roof. The center of the building collapses in on itself rendering the dining area unuseable, however it seems the kitchen and store rooms remain intact at a cursory glance. Ash and soot from the fire are kicked up into the air as the roof collapses, and seem to stick to the form of a winged figure standing near the town post before they too float off in the wind.
Ohren looks around as he feels the earth shake. "What da hell is goin on here!" He rushes around his construction site trying to keep things from falling over. "I tink da spirits are a angry at somtin." Ohren shakes his fist at the earth. "You almost breaked my stuff I was makin!" Ohren stomps around and hits the ground with his club a few times putting large divets in the dirt. "Now you know better dan to mess around in da Crimson Quarter!!" He hits the ground a few more times and the returns to building. Hammering can be heard throughout Jastrey once again.
In a brief moment contrary to his recent secluded and hermit-like behavior, Blisdon could once again be found beneath the cool canopy of a shady tree,Albeit far more sober than one typically would discover the Dwarven Shaman.
Thick and oily pipe-smoke gently wafted out of the bearded mouth of the dwarf as it lazily floated upwards through the leaves and left the unmistakeably sweet scent of almonds and honeysuckle in the air as his sharp eyes observed the last of what remained of the tavern collapse inwards upon itself.
The shaman couldn't help but feel vindicated in the elements themselves finishing off what the dwarf could not, however the eerie howl of the wind and the shriek of the earth itself told him that something was horribly amiss in all this. Something was wrong with the earth, he could feel the it in the elements around him all the way to the roots of the tree that shook with fear just as the town itself trembled as the tavern shrunk to rubble..
(([sense spirit] ?))
Binx is re-stringing her bow when the tremors cause her to look up from her task. She finishes with haste and is out the door of the cabin in an instant, grabbing arrows and lifting the hood of her cloak on the way. She quickly but quietly makes her way to the remains of the tavern, assuming that is where the other townsfolk will gather. She darts through the woods, dodging trees until she reaches the clearing. By the time she arrives, the shape has dissapated. She slows to a walk towards the town post and then eventually slows to a stop. She drapes the bow over her shoulders and lowers her hood, taking in her surroundings. Her gaze eventually settles of the further destroyed tavern.
Taklinn emerges from the Warrior's Hall pushing a wheelbarrow stuffed with ore bags, huffing and puffing to get his belongings safely outside and away from any destruction. He continually looks up as if waiting for a ceiling to fall down upon him. "Earhquake!!!!!! He places his helm on his head and continues to run about the Warrior's Hall looking for damage to the building and the foundation. When the shape of a creature can be seen in the ash he bellows out loud "By Githal's arse what is it now!" He pulls his axe from its frog and picks up his shield nonchalantly, propping the axe handle on his shoulder, then rethinks his position, throwing his weapon and shield on the pile in the wheelbarrow and wheeling it back into the Warrior's hall. After some banging and clanging, he rushes back out again armed and stands on the porch of the Warrior's Hall, watching the scene. "What manner of bein' are ye? And what business do ye have in Jastrey? Come show yerself rather than be a sneakster!!"
After quickly gathering both axe and her sword from the worksite in the forest, Akon's figure can be seen darting full sprint towards the center of town. Her eyes catch sight of the smoke and ash rising from the rubble of the tavern. She keeps her pace steady, the small hairs on her skin rising as the tormented cries of the earth tease her senses. Then she sees it, a figure, wings...something but she couldn't quite make out. Her grip tightens on her axe and sword, baring her teeth now in a quite guttural growl as she darts forward, her red eyes beginning to glow a hellish flame red.
Katri is just behind Akon, bow tossed over her back now. She hears her mentor let out a growl and stops. Her eyes light on the barely visible winged figure before it disapated. She looked around at the gathering crowd. Katri slowly approached the remains of the tavern, curiosity taking over.
Gaius rushes out of his cabin as soon as the rumbling starts, effortlessly rushing into town to see if he can determine what exactly is going on. Upon hearing the sounds of the tavern's roof collapsing, Gaius hurries towards the Shady Corner. As he gets closer, he notices a winged figure standing near the town post, between him and the tavern. Gaius pauses for a second, trying to decide if he knows the figure or not.
He approaches closer to the town post, hoping to get a better look.
It only took a few minutes for Cail to reach the town post. As he emerged from the woods he saw a small group of people gathering there. He went to join them noticing that Akon was there, as always, as well as Katri, Gaius, and Binx. Cail walked over to them and asked, "Is anyone hurt?"
"Not that I've seen...not yet.." She said to Cail. "But be ready...this is hardly over. What ever that thing was..or is..unsettles me." She continued, frowning into the coulded ash. "The plane itself cried out in agony..." She said, half to herself, somewhat musing over what could have caused such a thing.
"Very well then," Cail said to Akon. "I will be near the Farm in the clearing if you need me." Cail took one last look up at the disappearing cloud of ash from the tavern and excused himself from the group. He walked slowly across town looking at the slight damage of the other buildings and within the hour he reached the clearing.
It was now dark and the stars dimily shone through the light cloud cover. Cail sat upon the grass of the field, looked up and closed his eyes. He folded his fingers in the fashion his mother had taught him and opened his mind to the celestial beings, hoping he would find an answer to the events that had transpired only a few hours ago.
In now typical Blisdon-like behavior, to any outside onlookers it would appear if the dwarf were having a conversation to himself. mumbling something incomprehensible about the spirits and the trembling earth as some of the first few droplets of water started to pound his face, as if the clouds themselves were taking careful aim.
Katri freezes suddenly, going very pale. It was almost as if she had seen or heard a ghost. She gives an unnoticeable shiver and tosses her bow across her back. It is clear the Uordeq has just become very unsettled as she tosses her hood over her head and jerks up her mask. Without a single word she quickly leaves the scene of the mysterious figure and heads for the tree line, her composure completely shot.
Folnir feels the ground shift beneath his feet and hears shouts in the distance. He rushes over in time to see the remainsof the tavern collapse. The dwarf sees blisdon beneath one of the shady trees and walks over to him.
"Well met, you wouldn't happen to know where I am would you?" Folnir said stroking his beard.
Morzoth bolts out the door of the half built forge and for the edge of the crimson quarter can see the dust from the tavern. As he weaves through the forest he shouts. "No not again!" In the clearing he starts to make out Binx, Akon, and Katri. He quickly makes his way to them. "What in the name of Arimir happend here"
Rasiri sits on a rock outside of his cabin and meditates. He had been doing this for quite some time. With his eyes closed and the future running invisible currents through his mind he waits and trys to see glimpses. He has been resting for near two months and has lost a good deal of weight. His silver hair glimmers in the sunlight. All of a sudden behind his perpetually closed eyelids he sees... he sees the world shake and shiver and a sort of doom settke over the town. His eyes snap open and he looks around, and just as he moves from his perch the world shudders. Rasiri almost loses his footing and stumbles, barely catching himself on his cabin wall. He then looks off toward the taven. "I have to see what is going on." He then walks off to rejoin the town.
A violent wind begins to whip though town blowind dust and loose debris through the area. It whilps and swirls over the lake as a small funnel cloud begins to form over the water. The agitated water begins to ripple as the ground begins to shake again. Small cracks begin to form along the edges of the roads leading to town and pieces of the wall begin to topple over. The pedastal that Thalenir used to stand on cracks in two before the trembling ceases and calm returns to Jastrey once more.
Dark clouds begin to circle the shard form all edges of the void as if to say a terrible storm is approaching, a storm with Jastrey as its focal point.
Taklinn can be seen mumbling to himself. After the rumbling resumes he looks skyward and says "Shave me beard and call me a gnome. What is going on around here?" he stands stoic in the middle of town, waiting for the storm that appears to be bearing its teeth at the town and readying himself for a battle.
A green figure stands at the edge of the lake, managing to stay upright as the ground shakes beneath her feet, water lapping against her bare feet. As the wind rises, she stands tall and closes her eyes, trying to listen to her ancestral spirits that were her constant guides.
She gripped her staff tightly as the wind threatened to tear it from her hands, listening to a cacophony of spirit voices, a mix of fear, despair, anger and even excitement. As the wind died down and the shaking stopped, Rivka muttered worriedly in the goblin tongue into the suddenly still air.
Astrum walks out and observes the destruction in process
"Heeheehee, that's some wall we have. A little wind and it blows over. Hehe. Should have built a wall of mud. Would have saved some time and it'd be laying on the ground all the same."
With that Astrum walks backwards towards taklinn laughing all the while.
"So long beard. Can we continue on to my book? It's high time I retrieved it."
It had been a full night and day that Cail spent meditating at the farm. Once the stars gave way to the sun, he went into the forest on the edges of the clearing and sat. Hours later his stomach churned in hunger and Cail opened his eyes lazily.
"Well, it appears no answers have come to me. I guess something to eat will have to be on the top of my agenda now."
Cail stands and walks back towards town, but as he nears halfway the sky darkens with clouds and the ground rumbles yet again. Howling winds blow through the trees over his head and the earth cracks beneath his feet. "It's worse this time," he said to himself. "I must hurry."
Cail then walks at a brisk pace to get back to town, careful to keep his footing, to see what further damage has been done.
Taklinn's ears begin to turn red as Astrum talks about the wall, but soon glances to him and says "Aye we can see what we can see. Ye see that ixifar floating over there, he be the sorcerer I was talking about. He would be the first person to speak to I would think, shall we?" Taklinn ends his remarks with a low bow and then begins walking over to the hovering Wyndfere. "Hey lad, have someone here ye may want to meet, so ye both can talk about wiggling yer dainty fingers around and throwing spells." he says to Wyndfere as he walks up to him with his arm outstretched. He then looks back to Astrum and says "Ye may be able to talk with the gnome Marduk as well if ye want to get yer wizard talk up."
Astrum looks at his fingers intently.
"Wonderful word, dainty. Never thought I'd hear a dwarf say it! I see Glimmer has had quite the effect on you. ey?"
Astrum nudges Taklinn and then rubs his bruised elbow.
"Now then Wyndfere, about this book... Care to explain?"
Wyndfere looks down from the sky at Taklinn. "If you say that wigglin' my danty fingers is what I do, then let it be known that I do it best."
Then Wyndfere sees the new face - Astrum, and says, "Welcome to our quaint town of Jastery. And don't worry, storms like this are normal around here. I just stay a float incase a chasm opens up. You never know.
"I wonder if I could harness this storm in a wand?"
Wyndfere takes his wand out and holds it to the sky.
Astrum retains his smile but a hint of steel creeps into his eyes.
"I see he has been active in my absence. I have been away far too long."
He then holds out his hand.
"I can control it. I've always counted you as a friend in a mistrustful world, and you've never wronged me to my knowledge. So I ask you now, please return my book. If you do not have it, please lead me to whoever does have it."
"So i see that you have found out about that, I cannot outright give you the book back. I need it as well now. Maybe we could work out a deal. Solus and I are bound to that book. Maybe we can penetrate the innermost secrets of the book together, we would work better together than alone." Rasiri says with equal steel to Astrum, his face is very serious. "I wil work with you but i can't be parted from that book."
Blisdon turns to the strange dwarf newcomer with wild eyes and a gaping mouth, some smoke still wafting out of it as the wind continues to steadily pick up in stronger gusts. The unfortunately sober shaman carefully inspected the new arrival to jastrey from beneath a single, squinted eye and a cocked eyebrow.
"Oh what cards that fate must have dealt you, Friend!" Blisdon Bellowed loudly, taking a stand from where he was sat against the tree and stretching his arms wide apart, turned upwards to point at the raging stormclouds overhead.
"To have brought you here to this town just in time to witness the very earth that we stand upon crumble and wash away by the untameable elements themselves!"
Blisdon would have continued then but the violent gusts of wind signaling the storms sudden, violent turn for the worst forced the shaman to return under the relative safety of the tree. The Shaman held tightly onto a thick branch for support as the formidable gusts of wind nearly forced him off his feet.
"I have seen these walls hold back entire armies for a time, stranger. I've seen amazing feats of luck and unbelievable fate occur here behind these walls." The dwarf continues, his eyes moving rapidly as he tried to witness as much of the destruction at one time as possible.
"But...in the end? even the most enduring civilizations turn to dust and pebbles at the hands of the elements." Blisdon was no longer sure if he was making sense anymore as the world he knew slowly began to blow away.
"So the ground beneath us shakes, and the winds blow us all about and ye two want to add in a duel into the mix! I cant say that I think she's a good idea, or that I believe the blasted book is responsible for all this mess!" Taklinn shouts above the wind and rumbling at the two fools and their dainty hands.
A slightly trickle of rain begins to fall as the storm clouds move closer in from the edge of the shard. The wind picks up and this time ceases to stop. The howling of the elements reverberates through the buildings of town and begins to make it difficult to hear what people are saying. Dust begins to pick up from the ground and blow in small circles in the air, once again marking the shape of the winged figure still standing by the town post.
A tall robed figure steps out of the dust cloud draped in long flowing black robes with a hood pulled up over his head. Long skeletal fingers extend past the sleeves of the robe barely covered by leathery skin. This figure seems to have no fat or muscle but seems to carry himself with an air of importance. Tucked under his left arm is a dark leather bound book and a quill. He looks across the square and see's the commotion that appears to be beginning and walks over to Taklinn, and in a low, slow, and chilling voice says, "Master Forgesplitter, I don't belive you put enough stock in the power of books."
Astrum ignores his dwarven friend's chiding and focuses on Wyndfere.
"A duel you say? Hmm, well considering it's rightfully mine anyways, I suppose I can bow to this request. What be the rules of this duel?"
As the new stranger approaches, Astrum's eyes flick towards the book he carries.
"And who are you sir?"
Astrum asks innocently.
Having taken seat on the ruined steps of the tavern, Akon sat staring out at the townsfolk, pondering how best to keep them safe with the rising storm. Her long hair caught and tugged in the gaining winds' pull. Yet she sat still and calm in quiet contemplation, axe and sword restingetween her knees. Then she flinches, grip instantly tightening as the winged figure appeared again. Recognising the ghastly figure, she remained seated, watching him intently, red eyes paying special mind to the book held snuggly under his arm.
Wyndfere answers astrum's question yelling over the wind, barely audible, "Just one-on-one! Abilities allowed! Weapons allowed! Clothing and armor allowed! Until one of us is KO'd. Healing the KO'd is mandatory."
But at the ned of this, Wyndfere sees the robed book-holder and says nothing.
Instead, Wyndfere uses --INSPECT MAGIC-- on the book the man holds.
The figure expands his wings and nods at Astrum, "I don't believe we've ever had the pleasure of meeting." He extends his skeletal hand to Astrum in a gesture of greeting he'd seen offered many times over the years, but never accepted. "I am Joe Black, caretaker of the lost and the damned, shepard of wayward souls, and usher to the temple of the three gates. Unlike many here, your name has never graced my books, are you the one I seek?"
Akon frowns, seeing the deathly figure reaching towards the new whitehair. Not making out any of the discussion over the rustle of the wind, she rises, sheathing her blackblade as she approaches the hooded creature. She asks planely, "Who do you seek this time..."
Having regained her composure after a time, Katri returned to the group gathered near the tavern and town post. Her mask was drawn up, as usual, but her dark eyes and hair were exposed by a hood the heavy wind kept blowing back. Pushing her hair behind her ears as best she could, the Uordeq slipped up just in time to see the cloaked figure appear and move over to Takklin. Her eyes were like daggers on the leather book in it's possession and a low hiss slipped from between her teeth. She paid little attention to Wyndfere's declaration to the newcomer she did not recognise as she walked up beside the ixifar.
Chataya, who had been watching all the commotion from a short distance, finally steps forward and moves to stand near Wyndfere, Taklinn, and the unfamiliar others. She looks over everyone for any signs of hurt, and seeing none, settles in a ready stance, watching the exchange with the black figure.
Joe Black closes his hand around Astrums and squeezes tightly. Even over the wind, the sound of popping and shattering bones can be heard, and when the death shade releases his grip, all that's left of Astrum's hand is a mangled collection of shattered bones, while the shade's hand begins to regrow flesh. [maim - repeadedly until you're out of counters]
"The name of the soul I seek has been erased from the book of the dead, and it hides itself in the light of the prime. A soul so foul only bars of prime could restrain it, a spirit so cunning it was able to escape the pit, a fiend so powerful it could defy the laws of nature itself - but even it must be ushered back to the gates." The shade opens the book and thumbs to the page where the name should be written. Hundreds of names are meticulously written on each page, yet in the middle of the page that he stops on, there is a glaring hole. "To escape death is to defy nature, a crime greater than defying all the immortals. I merely seek to right this wrong."
Binx pulls her coak around herself against the elements. She is silent among the crowd, observing from beneath her hood. Talk of a duel over an apparently valuable book. A bunch of dwarves. The creature known as Joe Black making an appearance. Between the wind picking up and her attention being drawn in multiple directions, she is unaware of the gaunt man breaking the other man's hand.
Katri doesn't flinch when she sees what is left of the new white hair's hand. Instead a light scoff can be heard and a muttering of the word "Fhool." Her eyes remain sharp on Joe Black as he explains his presence and shows the place of the missing name in his book. "Someone like that ees hidink here, een Jastrey?" Katri's voice is devoid of emotion and calm, though her eyes show a light mistrust.
Akon's already blanch features visably pale as she hears the words leak out of the death shade. She swallows hard, then carefully looks to all the towns members around her, knowing full well of the massive flood of death the shade brought on his coat tails upon his last visit. The look on her face now was the most grave the dark woman had ever held. With deep resolve she talks just loud enough to be heard. "I know of the soul you seek... I've only one question. What shall become of the soul hers was consumed by?"
Upon hearing the cracking of Astrum's bones, Chataya reacts. Once the shade releases it's grip, she reaches out and grabs Astrum by the shoulder and drags him to the back of the group and pushes him to a sitting position on the ground. She starts the work of healing the hand. She grimaces as she feels the shattered bones and look Astrum in the eyes. "I'm sorry," she says. "This is going to take some time to heal. And hurt. A lot. I'd take you to the Healer's Den, but I'm sure you want to see what's going on. And keep your eye on the book you seem so interested in." She positions herself on the ground so that they both can watch the newcomer and settles in to fix the hand. [Bonesetting]
Awaiting the death shade's response, Akon looks to Wyndfere and Talkinn, and edges closer to them. Making sure to look at each of them directly, and speak loud enough for them to hear, getting closer to each of them as she speaks. "Taklinn, racial hatred and distrust aside, as protector of this town I'm asking you now to remember this. Trust me or not, prophecy has spoken that this town will need a warlock to survive what is to come. Should the result of this be the end of me, then I ask as my last request that you seek out another of the dark arts to stand with you through the trials that shall come. Do this, and your life debt to me shall be repaid." She looks to Wyndefere, red eyes narrowing on him. "You claim to wish to defend this town. Then prove it. Should this be the end of me, then seek out another of the dark arts and aid Taklinn in this task. You'll need one for what shall face you and the people of Jastrey in the next seasons of our people...." She swallows hard again, her face stoic, the look of once warrior setting her jaw solid. "And immortals so help you if the one you choose be not as willing to aid you so freely as I....." She then looks directly at the death shade, awaiting his response with stonelike resolve.
"If it be true that ye are to save the town than I am fine with yer sacrifice. As fer yer stinkin' prophecy, you can go dig ore. I aint fer findin' another Warlock to come and corrupt this town. Me life debt to ye was repaid by yer own words, an' now ye put me in charge of replacing ye with another of yer dark kind?! What makes ye think this isn't what yer stinkin' prophecy spoke of in the first place. Yer honesty would have been appreciated a month ago, but ye couldn't admit it to yerself that ye weren't in control of this foul magic or the soul ye shared yer body with! I ain't fer finding another Warlock, and ye can be sure o' that. These Dark Arts ye speak of are what put us in this mess, and I'm not fer gettin' us tangled up with more of it! That is my contribution to protecting this town!"
Astrum's smile fades to a frown as his hand is crushed. A bead of sweat slides down his face and a grimace replaces his formerly cheery air.
After the shade releases his hand, Astrum stares at it dumbly, pain and indignation filling his eyes.
"I say sir! That was terribly rude! Perhaps you don't realize it but this thing is kind of useful! How on earth am I supposed to shake hands now? Noone wants to shake a crumpled stump! And as for you uordeq, how do you know if I am a fool? Perhaps I am an empty? Have you been watching me eat? Bad form bad form."
Astrum allows himself to be pulled backwards and as Chataya begins setting Astrum's hand, his grimace intensifies. He takes a moment to thoughtfully inspect her eyes and then says,
"You are kind. Kinder than most."
Astrum reaches into his robes with his good hand and slips something rose red and shiny to Chataya.
"If you ever need anything of me, just ask. If it is within my power it will be done"
With that Astrum begins making obscene gestures at the Skeletal creature and giggling quietly to himself.
Akon doesn't move in her resolve, looking back at Talkinn, and raising her voice so it could be heard above the wind. "Because the prophecy was spoken before I was ever on this Shard....it is not I that has brought the doom that Jastrey shall face. What of your former Sheriff? Seek him out, ask him, he knows of the prophecy....it is why he allowed Stiers to train in the path of the warlock under Irrivath. The very man you served under as deputy knows the truth of what I speak. I'm not asking you to believe -me-, I'm asking you to protect your town. And for that, it will take an open mind, and a look beyond the definition of pure and righteous...." Akon scoffs. "Even your galant brother of a paladin is damned to the pit., Doran. Ask him. This is an existance which is hardly lines of right and wrong. It's a line of survival. And if you won't protect this town...." She looks around to those gathered, raising her voice. "Then who will!?"
"Vell, as fhar as I know, only a fhool vould shake hands vith a shade." Katri replied, raising an eyebrow at the odd man. Her attention was drawn temporarily from Wyndfere and Akon as she watched Chataya pull the man away and shortly after, begin making obscene gestures Joe Black. She rolled her eyes and turned her focus back to the group. Looking to Akon, who's speech she hears the last of, "Ich werde, Lady Nivarian." (I will)
Chataya smiles at Astrum, and accepts the gift and places it in her pouch. "Thank you for the kind words. Now let's get this hand healed."
She turns her head towards Katri. "Katri, friend, perhaps it would be best to hold back on the insults at the moment. There are problems that we may need to band together to resolve," she said, indicating the shade with her head. "If we ruin all chances to come together as allies, who knows what will happen."
"Of course, Chataya. I vill stay my tongue fhor now." Katri nods to the Ixifar.
"I svear it Lady Nivarian, on my soul and upon an oath that runs deeper than any blood oath of the Cassitran Family." Katri locked eyes with Akon, meeting her mentor and advisor's demand with honesty and without hesitation.
Akon nods to Katri. "Then seek others in this task, so should you also fall, then it shall be carried out." She then looks at the death shade, and offers out her own hand, licking her lips and swallowing hard. The usually composed Uordeq has signs of nervousness breaking through her attempt to be calm and stoic. "Do not harm any other...I'll write the name of the soul you seek in the book...." She still listens for any answer the death shade may give in response to her question, holding her hand out to recieve the bound leather.
The interruption of the Shade known as Joe Black was not a surprise to Cail. They had met before.
Then for some reason, some of the crowd started arguing with each other. Cail hoping to put some calm sense into things stepped in.
"Friends, friends," he said. "Do you not see you are ignoring our guest? Albeit he has already dibilitated sir Astrum, he is only here to do what he thinks is right. We should try to finish this business with Black before we all degrade into meaningless quarrels amongst ourselves. Please, focus on the matter at hand."
Cail turns to Joe Black and says, "Sir, if it is within my power and if what you say is true, I will do whatever it takes to help you."
"Ye ever have talked out of both sides of yer mouth, why would I go to trustin ye now. Even the one kindness ye gave me was meant to be leverage in case ye needed some stooge to do yer biddin'. So this prophecy ye all speak of could be comin true right now, and glad I am if yer sacrifice would stop this madness. Ye speak all the time of yer sacrifices to this town, and this be yer chance to show us all yer worth!" He screams above the tumult.
"Takklin, fhor once, I vill say your racism ees out ohf hand. Lady Nivarian ees doing her best to do just that now, prove to you fhools she ees only tryink to help. At any rate, as Mistress Chataya just said thees ees not the time fhor arguments, Dwarf." Katri snapped, only breifly removing her eyes from Akon to shoot a glare at the dwarf.
The death shade's attention focuses on Akon when she says that she knows who it is that he sought. Even if she was telling the truth, it was the first good lead outside the names the dwarf had given him previously. "I can't promise the safety or well being of the one who harbors the spirit. Either their pain and torment must be unbearable, or the soul is screaming with a murderous vengeance within them."
Joe Black turns the book and presents it to Akon and offers her his quill. "If you know the name, write it, and end the suffering."
"It aint got nothin' to do with race ye dolt! It's to do with the fact that she still has that succubus in her, no matter how little ye try to say it. Evil that deep ain't passed like yesterday's dinner lass. And not so long ago ye were sayin' that she needed to be rid of this thing yerself, so keep race out of it! What ye fools fail to see is that he ain't here fer Akon Niverian, he's here fer-" Taklinn's rant is cut short as a board from a nearby building clips him on his head and he falls back dazed from the blow.
"Fine. I accept eet ees not about race. And I did and do vant her rid of thees succubus. Eet ees painful even to her. I know thees think is aparently here for Ravinna as vell-" Katri began to cut across Takklin as he spoke, but fell silent when the board struck him. She shrugged. "Ah vell. The point vas, fhor anyone who cares to listen, that Lady Nivarian ees trying to do vhat ees right eenspite of the succubus. And that, given the circumstances, ve need to try and get alonk or be silent."
When Akon spoke of protecting the town, Wyndfere said nothing and gritting his teeth holding back retaliation.
As Taklinn mentions the Succubus, Wyndfere's eyes glint. "That's right. It might be the succubus. And Akon, I pray you safe journey through your hardship carrying such a demon, but please get rid of her now before it gets worse or before Joe Black does something unexpected."
The wind blew strong, tossing Akon's long hair around her face as she stared at the named pages. Gently she took hold of the feathered quill, holding it there for a moment inches from the book. She knew all too well the power that was held between the marriage of that quill and paper...
The woman seemed to fall into her own quiet world in all the rabble. The look on her face grave, solumn, resigned. Silently, the rims of her eyes began to gather moisture as her gaze fluttered closed for just a moment, quill held steady above the page. Everything flooded back through her mind all at once, flashes of her child hood, glimpses of the people of her past. And then the words of her deceased master floated through all the memories, his words becoming all to clear.
No one will mourn you or know exactly what has transpired.
I looked into your heart long ago, Akon. What I saw there was a good person who could resist the evil, who could bend it to noble purpose. I knew this before even you realized the truth of it.
The choice is yours. But know this: Of the many things I have seen, I know this for absolute certainty. If Jastrey is to survive what is to come, it will need a warlock. Jastrey is important, and it will need you… whatever you may become.
Akon then opened her eyes, staring down at the hole in the text. A few moist drops stuck to her cheeks as the wind blew against her face, quill gently edging towards the page. She hesitated only a moment longer, before she whispered her repeated response to herself. "I will be the warlock Jastrey needs...." Before she set the quill to the paper and wrote out clearly letter by letter:
RAVINNA O'KAIN
With the last curve of the last letter, Akon closed her eyes and slowed the quill, whispering in Uordeq tongue to herself as she lifted the quill from the page. "Shadows..protect me."
"Aye, folnir Hoar-frost? I'll remember that, friend. " Blisdons voice trails slightly as his unease grows as he watches from afar as the death encounters other members of the town, the creature included. "The name's Blisdon, Town drunk and, coincidentally enough, The town revolutionary as well. Funny the cards get drawn for a man, eh?" Blisdons voice was a mix of simmering anger and a frustrated wearyness that can only come from fighting a surely losing battle. He could see clearly as the shade conversed with town, The creatures book held outward for the town to do with as they pleased.
Blisdon spat at this feet, his eyes now wild and bulging from beneath his bushy eyebrows. "Alright Folnir, excuse me just a moment. You a gamblin' man by any chance? Then you might have an idea about what in the pitt I'm 'bout to do."
The blisdon quickly traversed the gap between where he stood under the tree towards the crowd of people, walking into the middle of their conversation just to catch the tail-end of the creature and her uordeq pet saying some gibberish about warlocks protecting the town.
"Yer damned fools!" He shouted out at the crowds,his mouth slightly frothing and spittle quickly flying from his lips before being cought by the wind and disappearing into the violent gusts of wind. "Especially you, You hound of the dead! and you too Jastrey, you know what is causing this very shard to tear apart and crumble into dust and yet you waste time DEBATING and playing coy over who it just might be while nature screams and howls to be released from their torture?! "
The dwarf snarled, Turning his head towards the infernal beast-turned-sheriff, pulling his infamous Sword of SUC from it's sheath and leveling at it at her head. "Has nobody in this town learned what the fuck dark arts are in this town? Does nobody know that the addiction to their own dark powers is so great that to lie and act deceivingly is merely second nature to them. Theres nothing left of the person inside this ugly and mutilated husk of an uordeq. "
Blisdon cocked his head back wildly, his wild eyes staring into the ghastly sockets of the shade "Write the name Ravinna O'kain in yer damned book, shade. Thats the demon who the warlock consumed in order to operate free of ever having to make another pact with it."
Blisdon's eyes softened a bit as he swiveled his head around the the townspeople around him "Aye, Thats right....Hardly for the 'good of the town', eh? The Beast just didn't want to rely on another to give her a taste of power. she wanted it all chugged down her throat at once."
When Astrum pulls his hand from hers, she starts to protest, but then realizes that he's right. She rushes to the dwarfs side and gives him a shake. "Taklinn! Taklinn!" she yells in his ear over the din. "Are you alright? Wake up!" She looks over his scalp, checking for breaks. "Are you badly hurt?Answer me!" She gives him another shake. "You're supposed to stay alive!" [Heal 20] "C'mon you dwarf! We need you!"
Taklinn comes to as if from a deep slumber. "Bah tis just a bump on me noggin' It'll take more than some silly old board to keep me down. Thank ye for the help though. So how long was I out? What did I miss?" he says as he props himself on one elbow and watches from his seat.
Ridlan had been watching from the forest ready to flee at the slightest warning when he saw Blisdon screaming about Akon and her signing the book. Breathing a slight sigh of relief he nervously approached Blisdon and whispered low enough for only him to hear "Hello my friend, it seems the beast has a different target today, but given our special......situation...im quite nervous, what if he catches scent of any of us? "
When Drux sees the shade appears he holds back to see what will transpire. After hearing talk of warlocks and demons the monk has had enough and decides to step in. “Has this town all gone as mad as the wizard?” gesturing to Astrum, “We have a half demon warlock as sheriff, a shade shows up not for the first time and we don’t kill it? Dreygor was right this town is damned by its acceptance.” He looks to newly awake dwarf. “I thought when I left on my quest for enlightenment that I left the town in good hand maybe I was wrong.” Then turning to Akon with a look of disgust coming to his face and as for protection of this town I have always been one in favor of it but that notion can’t be coupled with a vow to go looking for a warlock.” After his tirade Drux settles down only a little.
Seeing him wake up, she helps Taklinn to a stitting position. "Taklinn, you were saying that he wasn't here for Akon, that he was here for someone else. Did you mean Ravinna?"
Hearing Drux's tirade, she turns to him and says "Don't worry. These things are being addressed. Things are changing in Jastrey. Just give it a little while. There are those of us that are not sitting idle during the current state of affairs!"
"Watch yerself General. Ye werent about fer much o' what these fools have been up to. And sometimes it is better not to stick yer iron in a forge afore ye check the temperature. Now ye have all rights to be mad about the Wings being in disarray, but I aint no monk! I cut monster's heads off and defend this town but good. Don't come in all enlightened and think to lecture me!"
Shadows protect you... Katri mouthed, little more than a breath, as she watched Akon write out Ravinna's name in the deathshade's book. She said nothing as the people around her seemed to explode into sound an motion in her senses. With stone-like determination, she tuned out the world around her from Blisdon's outburst on. Her eyes and other senses were fully trained on Akon and Joe Black and she waited.
The rain fell from the sky and the roar of the wind made everything else seem silent in Cail's ears.
The name was written.
And time was at a stand still.
Cail and the other's watched as the events unfolded second by agonzing second. Cail wondered what name it was, but then he thought of how everyone had accused Akon of being one with a Succubus. Perhaps that was what Black came for and if that was the case, Cail would rather help Akon rid herself of such a burden instead of helping the shade.
He glanced at Katri and noticed that she was standing apart, staring intently at Akon. Cail walked up beside her and bent to say into her ear, "Akon lived without that demon inside of her before. I have faith she will live without it again. Do not worry for her. She will be fine."
Cail looked at her and gave a half smile conveying support, then stood up to focus back on Akon and Black.
Akon stepping up so soon was not what Binx had expected. A grand master plan, a fight to the death, or some grand compromise first, not Akon making such a bold move without hesitation. Joe Black had given her an idea of what was going to happen. She lowers her head, her eyes hidden under her hood and her lips set in a grim line. The small gesture came from both anticipation of a horrific scene and respect of Akon, assuming the worst as the other Uordeq signs the name of the demon she had absorbed.
The moment Akon's quill left the book, leaving the name Ravinna O'Kain in the empty space, the skies began to explode with lightning. The dark clouds collapsed upon the small town, blotting out what little light was left from the sun, and bolts of lightning began to rapidly strike the shard. The ground began to tremble again and the crack that had formed along the center of town began to widen, slightly separating Joe Black and Akon from the rest of the group.
A bolt of lightning strikes the outstretched limbs of the tree that Blisdon had been hiding under until recently, and a stray branch falls off, striking Taklinn in the head again, knocking him unconcious once more. The death shade's eyes linger on the book momentarially and then raise to follow the point of Blisdon's sword. He reaches up slowly, grabbing the tip of the weapon in his clamy hands and pushes the weapon back down to the ground. His bare touch causing the weapon to rust as the rain begins to pour down over the townsfolk.
"Thank you shaman, but I'm able to see the fiend inside her now." Joe Black's gaze is now focused on Akon, but instead of looking at her, he appears to be seeing through her. He stares inquisitively at the warlock as the two souls seem to be merged nearly perfectly as one. "Hmmm," he says plainly, as he strokes his chin with his skeletal hand. "This might hurt a bit." The shade reaches out to Akon, placing his hands to either side of her head with his thumbs on her horns, and begins to slowly press down into her forehead.
Astrum glances to his right calmly where a bolt of lightning struck.
"I told you we should have gone inside. Someone pick up the dwarf again. It seems he's caught a bad case of luck."
Astrum then continues to watch the proceedings while absent-mindedly weaving grass together.
The woman didn't move, didn't flinch. She merely opened her eyes now as Black spoke, looking at him direct and steadfast. Her face was a look of resignation as to what ever may come. She bowed her head into his hands as he reached for her, closing her eyes again, her breath and blood quickening with the anticipation of the pain would come, or worse...
Lightning and thunder. Nature's display of power. Cail was slightly awed, but none the less he stood his ground watching as the ground split even further between Akon and the rest of the crowd. The rumble of earth beneath his feet made Cail feel unsteady yet his resolve still stood. He wouldn't abandon his new friends in light af a little danger.
Black grabbed a hold of Akons head and began pressing. Strange way to go about taking something "out" of somone.
Her ancesteral spirits seemed just as clueless as Rivka was about what was going on and that thought by itself made her fear what the Immortals had in store for the shard. The hair on the back of the shaman's neck stood out straight as a lightning bolt hit almost dead center of the small lake. The goblin jumped backwards, away from the edge of the water, as the deafening BOOM shook the small valley and the storm suddenly intensified. She landed ungracefully on her butt and scrambled back to her feet and toward the sloped path. The heavy downpour made the slope a treacherous path of loose rocks, mud, and gushing water. "SPIRITS! PROTECT RIVKA!" the goblin yelled, her voice almost completely drowned out by another crack of lightning. Abandoning her staff, she used all four limbs in an attempt to make it up the path.
Katri spared a sidelong glance at Cail, "Vhat you say ees true. Thank you." She nods in return to his smile, her green and silver mask still covering the lower half of her face. Katri stands still as stone as nature seems to explode on Jastrey. She shifts her weight slightly to maintain her balance as the ground splits infront of her. Her dark eyes dim slightly with worry as she watches the shade place his hands on Akon's head. Her fear of lightening had disappeared in that moment as she again waited.
Joe Black presses firmly on Akon's horns until the begin to recede. As the horns retract into her head, her eyelids begin to droop and close. As she begins to slide into unconsciousness, the shade begins to lay her down and pulls a strange looking blade from beneath his robes. Satisfied that the horns has been dealth with, the shade plunges the blade straight into Akon's chest and reaches a hand into the cavity.
The shade ignores any muttering behind it and continues to work dilligently to separate the souls of Akon and Ravinna. Ocassionally he would hiss loudly and make a myriad of frustrated sounds. The rain began to bead on the edges of the death shades hood rolling down his brow slowly, looking like drops of sweat as he continued the ancient ritual on the still body of Akon. She lay there unmoving, lifeless, as if a corpse.
"Eef you vant to put eet that vay, then yes." Katri had still not looked at the paladin. The unshed tears still glistened in her eyes. Suddenly, her demeanor changed. She had flipped her emotional switch. Her stance was straighter and her eyes began to grow cold. All the bitter sarcasm that had permeated her voice left. "Eet vould definitely appear that thees eesn't goink se vell. Joe Black ees clearly haffink difficulties..."
Astrum gives a big grin towards Katri.
"Sticks and stones my dear. If you have quarrel with me then act upon it. If not then I beseech you to occupy your mind with things other than insults. I'm afraid that in my absence this town has spent too much time pointing fingers at each other. Perhaps if you'd all stop insulting one another we wouldn't be in this situation."
Astrum stands, does an elaborate and confusing bow, then sits back down to his grass-weaving.
The death shade breathes deeply as he finishes his task inside the unconscious Uodreq. He turns back to the paladin that offered help saying only, "Hold her." However, by that point, the paladin had already stormed off to the woods.
Content with his work, he removes the blade from Akon's chest cleanly, leaving no marks, no blood, and no sign that anything had happened to the warlock.
Katri gave Astrum an enquiring look. It was a bit of a late reaction, in her opinion, but she let it go. "No quarrel vith you personally, and belief me, insults are not somethink that occupy my thoughts. I vould also assume you are correct about the finger-ponting, but the only think I know ohf eet, ees that the town vas very much already like thees vhen I arrived. And please, forgif me fhor theenking eet fhoolish to shake the hand ohf a death shade." The small Uordeq shrugged. She turned back to the shade and the body of Akon, her emotional switch still firmly placed on off as she watched the shade finish diging through her mentor and advisor's body.
Astrum raises his eyebrow slightly.
"Well last time I helped you I got a crumpled hand... But I don't see any harm in second chances!"
Astrum shoulders the limp body.
"What should I do with it?"
He crinkles his nose at the lump on his shoulder.
"Smells like exorcism."
The shade walks around Astrum, inspecting the body one last time. He pokes at her forhead where the horns once were. He scrapes his hands down her back, ensuring there are no wings, and follows down to the spine at last eyeing the tail. "Get a good grip boy, and whatever you do don't let go."
He grabs Akon at the base of her tail and tugs forcefully, pulling Astrum slightly off balance and ripping the tail clean off the warlock. The ground trembles beneith Jastrey one final time and the wind begins to calm. Joe Black begins to walk off into the distance with the barely visible image of Ravinna O'Kain attached to the tail and draped over his shoulder.
With his free hand, he motions in the air in front of him, opening a gaping hole of darkness which he walks through. The dark portal closes as soon as he and the succubus pass through and the weather calms. A light drizzle continues to fall on the residents of Jastrey as the clouds begin to drift away. All that's left is the destruction wrought by the elements, the cold, limp body of Akon draped over Astrum's shoulder, and the black book, still laying open on the ground.
The most recent entry in the log reads: Akon Nivarian.
Katri stares down at the book, barely able to keep her emotions in check. She blinks a few times, her dark hair blowing lightly across her face as the wind dies. She is frozen to the spot. Everyone she had cared for, it appeared, was gone. Her face was blank as she removed her mask. "Umbrae tui contigitae, Mistress Nivarian." She walked over to the body that Astrum had carelessly dropped and picked the taller woman's corpse up off the ground with some difficulty.
Rasiri stand dumbfounded as Mr. Black finishes his work and watches as Astrum drops her body to the ground. "AKON! NO!" He reaches the fallen body of Akon just as Katri finishes picking her up and scoops her up away from Katri. He glances around at all the party assembled with sadness pain and rage in his eyes. Rasiri jerks his head to one side telling Katri to follow and debris flings itself out of the way as he storms off into the forest letting only one small silent tear fall.
Distracted from his work by the activity in town and by the earth shaking again. Ohren comes storming into town furious. "WHAT DA HELL IS YOU ALL DOIN! CANT'T A MAN GET SOME STRUCTION DONE WIF OUT DA EARTHS SHAKIN AND TRYIN TO KNOCK IT DOWN!?" Seeing the two Dekis with the limp body of Akon he pauses. He notices the small differences. [sense spirit] Her wonderful glorious horns have dissapeared and the tail with them. He approaches the two. "What happened to Bacon?" he askes with a somber tone. "Is she ok?" He reaches towards her "Ikkitikkitakkitu" [Heal 10]. "Bacon? BACON? BAAAAACCCCOOOONNNN!!!"
Katri acknowledges the man who used to be her brother with a nod, returning her mask and hood to their places. Her bangs still catch in the light wind and hide her eyes. She doesn't stop him from taking the body from her arms and follows, glaring only for a moment at the spot where the book and shade had been, watching as the debris flew out of the way of Rasiri.
Binx watches the process from beneath the shadows of her hood in stoic silence. She flinches once as Akon is stabbed but shows no other reaction until it is done. Her head turns as Akon's body is carried by and finally she lowers her hood in respect, watching as she is taken away.
Cail stared in disbelief, though his face didn't show it. The weather calmed but the emotions of the people darkened into sadness, except maybe a select few.
He had not known Akon very long, but he had known her long enough to know that she was stronger than this. She had to be. There was no way that she was dead. Two souls in one body living peacefully. Take one out and there still shouldn't be a problem. unless Akon's soul was too far damaged by that of the Succubus.
But wait....
There were no marks on her body and as far as Cail could tell, there was no internal damage. it was all done with otherworldly magic.
She lives. I know she does. Only time will tell.
Edwin comes out of this cabin clad in armor just in time to see the demon that Akon use to be being ripped out of her body. He stood motionless as death pulled the tail of the demon and left. He stood motionless as the citizens fought over the lifeless body of the Sheriff. The only emotion that was present was a glimps of a small smirk at the corners of his mouth. Once everything had clamed Edwin pulled his sword from his sheath, planted it tip first into the ground and took a knee. Kneeling on this weight on the hilt of the weapon, he began to speak.
"Oh great lady of the Morn, I try not to assume I understand your ways but I thank you once again for taking the darkness that resided in this town back to The Pit from which it came from. Now guild me Istensia. Show me how to make this town believe that there is still hope in your light after all."
With that said Edwin retreives his sword and resheaths it looking around at all the chaos that had ensued during his absents First looking at the destruct then looking for anyone hurt. Noticing Taklinn lieing on the ground unconcious with his head smoking from the bolt of lightening Edwin rushes over to him. Seeing Chataya there already Edwin asks,"should we move him to a bed or leave him out here in the rain?"
Taklinn finally stirs from his slumber, eyes lolling a bit. "What in Espidrel's beard happened?" seeing the crowd dissipated somewhat he shrugs his shoulders and heads back to the Warrior's Hall for some rest. "Needin' a bit of time to shake the cobwebs, but I'll be fine. Shouldn't have said all that mess about it would take more than a board to knock me out, I belived the Immortals may have taken offense."
The sound of clanking steel can be heard from the direction of the tower as Doran runs to the center of town. "I may be daft for putting in the time to save a piece of Uordeq scum, but she is yer sheriff after all. Aft a mestrun of research, I've found a way to rid the witch of the demon without killing her! Where be the sheriff, I've got a solution I think we can all be happy with!"
After seeing Taklinn to his feet, Chataya turns to Doran. "Paladin friend, the issue has already been... dealt with. Joe Black returned, ripped the demon soul from Akon, and seemingly killed her. Her body has been carried off somewhere." She cocks her head to one side, curious to see his response.
Seconds before the tremor, Cail's eyes open wide to see the lush green color of the sun filtering through the canopy of the forest. He looks left, his brow furrowed, then right. From where he sat with his back against a stout pine, he felt something tingle in his mind. He placed his hands palms down on the ground beside him, bowed his head and closed his eyes. The wind blew through the trees making it sound as if the forest was screaming.
Then it happened.
The ground shook with great force and the earth below him seamed to roar with the sound of grinding tectonic plates or perhaps.... No. it couldn't be.
Not another shattering. Cail knew this day would come, although not during this phase of planetary alignment. He rose from his sitting position swaying with the trembling ground and as soon as he was fully erect, the rumbling and groaning stopped. Off in the distance he heard cracking sounds and a final crash as something heavy fell to the ground. A building maybe. He looked to the direction of Jastrey and through a break in the trees he saw a great plume of ash and dust being swept away by the wind.
So much for the remains of the Tavern. Cail was almost a mile away from the town and through the same gap in the canopy he saw what looked like the top of a wing made out of ash, but it was only there for a moment before it too was swept away as all the other particles were. This forbade ill forturne for Jastrey; for Cail's new home.
He needed to make it to a clearing by night fall to see what the stars had to say about this, so Cail set off at a brisk pace for the open space he usually went to just outside the town borders on the opposite side of Jastrey.
"Ill pass through the town to see if anyone is hurt," he thought to himself. "Then ill be on my own way if there is nothing I can do."