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 Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2014 5:04 pm
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Reports have been coming in to the main security team Telrunya City of a vacationing family being attacked unprovoked while visiting the new apple orchard near Tree Island*. The family is recovering in the City's hospital and being tended to by the skilled healers and fairies. Tragically, their youngest daughter was taken as a hostage in the attack. There has been no word on her whereabouts and no ransom message received.
The Squires and Castle Wardens** have sufficient evidence to believe this an attack initiated by the faun based on the accounts given by the family members. They are desperate for information that may lead to the safe return of their daughter.
The family does not know why their daughter was targeted or the motives of the faun attackers.
~.~
Not released to the public is the information that the authorities believe the little girl is being held in the faun's home, Laisidhiel. Sources inside the tree have located the room in which they believe she is being held prisoner. They will be sending one of the recruits to further handle the matter.
~.~
Quote: Dear Raken,
News of your desires to join the ranks of the Squires and become a Knight serving in the Holy Order of the Light have reached our ears. We have a very important duty that we would like to bestow upon you, as a test of your loyalty, determination and character.
As you have seen in the reports, a little girl is being held hostage on Tree Island, inside the giant tree - the home of the faun. We would like to send you in to rescue her.
The tree, called Laisidhiel by the locals, is home to many hundreds of faun. They keep the only entry point heavily guarded. We have received intel that the faun are building up an army as well, so you will need to take extra precaution to remain undetected.
There is a contact on the ground and he will provide further instructions should you choose to accept this mission and return a little girl to her family.
Sincerely,
Castle Wardens
(*Laisidhiel - Angels and Demons wouldn't know what it's called unless a faun personally told them
**Castle Wardens are the Squire Trainers. Until the squires become Knights, the Castle Wardens are in charge of Telrunya City.)
((Tartara - Raken has been chosen to carry out an important mission for the Guardians to rescue a kidnapped child from the faun. Once you respond to this notice with either your acceptance or decline, you will receive another prompt with further instructions.
This Notice is a test as part of his path to be a Squire.))
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Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2014 5:34 pm
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Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2014 7:24 pm
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"That's what I like to hear!" Andrei looked Raken up and down. "Bit puny, but you'll do."
Andrei pulled a large map out of ... well, its hard to tell where he pulled out from, but he had a map in his hands and he was unrolling it on the ground. He ordered a couple of the fairies to sit in the corners of the map to hold it down. The map was an aerial view of Laisidhiel. It had the entrance clearly marked with several little icons representing the faun. The map also include the bridge, apple orchard and even the bush they were hiding behind with a little notation that said "You are here."
"Okay, pleb, this is what you need to do. We have an incendiary device in this pack. You will covertly approach the back of the tree, opposite the entrance, and plant the device under the roots. You keepin' up?" Andrei pulled another map out of the same place as the first one, and unrolled it. One of the fairies had taken to just put a rock in his place to hold it down and flitted off.
Another fairie approached, carrying a large sack.
Andrei pulled a few strange items from the pack. A branch tied to a headband, a horse tail from a child's costume, and two large painted cans.
"You will put these on, then signal to us. Make sure you move back a safe distance to avoid the blast. You will also need this in case you are discovered," Andrei pulled a dagger out from wherever he was storing those maps. "We don't know exactly where she is being held, so you will need rush in and find her quickly. If you hear the signal, you will need to retreat immediately to the rendezvous point."
This is our rendezvous point," Andrei pointed to the "You will be here" mark on the map, which was pretty much the same place they were in now, except this map included a large hole in the back of the tree. "If we do not see you before sunrise, we will assume you were captured and or tortured. Remember, do not tell them anything."
((Be aware that the faun have a large Ranger and Guard force and Raken will encounter some resistance. He can fall back at any time. Stop and wait for response once Raken has signaled. ))
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Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2014 9:54 pm
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A bit puny? The male hunted, trained and crafted with his bare hands every day. Perhaps he needed to cut down a bit on the sugar cane.
But there wasn't time to dwell on sugary treats as the little fairy pulled out a map. His steel blue eyes fastened on everything, incorporating the layout to memory as it could mean the difference between success and failure. Planting a device was all well and good, no doubt a loud noise or firecracker to distract while they went in and retrieved the child. He nodded in agreement as he looked at the sack.
He looked from the sack, to Andrei and back again. They were serious? No faun would fall for that. Though it would be better than nothing at all, and might fool a guard simply glancing along the horizon from a good distance. Maybe.
Then something was said that made Rakens ears perk up. Blast. Avoid the blast. They wanted him to blow up the Tree.
They wanted him...to blow up the Tree. For a moment he had to process what they were asking. Never mind the threat of him immediately rushing in to try and find a kid they didn't know where was located. They wanted him to blow up Kaidens home. The home of innocent faun, possibly hurting children. He was a calculated, cold pae. But he wasn't evil.
He had to stop looking at it from his current point of view. This was a mission, and the Guardians needed pae who could fulfill their orders. It was a test of devotion and determination. But most importantly, if it was his daughter in that Tree he would want some other pae to do what he was just ordered. A family was counting on him, and they had to send a message to the faun that kidnapping would not be tolerated.
They could be starting a war for this. He'd be hated, and possibly put to death by the faun if they ever found out his connection to this. His brother Kaiden would disown him. "I understand." The male finally spoke after a slow inhale. "I'll just have to be sure to not let it get to that point. There's a little girl who needs us." He was really going to do it.
He was going to plant a bomb into the Tree.
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Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2014 10:45 pm
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With that, he took the dagger, flare, disguise and rolled up one of the maps to stick into the sack that held the device. He dropped his traveling pack to only carry the one with his new essentials. The less he carried, the quicker and more stealthy he could move. He gave a strong nod to Andrei, and started on his way.
As he walked, the shadows began slipping around his feet, seeping from the surrounding trees. He molded a ball inside him, pulling the shadows into a solid orb to float beside him. It wiggled and writhed before taking shape. A midnight crow. "Keep a lookout." He spoke softly, sending his shadow creature flying off. The bird would circle around him, keeping an eye on any faun who may sneak up upon him. As it was however, he was mindful to circle wide of the Tree. It would do him no good to be spotted and ruin his mission before it began.
Feet rolling on the ground to limit noise, keeping his body low and in the brush. His trip to the back of the Tree was largely uneventful, but it seemed like every step he took made his heart beat harder. His palms started to become slick as his nerves began to fray. This was bigger than anything he had ever done. Finally he was recognized by the Guardians, and yet it was for such a daunting task. He paused to take out his disguise, putting the paint cans on his feet, strapping the tail over his own demonic, and clipping the headband on. Deep breath. He could do this. This is what he had trained years for. All the blood, sweat and time he sacrificed. Raken moved inward, closing the gap between himself and his target. His bird was still out on watch; so far so good. At the tree line he paused again, merging his body halfway with a bush as a pair of faun passed by, chatting aimlessly. His heart was bashing in his ears now, practically feeling his blood gushing through his veins. Of course they felt no threat, and so they didn't think to look closely at their surroundings. Especially a dark pae hidden in the shadows with half his body within a bush.
Calm down. Fear makes mistakes. This is something you can do, must do. For the sake of everything you hold dear. He took a slow breath in, and a slow breath out. He slid the device out of his pack, and crept out to close the final few yards separating them.
The Tree was large. Much larger than anticipated, as he had never been so close. So the roots were gigantic and widely spread out. It was simple enough to find a large enough gap to gingerly shove the bomb in. Like a poisonous snake though, as soon as he let go he quickly hobbled back into the cover of the surrounding trees, making distance from him and the bomb. When he gathered he was far enough, he knelt down to take out the flare from his pack. This was it. Go time. He dropped his shadow bird to quickly reform it beside him, then struck the flare across the rough surface of a rock. It sputtered to light, and he held it to the creature. "Take this back out." The shadow bird cocked its head before grabbing the flare in its talons, and taking off.
He crouched down, ready to run back into the fray as soon as the bomb went off. This was simply phase one. Now it was time to get that little girl.
Now he just needed to wait for a boom.
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Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2014 12:06 am
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Lord Andrei saw Raken's signal and he nodded to his crew. One of the fairies fired a pebble at the shadow crow, causing the flare to fall. The flare lit the fuse.
A few faun guards had taken notice of the demon that was up to no good, watching him hid in the bushes. What was with the ridiculous costume he was wearing? Even the Second's daughter, Twinkletoes sat in her fox form watching the stranger without trepidation.
But it only took a moment for those present to realize something wasn't right. When the flare fell from the sky, landing on the root, the little incendiary bomb fizzled and popped at first...
Then a pulse emanated from the bomb's location. A low rumble could be felt on the Tree's island.
Guards reacted quickly, rushing to the source.
A blinding white flash stopped them in their tracks. Qualitative time slowed to a near stop for all faun. It felt like the Tree herself started to hold her breath.
A fiery fist punched through the thick walls of Laisidhiel causing Her to cry out in excruciating pain. It reverberated across the entire island. All faun, no matter where they were, or what they were doing would hear Laisidhiel's cries, and know Her pain. The Tree of Life, the Great Laisidhiel, was gravely wounded. Never had faun ever had to endure such trauma to their lifeblood, even during the Great War of their ancestors, Laisidhiel had escaped unscathed.
The billowing flames burst into the tree, singing everything it touched, scorching every surface. The heat melted glass and incinerated plants, tapestries, and everything from dishes, decorations, paper, to toys or linens or cloths on the main floor. The explosion reached upwards, destroying the living quarters and personal effects of those who dwelled above the main place of business - mainly those quarters belonging to Rais, Vanya and the Earthmother. The force would be felt throughout the entire Tree and the air would become thick with smoke and debris. The blast would (temporarily) deafen those nearby.
Outside, the bomb sent everything flying outward. The roots shattered and splinters shot in every direction. Shards of wood shot at the guards like bullets. Even Twinkletoes was not safe from the flying shrapnel.
The force was big enough that even Raken was not at a safe distance. Debris flew straight at him, knocking him unconscious, and rending him unable to retrieve the kidnapped child.
~.~
Raken would awake in the City's hospital with healers and fairies tending to his wounds. On the little nightstand beside his bed where two rolled scrolls. One sealed in wax, and the other tied with a ribbon.
The letter tied in a ribbon was addressed to Raken.
Quote: Dear Raken,
We are pleased at your success on Tree Island. Although you were unable to rescue the little girl, your efforts have made it much easier for us to send in a second team. We appreciate your sacrifice, and The Guardians know of your heroic deeds.
Continue to rest and remain in the City for your safety.
If you would do us this small favor, please deliver this other notice to your grandson, Malek.
Forever Grateful,
Castle Wardens
P.S. Pleb, you did good!
~Andrei
((Raken is a hero to the City! But is also now on the most wanted list for the Faun. Or at least, a demon with his description with a branch on his head, horse's tail and paint cans on his feet is. Raken completed his mission, even if he didn't find the girl. The baton is now being passed to Malek to pick up where Raken left off in the search for the missing girl.
So what does this all mean?
Laisidhiel has a giant hole burned into the back side. A hole that requires healing. Takis will be busy! This event impacts every faun, even those not living in the Tree or who never even set hoof in the tree. This impact will be felt by Rochadhiel and the princesses, if they were inside. This impact will be felt by the Flutters, and the Tainted faun and Tree in Dragnid. The entire faun network did not escape this.
It is up to the individual players to determine where their faun was, and if they sustained injury. No faun will be assumed to have been hit if the player does not allow or give permission. From this moment on, this happened and all canon RP must reflect it if it takes place in the Tree. City dwellers may celebrate Raken as they please.
Residents of Laisidhiel will all be responsible to help with the recovery.
Malek's notice will be sent after Raken delivers his letter, and the story will continue.
Tartara, if you have questions, feel free to send a message to Antidia. ))
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Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2014 1:01 am
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Hiding the brush on the Dragnid side of the faun territory, outside of the apple orchard was the Knight trainer himself, Lord Andrei. He was among a small group of Avalon fairies all decked out in tiny riot gear. He waited for the pae named Raken to check in.