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 Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 8:14 am
  Following quickly, by the more mundane fashion of running, Uriel came upon the scene where his brother had his precious heretic, and the sight of Evalin, looking upon her handiwork. Dark eyes flashed faintly in surprise at the sight of Eva, not in anger... but definitely in sudden concern. If Johannes connected Eva's presence to the arrow that, with all luck, had or was currently ending the life of his forsaken witch, things could come apart with frightening speed. Even as these thoughts began to race through his mind, his booted feet quietly made their way behind Eva, where he paused.
"Evalin, this is not the place you need to be... I will cause a distraction, but my brother cannot see you so near his fallen heretic. As soon as I have passed in front of you, do what you can to hide... there are plenty of buildings and such around, just stay out of sight a short time longer," Uriel murmured softly to the stunned-appearing Eva, his voice coming to her laden with a strong undercurrent of concern and gentle warning. With a long, carefully urgent look addressed to Eva, Uriel slowly made his way past her, summoning some of his reserves of energy.
Walking in front of Eva and her horse, Uriel half-closed his eyes, his lips moving in a quiet prayer as he allowed the stored energies to release... the feeling much like what had emerged when he disguised his wings and Scythe a short while ago, though the true effect to cause one to look past Eva without noticing overtly. Few in the Cathedral knew of these arts among the Sin-Eaters... and quite deliberately. After all, their work often could not be associated with the Cathedral, for there were many occasions where the focus of their attention could not be cleansed by any means short of death...
Once the prayer, and it's effect, had finished, Uriel made his way over to where Johannes knelt, his bloodied heretic gathered in his arms, and effortlessly summoned a deeply concerned expression upon his angular features, his deep-set eyes running over the heretic, checking for life, before turning upwards to his brother...
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Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2009 9:57 am
 Never mistake tears for sadness...For a moment she felt incapable to follow any command. Then she was turning away, leading the horse with her. She paused once to say...something. Some apology or explanation but no words came. She had thought Johannes would be distracted. There were so few arrows left. It felt necessary. It had still been stupid. There was a faint, undefined worry somewhere in the back of her mind but it refused to come forward admist the self accusation. She had certainly not thought things through. A half collapsed building caught her eye then and she automactically turned herself towards it. Two walls and part of a roof would do nicely. After tying the horse to one of the remaining supports, she leaned back against the wall and slid slowly to the ground. Leaning forward slightly, she rested her head on her knees and tried to pray for a better outcome then what her heart dreaded. ...that will only bring you grief.
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Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2009 12:15 pm
Urban Thorne «<{ Uriel }>»
Following quickly, by the more mundane fashion of running, Uriel came upon the scene where his brother had his precious heretic, and the sight of Evalin, looking upon her handiwork. Dark eyes flashed faintly in surprise at the sight of Eva, not in anger... but definitely in sudden concern. If Johannes connected Eva's presence to the arrow that, with all luck, had or was currently ending the life of his forsaken witch, things could come apart with frightening speed. Even as these thoughts began to race through his mind, his booted feet quietly made their way behind Eva, where he paused.
Once the prayer, and it's effect, had finished, Uriel made his way over to where Johannes knelt, his bloodied heretic gathered in his arms, and effortlessly summoned a deeply concerned expression upon his angular features, his deep-set eyes running over the heretic, checking for life, before turning upwards to his brother...  
Johannes was aware of very little around him, so consumed with the horror of what that arrow represented. His brothers, so few in number that they represent the only family he's ever known.. they are responsible for this? Another labored breath for Asmyrra snaps him from his inner turmoil. It must come out.
"Hold on", he murmurs to her, repositioning her to lean against him in order to free his hands. Grasping the shaft firmly between his fingers to steady it, his other hand carefully snaps off the fletching. The arrow had buried so deeply into her back, there was no other option but for it to be protruding from the other side. Shifting her weight against him, he gently turns her over. Revealing Asmyrra’s face brings another surge of anger and grief. Her blood stained lips were parted, taking short struggling breaths as the magicks of the arrow threatened to consume her. Marked by the soaked patch of clothing clinging to her chest, he finds the deadly stone head responsible for her plight. Johannes grips her tightly as he extracts the tip, knowing if he can hold her still the shaft will not do any more damage coming out. Sure enough, once dislodged the arrow removes with little struggle. It’s job is finished here.
Johannes summons another minor prayer of healing to close the skin and prevent further bleeding. As the energy disperses into her flesh, his eyes open and he is suddenly aware of Uriel’s presence. The anger, so thoroughly repressed in his attempts for clarity while attending his fallen companion, rears with passionate force. His voice is laden with steel as the dangerous warning emits. “Don’t touch her.”
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Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 12:32 pm
{Rizel} Rizel tended to the wounded silently, glancing at Rehverend constantly. She was wary of his presence, though immensely grateful that he was helping her. She did not mind when he was next to her enough to flee or become interferingly nervous, but it was definitely a strange and new experience. It was probably the closest Rizel came to a human when not healing.
Removing her hands from what she believed was the last of the injured, Rizel felt quite tired. The glow diminished from her pale, lithe hands. She would certainly have to find a spot deep in the forest to recuperate, but for now she merely rested on her knees, waiting to feel a little stronger for her journey into the forest. She would go in human form, as turning into a fawn would surely attract even more unwanted attention to herself, and would tax her body‘s energy even more.
The sound of her deep breathing almost covered the hum of the dying flames.
{The White Witch is here}
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Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 6:29 pm
Rehverend moved closer to Rizel, falling to one knee, placing his blade in front of him. It only had a sliver of faith energy within it. The armored man adjusted a gauntlet as he knelt, eyeing Rizel carefully.
"There is a small amount of energy left within Aulda...you look as though you might need it...Could I offer revitalization to you, Miss?" He looked to her, motioning to the blade before him.
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Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2009 7:57 pm
{Rizel} Rehverend moved closer to Rizel, but he did not appear in any way to want to cause her harm, so Rizel did not flee, though she had no further commitment to the place where she rested. Rizel understood him well enough, but was shocked at his kindness. The surprise fluttered over her face only briefly, being quickly replaced by a warm, knowing smile.
“No, stranger, keep it for yourself. I am well. Thank you,” she replied in her low, alluring voice as she looked him in the eye. She added, unnecessarily, “That blade of yours, Aulda, is quite powerful. I have seen only one other blade with a similar strength. Where does one find a blade like that?” It was probably the most Rizel had said in months, but she was deeply interested in the sword’s make and origin, and what other powers it contain.
{The White Witch is here}
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Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2009 8:35 pm
Rehverend smiled knowingly, bowing his head briefly before speaking. "One comes across such a blade through the generations. In my tribe, I was deemed their holiest, and so it was passed to me..." Rehverend gazed along the blade's edge, appreciating its make and power. "To answer your question, I would not know where it was forged or how it was made to be a holder of Faith; I only know what has been said and taught in oral legends." The armored warrior offered a smile to Rizel. It was the best explanation he had, unfortunately.
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Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 8:19 am
Uriel shook his head softly as he turned his gaze to the arrow in Johannes's hand, his voice taking a quieter note as he continued. "Even now, armies of the Paladin's Rod are matching blades with the Iron Fist across our land, while the Beast rampages through the lives of innocent bystanders, as it did here. Were the Iron Fist a memory, or working in concert with the will of the Cathedral, perhaps even the bloodshed here could have been averted, fighting men and women present to protect the towns, instead of fighting each other as they are. You could help us end this conflict, brother... you have the influence within the Iron Fist to bring all of this senseless bloodshed to an end. Return to the duty you know is waiting for you, and can only be filled by you... you are needed within the Order's ranks now, more than ever. Especially if you can bring the brave, if confused, souls of the Iron Fist with you..."
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Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 8:28 am
(( My apologies for this not quite being in order, totally spaced the question... ^.^; ))
Probably hiding at a distance, like any good archer does... though if I remember correctly, that's not just one of the Sin Eaters, that is the Sin Eater, the leader himself. After all, I don't think the Cathedral has enough Angels floating around to commit that many of them to his rather... unique... devotion. Quite handy how quickly they managed to dispel that creature once they began working together, however... perhaps more skill than I had previously attributed to them. So what are you watching so closely, anyway? Your attention seems to be much more focused that usual...
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Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 11:39 am
Urban Thorne «<{ Uriel }>»
Uriel's angular features hardened at his brother's words, those dark eyes coming up to meet Johannes's angry gaze with a cool, but stern expression. "...it was the Archangel himself that announced that the Iron Fist must be destroyed, brother... Surely you didn't think the architect of a mass defection from the Order would be immune to his commands? I know you have always taken care of your subordinates, but this woman violated all the oaths she swore to uphold upon entrance to the Cathedral. It is unfortunate, but... I am surprised this has not happened earlier."
Uriel shook his head softly as he turned his gaze to the arrow in Johannes's hand, his voice taking a quieter note as he continued. "Even now, armies of the Paladin's Rod are matching blades with the Iron Fist across our land, while the Beast rampages through the lives of innocent bystanders, as it did here. Were the Iron Fist a memory, or working in concert with the will of the Cathedral, perhaps even the bloodshed here could have been averted, fighting men and women present to protect the towns, instead of fighting each other as they are. You could help us end this conflict, brother... you have the influence within the Iron Fist to bring all of this senseless bloodshed to an end. Return to the duty you know is waiting for you, and can only be filled by you... you are needed within the Order's ranks now, more than ever. Especially if you can bring the brave, if confused, souls of the Iron Fist with you..."
"The Iron Fist has never initiated a fight with our brethren," Johannes returns, just as firmly, "If the Order would stop raising their swords to innocent warriors and focus their attentions on this scourge, our two forces would be acting as one. Yesterday, it was only the arrogance of our brotherhood that placed us at odds." His eyes narrow, his voice eminating with a hardened conviction, "But today, it is your actions that have named us enemies."
Johannes gathers the struggling Asmyrra securely in his arms. "Tell Gabriel, if it was the source of the defection that he was aiming for, he missed." The last word comes out with almost a hiss, and with it the angel springs into the air. His body glows softly with divine light as a prayer leaves his lips, and he rockets through the sky with the broken commander cradled in his grip. So great is the surge of his haste that he does not notice the second blade that falls from Asmyrra's other wrist shortly after they've taken to the sky. Thanks to the assistance of the prayer, the beat of his magnificient wings quickly become nothing but a memory.
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Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 2:55 pm
But such thoughts cut off the moment he saw the glittering sliver of metal detach itself from that glowing form and plummet towards the forest floor beneath... one of the heretic harlot's swords. Long experience allowed his gaze to judge roughly how far away his departing brother had been, and gave Uriel a general thought of where that obviously magical item would have fallen... it would serve his Order quite nicely, in an ironic way, for the heretic's blades to be among them. But that was just one of the blades... and he could not remember seeing the other on the witch when Johannes had taken off.
"Evalin, there is no more need to hide yourself... please come rejoin me," Uriel called out as he began searching the blood-coloured ground around where the heretic witch had fallen, his features intense as he searched. Just as he was about to move on, his gaze caught sight of something reflecting the flickers of firelight in an unusual fashion, and he made his way over to the item half-concealed in the rubble of a collapsed, burning house.
Without pause or hesitation, his long strides carried the Angel over to that very pile of rubble, where, indeed, he saw the rune-engraved hilt of Daedris projecting from the tumbled rocks and wooden planks. With little concern to whatever heat being half-buried in burning ruins may have caused, Uriel leaned down and firmly took the hilt of the rune-sword in his work-strengthened hand...
...and with just as little hesitation, Daedris blazed to life with a reaction similar... yet quite discernably different... than it's reaction when Eva had loosed her arrow at Asmyrra. Again, a brilliant strobe of blue energy illuminated the area with almost blinding brightness, but this time it was not the soft, silvery blue that it usually radiated. Instead, it was a brutally chill-coloured flare of light, accompanied by a sound and sensation much like some strong explosion... and a robed Angel being flung across what was left of the street, tumbling to a smouldering stop against another ruined building...
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Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 3:13 pm
Urban Thorne (( My apologies for this not quite being in order, totally spaced the question... ^.^; )) Probably hiding at a distance, like any good archer does... though if I remember correctly, that's not just one of the Sin Eaters, that is the Sin Eater, the leader himself. After all, I don't think the Cathedral has enough Angels floating around to commit that many of them to his rather... unique... devotion. Quite handy how quickly they managed to dispel that creature once they began working together, however... perhaps more skill than I had previously attributed to them. So what are you watching so closely, anyway? Your attention seems to be much more focused that usual...  
The leader of the Sin Eaters? Really.. Nephyris examined the darker angel as he approached his grieving brother. To her keenly paranoia perception, the Sin Eater seemed like a well polished, serial killer / sociopath. How appropriate. Once again her eyes flicker to the shiny blade that has thus far gone unnoticed in the pile of rubble near the fallen heretic. I need them to move if I am ever going to get a better look at...
The thought is interupted as the white winged angel suddenly takes flight. Nephyris watches his departure carefully, noting the use of divine magic to hasten his exit. Then the glint of metal falling from their escaping forms catches her eye. The mate.. she realises, quickly unfurling her own wings as her gaze follows the blades decent. Rising from her perch, she hones in on the fallen items location. The spell associated with her shapechanging ability will be wearing soon. She must hurry.
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Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 3:47 pm
{Rizel} Rizel nodded understandingly. She could accept his reply and the mystery of the blade's origin.
Feeling her work was done, though there would not be much more she could if it wasn't done, Rizel looked intently to Rehverend.
"If you are going to stay here and help rebuild the village, you have my gratitude and respect. If you are leaving, speak nought of me, and be careful. The Beast is not dead," she spoke in a way that commanded, not asked, though her voice was gentle.
Before waiting for a reply, she moved passed him, in search of her cape. She found it quite a distance away, charred, very warm, and smelling of burning hair and hide. She donned it without a moment's hesitation and made her way back to the forest slowly.
{The White Witch is here}
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Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 7:40 am
Though the armored man couldn't exactly find reason for Rizel to wish to remain hidden, Rehverend would honor that wish, and speak nothing of his encounter...
The Beast is not dead...
On the one hand, Rehverend shuddered in anticipation, perhaps he could be of more help than just a side healer after all. And yet...it was The Beast. He couldn't help but feel a twinge of fear.
Rehv looked up, away from Rizel, towards the center of this town, and began walking.
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Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2009 12:45 pm
{ - Iron Fist - }
The forces of the Beast now gone, the remaining two dozen or so members of the Iron Fist that followed Johannes and Asmyrra to the city regroup and start focusing their attention on the wounded. As Rev passes towards the center of the city, he begins to notice their warriors in the streets, knelt down to help one of the many victims. The Rev stands out amongst their number, his is strange attire and weapon, but he is not wearing the colours of the Cathedral and he does not appear to mean them any harm, so they afford him only a glance before returning their attentions to the survivors.
Rizel also begins to notice the non-villager helpers who also seem to be aiding the townsfolk. She also gets a glance from them, but she seems to be helping as well, so they leave her alone. Although the Order has labeled all natural witches as heretics, the Iron Fist has never taken a side on the issue. It is rumoured that a few of the witches of the forest have even joined their number with the hope of eventually destroying the Beast.
The sound of powerful wing beats in the post-battle quiet cause several members of the Fist to raise their gaze to the skies. A gasp of surprise ripples through them at the sight of the magnificient angel. They have always known that their leader was said to be from the Order, but the Angels the Cathedral claims, have been widely written off as a myth in many areas of the world. They murmur amongst themselves, the fleeting figure too far away to make out the identify of the body in his arms. For a moment they hestiate, a few questions rising. Their leader has left them. Usually this would mean they are to regroup back at the rendezvous point, but the fact that Johannes revealed his wings makes them extremely curious. What could have happened that would cause him to expose himself?
One of the older looking men points to a few of the younger members. "Go find the Lady Asmyrra," he instructs them quickly, "Perhaps she will know what is going on."
The younger members, both male and female, nod and begin to disperse in search of their commander. Only a moment later, sounds of an explosion coming from the center of the village gives everyone a start. A few of the IF members, who were helping to lift debri away, drop what they are doing and jog towards towns square to find the source.
(( Just to let Rizel and Rev know, they are all in the same city. From where Rizel and Rev were standing, they would have seen one of the Cathedral's rumoured Angels flying away with a limp body in his arms. This is probably the first time either one of them has ever seen an Angel, considering how elusive they are. Shortly after that, they also hear the explosion that the others are responding too.
You would have witnessed this stuff, because it happened before both of your last posts. I didn't see a response from either of you, so I wanted to clarify that you were privy to it, in case you weren't sure.
I just wanted to make sure you two get a chance to respond, if you so desired before you separate for good. heart If Rizel left early, she would still be able to hear the sounds of explosion behind her, even if she does not catch sight of the Angel retreating. ))
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