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 Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2017 11:11 am
Sol - 7
Sol's teeth pressed together and ground on themselves as he 'looked' over the crowd. With his failing eyesight he could barely make out figures that were close to him, let alone attempt anything at that distance. So the question of What is that?! was one he'd like to have known himself!
He couldn't make out much beyond screaming and the pressing of bodies. Some were trying to shrink away from the sight, while others moved toward the strange figure, readying their weapons in the process.
Sev, no longer passively sitting in front of her own, jumped to her feet and bared her massive fangs. She unfurled her wings, raising them in a protective stance in front of all four earthlings, as well as little Flana.
"Stay behind me," He murmured to Koril, to the others, he asked, "What can you see?"
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Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2017 1:45 pm
AKIYAL
Post: 10
If Akiyal hadn't looked openly surprised before, by the time his gaze swiveled to land on Callum again, he most certainly did then. They could let it get away. In fact, that was exactly what Aki intended to do. So long as it wasn't after his family or his friends (and the woman it held captive was no one familiar to him), he didn't see any reason to be bothered with it. The thing did not look as though it wanted anything from him in that moment, and Aki could not see anything beyond what was currently happening.
It was not after anyone of import to him yet, and so he didn't want to bother with it.
Before he thought better of it, the hand he'd brought up to touch Callum's arm caught him in a vice-like grip and held, and Akiyal didn't bother trying to explain away why he didn't want this man in particular, who he still knew relatively little about, to do anything that might bring the creature's focus onto them.
"Why," he demanded tartly. "There are enough warriors here, enough people that you shouldn't have to do anything. Someone else will take care of it, and if they don't- if they can't- why do you think you could? I won't let you. There's no reason for you to." It shouldn't have mattered, Aki knew. He couldn't be bothered to care for most people, and he didn't think he did care about Callum, but this mission in particular felt like nothing short of suicide. They didn't know anything about this beast. There were stronger fighters here. And Akiyal would be very hard-pressed to stand back and watch someone he'd conversed with moments ago run to his death.
So he reached with his other arm as well, catching Callum's opposite wrist, so that Aki held both of his arms in his palms and so that the older man was facing him. "Don't do nothing," he ordered briskly. "It don't make no sense for you to."
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Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2017 4:24 pm
Volkarosh
Post: 8
Location: With Arronthain and Sol and Koril
--------------------"Two legged insect person. Looks like something from Jauhar. Came out of a magical portal of some sort." Volka's take on the situation was cold and clinical, rattling off details rapidfire. "It has someone - a young woman." Volkarosh couldn't determine her race from where she was - possibly a hybrid, like they were. "The wind leader has a bow, and is aiming at it." and her bow looked like it had good range. "... but I do not see many other people going in to help." Which was a problem, wasn't it. Should she go in? No. Negative. She was not adept enough with her crossbow to face down that thing, and her skill in close combat would likely be more than matched by a beast that could appear out of thin air. "If it comes towards us, I will shoot it." she said. That, indeed, was within her capabilities.
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Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2017 4:36 pm
Koril- Post 8
Koril did exactly as he was ordered, having no interest at all in going near the thing as he peeked around his new guard. But, the woman needed help... "I want to help.. if I can.." he said meekly, a hand dropping to the whip tied at his hip; though the item was more a symbol of his trade than anything else. Any other day, Koril would have been fascinated by the arrival of the standing bug creature thing. Now, though.. it was attacking right off the bat without warning or apparent instigation. That was dangerous.
Bolstered by Sev's involvement, Flana peeked out from under the protective wing to growl and hiss again at the creature causing such fear.
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Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2017 6:53 pm
Chapter 9: Grave Expectations
|| IC ||
 The girl the creature had grabbed seemed to be totally unresponsive. It was as if she was in a trance. Her eyes were fixed, the fear still there, frozen in time. The bug-like creature gripped her waist tighter, and released a series of shrieking clicks.
Vescillea's eyes narrowed and in one fluid movement she released an arrow aimed right at the opening in the thing's hood. With any luck she would be able to get it right in the eye... or any part of its face, she wasn't exactly picky at that moment.
The arrow sliced through the air, but before it could reach the thing and the captured girl the air seemed to become wavy, a static feeling intensifying around the area. The air ripped open behind the hooded creature, an inky darkness pouring out and enveloping both it and the girl. In an instance everything was gone, the last of the portal swallowing the arrow Vescillea launched with it.
|| OOC ||
||. If your character is not signed up for their thread, they may not participate. You can PM Suhuba for late entries.
||. Please limit to up to 2 posts between NPC posts (these should be spaced out by responses from others to your post, no needless posting just to get more points).
||. NPCs will post twice a week, on Monday and Thursday.
||. If you have any questions, please post them in the Main Thread.
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Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2017 5:45 pm
Prala || Post 5
Prala crossed her arms and tapped her foot as the crowd began tossing out wild speculations on the disappearances. She snorted at the child's fearful reaction to the Chiavi. She's never seen one before but clearly this one was well trained. A scream tore through the crowd, for a moment Prala thought it was more dramatics, but when she whirled towards the uproar that began in that direction she saw the horrifying visage of some sort of creature in a long dark cloak. At dirst she was confused, but her eyes slid to the wooden face of the woman and Prala knew immediately that something was up. She glanced around, trying to see where Gaddok and Sawenah had gotten off to, but she couldn't make them out in the churning of the people around her. Her hand darted over her shoulder, fingers grasping the shaft of a bow and smoothly nocking it place. She aimed at the ground, hissing in frustration when she was jostled as her eyes scanned for some sort of height, she couldn't shoot through a crowd, the blasted people wouldn't stay still, she'd kill someone if she tried to hit the thing from here. People were running away, people were surging forward, the press of bodies was overwhelming.
There, she spotted a pyramid of crates, she shouldered a path to them and sprung up, her long legs easily scaling the pile. She drew her bow, sighted, trying to decide the safest place to aim for, it the thing moved suddenly she could kill its captive by mistake. Its head was the safest bet although she worried her lip for a moment. Hesitating before she loosed. Her arrow whistled through the air and thunked into the snow bank a breath after another arrow struck. Prala blinked in surprise and bury. Where the creature and its captive had stood only moments before, there was only empty air. She stomped her foot in fury and frustration, screeching like a teapot. She angrily slung her bow over her shoulder once more, and glared at the crowd around her, if the idiots had only gotten out of the damn way she could have had that thing.
Crossing her arms she threw her voice over the clamor of voices. "Can SOMEONE please tell me what the HELL just happened??" What was that thing? It had made her skin crawl, and she found her eyes searching the crowd for more of the beasts, "Well, clearly, they're no longer only targeting people who are alone" She commented sarcastically as she took a seat, swung her legs over the edge of the crates and dropped lightly into the snow, stumbling a bit as the gods cursed oversized boots through off her balance, yet again.
(Feel free to approach, just toss me a quote ;3)
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Posted: Sat Jul 29, 2017 7:31 pm
Arron Post 7 Arron arced into action flicking swift hands at his knives as he moved forward they appeared in his hands like phantoms, the leader had the right idea! Attack now! But by the time he had prepared himself to throw, the bug was disapearing with the poor girl, and something in his heart broke, he would do his best to retrieve the person. "Volka...." He choked out, his teeth clenched so hard together that he could feel the enamal grinding together. "We have to save her..." She had come to fight just as they had, and now she was gone...broken before she could put up a decent fight and there was just something intrinsically long about it. He screamed a feral roar that would have done his mother proud.
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Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2017 7:00 am
AKIYAL
Post: 11
It was in his nature to be contrary, so orneriness was something Akiyal expected of other people. Despite the grip he had on both of Callum’s arms, Aki did sort of suspect that the other man would put up an argument or otherwise resist him. The hybrid had been so determined to fight a thing that he knew nothing about that a dumb teenager refusing him could not possibly be that strong of a deterrent, regardless of how rational Aki thought his argument was.
The creature, strange bipedal monster that it was, made sounds not unlike what would be expected: clicking and hissing like an insect. Akiyal could see it if he kept his gaze locked over Callum’s shoulder, could see the locked expression on the girl it help captive, and could see how no one (despite what he thought they’d do) rushed in to save her. He didn’t know what it would do to her. Cut her throat? Burn her alive? Eat her? If it were him and no one tried to do anything...
His grip on Callum’s arms slackened marginally.
But before either of them could move one way or another, the thing stepped back into a portal made of magic unlike any Aki had ever seen before. He blinked, and they were as good as gone. A chill crept up his spine as he stared at the spot they’d vanished from.
It could have been any of them here. And for all the touting that they oughtn’t be or travel alone, the beast had appeared in a crowd. It had chosen a victim from among hundreds and disappeared with it to who knew where. He wasn’t frightened, of course. Why should he be? He was a fighter, and that thing was just a bug. But it could cast strange magic and clearly had a fearlessness about it that made it even more dangerous. Callum seemed eager to fight, but as much as that seemed true, Akiyal realized that he, personally wasn’t.
He wanted to be in his home, in the familiar lands of Kesris with his pets and his friends and his father. In the next instant, Aki’s fingers were tense around Callum’s wrist again. “Please, don’t go.”
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Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2017 8:49 am
Draven
Post 5Draven wasn't too sure if he should advance on the creature the way he was holding a captive, one who wasn't fighting back at all. Or remain where he was, the option was clear as the rift spat out black and closed itself, taking with it the creature and the one arrow shot. Still the air was full of panic and tension, one that made his hair stand on end. "It's gone now. Gone as if never there, taking a girl with it." Draven told the one he had been talking with, "It was pretty bold to take someone from a group this time, if it was only targeting people alone. But to what purpose?"
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Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2017 9:10 am
Makani - Post 6
Makani relaxed ever so slightly as he was told that the threat was gone. It was like a passing storm, there one moment and gone the next... only storms didn't often go about taking people in such a manner. At least now they knew what it was that was stealing people away? Not a thought that brought comfort though because the creatures were able to use magic that someone even as strong as Makani could only dream of. To be able to appear and disappear at will, it was like nothing he'd ever heard about. Not a magic that he felt was exactly fair... but when were the 'bad guys' ever fair?
Letting out a breath he leaned against Rae and said, "Now to figure out how to get the news to my sister and the patrons at her inn. They are all going to need to know that such powerful beings are the ones behind all the disappearances." Bah, he didn't like this at all. Not just because of all of the danger that was presently at hand but because he was stuck being so damn serious at the moment. There was nothing that Makani hated more then being such in so serious a situation and without anyone from the inn nearby. Here was to hoping that they were all alright and remained that way until he was able to get back and give them the news about what was going on.
"You don't happen to know anyone heading toward Tale, do you?" He asked of the janarim keeper, just in case.
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Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2017 9:20 am
Draven
Post 6Draven looked over towards Makani before shaking his head, he didn't know anyone heading out of Zena, He had just arrived there and wouldn't be heading south again for a while. Most likely to take the path back to Matori that brought him up. "If I weren't here for something, I would offer to accompany you, but I have someone to see." He was going to live up to that promise even if it did kill him. "If I knew where my travel companion was, I would ask her. She's an Alk and very good at protecting others. But we got separated when reaching town." At this point, Draven was getting a little worried about his companion, he hadn't seen her in a while, but was sure she could handle herself. She always did at least.
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Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2017 5:47 pm
AKIYAL
Post: 12
This was not what he'd intended. When Akiyal made the decision to come out here to this meeting, he'd wanted to see rambunctious, irrational, and frightened people. Just for the fun of it, for the experience, he'd wanted to be here. Whatever 'news' the leaders had intended on sharing, he hadn't cared about. Whatever message was trying to be sent, he didn't want to hear it. He wasn't frightened (or hadn't been), and he wasn't concerned for the well being of the world or the vast majority of people in it.
He'd expected a little bit of excitement, and with that came the lure of temptation, to be a part of something interesting. Even if the information was irrelevant to him, it was an opportunity to mingle and see and learn and know. Aki hadn't wanted anything from this meeting accept excitement.
When he released Callum's arms and stepped back, he did so with a peculiar and uncomfortable sensation in his gut. He had seen. He had learned.
The creature that had attacked this gathering hadn't struck out at anyone he knew, and so was not a threat for the moment. Perhaps if he ignored it, or pretended as though it hadn't been there, he would never come into contact with one again. For the first seventeen years of his life, he'd never seen or heard of a monster like that. Who was to say it wouldn't pop up for another seventeen?
But a seed of worry had wedged itself in his chest. It could have attacked him. It could have attacked his father- and he wouldn't even know if it had done that. For another half second, it struck him that there were a great many unknowns in his life surrounding the people he was close to, and that stung and threatened to bring such a renewed sense of fear that he didn't dwell on it long.
Aki's exhale stuttered from his lips, and he thought to ignore everything that had happened here.
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Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2017 6:02 pm
Chapter 9: Grave Expectations
|| IC ||
One of the women in the crowd yelled out, asking for an explanation. The rest of the crowd seemed stunned into silence, or almost silence. There was still whispering, the questioning of what that thing was, where it had gone, how they were going to find the kidnapped earthling. Vescillea lowered her bow, her hands signaling for her scouts to comb the area, looking for anything else that could be found, or anyone that could be found. If there were more of those things, she would find them.
Freya addressed the crowd, her voice calling out. "We will find those things. We will get our people back, and there will be justice served. If there is anyone who knows anything about these things, please come forward, we will need all of the information we can get."
Someone in the crowd, it looked to be a hybrid of sorts, definitely with prominent alkidike blood, stepped forward. "I think I know." It was a woman, with eyes dark as night but the blond hair of the wind earthlings. "My mother used to tell me stories when I was younger. I thought it was just a boogeyman, something she had made up. She would talk about these evil things, how they would lurk in the shadows, wreaking havoc and using magic so dark it had no place in this world. She called them the Dretch, but I think if anyone would have heard about them it would be by the name the Bug Mages."
|| OOC ||
||. If your character is not signed up for their thread, they may not participate. You can PM Suhuba for late entries.
||. Please limit to up to 2 posts between NPC posts (these should be spaced out by responses from others to your post, no needless posting just to get more points).
||. NPCs will post twice a week, on Monday and Thursday.
||. If you have any questions, please post them in the Main Thread.
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Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2017 8:45 pm
Volkarosh
Post: 9
Location: With Arronthain and Sol and Koril
--------------------Volkarosh felt frustration well up inside of her, despite all of her logic and cold calculations. Her reason told her that there was nothing that could be done. Her passion, whatever small fire of it that burned in her belly, told her that I should have done something. It was that passion that found validation in her brother's howl. It was her reason that put a restraining hand on his shoulder. "There was nothing we could do." she repeated, quietly. Small comfort though it was, fury was not what they needed. Calm down, Arronthain.But she would have to remain calm herself. It is exactly what is needed! It is what is deserved! screamed an answering voice inside of her, one that set the hairs on the back of her neck on edge. But it was small and it was quieted with ease. "We'll have our chance." she whispered, "It surely has left a trace this time, perhaps we can find the start of a trail here."
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Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2017 9:07 pm
Callum - 9Lightning cracked down Callum's blade, focusing on the tip in light, azure bursts. He felt the vibrations through the hilt; reveled in the familiar ache it brought to the bone's in his hand, and the looseness felt within his muscles. If one focused they could have seen a particular madness in his eyes; one brought about when faced against great, insurmountable odds and creatures that would surely bring about his demise. For that solid moment, a stretch of time that lasted entirely too long, Callum's focus wasn't on Akiyal. He barely registered the hold the younger man had on his arm, despite the intensity of it. Every muscle in his upper torso tensed while those in the lower quadrants prepared to move- Why. It wasn't a question so much as it was a demand for an explanation. An answer that Callum didn't have. It's the right thing didn't seem to hold up well, and honestly, he didn't feel as if he needed to say anything. It should have been obvious that they should do something! "You won't let me?" Callum curled his lip, tone as glib as his tone of voice. He stepped closer, coming face to face with Akiyal, "Will you stop me if I try? Are you prepared for that?" Despite his relative 'soft' appearance, Callum was still a warrior, one who had made a pledge long ago to do what he could to stop innocents from suffering. He didn't want to hurt Akiyal, but if he didn't let go- "I have to do something, something fast, because if not-" He was too late. The shocked exclamations from the crowd was his first indicator. Callum turned away from the windling to where the hooded figure had once stood and....had disappeared. He cursed; something foul and harsh, murmured under a desperate exhale. Can you really save anyone with that sword, boy? What good are you? Too busy talking when a real man would have-"I'm sorry, Akiyal." When the boy released his hold, Callum reached for him, taking one of the younger man's hands in his own with a somewhat comforting squeeze. His other hand held firm to the hilt of his blade, wary and concerned that the prior events might repeat themselves. "I shouldn't have said that. And I won't leave you." That please, that desperate word, had reminded Callum of a harsh reality. How many times would he leave others behind for his own selfish, suicidal reasons before stopping to think?
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