(RPG) The tale begins...

[Sophia]

The old man smiles wryly. "The tales may be true... we must all go to the next world eventually, you know, it is our choice whether we go there voluntarily, peacefully, with our mind intact, or torn screaming and unprepared from the fabric of this reality by the ravages of disease or the blade of a Reaper...."

He does not seem aware there is anyone in the tree, or, if he is, he is definitely not addressing her at the moment.

[Ameena]

She continues to listen in silence. They are speaking of Death. She has heard of it, knows it is the one thing every living thing can be certain of. Perhaps in this place to which the spirit journeys after the body dies, there may be sanctuary from the Dark Ones. But Death is a place from which none may return, she knows, so the journey would be one-way.
She wonders what Death will be like for her, when her time will come to go there - as far as she can tell, other creatures change the longer they exist in the world, as time passes and their bodies begin to grow weak. Eventually they seem to shut down entirely and pass on to Death. But she has been the same for as long as she can remember. Always the same, wandering the world, seeing other life but for the most part unwelcome in its company.

[beowuuf]

Thje beige man seems to sniff the air, and looks around "Perhaps I should detain you no longer," he says to the old man. "Where is it you travel to yourself?"

[Sophia]

The man draws closer, speaking more softly.

"I seek the path... the true escape. I am going to the Temple in Poukal Village, to speak with the High Priest..."

More than likely he is referring to a Rising Sun sect.

[beowuuf]

"Poukal village?" says the beige man. "Hmm, I fear I might not be welcomed there, so I should let you travel." He rubs his chin under his hood again. "Then again maybe you will see me later, once I have made my peace with my goddess of nature, taken her leave to consider your words and seek the higher truth..."

The beige man bows and steps back. "Please, tell those that may care at the temple that the mage Darc'tala sends his regards..."

[Ameena]

She wonders if the robed one is deciding to stay behind because he wishes to continue speaking with her. Well, now that she knows his name, she considers that she should now give him hers, to be fair. But only once this old one has gone...

[Sophia]

The old man shakes his head. "The doors of the Temple are open to all... there was a time when this was not so, if that is what you are fearing, but with the coming of the Reapers, the need to protect souls has superceded any petty secretarian concerns that may have existed..."

[beowuuf]

"Then please tell the high priest he can expect to see a lowly traveller such as myself then," says the self-confessed mage.

Internally he is conflicted. The Rising Sun, and hence the high priest at Poukal, are powerful in the astral plane. They could easily know things others do not...and easily keep them secret from others, since the plague of repears is not without benefit to either sun sect.

But the man is not convinced the repear mystery will be solved fully in the astral or real worlds alone. A change meeting with a possible key to the sylph lands is nothing to be passed up.

Also, he does not need the silent warnings screamed in his brain to know the atmosphere is turning darker every moment...it is as if somehting approaches, he fears

[Ameena]

She has a choice. There is something coming, she is sure. Perhaps the Dark Ones are coming to attack the structure at which the people had just held their meeting - they seem to like attacking such places anyway, from what she has seen and heard So perhaps they will be safe in the forest. No, nowhere is safe from them. But do the creatures below her know that something is coming? Is it the Dark Ones? She senses them so often now that it might well be something else that is coming.
She decides to wait just a few moments longer. She wishes to flee, but it does not seem fair to do so without warning the creatures below her. Yet she is equally reluctant to reveal her presence to the one who doesn't know she is there, espcially as he's talking about things called "Priest" and "Temple" - she's heard of them before, and has some idea what to expect...

[Sophia]

The old man nods, and smiles. "Excellent. I shall do so," he says starting to wander off.

He pauses, turning back, as if to speak to the beige man again, yet his message is redundant, and he delivers it with a grand gesture, as though he is addressing the forest itself. "Open to all, I said."

He chuckles slightly, and then continues to walk down the path.

As he walks away, the dark aura that was mounting seems to fill the space where he once stood, as though the absence of his magical presence has given it a vaccuum into which to seep.

[Ameena]

She waits a few more moments until the old one is gone. Then she speaks, an urgent tone half-hiden in her voice.
"Something is coming - it is not wise to linger."
Then she has another problem - since she's learned a little of the layout of this forest, she knows a place or two where they might hide away from something seeking to destroy the house-habitations of other creatures. But does she trust this one enough do show him? And why should they not simply part ways and find their own sanctuaries?

[beowuuf]

The beige man bows "I agree..." He seems to pause a moment as if gathering thoughts. "You can feel like I do the power of the dark. I do not think that any solitary places are safe. I do not think the great houses would offer what they offered, nor worry about the cost of in numbers defeating the repears, if there was not the possibility of greater numbers of these creatures coming forth" He points to where the man has gone. "There are great numbers of skilled men who could harbour either of us in the temple, and who have great knowledge, but I do not trust them". He points to the distance and the direction of the forest of thorns. "The lands of the sylph lie that way, who have great powers and knoledge also, perhaps even of your kind, though I do not know if they could resist forever this dark."
He shrugs. "In these uncertain times, I would welcome a travelling companion if you would travel to the temple for sanctuary, or if you plan on seeking out the sylph you were curious of?"

He does not mention the third choice, the one he is thinking of. Of going back close to the place of the gathering on the way to the sylph lands, to see if the reapers will show up to punish those who offered reward for their death.

[Ameena]

There is a slight pause while she considers, having been taken slightly by surprise at Darc'tala's suggestion that they travel together.
"I would not hide with such other creatures - the Dark Ones seek their kind, so I have no wish to invite their attentions upon myself by trying to shelter with the ones they wish to destroy. As for the ones called Sylph, if I ever meet them, then so be it. It seems rather foolish, however, to attempt any kind of purposeful journey at the moment, unless it be a journey to seek safety. Which is what I've been trying to do, but this dark feeling is smothering the land so I can sense it wherever I am, now."
She glances around, knowing that whatever is coming will be here soon.
"Go your own way, as you wish." she says after a moment. "The Dark Creatures have only attacked such places as the dwellings your kind live in. I know of some places here where I may hide from them, if it is they who are coming. I'll not be staying here long enough to find out. That would be beyond foolish."
She remains where she is a few moments more, however, in case the mage has more to say.

[beowuuf]

"There is safety in numbers," says the beige man. "but what you say has merit. If you know of somewhere safe for now, and have the mind to show me, then I would be grateful."

"He looks behind him. "However I do not feel any hiding place is truely safe - knowledge and power of what is coming is the only true safety." He waves the scroll from earlier, taken from his pocket. "And I fear less supernatural creatures may come looking for me before long "

He motions for the creature infront of him to lead the way, if that is her intention.

[Ameena]

She turns around, but pauses for a moment.
"You spoke your name to that old one," she says, "so it is fair that you learn mine - it is Ameena."
Then she starts to move off, less swiftly than she would have liked, however, because the forest floor isn't entirely clear of undergrowth and she isn't sure how quickly Darc'tala can move.

[beowuuf]

"You should beware of the names I call myself," says the mage, muffled with the effort of trying to keep up with the creature flitting in and out of shadows and moving so fast.

"But this time I spoke it true - my name is Almulsis Darc'tala, and I am pleased to make your acquaintance."

He feels a slight chill as he decends into the forest. Partially leaving the path with this strange creature, partially the build up in the air of the darkness this Ameena spoke of, but mostly because of the faint whispering that makes him aware he will be temporarily weakened in magical abilities.

[Ameena]

Soon the faint trickling of water can be heard, and they eventually arrive at a small stream. Yet even the water's voice as it leaps and crawls over the rocks seems somehow subdued, as though the darkness in the air is weighing it down.
Ameena stops before reaching the shallow water's edge, and finally drops down onto what at first glance appears to be a rather moss-covered pile of rocks. Yet almost as quickly as she lands, she disappears through a dark crack in the side of the formation, leading into a small yet serviceable cave. She steps to the side and stands in the darkness to one side of the cave entrance, just in case she should feel the need to flee suddnely. Then she waits for the more cumbersome creature following her to scramble into the hideaway to join her.
She knows that they are unlikely to be discovered here, yet still feels the same hateful presence in the air as though whatever it is will seek and find whatever life it can, and crush it. She is glad, at least, that in this darkness she is very hard to see - black skin and black hair aid her a lot as long as she keeps her eyes narrowed and herder to spot. The long black cape she seems to wear (yet which doesn't seem to be actually fastened around her shoulders in any way - it just stays there...) also assists her camouflage in shadowy places. Again she wonders what brought her wandering the world in daylight. But of course, it's the same thing that's bene driving so many other species to abandon their normal existences recently - the Dark Ones...

[Sophia]

The forest swishes, twigs snap, branches bend, and the sound of ones who are entirely not at home in the forest can be heard tearing through it. Yet, these are not the source of the darkness.

"It's getting closer. We make our stand here," a grim, baritone voice commands, and from amid the branches, five men can be seen-- apparently a commander and his henchmen, the henchmen arranging themselves in a square around the commander, so no one's back is to the forest, the commander himself taking an overwatch position in the center.

All four of the men wear light armor, an odd crimson hue to it, reinforced with dragon scales in key places, and the helmets of all bear the royal seal of Baron Vengkal. One man is armed with a magically attuned staff weapon-- a cruel halberd on one end, a crystal capable of shooting pure magical energy on the other. Another is armed with a spider-hammer, a war hammer light enough to be carried by a commoner yet hitting with enough force to smash a stone wall. The third is armed with a needler, a frightning extension of a crossbow that hurls a cluster of razor-sharp projectiles. The fourth carries a diamond-edged rapier in each hand, the hardened blades capable of cutting through anything-- or anyone.

The presence of such arcane, elite weapons would suggest this was a unit of some Great House's finest forces, but that was not even the half of it, judging from the commander: A towering Variayzho, also in crimson armor, a hideous face visible from beneath a horned helmet. He wears dragon gauntlets, the same shade as the armor-- prized relics that grant their wearer the strength of a red dragon, as well as launching a scathing fire attack.

The darkness grows and and pulsates, it too seems to have seen these men. It is as though it knows they are looking for a fight-- and is ready to oblige.

[beowuuf]

Almulsis tries to hide silently, although it probably sounds laughably loud to his companion. At least he can remove his robes and pack silently, revealing travel worn but very dark jerkin, britches and boots beneath. They are nondescript, and hold no attention compared to his hands and face. His face is fully covered by a black ragged headscarf, while his hands are gloves in thin black gloves, oddly immaculate considering the rest of his outfit.

He shifts quietly enough forward to get a good view, afraid of revealing himself to the fighters, especaially the skilled Variayzho. He only hopes it is distracted by the coming opponent. Almulsis quickly looks back to find his companion, revealing the only colour on his body - a band of too light shrivelled skin around his too dark eyes. Unable to spot her in the dark of the forest, he turns his attention with longing to the weapons near. He knows them, perhaps even knew the craftsmen who created one or two of them. He looks down in disgust at the small collection of items in his hand he recovered from his discarded pack. A golden necklace of linked circles, a plain dagger, and a small diamond ring. Items of magic, perhaps, but not that powerful. He removes the glove of the other hand quickly and a flash of white disappears into the soft earth around. He digs slowly, as if trying to take root, murmering silent pleas to the forces of nature and the energies of the earth.

[Ameena]

Ameena hears the people as they move into their ready positions. But she remains where she is - it was almost anaccident that she herself discovered this little cave, and she doubts that any creatures such as those types would discover it unless they were actually looking for it. She wonders where Amulsis has gone. Perhaps he was following her, but the arrival of the other creatures in the area has given him need to stop. Well, such creatures as they seem to be slow and rather noisy, so she can't blame him for wanting to remain quiet if that is so.
Even though she doesn't actually know who the new people are, she can tell by the sounds they've made, by the words spoken, that they are fighters and are therefore probably aggressive and would give her a hostile reception if she were to show herself to them. However, she has no intention of doing any such thing. If they are to fight something, then let them fight. And if they should find and attack Amulsis...well, maybe they won't. She should, perhaps, have made better check that he was following her. But she's used to travelling the way she does, and confesses to herself that she didn't really think of allowing for his slower, less agile movements.

[Sophia]

The treetops rustle as the wind whips through them in a high-pitched hiss, like the ragged inhaling of a banshee before she screams. The sky darkens noticably, like before a storm, yet, more like a fog. This darkness cannot only be seen, it can be -felt-.

"Stand fast..." orders the stern commander, and the men stand against the growing terror with military discipline, when most lesser units of conscripts would have already turned and run.

After so long waiting, so long dreading, so long knowing what was to come but not the exact moment when-- it does, and so quickly it is almost a blur. The darkness congeals into a very real physical form, forming up in a treetop and spiraling downward in between the men and their commander, a graceful, precise dance. Metal clangs and there is a sickening thud as scythe meets the flesh of the hammer-bearer. Immediately, there is a resounding crack, the needler sending its deadly payload flying through the forest, sending branches crackling and turning the trunks of ancient trees into splinters. Yet, the black form evades every single one, leaping clearly over the head of the Variayzho, and sideways-- a slide sideways in midair that defies any law of motion-- to avoid the flaming blue projectile of the staff weapon.

As the blue projectile explodes in a white flash, sending sparks raining down all around, the bearer of the staff weapon quickly whirls his weapon around, grappling with the Reaper. The man with the diamond rapiers takes full advantage of the situation, trying to stab the creature in the Dark One in the back. Yet, again, as it seems to always be, it is too quick, bowling over the man with the staff weapon, snapping it in two and landing a glancing blow with its scythe, leaving the swordsman only to thrust at air.

The man who had the staff weapon collapses against a tree, his arm cut open by the scythe. Not merely a wound, it appears to have been infected with the essence of death itself. His eyes grow wild, his screams inhuman as an unnatural black ooze drips from the wound, the flesh around the cut slowly dissolving. The commander, seeing his plight, does the only thing he can for the man at this point-- quickly snaps his neck with strength of his gauntlets.

Two men are dead, three yet stand, and the creature appears to soar on the winds themselves high up into the trees, before leaping down like some sort of a bird of prey on the attack, met with a volley of fireballs and needles...

[Ameena]

She feels it come. The change in the air. The sense of fear as the forest itself seems to recoil from the horror swirling down onto the men outside. She crouches down, drawing back to one side of the narrow entrance. She hopes it will leave quickly once it has finished with them - if there was anything she thought she might be able to do, she might even leave her hiding place and attempt to help/ But she knows she'd be useless, and since wasting her own life would be a completely pointless action, she remains where she is and can only wonder whether Amulsis is one of those currently being slaughtered.

[beowuuf]

Almusis watches in resignation at the coutcome of the battle so far. He knew that more than likely such methods would prove futile. His wish had been to see these myths in the flesh, if such a term could be used. To see them in action.

It dawns on him that there is nothing to say they wouldn't detect him too. Even if this is a personal vendetta against the houses, technically the scroll in his robe makes him an agent. He signs as quietly as he can to himself, and starts a certain set of breathing. He would not even attempt such a thing lightly, the fear would usually be too great, but it is too good an opportunity to pass up, and desides he fears death at their hands soon more - he decides to drift to farspace, see if the shadows of these creatures appear there. If the echos of a controller can be detected.

Breath slows, and the mind detatches...he feels his body still, but it is now disconnected as is mind's eye opens on the astral plane...

[Sophia]

Any observer would have seen Almusis concentrate for a moment, closing his eyes, take a deep breath, and seem to linger motionless for but a second, before returning to reality. Of course, in that second exists an eternity in farspace. This is not to imply there was anyone even observing such an event, however, given that the Variayzho commander and his men were locked in mortal combat with the Dark One-- and showing their mortality, indeed.

In farspace, ripples cascaded through the delicate fabric of this alternate reality, the echoes of the death that the Reapers brought. This entry point, somehow, lay near Baron Vengkal's own Astral Library. Perhaps it was consulted by the Variayzho before the combat started, and that is what caused the tides of farspace to arrange themselves in this manner-- the location of nothing here was fixed, of course. Still, the structure, if anything that existed in farspace could be called that, was an imposing one, a solid block of deep red marble, completely without adornment or entry. Those who know what they were looking for knew the way in. Such a presence meant no guards were necessary. The sheer austerity of the structure was its own guard.

Yet, that did not stop a shadow from skulking about at the base of the structure. Its exact nature could not be seen, for its astral energy was entirely dwarfed by that of the magnificient Vengkal Library. Yet, there was something there.

[beowuuf]

Almulsis tries hard to control his breathing, even though there is no breathing here for those like him. Fear is rising from two directions. Time back in the real world moves slowly, but he has to repeat this mantra to himself constantly. There are other planes touching this one, ones that few can feel, where time moves differently. He has explored those to his cost. He can even feel some close now, a small stream invading under the red marble the ghost of the planes of air, and the motes of the air, invisible, actually the miniature gateways to the planes of fire

The second reason to fear is the feelings of elation at being back here again. Like an addiction, the access to such a weight of knowledge is intoxicating. The powers of air and the void can be felt too, flowing through him.

Bouyed, he reaches with his mind, and astral body, to probe towards the shadowy figure

[Sophia]

Something that could best be described a a cross between a serpent, a worm, a parasite, and something else entirely flies through the "air" overhead-- a long, sinewy, segmented beast with an insectoid head and a gaping maw. It yawns loudly, or perhaps roars, the sound resonating through farspace with a deep, resonant echo. These beasts would be known to anyone who has spent any time here. They have ten thousand names-- wyrms, soul-eaters, astral dragons-- but only one true meaning.

The beasts, despite their enormous, frightening visage, are no real threat themselves. They are scavengers, huge parasites as might be suspected by their shape, feeding on the remains of psionic combat, the lingering energy that floats though the air-- energy does not dissipate here as in the real world, after all, such is how astral libraries came to be. Such a massive beast, of course, has a massive hunger, so there must be a truly tasty morsel in its sight. The prize find is, of course, the soul of a mage that has been shattered-- utterly defeated in combat on the astral plane-- his essence scattered aimlessly throughout all the realities, his energy now existing only as psionic carrion for these wanderers.

Or, could it be, it is hungry for something else? Could it even be seeking live prey? Almusis is an experenced traveller, he should know he has nothing to fear from the massive creature, yet, even he may be given some pause as it passes so closely overhead. So near, all it would have to do was open its maw, and yet-- no, it is not interested in him. The shadowy presence lurking about the library, though, that is another story entirely. It seems to register what is going on, and starts to move away from the library. The wyrm follows, its mouth opening again, another yawning roar emitted. The shadow increases its speed, yet, the wyrm, being a native of this realm, catches it easily. Whatever the shadow once was, it takes but a few moments of astral time-- that would be even less than the blink of an eye in nearspace-- for the flying astral dragon to swallow up the shadow. It then soars onward, ignoring Almusis entirely.

***

On the battlefield, the fortunes of the attackers were not looking good.

The man with the needler was swept up by the Reaper's attack, being carried high into the trees and then dropped, cracking through branches and landing on the forest floor, motionless, with a thud of a body being shattered, bones being crushed. It doubled back, finishing him off with its scythe in a long, arcing, sweeping, graceful blow that also managed to take the head clean off of the man with the diamond rapiers.

Face to face with only the Variayzho, it lunged forth, matching and opposing the mighty strength of the dragon gauntlets with an even mightier power of its own, a black power from beyond that pushed even the strange beast-man warrior onto its back. It started cleaving the Variayzho apart with its scythe, yet, the resilence of these terrors was someting even to a Reaper. Flesh turned black and fell off, yet, the Variayzho did not yield. Still, it was clear it was losing the fight. The Reaper was faster, stronger, and was hitting harder. It was only a matter of time...

Yet, at that very instant, the Reaper ceased. It gave out an air-piercing, soul-haunting screech, echoing through the forest, and then crumbled into chalky white dust.

The wounded Variayzho stood up, wounded, bewildered, yet thinking it had somehow won.

[beowuuf]

Almulsis is amazed at what he has just seen, as he suspected something else for the shadow. For a moment he consiers trying to summon the parasite back, but it is far away, and besides they can be tricky to handle. If unfed they can become bold in their attacks, and too well fed they can frenzy. Not knowing what it just fed on, Almusis contents himself with creating a small stone marker in the location, writing words on it.
For a moment he considers staying, drawing the powers of void and air to him in this rich environment, but even thouhg only a moment is passing in the real world, the repear seemed to be able to kill in an eye blink.

He opens his eyes again just in time to hear the piercing cry fade and see the smear of dust. He blinks his eyes, thinking he is seeing things.

[Sera]

Not so far off where the battle raged, a huge, yet unnoticable figure in the distance was watching, she had been disturbed by the scents of fresh blood as it was spilled. she slowly begun to approach, but keeping in a prone position, only running her body through the foliage like a snake to keep as quiet as possible, her nostils flaring as the scent of blood grew stronger the closer she got, but then she stopped, only deciding to observe more, perhaps even waiting for the battle to end and the parties to leave, so she could pick her spoils after, for she hasnt eaten for quite a while now.

[Ameena]

As the Dark Being shrieks, Ameena hunkers down, cringing at the awful sound despite the fact it originated from some distance away, outside the cave. She has never heard one of those creatures make such a sound before, but doesn't recognise it as a sound of pleasure or satisfaction, something the Reaper might do if it had finished destroying the hunting party. Perhaps it has been wounded.
She closes her eyes, listening, sensing for the creature's presence. Yet, although there is still some sense of unease in the air, it has diminished significantly and she realises that the creature must either be dead, or have moved far enough away for the forest to recover some of its senses.
Yet she remains where she is a while longer - if she's wrong and the Dark One is still there, it will be suicidal to emerge now. Likewise, if the creature has indeed been destroyed, then whatever slew it will still, most likely, be out there. Even if it's slain them all and moved on, she still decides to play it safe. She wonders if Almulsis is still there, still alive, or perhaps even the cause of the Dark One's apparent disappearance.

[Sophia]

The surviving Variayzho surveys the situation, its keenly attuned senses always on the lookout for the next battle, the next threat. It senses something in the forest-- something big. There are smaller senses, others lurking as well. More enemies? Scavengers? It has no way of knowing, but, the mission here having been accomplished, it does not linger long to find out.

It collects the weapons that were left behind by the slain troops-- they will not fall into the wrong hands-- and looks around for some evidence of the Reaper's demise. However, as before, the creatures seem to be entirely obliterated once they cease to function. It does, however, manage to collect a small amount of the white dust that remained of the defeated creature.

With that, it sets off in the direction whence it came, back towards whatever master called it into action.

Silence reigns again in the forest...