DreamLyrics™ Play-by-Post Forums Hall of Fame - Latest Top 10 completed games HWD: The Heartwood HWD: Bordertown

(OOC - Yeah, unless someone has a light spell we'll need somebody in the back to hold a torch.)

[OOC: No, no... at least two of us have light spells... Dazi and Tashka.]

The Heartwood
Bordertown
Just Before Sunset
Rameday, The Twenty-First Day of the Month of Crown of Ice, 2623

Upon the Temple with Mikal, Darian, Cesare, Dean, Bekkah, Daxia, Kadi, Celi, Tashka and Linette

"Room for your horses?"

Lady Kay had just smiled, leading Bekkah and their mounts to the sturdy structure.

"In fact, I am sure old Clarry here will love having some company. She does get a touch lonely at times, between visitors and all."

Their barn was like a small manor keep, not just built of wood but stone and wood, with a heavy door that should prove proof against all but the most determined assault. There were ample stables, with only one currently in use. There was a big barrel of water, several very large sacks of oats and someone had recently delivered bales of hay, enough to fill the back portion of the building. The horses, they were ging to spend the night in a place much safer and better fortified than the makeshift barricades which - at that time - were being constructed below.

"Lady watch over you ..."

The priestess offered as they departed.

"I am fairly sure I do not want to know what you have discovered there, deep in the well. I do, however, trust it is for the better."

The Heartwood
Bordertown
Sometime After Sunset
Rameday, The Twenty-First Day of the Month of Crown of Ice, 2623

Neutral Territory

They gathered upon the setting of the sun, upon the dying of the light.

They gathered for the endgame.

Some knew. Some suspected. Some didn't.

The Heartwood
Bordertown
Sometime After Sunset
Rameday, The Twenty-First Day of the Month of Crown of Ice, 2623

In the West Temple with Mikal, Darian, Cesare, Dean, Bekkah, Daxia, Kadi, Celi, Tashka and Linette

They gathered upo the setting of the sun, upon the dying of the light.

They gathered to face His hunting.

Some knew what they were about to face, very well. Some had but a night. Some didn't.

The Heartwood
Bordertown
Sometime After Sunset
Rameday, The Twenty-First Day of the Month of Crown of Ice, 2623

Neutral Territory

" ... our contract is to protect this town. You were very specific about that, that it doesn't say only from the Forest or the Chaos Riders. Everybody. That it includes the Fair Folk, the occasional brigand and thief and from idiots who decide to bring the wrath of He Who Rules from Our Keep upon us. You know He doesn't discriminate. When He comes from beneath the Greenland’s canopy He will not see any difference between us and them. They must be stopped before that point is reached. Since they do not listen to reason or rank, the Thing must acknowledge our need to do what must be done. This is what you pay us for."

" ... we pay you to protect the town. I still do not, and never have, understood how you can claim to do so and still leave Him in the forest."

" ... bah. We've lived and prospered fine this way since the city was rebuilt by our grandfather's grandfather's grandfather. Don't tip the applecart, don't start pulling blocks out of one's own tower, that's what we say. I mean ... imagine ... He might get replaced by someone worse.

" ... contracts here, contracts there, I am not bound by your contracts. You hung this tabard about my shoulders because I actually give a damn about what’s right. And this. Is not. No matter how you coat it in honey and molasses it, it is not."

" ... you would put two souls before all of Bordertown? How many souls will be given up to Him, because of this? We say if he is happy with the same two souls, it is nothing. Let Him be entertained. It keeps His attention from us."

One stayed silent, hands folded upon a bright colored skirt. The last spoke.

" ... I call for the Word of the Thing."

There was a long, long silence.

The Heartwood
Bordertown
Sometime After Sunset
Rameday, The Twenty-First Day of the Month of Crown of Ice, 2623

In the West Temple with Mikal, Darian, Cesare, Dean, Bekkah, Daxia, Kadi, Celi, Tashka and Linette

It started with a howl, a low call that echoed softly, far far away. Perhaps the distance was exaggerated, the call faint, only because it had to echo from far far above, down the smooth carven well, and then down the corridor bedecked with fell chains and spurs and barbs.

If there was another warning, it went un-noted; silence, quiet, stillness the order of the evening. Just the one call, perhaps just some lonely ruff calling out to the moon.

Or perhaps not.

In answer there was a rattling of chains, as Tashka lifted herself up, to stand. her eyes narrowed ... and she listened.

To nothin but the sound of breathing, of the creak of darian's ropes, the rattle of the chains drifting together in the darkness. Whatever little conversation there was vanished, faded, the temple air now heavy, the tension shimmering like heat lightning upon a hot summers night.

Linette's head tilted.

Tashka glanced to her cursed companion, quick, sharp, no more than a fraction of a heartbeat.

"Sesht'doshka'ka!"

One could almost hear the bright shattering, a ka-shing that echoed against the caven temple walls. For a moment, so bright, blinding, causing all to blink and cover their eyes. No small blue star this, but one bright and white, glittering with a cold and passionate fierceness.

Darian saw the cast shadows first, then the ripple of their low galumfing forms down the right corridor. The shadows only served to heighten their charge, so large upon the walls, streaking them in black, a wave of sable silhouettes, and when they hissed one could almost count every single jagged barb upon every single tooth upon the ancient carvings.

Sesht'doshka'ka.

It meant, in Ancient ... dear sister, come.

The Heartwood
Bordertown
Sometime After Sunset
Rameday, The Twenty-First Day of the Month of Crown of Ice, 2623

Neutral Territory

"You called for our Word, you must speak first. Remember, if we are set equal upon ourselves, matters stay. As. They. Be. You lose again."

A second quiet followed.

"Mohlkavin's Heavy Horse says give Them their Chance. Ja."

"House Emeraldsson likes things just the way they are, thank you. We offer the services of the Raven. Nin."

"House Marrennen calls upon the Jvrillians to uphold the words of their contract. House Marrennen sides with the Horse. Ja."

"The Sherif of Bordertown believes that they have suffered for us enough. Give them peace. We stand with the Horse. Ja."

"House Hythainian says let Him have his playthings for another fullhand of generations, they are already dead; they matter not to the living. Nin."

"Donners Sword's says our protection is best served letting the sleeping dragon sleep. We can finish this. Nin. Donnor's Sword also speaks for the Mark, as per their word and previous ..."

"Nin."

The Heartwood
Bordertown
Sometime After Sunset
Rameday, The Twenty-First Day of the Month of Crown of Ice, 2623

In the West Temple with Mikal, Darian, Cesare, Dean, Bekkah, Daxia, Kadi, Celi, Tashka and Linette

The clatter of far far too many talons upon the stone, the sudden and sharp, hissed call, terrible, deep, low, ferocious, the hunting beasts charged into the bright starlight. At least three, at least that many more lurking behind, like a wave upon wave, like a crested breaker waiting to crash upon the shore. The snap of sinew and wood, the dull whoosh of feathers in the wind, the dull shattering and splintering of wood as darian's sot missed er mark, to slam into the floor and splinter into a million little pieces.

The Hunter had not seen the beasts before.

She was unaccustomed to just how fast they were.

How quickly they closed the distance to the makeshift redoubt.

A beast lifted its head, with a terrible scream of pain. It twisted, it bent, its eyes flashed red and enraged in the harsh starlight.

Darian's second shot, however, was made upon the experience of the first. It buried itself deep into the lead beast's midflank, setting it off balance, on of its legs now but a tangling hinderance.

It hit the greased floors and skittered, skattered, it's path now a chaotic tumble, slamming into the floor, across the floor, and into the wall opposite their brambled barricade.

It half stood, its large head shaking back and forth as if to dash away more than a little shock.

" ... what one sees ..."

Memories of a black haired woman's word.

Talons snapped out, talons bit, not into flesh and bone but the very stone itself. There were literal sparks, fragments of stone scattering into the air, a low painful his as those dangerous claws also splintered as the beasts dug in to brake their charge, tails whipping around for balance, their heads and bellies dropping low to keep from overturning.

Leaving them to face an awaiting Dayalan.

All alone.

There is a problem when one necks down the melee field. If only one beast can try and break through at a time ... only one may defend against it. Which is probably why Mikal's first crossbow shot smashed into the barricade instead of hitting its target, against the added difficulty of trying to shoot through Daxia and into the oncoming creatures.

But where Mikal had a difficult shot, Darian had an open field.

The second beast skidded to a sto, its head lifting, its long forked tongue lolling, its jagged mouth of teeth and hot horrid breath tearing upwards towards towards the younger Dayalan. Her sword aced, its blade a shimmer with silver power, leaving a trail of stardust in its wake. it bit, it bit hard, leaving foreleg of the beast sliced almost through, splashing all with blood, hanging by its sinews.

A fate its companion shared, one leg pinned by an arrow ... the second driving straight into the center of the creature's back, preventing it's attack upon Daxia. It writhed in pain, it slashed back and forth, it ried desperately to shake out the Darian's arrows.

It was not yet dead, however, and it was still very dangerous.

Daxia, however, her beast had a dark reaction to her blow. Animalistic, bestial, it went after that which hurt. Its huge jaws closed down upon the Dayalan, and while her parry met the beast's attack it did not stop the power ow its blow. She could feel her muscles twist and tear, hear the snapping of bone, feel the white hot pain ...

" ... g-g-g-givt ... est ... m-m-m-mir ..."

And then nothing.

Her return swing brought her blade back around, ready for the next blow.

All pain, all hurt ...

Gone.

" ... T-t-t-t-tash ... "

The starlight faltered as the Dayalan turned. she tried to reach ... but she couldn't.

Against the other wall, Linette hung, almost limp. Her eyes were closed and her lower lip was bleeding, as she bit down so hard.

She was almost free of her bounds.

Because one arm ... one arm, was shattered just above the wrist, torn asunder as if ravaged by sharp teeth, held only by gristle and gore.

The wall behind her was emblazoned by a splash of bloody crimson.

The same arm that Daxia parried with, the same arm the eastern hunting beast had held.

The Heartwood
Bordertown
Sometime After Sunset
Rameday, The Twenty-First Day of the Month of Crown of Ice, 2623

Neutral Territory

"Nin? What in the name of Jvrill do you mean by nin? The Mark has spoke these words times before, it is well known, a given, especially with one of Them poking the dragon. Do you really believe he has more than one use for a swordbitch?"

"His contract has been bought by the Kories. Yesterday, the Mark belonged to Bordertown. Today he rides for Talantal. Tomorrow he may serve Bordertown again, but today, today he rides for Talantal. He is no longer one of the Thing."

The stillness that fell then was complete. It weighed upon the room like a bloody sword. Only once voice was left unspoken and all eyes turned when the silence was lifted.

The Heartwood
Bordertown
Sometime After Sunset
Rameday, The Twenty-First Day of the Month of Crown of Ice, 2623

In the West Temple with Mikal, Darian, Cesare, Dean, Bekkah, Daxia, Kadi, Celi, Tashka and Linette

Darian's sharp ears caught the oddness.

In the shadows just beyond the starlight.

The sound of talons upon the stone.

Not getting closer.

But getting father and farther away.

The Heartwood
Bordertown
Sometime After Sunset
Rameday, The Twenty-First Day of the Month of Crown of Ice, 2623

Neutral Territory

"Two souls ..."

The words were soft and quiet. She continued.

"Can you put a value upon a soul? Would you, Voice of Hythainian, be willing to give yours up in exchange? Does a soul somehow become less valuable when it is someone else’s? Come the fall of night, however, it matters not. All souls, no matter whose they are, are beloved and cherished by My Lady. We may be patient, tolerant and merciful ... but there is one manner of creature we cannot abide.

" ... we cannot abide a thief.

The Heartwood
Bordertown
Sometime After Sunset
Rameday, The Twenty-First Day of the Month of Crown of Ice, 2623

In the West Temple with Mikal, Darian, Cesare, Dean, Bekkah, Daxia, Kadi, Celi, Tashka and Linette

The first beast, the third beast, the slowly shook off their shock. To all eight legs then drew themselves up ... or atleast upon the eight legs that still answered to their will. One just paused, it looked at the barricades, the brambles, the nets, the area brought to light by the brilliant star.

The other lurched, it lurched towards Daxia.

Again, Mikal loosed his crossbow. This time his quarrel struck home, burying itself deep into the hunting beast.

While Daxia traded blows. Her bright sword careening off its armor, its jagged teeth snapping right in front of her face but only claiming air.

And then ... then its stance, it changed, if anything it drew back.

It stiffened ...

Poised.

Darian saw it.

Darian's vantage provided the perfect view of the lizard's tactics.

As smart and as crafty as a snarkhound.

The second wave.

Of two.

Desperately she loosed her arrows.

She saw one drive into the next beast's hindquarters. But the arrow barely held in the scales.

The second hit higher, a sure blow, into the beast's midsection.

But it did not even slow the great eastern hunting beast, as it leaped over the greased floor.

As it landed on the back of the beast fighting Daxia.

As it let its own momentum and its companion as a springboard to loft itself over the younger Dayalan.

With a triumphant roar it landed in a fierce skid in the center of the chapel, right in front of Celi ... in front of Kadri ... in front of Bekkah.

With its companion following behind, already making that initial leap.

The Heartwood
Bordertown
Sometime After Sunset
Rameday, The Twenty-First Day of the Month of Crown of Ice, 2623

Neutral Territory

" ... Lady Krysta demands what is her due."

It was like a line of doublebluff tiles falling, the first hitting the second and then the third in the klicity-klack of a child's game.

" ... Lady Krysta speaks ja."

Darian

"Beast come!" she had hissed at the first sound of them reached her.

She let fly with her arrows, adjusting for their speed and deterity as she did so. A miss, a hit, another hit and so on. A handful of arrows spent. The beasts were smart as the Romanas had said. The using of another to vault past the slickened floor and into the temple proved it outright. She could not help but admire them, such was the way of the predator, the way of the Hunter.

The other sound traveled to her ears amongst all the others. "Dean, beasts come!" she warned the squire.

Those in the temple itself would have to deal with the beast that had gone beyond Dazi. More were coming and she had to do what she could to prevent their advance. She would continue to fire until there were no more arrows come to hand.

(Graphic added per Wolf's instructions.)

Mikal

He stood and picked up his crossbow as the first screech echoes down the hallways. He finds a good spot where he can fire between or around the rope barricade and waits patiently for their foes to arrive.

He does not have long to wait. Light blooms in the area, and he turns and smiles at Linnette and Tashka, tipping his head in thanks then focuses back to the front.

He sees Darian draw and fire, and a moment later he can see them himself. Sleek, incredibly fast, rows of sharp teeth, bearing down on the group. Two, three, five.... More arrows fly from Darian and at least two are hurt. He fires his crossbow himself, cursing as the bad angle causes his bolt to miss and strike the wall.

Now one of the beasts comes face-to-face with Daxia. She slices at it, hurting it badly with her sword, but it bites down hard on her arm in exchange. He is in the process of reloading his crossbow, and is about to drop it to go to her aid, when Linnette somehow heals her. Absorbing the damage unto herself. Instead he aims and fires at the beast in front of the Dayalan, this time striking true.

He reloads a third bolt, cocking the crossbow back to re-engage it's trigger, when he suddenly sees one of the lizards use it's wounded companion as a springboard to leap completely over Daxia and land among the rear ranks of the group.

He aims and fires at this new threat, knowing those in the rear are more at risk then Daxia and Dean. Now, at this moment, there is a relatively unhurt lizard threatening Bekkah, Celi, and the others who are not prepared to deal with it at close quarters.

Following the plan, he drops his crossbow after firing that one bolt and draws his Short Sword and Main Gauche, leaving his Broadsword still sheathed. He steps up to the lizard's side, where it faces off against Bekkah across from him, and he buries both the sword and dagger into it's body. He bends slightly, aiming to bury both sword and dagger up and underneath the lizard's body. Striving to gut a vital area in it's mid-section. His sword shines with a soft light as he strikes. When he feels the blades hit home, he twists his wrists, maximizing the damage, then pulls them back out to strike again.

Kadri:

"Celi, if there was ever a time for you to dance, this is it."

She moves like a flash, rolling past the beastie, in one motion flinging handfuls of dirt right towards its eyes(Sleight of hand). Rolling on past, she comes up next to Bekkah.

"Move, now, Bekkah. Linette needs you. Come!"

Bekkah

It all happened so fast. She saw the terrible wounds that Dazi sustained, then almost as quickly they were gone and she looked at Linette and she understood. She could heal as well as Bekkah from a distance, but she paid a terrible price. She started towards Linette, needing to touch her to help her when she saw the lizard vault over the other one and it was now before her. She froze, unsure whether she could back away or if it would simply chew her up. Then Kadri was before her, urging her back.

She didn't hesitate with the young girl's urging and ran to Linette's side. She took a deep breath and touched the horrible wound.

"Lady Attera, grant me your aid for this woman, so she can aid a loved one." she said, pouring all her healing power into Linette's body. She only hoped she had the power to match the damage that Linette had taken onto herself.

Daxia
with the Gang, Tashka and Linette in the Temple On The Border West Chapel

When the pain hit, sharp and blinding and horrible, Daxia gasped... having not the breath to scream or cry out or even murmur a prayer to her Goddess. Training -- days upon weeks upon seasons upon years of drills with this Age's best Dayalan Warriors -- kept her swordarm moving.

And as suddenly as the pain had begun, it was gone. As she swung again, trying to find a point past the armor-like scales of the beast, she saw the first of the uninjured beasts leap over her. She heard Mikal drop his crossbow, saw the second uninjured beast begin the same leap.

She hear Kadri... she thought she heard Kadri; she was certain she heard Bekkah. Dear, dear Bekkah. Bekkah was fine.

So this time... this time when the lizard was about to leap, she shifted -- a bit, back-weighting her stance slightly -- and as the second lizard followed the first over her head, she swung overhead -- leaning her weight forward into the swing -- at the lizard's soft underbelly, attempting to bite deeply and cut a long gash with her shimmering sword from neck to tail... keeping her somewhat mauled shield between her own body and the lizard crouching before her that was acting as a launching platform for its pack members.

"DARIAN! Ground lizard! Shoot, shoot!"

Darian

The platform was not steady enough for a full pivot, but she did turn at Dazxia's shout. Seeing the beast that must be the redhead's concern she fired, aiming for the head, in particular an eye....

[OOC You asked about spells earlier. Cesare would have used Harden to enhance his protection and have 'Elsewhere' in reserve.]

Cesare

Fighting monsters the size of these is not something he has experience of but he knows that in any fight each has to do what they can. He has a dagger in each hand and he knows how to use them in close quarters and as a thrown weapon. He readies himself waiting for an opportunity.

It comes sooner and more suddenly than he might have wished. In one instance there are three fighters and a barricade bewtween him and them.. then there isn't.

And it looks much larger and more fearsome this close.

Without delay, he looses his daggers, throwing them hard, and hopefully true.

The Heartwood
Bordertown
Sometime After Sunset
Rameday, The Twenty-First Day of the Month of Crown of Ice, 2623

In the West Temple with Mikal, Darian, Cesare, Dean, Bekkah, Daxia, Kadi, Tashka and Linette

It started with words mouthed but unspoken.

It was followed by a deep dark hiss.

Speak to Beast.

The Beast looked at Celi. Celi looked at the Beast.

It was like a slaughterhouse nightmare glimpsed in the flash of lightning on a summer night. It only took an instance, but it seemed like, it felt like, forever.

The young woman's eyes slowly opened, wide, pupils dilating, as if she were witnessing some horror, something unspeakable, something feral, something so alien and bestial there was no accounting for it, no frame of reference. Her slight frame jerked. Her strange odd knives fell to the floor with a cool cold clatter as her hands slowly rose. Her mouth opened, jaw slack, a touch of moisture dabbling from the corner of her lips, as if to scream, but no sound came out.

... what one sees ... all sees ... what one hears ... all hears ... what one speaks ... all speaks ...

It was the beastmaster's secret.

There were not many Eastern Hunting Beasts.

There was only One.

She fell to her knees.

" ... not ... meeeeeeeeeeeee ..."

It was a twisted choking sound, as if the words somehow could not have come from human vocal chords but somehow they did.

She fell forward in a splash of blood, twitching, jerking and finally still, that crimson pool flooding across the ancient stones.

Celi had torn her own throat out.

And then done.

Like reins loosed, the cacophony broke out across the temple, the sound of harsh breaths being taken, commands barked out and accompanied by curses and the clash of steel against brutal scales.

The killer ... he chuffed and choked, dashing his head back and forth against a spray of dust and dirt and grime, a suitable distraction to drag a healer to a healer. Now, this time, there was a literal flash of lightning. As quick, a sudden, and leaving a dull thunder echoing down the corridors, there was a true flash of white power as bekkah turned to the shattered Linette. A wash of power, warm and safe and comforting and the young covener sudden gasped, choked, arched, her eyes wide and then sharp. She looked to the Atteran gratefully and whispered a hand full of words on her own. It was like a wave, a shimmering frisson in the air, as she returned a gift of her own. Such a powerful spell, it had taxed Bekkah, but now she felt as if it were never cast ... indeed, all of the small group, each one of the defenders could feel the rushed high as their magical strength was restored.

In the center of the room the interloping beast was beset upon. Unable to see, her was unable to respond, to the sting of Rhoni daggers pinning two of his legs. He twisted, his tail slashed out wilding, only to find himself meeting the point of a shortsword. Close in was Mikal's speciality, and the Jvrillian's work proved true as his blade entered the side of the beast, all the way, all the way through until it splashed out ichor, gore and blood as it slashed out the other side. The beast fell to the ground and it took both arms and a foot upon the still twitching creature to even begin to draw the blade out.

At the very same time two arrows both hit their target, Darian's shots flying true, or at least as true as one could wish. The first sunk deep into its midsection, causing it to writhe around, to cast its deadly glare up into the darkness that sheltered the Hunter. Which was not the smartest of move, as it resulted in an arrow striking deep into its snout. It jerked backwards, as if trying to snap at the deadly wood that pierced its top jaw and was solidly lodged in the lower. Upon its back it fell, screaming in deep dark hisses, twisting, rolling, bucking this way and that.

For another, the ceilings had turned to rain.

Daxia's blow struck upwards as the largest of the creatures took to the air. White metal shimmered with stardust magic, striking the beast just below its ribcage. her downstroke and its momentum worked to a deadly purpose. As it drove high and forward her blade gutted across its belly, splitting scales, shearing muscle, disemboweling the creature in a sudden thunderstorm of blood and phlegm. It washed down upon the young Dayalan in a crimson deluge.

The beast slammed it to the floor, slid towards the western wall. While two lizards had been taken down they still breathed and contorted themselves in pain, but were no longer a threat.

This was was however, completely dead.

Daxia though, was not forgotten.

The standing hunting beast closed its jaws.

Only to leave a ruined semi-circle hole in the side of her shield. With a shake of its head it started to spit out the fragments of wood.

It was Dean that faced the new threat.

The squire had steeled himself, Darian's warning giving him time to brace himself for the attack from the other corridor.

Thus when the first lizard hit, it met the squires steel, the two trading blows and bites and blows again.

It was followed by a sudden loud whumf and a hiss bark.

Another beast beast had suddenly slammed itself into one of the stone columns, becoming entangled in the rope and briars.

It took a third beast from down the other darkened hall to discern their newest tactic.

At break neck speed this hunting beast swept low down the corridor. It made a op ... landing in the greasy floor. It's tremendous momentum carried it ... down the hall ... a deadly lizard missile aimed right for the opening, right for the breach. Right through the breach.

It undercut both lizard and Squire of Rames. Both man and critter were sent tumbling back into the chapel in an ungainly sprawl.

The sliding lizard dug in its claws, twisting its body perpendicular to the path of travel ... as if to swipe those in the center to the ground too ...

Fodder for the one about to follow in his path.

Darian

The Hunter did net exult in her success. Every well placed shot was an homage to Khannish. And there were other beasts to slay. One propelled itself into the chapel, and Darian set arrow to bow and let loose again.

Cesare

This is probably the worst fight he has been in by a number of miles. Previously his experience has been mostly one on one or if in a group then brawling. This new world he is in.. this nightmare.. is awash with acrid scents, blood and gore, pain, gutteral sounds and screams.. and is far more real than he would wish it to be.

Survival though is a strong instinct. And he wants to survive. So somehow he numbs his mind to the sights around him, trying not to think about what might be happening to the others.. especially Celi.. though that image is hard to banish.. but trusting the healers to do what they can.

He spares one grateful glance and nod to Mikal who finishes off the huge lizard that had broken through to them, invading their sanctum.. though he no longer though of it as a safe area any more.

Then more daggers are in his hands as his eyes search for the next threat, the next target.. and that arrives abruptly.. in an ungainly slide of muscle and murderous intent.. only seconds later.

He looses his daggers, ready to remove himself if necessary, hoping he has the courage to stand hios ground until that moment arrives and praying that it never does.