PlaneShift
Gameplay => In-Game Roleplay Events => Topic started by: Aradia on July 15, 2006, 10:10:04 pm
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[These aren't stories, despite them being written similar to one. Somehow, I didn’t think just posting sections of a log and giving some information would be sufficient. Each little confrontation between the Thieves and Vespers I will write out in a separate post to show how the situation is escalating. This is open to any and all who wish to join in the event; either on the Thieves's side or Vespers's side (and of course the side of the innocent bystander).]
[Here's the very basic plot of this RP: Xillix was paying the Thieves a fixed amount of money for protection. (Protection in the sense that they would simply not steal from her guild or the temple.) As long as the money was paid, the Vespers were left alone. However, her payments began lagging more and more. So, the Thieves now are confronting her about it.]
One night Aradia and her good friend and fellow thief, Semutara, were spending time outside the Iron Temple of Laanx. The two were laughing and amusing themselves by insulting various people followed by large chunks of pie aimed towards their faces.
After a quite awhile, Aradia tosses a large chunk of pie at Xillix to get her attention, her face serious. "I'm here to talk." Xillix makes a motion to show she's listening, but does not turn to face the Ynnwn. "Your payments-", Aradia continues in an even tone. "-are lagging. Way lagging."
Xillix sighs "Soon hun, I assure you." She continues looking out at the plaza, thinking that this would make Aradia be quiet.
Feeling annoyed at being partially ignored, Aradia continues speaking. "Yeah, it's always soon. I don't want to be forced to take matters into an area it really doesn't need to go to, Xillix."
The High Priestess turns to face the Thief. "Ok Aradia, settle down. I pay more than enough for your protection. I should be able to miss a payment once in a while."
Aradia glowers "Once in awhile?! Oh please..."
Xillix looks at Aradia, a bit frustrated. "Are you done with the bread? This grows tiresome!"
Aradia stares at Xillix, her eyes cold and unforgiving. "Just don't make me do something I might regret!"
"You can wait or push your luck with me Aradia; those are your options." Xillix replies shortly. With a crooked grin and signature glint of mischief in her eyes Aradia walks off, calling over her shoulder "Luck and Loot Forevermore!"
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Two days later, Sov, Maulus, and Aradia make their way over to Xillix outside the temple. The Queen of Fools reads their expressions correctly and speaks before one of them can talk. "Soon, I promise. Catch up with me later, I must leave now." Sov nods. "We will wait." The other two Ynnwns, Maulus and Aradia, nod their heads in agreement with their Crime Lord and wait for Xillix to depart.
When she is out of earshot Sov turns to his Thieves. "I say we do it." They both nod, their eyes lit up with the cruel idea they've been planning. “But, we try talking one more time. If it fails; we strike.”
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The next day, the Thieves are stationed at different areas around the temple. All of them are extremely furious and anything could set them off. Aradia sees just how many Thieves are around and a wicked grin appears on her face while listening to the Vespers's usual plea for donations and hopeless cases.
She takes a deep breath and shouts in the direction of the plaza. "Vespers of Laanx owe me money!"
"You don't say; they owe a lot!" Sov bellows. No more shouting is heard as the Thieves in the area gather around the temple stairs.
Peacer gives Sov some Circles, thinking that it would silence the Thieves and allow Xillix more time to pay up. Sov looks in disgust at the pouch of Circles he is given. "If you multiplied that by fifty that wouldn't be enough." He pockets the coins anyway, a move that only the Thieves seem to notice.
Getting a nod from Aradia and picking up on her plan, Maulus shouts to the plaza. "Is it just me or are the Vespers dirt poor?"
"They surely can't keep up with a fixed payment!", Aradia bellows, reinforcing Maulus's statement.
Semutara joins in with her fellow Thieves in their verbal attacks on the Vespers of Laanx. "Where goes all these donations? Why can't they pay?"
A little more shouting continues until Xillix raises her voice above all the noise, demanding to be heard. "Aradia! Sov! Your little extortion network is ended! Challenge me further, Thieves, and I will spend that money to have you all slain!" The Thieves don't feel the slightest bit threatened by this statement, for the Vespers are a bunch of useless fools in their eyes.
Peacer once again interjects, feeling as if he has to have a say in just about everything that happens around him. "Aradia, what do they owe you; how much?"
"A lot", Sov replies curtly. "A whole lot."
Aradia stares at Peacer, her face impassive and her tone flat and emotionless. "Peacer, I advise you stay out of this one."
After a bit more confused chatter between some of the people that had gathered around the temple stairs and the Vespers themselves; the High Priestess speaks. "Aradia and Sov have a little protection racket. I played along before, but I am done. I will cut you all down where you stand follow, you to the Death Realm, and humiliate you all until you yield!"
Aradia stares coldly at Xillix and speaks, her words icy and sharp. "As are we. We're done with asking nicely."
Sov raises an eyebrow, a slightly amused expression on his face. "You don't need protection? Fine."
"You push it too far and it will be war!" the Queen of Fools says warningly.
"Fine." says Sov. "We will leave." He laughs coldly, spits on the ground near the feet of the High Priestess, and motions to his fellow Thieves. They follow their Crime Lord without hesitation, shooting wicked glares in Xillix's direction as they depart.
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Sov sits calmly in the tavern with a mug of ale and some pieces of paper scattered over the table. Sov looks over the pages again and again, pages that appear to have drawings of a place on them. He makes some marks on a couple of the drawing and smiles.
Sov mutters to himself, "So simple, yet so deadly"
Sov picks up his mug and laughs softly. He takes a long swig of the ale, emptying the mug. Without another word he rounds up his papers, takes one last look at the one on the top and grins mischeviously.
Looking over his table to see nothing is left, he smiles and exits the tavern
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The chittering laughter of the shadows causes Anfa to pause a moment while fighting the Brigand in the wilds. Ducking at the last moment a powerful swing she steps forward to finish him off no longer in a playful mood. Wiping her blade on the dead brigands shirt she stands and steps back deeper into the shadows.
Anfa stands quietly; listening to the whispers and rumors carried by the shadows of deeds done by the thieves. Anfa's face hardens and her eyes grow colder as she realizes who is the victim of their games.
Looking back towards Yialkum she pauses to concider and than turns, heading out towards the Wyldewood.
Xillix..sister of her heart...
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[OOC info about the poison used in the fight yesterday:
POISON: It is made from Consumer Fangs. It is NOT lethal. It lasts for a week. The first two days are the most unpleasant. The poison makes a person feel extremely ill.
CURE FOR THE POISON: An experienced Blue Way mage can cure the effects of the poison. The healing process takes two days. The antidote is made from Tefusang blood and a drop of the poison itself. The antidote takes one day to take effect.
If your character is going to create the antidote; at least RP the character doing some research about it instead of the character just saying "Hey! I'm smart! I know what to do!"
I hope this stops the arguing and debates.]
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Janeous opened the scroll from the Rookery with great haste. The cure had come quicker that even he had expected. Thanking the Rookmaster, he ran to the Laanx Temple. Upon entering the upper chambers, he found that Irick was already recovering from his wound -and- the posion, thanks to quick action and knowledge of rare herbs and fungus from Aeshion (long story how she came to that knowledge.)
It seemed that Aeshion had thrust her hand into Iricks wound covered in the powder of an odd mushroom and gold dust, cutting the healing time to three days. This upset and bewildered Janeous to no end, -he- was to have the only known 'cure' (other cures exist, even though the poison is not lethal in the first place, but the church of laanx is much better at making poisons than curing them).
Panthro, however, was yet very sick, and the sickness inadvertently lengthened by his being 'frozen' by Xillix. If left alone in this state, he likely would have died, as his body could not heal itself. If not frozen, he would have gotten better in the one week.
This is the affair a priest of Talad walked. An argument came between the priests of Laanx, and the Kran healer, Luloy. But Luloy won over, and used his powers of Talad, along with the drop of poison Janeous had brought from the Rookery, and blood of an Ulber. The cure Luloy gave, seems to have worked better than even Janeous's or Aeshion's, having drawn strength from all the people in the room, but that is yet to be seen....
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The Thieves are seen grouped together in Kada-El's, talking quietly amongst themselves and receiving strange looks from a Dwarf and a Klyros chatting across the room. Aradia and Sov sit across from each other at a small table silently conversing through meaningful facial expressions and body language while the other Thieves await orders. Sov finishes his drink and slams the mug onto the table with a bit more force than necessary. He stands and draws his longsword as Aradia finishes her own drink and swiftly exits the tavern. The thieves follow their leaders noiselessly to the temple where they plan to spill the blood of Vespers.
They reach their destination and stand behind their Crime Lord as he smiles coldy at the High Priestess. "'Lady' Xillix", he says with a sneer.
Xillix turns to face the Ynnwn, clearly looking annoyed and angered by his presence. "Oh look what washed up... Lord Sov!"
"I think you know me right? Or maybe in your arrogance you have forgotten?" he replies while still smiling.
"I have forgotten nothing." the Queen of Fools replies shortly.
Sov's voice rings out through the area, loud and clear. "Xillix, I offer you a last chance. Give us what we want and we will leave."
"The days when I would pay you for not thieving from the temple are bygone." the High Prietess replies with a commanding tone.
Sov laughs. "Then you choose the wrong path, my lovely little Fenki friend."
"I never should have paid for the comfort. I should have slain every thief that walked through here!" the Queen of Fools says, her voice rising in anger.
Sov spits at Xillix's feet and her two swords shine forth like a ray of crystal light. A high PZHING! sparks in the air she stands tensed."Well then" she says and spits at his feet. "Heathens."
The temple grounds is engulfed in the sound of blades being unsheathed. The dark cloaks concealing Thief identities drop to the ground and they change to fighting stances as their blades thrist for the blood of Vespers. In the blink of an eye, the Vespers and their allies stand in defensive positions, blades drawn and ready for anything the Thieves might try to throw at them.
A deadly silence that seems to last an eternity falls over the area until...
From off to the side, halfway down the temple stairs Aradia slowly and quietly unsheathes a dagger from under her sleeve. The blade is slightly off color, looking as if it had been dipped in poison. Her eyes scan the area, making sure her movements had not been noticed. Pleased with having the element of surprise, she lets the poisoned dagger fly through the air towards her target; Xillix, Queen of Fools.
Panthro, Xillix's ever loyal and faithful follower reacts quickly and dives in front of the dagger. The dagger pierces his skin and he falls to the ground. The Thieves move in to attack fiercely, releasing their fury into a series of unrelenting blows on their enemies. They are outnumbered but fight for their honor, their guild, and the cause they believe in so strongly.
An elf rushes up to the fighting and tries to shout for a truce and talk of peace between the two guilds. He is soon silenced as Sov thrusts the blade of his longsword through the elf's neck, the end of the blade sticking out the other side of his body. The elf falls to the ground in a pool of blood.
The sound of the battle fades in Aradia's and Sov's ears as they turn and move quickly in the direction of the sewers, letting their Thieves put their rigorous training to good use.
Blades dance and the clashing of metal against metal resonates throughout the plaza. Vespers fall to the poisoned blades of Thieves just as fast as Thieves fall from failing to dodge the powerful magic of Vespers. The cobblestone ground soon becomes slick with blood and crowded with the fallen but not defeated combatants.
When the swords finally ceased moving is hard to say. It is safe to assume that both sides back down in order to tend to their wounded and poisoned and retreat back to their respective areas. Wounded and bleeding Thieves limp to the sewers with grim satisfaction at being able to inflict pain unto the Vespers while Vespers drag their poisoned priests into their sacred temple, praying that they will be able to begin the healing process.
[Much thanks to all who participated in this. The battle written here is very general and many things were excluded, but I think the basic point gets across. This is by no means the end of this RP. Much more is to come. I'll also be writing up a little scene showing the Thieves in their hideout after the battle to throw in some foreshadowing about what the Thieves are planning.]
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Amidst huge stacks of books on the times of yore: “Ancient History,” “The Cultures of Yliakum before the New Gods,” “When the Crystal Lit,” “Divinity According to Galeran,” “Language up from the Labyrinths,” “Kadaikos before Blackflame,” “Portal Magick for Dunces,” “The Passage of the Xacha,” “Signs Ciphered from Suns,” and hundreds more on loan from Jayose and The Death Realm’s Library, Xillix sat, ink spattered, head in hands. Panthro lie asleep presumably recovering fully from the poisoning that was intended for her, Xillix could hear his troubled sleep from the next room in the temple.
"Janeous! How is it coming? A clank of beakers and hiss of acid spilled retorted. “Still not done?” she yelled.
A calm educated man dressed in the fine white robes of a Laughing Chorister entered from the direction of the hissing.
“My Lady, these things cannot be rushed, one small mistake and the intended effects will be spoiled and the process will need to be repeated from the beginning . . .” Janeous explained. “Incidentally, Irick is a talented hand at alchemy.”
“How long will it be Janeous?” Xillix shot back.
“My Lady these things must be perfect if you wish your vision to go as planned, it must be tasteless, odorless, and potent enough to pass through a glove.”
“Don’t forget the onset time must correspond to the time it takes to read the letter . . . So how long”
“Twelve hours at least Lady Xillix.”
The lady’s hand slammed the desk disturbing the inkstand, black liquid moved like the forces of opposition before her spreading over documents as she watched placidly. Janeous returned to the makeshift lab carefully hurrying his labors. Xillix paced the iron floors of the temple, returning often to her desk to work the draft of her letter of surrender. Ten hours pacing, writing, pacing, she tired of watching shadows to see from where her assassin might come. She tired too of the rabble ever with a hand poised to receive from the temple coffers and same seldom returning to offer. She tired of the rough breaths of Panthro from his sleeping chambers. She tired of the clank of Janeous’ and Irick’s labors. She tired of plans and contingencies. She tired of the ancient tongue of the Book of Names meant to compel and confound her. She was tired.
Xillix fell to her knees there alone in her chamber and prayed with all her might that her savoir, Laanx might give her words. Words from the Book of Names, and inspiration, inspiration for the letter she must soon finish. Her mind was pained and her hands cramped, days worth of notes destroyed by her angry spill of ink, she focused. Focused past the trivialities of these worries, focused in, to the silverweave strand of self that stands unassailable in all woe and, grabbing on to that for anchor focused outward out to the ether or forever or wherever Laanx roams, seeking, beseeching, reaching for words from her god. In this state all erupted a waking of consciousness . . . she slept.
In her dream a sermon was fluidly spoken by Galeran himself a smooth poised Xacha, elegant as Death Realm weddings, standing in the very temple of Laanx that he had built. Magic flowed and sparked about him whimsically as he spoke. His charisma was beyond mortal and Xillix could feel his deep honest love beam out and through the faithful then to herself. She stood at the entrance robed in rich silver-laced white of an initiate. A being robed in a coat of rust faced Xillix from beyond the shroud of the hood, eyes glowing white with heat as air melted before the words. The voice was elderly, male, resonant, it was Galeran.
“We all come to this Lady Xillix.” Xillix shook herself and looked again to see the congregation gone but the one speaker. The solitary temple seemed hollow and cold.
Galeran broke the sterile silence, “while you live your enemies are our lord’s you shall be sheltered by that mighty hand through great trials, but what of those around you my Lady?” “who will protect them from the rain my Lady?"
“My Lady,” then quieter, “my lady, you must wake. The hour is late. Janeous and Irick send for you from the lab. They say the have done it!” The sound of muted rain on the iron roof of the temple ran a cold chill through Xillix. She collected herself, keeping her shaking hands under the desk she had fallen asleep at so Gyerfry would not sense her alarm. She steeled herself. “Gyerfry, tell them I will join them in the lab shortly.” Xillix blinked once took a breath and wrote:
Dear Aradia,
My way and that of Laanx is not to thank
villains for villainy, nor to but grieve.
I hope you will in kindness now receive,
The terms of my surrender are so rank
that I quail and quake hands shaking and sore
for rewriting until anger and danger
left the sad pen I push toward a stranger
once a friend and alas, not anymore.
I would rather you slept a while to think
on the dangers this course compels, then leave
you or your friends bereft of life by knives
in the dark, or send you poison to drink.
By now you tire and soon you shall sleep
Laanx’s eyes are the night in which thieves creep.
I surrender nothing for that is my Kingdom . . .
Lady Xillix, Queen of Fools-
On the outside of the envelope Xillix purposefully wrote: The terms of my surrender. She rushed to the lab where the other Vespers diligently worked. The letter was carefully coated in a thin layer of the fine contact poison they had contrived from distilling ulbernaut musk. The letter dried and was neatly folded with thongs and placed into the envelope whose interior had been lightly coated with wax. Xillix then applied her seal and handed the letter to Farren. “Farren, deliver this to Aradia please and tell her that I would have her open it in private so as to spare me what embarrassment its contents might do me.” Farren smiled at his Lady and departed. Xillix thought it best that he did not know what was contained therein.
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Anfa listens silently to the chittering laughter of the shadows sharing the rumors and news of dark plots hatched.
Her face grows hard and cold as she manages to sort through the jumble of information that the shadows so happily share.
"Dark days indeed are these.." Anfa whispers into the night.."that you should become your enemy..sister of mine, I mourn for thee"
Anfa turns away from the laughter of the shadows about her allowing a tear to escape as she walks off to do what needs to be done...
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Lady Xillix leaned back in her chair before sleep, "what is next?" She asked the air.
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[Tyrande walks in with blood on her face]
"The Thieves!" she cried
"More of them! Comming... here..." and she dropped down seemingly unconcious...
OOC: :ban: please don't
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[Neither the Thieves or myself have any idea of what the above post is referring to. With that said, I will continue the story and ignore said post.]
Behind the Snake Skin tavern is where Farren finds Aradia, the recipient of the letter he was sent to deliver. "My Lady asks that you open this in private to spare her what embarassment its contents might cause her." he says as he hands her the letter. He glares for a few seconds and quickly walks away.
Aradia pockets the envelope and watches Sov and Maulus finish their dueling practice. The two Ynnwns walk over to her, sweaty and out of breath from the strenuous excercise. She takes the envelope from her pocket again and reads the words written in an elegant script on the front: The terms of my surrender.
Sov looks a bit apprehensive and glances at the envelope and then back to Aradia. "Put it down." he says.
"It's just a letter!" she replies.
"Aradia, can i open it?" Sov asks, not expecting her to allow him to anyway.
"No I think I will." she says and slowly opens the envelope as Sov takes a step back. As she pulls out a piece of parchment written in the same elegant script that could only belong to an educated priestess, he breathes a sigh of relief and moves closer to read it.
Aradia begins to read the letter aloud for the first four lines. As she reads the rest in her head, she can feel herself becoming increasingly tired and weak. When she finishes the letter, takes a step back and leans against the wall of a building behind her. After blinking a few times and staring at her hands; her eyes close and she falls forward.
Sov reacts quickly and catches her before she hits the ground. He swears loudly and motions for Maulus to help him carry her to the hideout. Maulus sheathes his sword and holds Aradia's feet as Sov lifts her from under her arms. They move quickly to the direction of the sewers where the chances of Aradia being found are less likely.
She is laid on an Ulbernaut fur atop a fallen pillar in the section of the sewers reserved for the Thieves' hideout. Maulus and Sov are quiet for a few moments as they watch her lay still and unmoving. Maulus speaks first, his voice very quiet. "So, what do we do now?" Sov looks at Aradia for a moment more and turns to Maulus. "Go back to where we just were and pick up the letter. Wear gloves; thick ones." he says in an orderly and businesslike tone. Maulus nods and pulls on a pair of Ulbernaut hide gloves as he sprints out of the hideout.
Sov looks back to Aradia with a worried expression etched in his face. He stares at her hands and sees them shine a little. Realizing that this shining is the remaining poison on her hands, he pulls out a cloth and some water. As he cleans the poison from her skin he whispers. "Can you hear me, Aradia?" He receives no response but smiles at seeing her still breathing.
A few hours pass and Maulus comes bursting into the hideout with a bottle in his hand and tosses it to Sov. "Give this to her." Sov hesitates for a moments but pours the liquid in Aradia's mouth anyway. She starts to choke on the antidote and Sov, realizing his mistake, quickly moves her into a sitting position. He pats her on the back a few times and she is able to swallow the antidote. Sov lays her Aradia back down on the Ulbernaut fur and smiles as color slowly comes back to her face.
A few moments later Gwinn, a close friend and poison specialist, comes running into the hideout. She looks at Aradia. "Did she drink it all?" Sov nods. "Aye. She drank it and choked on it a bit, but she is fine now." She nods. "Good. So long as she drank it."
Sov turns his attention to Maulus. "Did you get the letter?"
"Yes. I gave it to Gwinn." he replies and points to the sack in Gwinn's hand.
Gwinn hands Sov the sack containing the letter, making sure her gloves are secured tightly. He checks his own gloves and takes the letter from inside the sack and tosses it to the floor. After digging through his pack for a few moments, he oulls out a parchment, quill, and small bottle of black ink. With his tongue between his teeth, he slowly and carefully copies the letter onto the parchment. When he finishes he tosses the letter, the sack, and his gloves to the middle of the room. With a flick of his wrist, he uses his knowledge of the Red Way to conjure enough flames to turn the objects to cinders.
As Sov works diligently, Gwinn fills a bowl with water and dips a cloth into it. She presses the cold cloth to Aradia's forehead and smiles, knowing that the antidote will work and she will soon be fine.
Hours pass and the Thieves come and go, floating in and out of the hideout at certain intervals. Gwinn remains by Aradia's side during her recovery and Killiy at the hideout entrance, ready to defend against unwanted intruders. It isn't until the third dose of the antidote that Aradia fully awakens and is able to move around and speak again. The Thieves silently celebrate in their hideout at the speedy recovery of the Master Thief.
They soon move the congegration into the tavern where Aradia sits aside from all the chatter, offering small smiles of gratitude while feeling that all is not well with herself. Sometime later most of the Thieves retreat to the hideout for some much needed sleep. Still not feeling well, Aradia stumbles up the tavern stairs and flops down on a bed in one of the rooms. The familiar feeling of drowsiness she experienced eariler from the poison overtakes her once more.
"Maulus!" she calls out, hoping he's still in the tavern and able to hear her. The door opens and Maulus walks in with a concerned expression. "Do you have anymore of that antidote?" she mumbles as she fights against the poison that she had obviously not been fully cleansed of. He reaches into his pocket and hands her the small vial, grinning in that weird way of his as she drinks. "I told ya you'd need it again." he says and walks out the door, chuckling.
Aradia swears to herself, realizing the antidote must only be slowing down the effects of the poison, for her movements continue to slow and a fog starts to settle over her mind. She stands and leans heavily on the table furiously moving things around to look for paper and something to write with. She finds what she is seeking and scribbles a few things to Gwinn, explaining in as few words as possible that a stronger antidote is needed. At the bottom she also hurriedly writes her apologies to her friend for keeping her attention fixated on something that need not be brought up again.
Her plan to send Gwinn the message with her groffel fails, for she soon grows too weak to summon the creature. Falling back onto the bed again, she finally succumbs to the effects of the poison, the note falling from her hand and onto the floor.
An hour or so later, Rethius, a fairly new Thief enters the room. "Ermmm, Aradia?... wake up." he says as he nudges her slightly. He looks a bit more worried and several failed attempts later he looks panicked. While frantically looking around the room, he spots the note she wrote and reads it over a few times. "Gwinn..." he mumbles and tucks the letter into his pocket. "I must find her!". He sprints out of the tavern and returns sometimes later with a very worried Gwinn.
Words are exchanged and thoughts of Aradia's possible death are voiced aloud between the two. Once the thoughts of the worst are brushed aside and beaten down into the ground, Gwinn recites the ingredients needed for the stronger antidote. Once of her fellow Magi are in the tavern, and he is ordered by his Sage to collect ulber musk, the most crucial ingredient of the antidote. He returns twenty minutes later and she begins to prepare the mixture.
Once the antidote is complete, she returns upstairs to the room where Aradia lay. A small group had gathered in the room, wondering what had happened to the young Ynnwn. Gwinn easily moves through the crowd and to Aradia's side. She applies the mixture to her skin and draws power from the Azure Sun to speed up the healing process.
A few minutes later, Aradia's eyes slowly open and she appears to be dazed. "Gwinn?" she asks quietly, hoping that the healer was the one by her side. "Aradia" Gwinn replies and smiles, elated that the Ynnwn was awake.
"Xillix..." Aradia thought to herself darkly as she kept up her charade of smiles to the group in the room. "Next time, there will be no one to take the dagger for you."
[Okay, there it is. As I wrote this it kept getting later and later so it sounds lamer and lamer as it goes on. ;) Anyway.. enjoy. :D]
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[[ooc: this is the account of the last day of the beggar. This is posted out of order with Aradia's post, as all of hers happened before this, which happened Friday. I am writing this now to clearify to both side what happened. Please, use this information wisely, and keep the secrets you glean from these words a secret from your characters. This is an aid to the roleplaying going on, not the solution to the mystery. I will move this writing to the right order after Aradia finishes. Thanks. ]]
A lone beggar staggers towards Kada’s Tavern, his left leg dragging in a painful looking limp. He is filthy, his face crusted with ages of dirt and nameless grime. His robes may have started as any color, but the mud and brown-green streaks of countless back streets mar it beyond telling. All in all, his appearance is horrid, and his smell not much better. Two things may seem odd to anyone seeing him, though none would likely look long enough on him to notice. One, his hands are completely clean. The second, he hobbles toward the tavern with unwavering determination in his eyes….until he walks through the door.
The key players are all here in the tavern. Enough of them that matter. A feast is laid out for a party. A party of Thieves. Players? No….pawns to the plan.
The beggar shambles into the party, fear in his eyes. He gives his story, a sad one at best. He had been turned away from the Temple every time he had gone this week. He was looked on with distaste and horror. He had been told to wash himself before he came back for aid. Or so he says. The thieves take note of his clean hands with keen eyes. He holds them out as proof to his story.
“I cleeen! SEEEE!” he cries out and holds up his hands. “I scrub for hours, but still they say, ‘You too dirty! Go get nice cloths!’”
The thieves take apparent pity on the disgusting man, and let him feast on their food. All the while, the beggar tells of the woes inflicted on him by the Vespers. He lays claim that Xillix herself kicked him this last time, telling him nothing as her Vespers chaised him from the Temple. At one point one of the thieves gets close enough to smell him, though not on purpose, to be sure. An unexpected statement is made, due to the woman’s sensitive nose.
“Say... do you know anything about healing?“ She asks catching the smell of herbs on the beggar.
Without pause, the beggar snorts in anger. “Pfft. One of jingle la…” He pauses to look at one of the thieves, who had given him the name earlier, “Xillix friends dump some powder on me. Say ‘Maybe this make him smell better.’”
The thieves seem to accept what he says, but their nature gets the better of them as they poke a little fun at the crouching beggar. He deems it time to leave, and thanks them for the food, while grabbing another fish on his way out and stuffing is in the same pocket he had put an entire pie in earlier. He then exits, the look of determination returning to his eyes the second no one can see them.
Pawns. Yes pawns. To fools know nothing but greed. Greed for money, greed for power. All of them. They will know fear soon enough.
The beggar makes his way back to the Temple on the suggestion of a few of the thieves. He has a shadow this time. One of the thieves uses her skills to remain unseen in his wake. The beggar finds Xillix in her usual place in front of the Temple. He begs for her words. She give him words in the form of insults and anger. One of her trusted fellows and beloved friends, Farren Kutter, is aghast at her words. the beggar then pleads for her blessing. She blesses him…with a single stroke of her gleaming sword. Farren is shocked beyond words. The thief says nothing from the shadows. Xillix’s look of hate fades as she looks as the growing pool of blood just before the body fades. And if the beggar yet had voice…you would have heard his laughing.
In the Realm of the Dead, not ten minutes past, if one would have looked hard enough they would have found the remains of filthy robe caught on the edge of a spike not far off the side of one of the bridges. A robe covered in the grime and dirt of countless backstreets…
-
After three days of self-confinement in the temple Janeous convinced Xillix it was probably safe for her to walk among the masses once again. . . No sooner did she leave the temple then some of the thieves snuck in and placed hundreds of flanks of rotten disease carrying meat throughout the temple. Gyerfry and Irick took the unfortunate task of cleaning the temple on themselves and after all was said and done, Maulus came to deliver a note from Sov. In the letter Sov. (which Xillix refused to touch) "hoped we liked the decorating changes the thieves had made." The meat was set to burn in the fires outside the temple and being as their was so much we can only apologize for the smell that filled Hydlaa last eve. :P
Xillix Called Janeous into her chambers. "Something must be done."
"yes Milady might I suggest you dispatch your spies to find this hideout of the thieves?"
"A splendid idea Janeous. . ."
"Might I suggest also that we tip off the Civil Patrol with the information?"
"yes all the better . . .this way we are not implicated"
Xillix's head slumped onto her desk, Janeous walked out, "Summon the spies" he smiled, "the lady has spoken."
-
[Just a little something to show that this RP is still going. Expect to see some major events this weekend.]
The sound of steadily dripping water is still able to be heard over the hum of conversation in the Thieves' hideout.
A few Pickpockets are speaking with Crime Lord Sov about their recent thieveries. He listens closely and shares their excitement with them as if he himself was present during the adventures.
Two of the Master Thieves sit across from one another, a large pile of rare glyphs, Circles, and well-crafted weapons between them. They make notes on several scrolls of parchment, stopping to ask for the other's opinion and input.
The few females of the guild drink wine while they merrily converse about their own thefts and little tricks they use in their arts.
This is the scene that Aradia knows she will see when she enters the small section of the sewers reserved for her guild. As she walks, she cannot help but feel a bit more tense and wary than usual. Moving shadows and silohuettes that do not belong to Thieves grab her attention and focus.
"This isn't right..." she says to herself and quickens her pace through the dark, twisting tunnels of the sewers.
When she moves aside the dark, heavy cloth that is draped in front of the broken gate to the hideout she still does not feel safe.
Sov looks over to the entrance and waves to her, a smile on his face. He frowns at her serious and tense expression. "What is it?" he asks, clearly concerned.
The troubled eyes of the Master Thief rise to meet those of the equally troubled Crime Lord. There is a pause during the silent exchange of unspoken words.
"You can't be serious..." he says, his hand reaching instinctively to the hilt of his longsword.
"I am. We're going to have some unwanted visitors in here."
The steady dripping of water is all that is heard. All conversation has died. Sixteen Thieves rise to their feet, tensed and a bit unsure of the events to come.
-
On the informations of spies Xillix hatched her plan, she would summon up a force to strike the thiefs in the hidden lair in the sewers and chase them from it, hitting them at home as they had hers. The assualt went much as planned with thieves fleeing into the night. When Xillix was home she wondered how they would respond . . .
-
On the events of yesterday (at the sermon) http://hydlaa.com/smf/index.php?topic=24842.0 :
Janeous gazed out over the masses of people (ok, it was more like 40 to 50) that had come to hear his puppet fool speak. They were all fools, and needed his guidance. Not the guidance of the Queen of Fools, Xillix, but that of the lower churches. His church. The True followers of Laanx. When the Vespers were destroyed, he would have no problem taking control until the Higher Priests sent someone to replace him. After all, his task was not to rule. No... It was to destroy. He was, and always had been, a spy and assassin for the Lower Level churches. This power hungry fool would die soon.
Not that it had been easy. He had had to use his compulsion Glyph far too often. If the City Guards would have found out about it, he would have been killed for sure. His was the last one known to exist. With it, he could make anyone do anything. Even put a knife in their own heart, and be glad to do it. He was glad he did not have to do that this time. He did not like to see possible servants to Laanx die. Power to his God.
The first time he had used the Glyph had been to convince Xillix to send poison to the leader of the Thieves. No...his intention was not to kill -though that would have been easy with his vast knowledge of poisons-. He merely wished to escalate the war between the two factions. At that time, his plan was for the Thieves and Vespers to kill each other off. Janeous smiled and put his hand on Xillix's shoulder. It might still work.
Not that his plan had not changed a few times. Though that was the mark of a good spy. Adapt or die. He had even considered keeping the Thieves alive, as people of their nature come in handy at times, and would have been good allies. Of course, that all ended when the fools killed his only contact out of fear. That still irritated him to no end. It had not even taken much use of his Glyph to convince the thief known as Killiy to help him ingratiate himself with the rest of the thieves. He had not considered, however, that they would have killed her for being seen with him. They must truly be in a panic. maybe he should have held off on that raid he had had Xillix order. But that was only meant to convince the rest of the Thieves that they did need his help. Well, all plans have holes in them. He did not even have a twinge of guilt over the loss of Killiy, and the death that he had caused her. She was just a tool -if a lovely one-, and tools sometimes broke. He did regret that his personal pursuit of her was cut short. That had been turning out to be a grand chase. He always won in the end. He looked over at Xillix and smiled again. Perhaps he could use a new quarry in that 'quest'. Though, then again no. Xillix was so far in his control with he glyph, it would have been no challenge at all. He would never use the Glyph in the pursuit of a woman. He did have a few morals to his name. Lies and tricks? Yes, but never compulsion.
The smile turned a little sour. He only hoped he was there when Killiy's killers learned of their mistake, and the riches they lost. Those who served Laanx were richly rewarded. He was sure he would not be able to gain the trust of any of the others. Well, now their only reward would be death. He had ways of assuring even the strongest of heroes would not be returning from the dead. A pity. Adapt or die.
A thought came to him that made his smile grow. Sometimes adapt and die worked as well....if you knew the short way of coming back to life. that had been a part of his training as well, and he knew the ways of the Deathrealm well. It had taken him moments to bribe the Death Guardian with... its favorite 'foods'. Janeous smiled to himself. any who saw what was behind that smile would have fled in terror. The victim he chose to get those 'foods' would never be found. He had used the compulsion Glyph to make sure she would not even be missed. Not even by her husband.
It did pain him a bit that he had to compell Xillix into killing the beggar. But for one reason alone. He had been that beggar. He still felt where her blades had sliced his body. But, that feeling allways faded after a few months. He just had to wait. The plan had worked perfectly, in the end. Even her own Vespers did not trust her.
Janeous glanced over as Xillix was finishing her speech. He had not even bothered to listen to it. Let the fool have her day. Then he would toss her to the rogues who plagued the hills. His compulsion Glyph would make sure she never fought back. The rogues were not so.... gentle as he was with the ladies. A fitting punishment for one who rose above herself in the ranks of Laanx, his God. If all was fair, they would keep her alive for a long time. He might even use his glyph to make certain she enjoyed it. Well, just a little. He had to hold back a laugh. It was all too easy. Xillix said the last words. He began his own speech to the people. They would not question him stepping into the place of Xillix. Nothing could stop him now. Nothing....
“Janeous Creene! Halt where you stand!” A booming voice filled the Temple.
Janeous froze where he stood. He looked to see the source of the voice… Fylork, the huge Kran and leader of the Civil Patrol. Had he been found out? Planes skittered across his mind, but he saw no way out. If her was found out, there was no continuing. He had failed. Indeed, the Kran’s next shouted words confirmed his fears.
“You have been judged by your actions against the Law, and have been found guilty. Your crimes are too many to name here, but no less that two call for your death. For your use of a compulsion Glyph, you will be cast down the nearest waste duct, never to return. For your crimes against the Vespers, your name shall be cast upon the List of Darkness. For your crimes of inciting war between guilds for your own good, you shall be stripped of all your belongings. You have been judged. Citizens, take him now. He is your enemy.”
The crowd seemed as stunned as Janeous himself. How had they known? He had been so careful. Damn the City Guard and Vigesimi for creating this pathetic group of poor excuses of Lawkeepers. He had overlooked them in his plans. It is the smallest root that tripped you in the end.
“He has been fooling you all from the start!” Fylork continued, glaring at Janeous.
[[I crashed here for a few minutes, so don’t know what happened, I continue from where I cam back]]
“YOU WILL NOT TAKE ME!” Janeous shouted. How dare these pitiful ‘servants’ of the Law try to take him! “I serve Laanx, and Laanx alone. I broke none of my GOD's laws. You will not take me!”
With that, Janeous took out a vial of poison and drank the entire thing in one gulp. He fell to the floor, instantly dead. Within moments, his body sunk into the floor as it was drawn into the Deathrealm (going by current game mechanics), leaving nothing behind. Janeous was not worried as his body rose next to the Death Guardian.
“Hello, my old friend. I may have to stay for a while this time.”
With that, Janous took to the path to the darker places where few tread. An idle thought crossed his mind. The girl had not been strong enough to get out of this land… perhaps her soul had not yet faded completely. He tossed his black stone in the air and caught it with a laugh. He had never used the Glyph to compel anybody to live before. He was sure his quarry would be most grateful.
Anyone lost in the wandering paths of the still evolving and growing -yet at the same time rotting and diseased- Deathrealm would have shuddered at the laugh they heard coming from the darkness…
-
[This happened before the sermon. This was written by UTM with very few minor adjustments from me. Thanks, UTM.]
A tall Ynnwn woman slips out of the hideout as she pulls her dark hooded cloak ever her long, brown hair. She stops at the opening to whisper over her shoulder to those in the room.
"I'm going to the plaza to see what rumors float."
As the cloaked woman leaves, another woman in the room speaks in a troubled tone. "Wait the-"
But the woman is one with the shadows before the sentence is spoken. The second woman turns to a man next to her with a glint of anger in her eyes. No one ignores the words of the Master Thief, no one. "Since when does she act without orders!" The woman speaks in harsh words, "She will get us in trouble. I saw no more than three men on my way here, and they were not rat hunters."
A black-haired Ynnwn man looks at the dark with narrowing eyes. Even had you know he was there, it would have been hard to see him. He speaks in an irate tone, "I don't know what got into her. Earlier we discuss about taking the scroll from the Vespers and ask for a ransom and she was completely against it. Those beggars owe us big money!!" He turns to a man that even the shadows would have a hard time finding and gives an order. "Doblin, follow her. Make sure you're not seen. I want to know every step she makes."
The man steps from the shadows, revealing a crop of red hair. He nods. "Very well." is all he says before disappearing without a noise.
The dark-haired Ynnwn turns to another Ynnwn in the room. "Rethius, you watch the upper entrance."
"Yes sir." the one called Rethius responds without hesitating.
The cloaked woman shadows along the walls with her face still concealed and her heavy cloak tight around her body. Within a few minutes her paces take her to the tavern. She makes her way behind the houses to avoid the guard's keen eye and climbs down the stairs. But instead of turning to the right and heading to plaza and Harquist shop where all Hydlaa comes to exchange news and gossips- she heads to the Emporium. Under the trees a small dermorian wearing the robes of a priest was waiting."
"That's it," the redhead man with the task of following her says to himself just as a short whistle breaks the silence of the night. He knows that signal. "Rethius must of sense dangerö he thinks and quickly makes his way back to the sewers. On arriving, he bows and tries to catch his breath. After doing so, he gives his report to the one who sent him out.
"She went out to meet a Vesper. I say she betrays us! I bet she is telling them about our plan right now."
His leader's eyes narrow again at the news. "Why didn't you stay to listen?"
Doblin responds quickly, "I had no time. Rethius said the guards will be here any moment. He heard the Civil Patrol are planning a raid in the sewers tonight."
"Aradia," The leader says with concern in his voice, "send your groffel with a message to her. Say she must be here to get her share of the prey. I know greed will win." he finishes with an evil grin.
Shortly after that the cloaked woman enters the hideout humming a song. Her eyes shine with happiness as she sees the large pile of glyphs and trias waiting for her. She makes a step closer but the other thieves close in, one holding her arm, the others pointing their weapons to her.
“What is this?” she askes with wide eyes. “Sov why are you looking at me like that?”
Sov glares, his eyes glinting. “You traitor! You have the nerve to speak? Say your last wish, for the crystal won't shine for you another day. Death will be your fair share for today.”
The cloaked woman whispers back, “My pay is greater than you think.”
At the sound of her words, anger took hold of Sov. Without further question, he pulls the blade of his sword through her neck. The body falls heavy on the floor. Its slight movement are the only sound as the thieves hurry to leave the hideout before the guards can block both entrances. The silence is so complete, in fact, that the retreating leader hears these whispered words fading in the dark and damp sewers…
“Curse you Sov Hed! I curse you to be restless as Bronze Doors waterfall!”
-
After all was said and done the thieves were freed still there is anger, but both sides understand Janeous' part in their conflict
-
We of the City Guard are still on the lookout for the Criminal, Janeous Creene. There are rumors of him being seen in the shadows of late, and we are certain some of the guards heard him shouting to a runnaway criminal. We are on top look out for him now, and advise the Vespers to be wary. He is an evil man who will stop at nothing to achieve him twisted goals.