Shadow over Gerelden IC

[DeathsKnight]

Grimlock

As he entered Detrol again through the market space he noticed a figure with a bow and dressed in a dark robe. Kelt noticed him as well and his ears jutted towards the figure in interest, but the figure disappeared past the corner of a building. Grimlock shrugged and kept on his route, people parted for him, as he was well known and liked by the citizens of Detrol. Most people offered greetings and he spent most of his time greeting people and chatting with some of them, by the time he had made it to the gates of the palace itself it was a good time later. Once inside the gates he hastened to deliver the dispatch and give his report to the king...of course emitting certain parts of the exchange. The king handed the scroll to his scribe and dismissed Grimlock, Grimlock headed to his private quarters and wondered again about the figure he noticed earlier. He had heard whispers about a tavern that is open to non-humans, he could not understand his sudden curiosity, but he did not usually get this curious without reason.

Donning his gray, non-descript cloak in his quarters, he headed out of the castle, the toiling of the bell would call him back, when he is needed. After asking around, he picked up the faint rumors, he questioned some of the city guard and found that they had heard rumors, but could never really find out if such a place exists. He kept on questioning some people and even had to threaten a few tight lipped citizens, finally a thief led him to the tavern, it was really hidden away, one would have a lot of difficulty to find it. He laid his hand on the latch and opened the door, entering as quietly as his armor allowed him to. He could feel numerous eyes bore into his form, trying to see under the shadows of the hood covering his head, he just hoped that his identity would be revealed too soon, he just had to see the figure again to confirm his suspicion that it was not human. He walked over to the bar counter and noticed that a human looking man stood close to him, he noticed another man talking with what he gathered was the owner of the tavern...or an elf with a very strong personality, he grinned to himself and moved closer to the counter of the bar, hoping that the cloak covered his armor sufficiently.

 

[Najah_Crete]

Accute elven ears perked to the sound of the opening door, her periphery catching the mans entrance as she lit the drink, but she was busy and would check him out soon enough.

"Ganf" She repeated quietly before adding. "Nice to meet you." her head nodding slowly even as it turned to eye the man with his face sinking towards the bar.

That brow quirked again, watching as his head lifted to toss back the hood. She took note of his features and the bandana, his wobble indicating intoxication. Her gaze flitted between the two men, barely catching Jagers wandering eyes as they scoped her out. But as he spoke her attention was settled on him, both brows raising at what he just slurred to the wall.

“I’ve got shomething to trade with ya, yesh I do....A bottle of fine Belvarian ale from the Belvarian Royal Brewersh, kindly donated by the ambassador himshelf, in exchange for a room for the night or a few gold piecesh, whichever is more available.”

Those brows then furrowed as she dissected his words. 'Donated by the ambassador himself'...of the 'Belvarian Royal Brewers'. Hmm. She eyed him quizzically, thinking. But her head turned as Fang spoke up.

"Evening my fellow traveler. Join me in a drink! This lovely bar maiden makes one hell of a.... well whatever this is!"


A slight grin split her lips. She noticed he had drained the mug, a bit curious as to what sort of iron esophagus/stomach he had, but let it be for now. This new guy had piqued her curiosity on a different level. How he had come across such a fine drink meant he had some form of prosperity or notoriety. That is, if he did come by it rightly, or it was indeed 'donated'. But it had to be, lest the man be a puddle and barely recognizable. It was as she glanced back at Jager that she noticed the one from earlier had returned (Zel), and even if he didn't notice she smiled and nodded in his direction. Then, it was back to business.


"A Royal Ambassador gave you this bottle, in order to make some coins, or find a room for the night? Quite a generous gesture, one that might make one wonder how exactly you came about such."

Her head canting to one side as she studied him more thoroughly. Something...what was it...her eyes narrowing as she continued watching him.

"I have a rather nice room to offer for such a fine selection, I'll even give you two nights for it."

Her hand slipping closer to the bottle for a better inspection. She waited silently for his answer, fingers curling round the base of the bottle as Grimlock approached, those bright green orbs now focused on him even as she casually slipped the bottle closer.

"Evening." was her greeting, another smile bowing her lips.

Well, this night just seemed to get more interesting by the minute, inwardly chuckling. Though she had to admit, it wasn't often that so many new people just walked through her doors. Most often, a regular would bring in someone new. But that didn't seem to be the case this eve, her gaze scanning the patrons for any sign of recognition of the new guys at the bar. She caught the usual distrustful stares, cautious glances and so forth, but none that said...'he's with me.' So be it, she thought, then looked back to the three at the bar, that bottle now nestled between both her hands.

 

[DeathsKnight]

Grimlock

He made certain to keep his hands out of sight, the gauntlets might give him away, so he leaned on the counter, his hands tucked under the folds of his cloak

"Evening"

He nodded at the greeting

"Good evening m'lady, what a fine establishment you have here"

His voice was deep, but unmistakeably human, he glanced at the fellow next to him, then at the other patron, both looked human, but he was sure that they would not have been allowed to enter the tavern if they were. He braced himself for the outbreak, not really sure of how to convey the fact that he was here peacefully, he clenched his fists and shifted his stance slightly

"Yes I am one, but I am not here to harm anybody, I am just curious as to one of your patrons, I caught a glance of him in the market area and thought something was different about him. So I came here just to satisfy my curiosity, if my presence here would cause you too much trouble I'd rather leave, but I'd just want to know if a man wearing a black cloak and carrying a bow has come in here today"

 

[xela89]

It was an hour or two after sunset in Detrol and the sky above was cloudy and quite grim. Harold shrugged his shoulders indifferently and continued to walk down the dimly lit street. He was on his way to the poor quarter. There'd been a report of non-human activity in the area and it was Harold who had been dispatched to investigate. This was nothing new. He'd lost count of the number of drunken rumours he'd been ordered to chase up over the years. Every day someone would come stumbling into the town guard's headquarters, reciting a tale of how they'd seen a troll singing from a tavern window, or something equally as ridiculous. It was a sad fact that the town guard foolishly paid for such information and so it was no surprise that after a few ales, a man might try his luck inventing a wild story or two in the hope of earning a few coins for his trouble.

As far as Harold was concerned, the town guard were a bunch of incompetant blaggards and he was convinced that a guard out on patrol was about as much use as one who spent his days frolicking about in some tavern! They rarely followed up such rumours themselves. Therefore, once Harold's superiors caught wind of a rumour they would send out one of their "White Hand" soldiers. After all, they took anything relating to non-humans very seriously and even though most stories did turn out to be nothing more than empty rumours, every so often a story might just turn out to hold some truth.

Harold was nearing the spot where he'd agreed to meet his contact in the town guard. Sure enough, the familiar, wide-framed figure quickly came into view just up ahead. "Flobin! What have you got for me today?" Harold called out as he approached. "Ah, Harold it's you" the portly man replied. "Well, an old wench came in earlier raving about a 15 foot giant who was trying to climb in through her window..." Harold, not phased by what Flobin was telling him simply nodded every so often as he listened carefully. "Another dead end" he thought to himself as Flobin came to the end of the story. "...She lives over that way" Flobin concluded, pointing down a little cobblestone path. "Very well, thank you Flobin" Harold wearily responded and after bidding the man farewell, dilligently made his way down the path. This was after all his job and Harold took his duties very seriously, even if he didn't think there much chance he'd arrive at the old wench's home to see a pair of wildy flailing legs, belonging to a stuck fast giant, protruding out from a window.

 

[Jedi_Khan]

"Evening my fellow traveler. Join me in a drink! This lovely bar maiden makes one hell of a.... well whatever this is!"

Jager looked at the man who seemed to addressing him in an overly friendly manner and try as he might, Jager simply couldn’t focus his eyes on the man. For some strange reason, the man had blurry features and outline, but just enough sharpness to have the blurriness written off as a drunken effect. Jager

“Thank you shir, but I have had more than what I am ushed to already,” said Jager, shaking his head and returning to gaze at the woman in front of him. “As shoon as thish trade ish done, I plan to go shleep for a good long while.”

"A Royal Ambassador gave you this bottle, in order to make some coins, or find a room for the night? Quite a generous gesture, one that might make one wonder how exactly you came about such. I have a rather nice room to offer for such a fine selection, I'll even give you two nights for it."

“One in my line of work never reveals the exact details of hish actions, but suffice it to shay that it was acquired legitimately from the ambassador,” replied Jager. What he failed to mention that the ambassador had given the bottle to one of his staff, and that Jager had acquired the bottle from him in a drinking contest, in which Jager had an unfair advantage as an elf versus a human. “Make it three nights and we’ve a deal.”

Jager moved to pull the bottle from under his cloak, but then realized that at some point during the conversation, he had already done that. The elegant, decoratively designed glass bottle, filled with a golden-amber liquid, and stamped with the crest of the Royal Belvarian Brewers, now rested between the hands of the elf-woman across from Jager. When that had happened, Jager wasn’t sure, but he was too drunk at the moment to care that much.

"Yes I am one, but I am not here to harm anybody, I am just curious as to one of your patrons, I caught a glance of him in the market area and thought something was different about him. So I came here just to satisfy my curiosity, if my presence here would cause you too much trouble I'd rather leave, but I'd just want to know if a man wearing a black cloak and carrying a bow has come in here today."

“Misther, of course you are one,” said Jager, completely missing the distinctly human accent, and a few words from what the man said. “It would be rather difficult if you were more than one. As to the man you are looking for, you might want to be more specific, as there are sheveral in here who match that description, myself included.”

 

[DeathsKnight]

Grimlock

He wasn't sure if the human looking man was trying to defuse the situation and if he really was that drunk, he smiled, his teeth gleaming from the shadows of his cape.

"Seems like I am being reminded to tell all I know, before I can be told what I don't know. Thing is that the person I saw had a certain air about him, an air that made you pay attention even if he said nothing yet, he moved with a fluid grace...oh and my horse found him curious"

So far nobody made any moves to throw him out yet, nor cave his head in or even slip a blade between his ribs, so he relaxed slightly

 

[xela89]

After a short while, Harold reached the old woman's abode. It was a simple dwelling built from timber and its appearance resembled that of a weather-beaten wood cabin. There was a candle-lit window upstairs, suggesting someone was in. "Well, here we go..." Harold wearily murmured to himself as he reached the front door. He rapped on the door three times, producing a loud, hollow thump each time. Slow, awkward shuffling noises could be heard from within the house and a moment later an elderly woman opened the door and stood in a hunched posture before Harold.

"Yes? What do you want?" the woman asked brusquely, her face miserable as sin. Harold cleared his throat and replied: "I have come to follow up a report that you gave to the town guard earlier today". The old hag scratched her head for a few seconds, before her face suddenly lit up. "Ah!" she exlaimed, her mouth now forming a wide, toothless grin. "I came home from the market earlier today to find a giant trying to break in to my house! The beast spotted me and ran off towards the eastern outskirts of town! And that it is exactly what I told the fat man and the other guards" she croaked. "I see... any other details you can give me to aid in my investigation?" Harold dutifully enquired. "No, that is all I'm afriad" was her answer. Harold bid the woman farewell and set off for the outskirts. He had a feeling it would be a long night. It was his duty to investigate the old wench's report to the fullest, which meant roaming the outskirts until he was satisfied no trace of the giant remained... if there ever was one to begin with, which Harold very much doubted.

He set off down the path that led to the outskirts of the poor district and ultimately to the eastern edge of the city. After some time, he reached a remote area, where there was no one in sight. From here, the giant could have easily fled undetected. Harold decided to carry on down the path. As he travelled along, he was getting closer to the city's eastern edge. People rarely left the city via the poor quarter because the path to the east was difficult to navigate. It was thin and uneven. You could never fit a wagon through here. He had now reached an extremely secluded area. It was seemingly the perfect place for a non-human to hide, as very few humans risked the hazardous road he had travelled. The ground did look to have been trodden very recently. However, by this point the sky above was dark and night was very much upon him. He headed back down the path towards the city, stumbling every so often as he navigated the tricky route. He was confident that if there was a giant this far out, it was certainly not going to be found tonight.

 

[LeoHawk35]

Zelthuros

Zelthuros glanced over at the door as it opened. The man, quite obliviously a human, and the one he had passed on his way in here by the looks of him, entered through the doorway. He took a seat next to the other human looking fellow but also obliviously not human who happened to be rather drunk. Something about him seemed familiar, but Zelthuros couldn't quite place it. Something he had seen some time ago...

The human took a seat at the bar next to the drunk, though he couldn't possibly be drunk like this all the time, and asked about a man he had seen earlier. A black cloak and a bow. Sounds familiar. Sounds a lot like him. Oh wait, it was him. Zelthuros glanced down at Shadow and shook his head slightly.

Maybe at a different time. He was not interested in speaking to any humans, or most non-humans, at the current moment. He was here to listen to the hushed conversations of non-humans able to be themselves for once. It was an interesting experience.

Elsewhere

The captain of the guard, Loghain, turned to his lieutenant with a curse.

"How did this slip through our fingers?" he demanded harshly.

"I do not know, sir." replied the thin faced man.

"Well take care of it! Send a regiment of troops to take care of them." he ordered, and turned to look out his window with a view of the city of Detrol.

He was, of course, talking about the very tavern that our protaganists are in. They were tipped off by a certain individual whose name is not yet able to be given, for reasons untold. A regiment of well trained palace guards will arrive on the scene shortly to take care of any inside the building, non-human or otherwise. And you all know the penalty of non-humans inside Detrol.

"Tala, you have my apologies."

"Grimlock, be prepared. Ready your blade."

"Jager, sober up. Be ready to move."

"Nexatumi, you know what is coming."

"Zelthuros, I hope you enjoy yourself."

A disembodied voice whispers to each of them, unheard to any but those who are being directly spoken to. Those who can detect it would feel the tint of powerful magic in the voice.

 

[DormantEvil]

((I know this is a copy paste from the other thread, but it was a nice post. So I edited it a bit to fit more and just reused it.))

In a nearby corner of the non-human friendly tavern, a woman sat. More a girl of maybe nineteen, with long red hair kept hidden underneath a dark hood. It shadowed her face, apart from the bright red lips that were occasionally licked by the tip of her tongue. She sat alone. Her figure hidden in the shadows where the lamps couldn't reach. She seemed to be handling a nice goblet filled with red wine.

Simply listening to all of the conversations there didn't seem to be anything unusual about her. She looked human, apart from the not so normal coloured eyes. This was just one stop on her long journey and the reason for coming to rest in this tavern was merely to feed.

Turning to glance towards the bar, the light now showed the details of her face. Her lips, hair and eyes were of the same colour. And if her eyes had not seemed so dark, empty and disturbing then her face may have seemed innocent, beautiful and childish still. Her cheek bones were high and there didn't seem to be much roundness to her face. Her eyes had hollows, not dramatic ones but they gave her a thin and ill appearance. Sleep deprived maybe.

Removing her hood, she undid the clasp around her shoulders so she could breath a little easier. The front of her cloak opening enough to show off the sword she carried. It didn't seem to suit her size, but it did look impressive. How she got it would seem a mystery, considering her physical appearance. It looked more like something a strong man should carry, not a young maiden.

The way she sat, reserved and alone showed an awkwardness about her. Indicating how even among non-humans she didn't feel as though she belonged here. On this plain of existance. Her entire personality seemed structured around her feeling of being trapped, forced to walk the earth for however long she lived in the body of this young girl. She was a true Fire Elemental, originally meant to have been a devoted servant of a young female magic user. She thought of it more as a slave, forced to carry out orders. In the end, both had been trapped during the summoning, combined in the one form. She won out over the young maiden by pure strength alone, and possessed her body. But deep down there were still the cries and the morality of a human.

She was unable to partake in relationships of pure love, many a man had been burned alive in the midst of pure ecstasy on her part. The occasional fire resistant creature helps to quench her thirst for lust...or the occasional unsuspecting human.

Danger, fighting, indulgence. She enjoys lust, gluttony, pride. And the human side tries to stop her from acting out the more deadly sins. It was over three hundred years ago that the young maiden had tried summoning Yurioni, and three hundred years had seen Yurioni age less than a human year. Her age was unknown...and so was the eternity she would be made to walk this earth in the form of this young woman.

 

[LeoHawk35]

Zelthuros

Zelthuros sat up straight at the voice whispering to him, looking to identify the source. It almost seemed to be inside his head. He felt the vague tint of magic in the voice, but nothing beyond that. Hoped he enjoyed himself? What was that supposed to mean? He took his bow and layed an arrow on the string regardless. Something was coming, and he wanted to be ready for it. Shadow, laying at his feet, heard a voice whispering to him as well. He looked up at his master and then sat up next to him, eyes alert. Zelthuros caught the shuffling sound of feet and heavy armor outside the door just before it was kicked in. The door slammed open into one of the bouncers, knocking him down. The second was thrown over the bar by a heavily armored palace guard just before more flooded into the bar. There were to many to take on in such tight quarters. Zelthuros remained seated and watched, waiting for his opporitunity.

Tala
Tala's ears twitched at the voice in her head. She tilted her head slightly. Sorry? For what? She looked around the room, trying to find what may have caused it. She noticed nothing out of the ordinary. The hooded man in the back had moved slightly, along with his wolf. She turned to the human who had entered and asked about a hooded man with a bow.

"A man such as that entere-" she was cut off as the door was kicked in.

She looked to the door as palace guards started streaming in. She hadn't realized that the knight captain had found out about them. All eyes in the room had turned towards the palace guards entrance, so she slipped out a back door unnoticed when the time was right.

Overview
Tala is gone, for now. Whether or not she returns, remains to be seen.

A man in slightly brighter armor than the other palace guards stepped to the front of the group to address all those inside the tavern.

"By order of Knight Captain Loghain, all inside of the illegal tavern are to be executed on the spot, and the tavern burned to the ground."

Without another word the guards and himself drew weapons and moved to attack.

The force is overwhelming. Too powerful for our protaganists to handle at this moment in time.

A voice whispers in their minds:

"Flee to the town of Kurtwall. Gather at the ruins of Fort Handrel outside the city. You will know your party when you see them."

And an extra whisper to Yurioni:

"Don't think I forgot about you, young elemental."

 

[DeathsKnight]

Grimlock

He turned as the door was kicked in and looked at the guard captain. This was unacceptable, swords was drawn and a guard advanced on Grimlock, he drew back and slashed. Grimlock stepped forward, the blow glancing off the armor protecting his shoulder, he brought a fist up and the guard was sent flying into the others, the captain turned to him and drew his sword.

"You will die creature!"

The captain lunged, but Grimlock was ready for this attack, with his forearm he pushed the blade to the side and away from his body, the blade grinding over the armor and cutting open the sleeve of his cloak, to reveal the armor underneath. Grimlock grabbed the captain by the throat, picking him up and slamming him into the ground, there was a pause by the guards and Grimlock drew his sword and swiped back the hood of his cloak. A bright flash flashed through the room, blinding Grimlock and the guards, next thing he knew he was outside and guided away from the tavern.

 

[AngelLightheart]

Angel Blackwing

Angel walked along the road, humming to herself as she played her mandola. She was a bard, yes, but it was really just a cover. Yes, she was a mage, and a blood mage at that. Magic is strictly forbidden in Gerelden, and blood magic isn't welcome among magic users that still do exist. And she was an elf. Elves aren't exactly welcomed, either. She usually masks her appearance so she looks more human-ish.

Anyhow, she was just wandering out of Detrol, the capitol city, on her way to her next stop, when there was a bright flash directly in front of her. She gasped and fell forward, grunting in surprise as she landed on what felt like a human body. She opened her eyes and quickly jumped back as she realized that her lips were pressed directly on the human's lips. She blushed slightly and stepped back, picking up her mandola.

"Umm...are you ok?" she asked tentatively, cheeks turning rosy.

 

[DeathsKnight]

Grimlock

He felt the impact against him and something pressed up against his lips, he found that although he had been led outside, he have also been left on the ground. Trying to shake the after effects of the flash from his eyes he blindly looked around him, trying to figure out who spoke to him,

"I am alright thank you, have you seen my sword?"

He blinked his eyes and found that shadows was returning to his overtaxed vision, he took a blind step forward and was relieved to feel his sword under his heavy boots. Bending and almost pitching forward into the ground he fumbled and found the hilt, the hilt felt like an old friend to his palm and he slid the blade into it's sheath.

"I must get out of here."

 

[DormantEvil]

The attack on the tavern seemed unprovoked. However in such a city, under the circumstances that those who were not human had to live, unprovoked attacks were common. Yurioni could always try to melt into the crowds of humans, but considering the decree had been that all present were to be executed she just smiled.

About time someone forced her to fight. Up until now she had simply avoided drawing attention to herself. Simply enjoying as much of 'life' that the human race allowed. Of course, even for humans much of her appetite was illegal, or frowned upon. So it was difficult to just be left alone. Only so many people could ignore the constant line of men waiting at her door. Only so many days could she go without some neighbor wondering if she was okay. Simply being left alone was hard.

The voice inside her head caused her to look towards the guards, as she pushed her chair back slowly and stood.

"Must you always try to interfere where you should not?" Yurioni called to the guards.

Walking forwards to stand in an open area of the room, she could tell many people were escaping out the back, or through some of the windows. Whilst she enjoyed herself, perhaps they might live. Although it was of little concern to her. Many died. Human or not. It was life.

"And I'll agree the tavern will probably burn. However you shall be the first to experience such a fate. As punishment for not respecting fire, you shall die by it, painfully."

Pulling her hook down, they could already see her eyes beginning to change. As if tiny flames circled around her iris'. Her hair seemed to wisp around as if a breeze blew in through an open window, yet it was simply her drawing the air into her. Fueling her. The sleeves of her robes fell away as she raised her hands up. Her fingertips beginning to turn red, then suddenly they burst into flames. Soon, the air inside the tavern would become difficult to breathe, and the fire would grow hotter. With quick movement, Yurioni threw an orb of fire into several of the crossbow guards. Igniting them instantly, the flames melted their skin, fusing the armor and cloth to them. Screams resonated through the tavern.

Those guards who had torches, were the next to find a fireball thrown into them.

Now Yurioni struggled to control the power, her human body beginning to feel the pain as the flames quickly surrounded her. There was a fine balance. Too much, and her physical body would be charred, too little and it just wasn't any fun.

Crouching down, Yurioni ran her fingertips along the wooden floor. And it ignited, and with a simply whisper they quickly moved over the floor. Running straight at the Captain on the ground, before splitting off like a hand aiming to grab every guard. Soon any advance by the guards would have seen them walking into a wall of fire.

"I hope this shows you how your victims felt."

Turning around, she raised her hood again. Walking out of the back entrance. Screams filling the air.

Kurtwall. Ruins of Fort Handrel. It was worth having a look. This whisper intrigued her. She felt as if respect was due.

 

[LeoHawk35]

Zelthuros

Zelthuros stood slowly and brought his bow back to full draw. He released and the powerful longbow put an arrow clear through one of the guards. Zelthuros didn't want to engage this group in such close quarters. He drew another arrow back to draw and released. Shadow tackled a knight who got just a little bit too close and tore out his throat. It was always interesting how the beast could overpower almost anybody. And with such a grace and fluidity, it was almost an art form.

Zelthuros turned his head as the tavern caught fire suddenly. His undead side screamed internally, and Shadow even seemed unnerved at it. But there was that little voice that reminded him that the fire couldn't hurt him.

It was an interesting thing. Fire didn't hurt him. He didn't know how, or why, but he didn't ask questions. It did, however, still make him uncomfortable. He slipped out a nearby window as Shadow dove out the very same window. Before their feet hit the ground, they were enveloped by an intense white light.

Zelthuros hit the ground. Hard. He grunted as Shadow landed on top of him. The wolf licked his face and he patted his snout before standing up. They were outside the city and not far from Fort Handrel. Zelthuros looked down to Shadow's face before shrugging and walking.

 

[DormantEvil]

Yurioni had walked only several more steps out the back entrance to the tavern when a bright light surrounded her. And then, within the blink of an eye she was teleported away. If she hadn't of experienced the teleportation process before then it would have been rather disorientating. But as the light dimmed and she felt the firmness of ground underneath her feet again she instinctively dived into a roll, stopping her from falling face first onto the ground. Withdrawing the sword she carried from it's sheath she tipped sideways and pushed herself up into a crouched position. Her vision regaining not soon after.

The road was well worn, she could feel the compacted soil under her hand. It was warm and dry. It had not rained in this region for several days. Slowly the blurred vision regained. She was outside of the city, probably several miles away. But distance was difficult to tell with no way to compare her current location to the tavern.

Standing up, she searched the nearby area for signs. A fork in the road was visible and she carefully approached it.

A wooden board indicated that the ruins of Fort Handrel lay to the east. Answers were also to be found there. Sheathing her sword again, she checked her gear was in place. Before taking a sip of water for the fur bladder she carried. After a few minutes she stiffened. Spinning around, she spotted two black dots on the horizon. One a huminoid male, the other a wolf or beast of some kind.

As he got closer she recognized his features. But from where.

Flames. A window, two figures escaping. The tavern.

Yes, they had been in the tavern just minutes ago. So they could teleport, or were teleported just like she was. Could this be the same source as the whispers. Perhaps. Standing at the crossroads, she waited for them to approach. Lowering her hood slowly when the got within earshot.

 

[LeoHawk35]

Zelthuros

Zelthuros idly twanged the string on his bow. Something was off. He wasn't usually like this. Shadow glanced up at him, his tongue lolling out the side of his mouth. Zelthuros patted Shadow's head. He was a good companion. Always managed to cheer him up, yet was a fierce fighter. Everyone needs a traveling companion. Come to think of it, Zelthuros most likely would've been lost to his darkness some time ago had it not been for Shadow.

He caught the scent just as Zelthuros did.

Both heads snapped up to a lone figure at a crossroads. Feminine. Cloaked. Though she lowered the hood as they approached, and was quite clearly looking at them. Hmm. Seems familiar.

Fire.

He continued forward as if nothing was wrong. But this was the women from the tavern. The one who conjured the flames. Ironic that the decree was fulfilled. Part of it, anyway. The tavern did burn. Not quite as planned, but it did regardless.

Zelthuros stopped a few feet from the woman. Shadow stopped and sat down. Zelthuros leaned casually on his longbow and waited, looking at the woman. He could sense something inside of her. Something...hot. (Pun intended?)

 

[DormantEvil]

As the man and his wolf approached, Yurioni waited patiently. Folding her hands in front of her waist, resting on the hilt of her sword that was hidden, yet noticeable, under the cloak she wore. As they neared, she could tell they were well aware of her presence, and that there was that recognition of remembering her from somewhere.

So they were indeed from the tavern.

"Greetings. I cannot help but suspect you are also here under...unusual conditions."

Usually it wouldn't be the best idea to admit the use of magic openly, but in this case it was hardly deniable. Lowering her eyes to the sitting wolf, her gaze was one of peace. A balance with the wild, and the earth. As if she didn't fear the creature, yet at the same time would not dare underestimate its abilities. Raising them to look again at the man, she sighed softly.

"Are you the source of the teleportation? Or merely another soul caught in it?"

For now she decided to leave hearing the voice out. It would come to the surface eventually.

 

[LeoHawk35]

Zelthuros

Zelthuros stood completely still as he watched the figure in front of him. There was that overwealming heat still coming from the body in waves. It was a miracle she hadn't been noticed before. No, he doesn't believe in miracles. It may have been well hidden to most, but not to him. He had a knack for sniffing things out like that.

"I was...caught, yes." he responded simply.

Zelthuros didn't take kindly to her saying he was a soul caught in the magic. He wasn't sure he had a soul anymore. But that was a topic he would rather discuss when he had a moment to himself. Or with Shadow. He had confided many times in his companion.

Next question was where to proceed from here. Fort Handrel, most likely. This seemed to be an offer that could be interesting. And as the voice said, he may enjoy himself. Did he enjoy himself anymore? Not often. Rarely.

"You were bid to go to Fort Handrel." he stated. "Is that where you are going?"

He didn't say it as a question. He knew she was requested to travel there. He also implied that they might as well travel there together since that was where they were heading anyway. Shadow stood and stepped forward cautiously, lifting his nose to sniff the woman's hand. He could probably feel it as well.

 

[AngelLightheart]

Angel Blackwing

Angel stepped back as the man stood and picked up his sword. She held her hand behind her back and a ball of frost appeared in it. It disappeared just as quick as it had appeared when the sword was sheathed.

"Well, where were you going?" she asked, genuinely curious.

Something told her that she needed to follow this man. Something about him...or somewhere he could lead her...just seemed like she needed to follow him. For better or worse, this man might well change her life. Interesting how it worked out like that. A stranger molding your own life for you.

Very interesting.

She looked up at him and blinked, waiting for his answer.

 

[DormantEvil]

Stepping forward and taking a knee, Yurioni brought herself down to the wolf's eye level. Her red eyes staring into his without much intention. Her hand turned over after the wolf had smelt it. And she held it an inch about the creatures head. Offering the connection and the scratch, if he wanted it. She would not force the beast, he was just as likely to attack or snap if she tried.

She was a stranger, no more than that.

Looking up at Zelthuros, she introduced herself. "I am Yurioni, and yes, it seems I am compelled to go to Fort Handrel as well."

Standing up slowly without moving her hand more than a few inches, she turned her gaze in the direction they would have to travel. And nodded to the signpost. "Fort Handrel is down that path. I was on my way now, will you walk into this with me?" Her question wasn't one out of compassion, or the need for companionship. Merely asking if he was going down this path, into the relative unknown as well. It also showed her decision to go had been made.

 

[DeathsKnight]

Grimlock

"Away from here, Fort Handrel,"

He felt like screaming in frustration as his sight didn't want to return to him,

"Could you help me, I am blinded at the moment and from the sound of things the tavern is ablaze and I can not be found here by the guard, not after the orders that was given."

 

[LeoHawk35]

Zelthuros

Shadow stepped back from the hand. The heat was still fairly uncomfortable. That, and she was a stranger. Only his master was allowed to pet him. He backed up to his side and looked up at him.

Zelthuros had been silently watching the exchange. So it would seem that Shadow was feeling it as well. Interesting. He patted the wolf's snout and looked up to the woman.

"We will walk with you." he said, making his decision.

The pair, wolf and man, turned as one and started walking down the path. He remained silent, but did glance over to make sure Yurioni was walking with them. He wondered if she would notice he hadn't given his name. Or Shadow's.

If she wanted to know, she would have asked. That was how he had always seen things. Then again, he didn't have much experience with other people. Maybe she expected him to tell her without her asking?

Why did things suddenly become so complicated? He got the feeling he would find out at Fort Handrel.

Elsewhere
"What do you mean, they got away?" the Knight-Captain asked simply.

"W-w-w-well sir, you see, one of them set the tavern ablaze..." the messenger started, but was cut off.

"I understand that. What I want to know is..."

Loghain turned to the small, fat man and shouted:

"How did they get out of the city without being found?!"

"We don't know, sir...." the small man stuttered and trailed off.

"Well find them! Search the city, search the city outskirts, search everywhere! I want them found!" he shouted, and then dismissed the man.

Loghain sat down at his desk and then shook his head. He looked out his window at the fire still burning that was the tavern.

 

[AngelLightheart]

Angel Blackwing

Angel looked to the man. Fort Handrel. She had passed by there on her way here. She knew the way. Should she help him? Probably.

"Alright, come here. I'll lead you there." she offered.

She stepped up to him and placed his arm over her shoulders. His fingertips brushed along the mound of her breast and she let them stay there. She didn't really mind. She started the walk.

"Where do you hail from?" she asked, very aware of his fingers on her.

 

[DeathsKnight]

Grimlock

He couldn't feel anything through the thick leather of his glove, but from the position of his arm and her height he quickly picked up that he was busy groping the female that was helping him. He shifted his hand a little bit, a bitter smile touching the corners of his mouth, it have been so long that he might have enjoyed feeling what his gloves prevented.

"Originally I am from a farm in the Kelanor province, from there I was moved here and now am one of the King's champions,"

he chuckled,

"But that status will not help me now, I have been taught healing magic and when word of my presence here will come to the light, I am a dead man if I get caught."

He heaved a sigh,

"Thank you for helping me, my name is Grimlock."