Antagonist's Anarchy: Destruction in the Darkness - Chapter I (Open)

[Calaethis Dragonsbane]

To Ydalon, Isokla spoke softly, "Do what you have to do; I want no part of it." The girl frowned "Try not to get yourself injured; the scent of blood is detectable to many and varied beasts, some of them men." She sighed, "I'll patch you up as best I can, should you suffer, but I can offer no promises." She spread her hands and sighed deeply again.

Meanwhile...

Two scouts clad in leather tunics circled back towards the group, unaware of their presence as of yet. Who they belonged to was unknown, as they wore no insignia, but it wasn't safe to assume that they belonged to any one group until one inspected them closer. Only a slight rustling gave them away to those with the keenest perceptions. To everyone else, they may have been invisible. They would be about two hundred yards from the furthest member of the group, and heading off at an angle from the tower.

Those within the tower did not stir...

[Saliarasri]

Kagarioni quietly stands near to Isokla and scans the area, however, she misses the scouts as well, her hands at her side quietly as she looks at the tower

"I assume I'm going to ward you, mistress." Kagarioni asked Isokla quietly.

[ 09-04-2005, 06:46 PM: Message edited by: Saliarasri ]

[DrowArchmage]

Zak smiled toward Iskola. My Lady, what sort of man would be attracked by the smell of blood?

[Calaethis Dragonsbane]

Isokla scowled, "If you've not met them, then pray that you don't. Blood thirsty savages. Barbarians with no honour or culture."

To Kagarioni, she replied, "Do as you will, child. I trust you to do whatever you feel is right. I will not partake in the combat, but as a warrior, you may feel your duty is to defend others. I will not stop you."

[shamrock_uk]

Detheriel

Crouched on the ground near Ydalon, Detheriel regarded the scene in front of him with some satisfaction. It appeared that the bandits had been caught by surprise and that would make the combat much easier. He reached behind him and lifted an arrow from his quiver, notching it loosely to the bow so he could fire relatively quickly.

He felt increased respect for Ydalon who appeared to have kept his promise to the group. Speaking in a low whisper Detheriel spoke to him: "My thanks for your directions - you have been true to your word." Detheriel smiled at him briefly then turned his attention to the clearing in front. "It would appear that success lies in eliminating the man with the washing before he can utter a sound. That would allow us a much better chance of taking those in the castle by surprise."

Suddenly, thinking he heard a distant rustle, he lifted his head and scanned the forest to his right, searching for the source. Seeing nothing he lowered his head back down. "Must have been an animal" he whispered, although he could not resist one final fruitless glance in that direction.

[ 09-09-2005, 07:21 AM: Message edited by: shamrock_uk ]

[Ivelliis]

Telryn Gale

Telryn tried his best to hide himself in the undergrowth, but for a man his size it wasn't easy. His tower shield, attached to his back, was digging into him.
He had sat back and observed the recent socialising between his current companions, but didn't joining in himself.

"It's morally right to attack the bandits, they kill because they can," He told himself.

"So we take the bandit out with the washing and then what?" He asked quietly, "I never was very good at deciding tactics."

OOC: Just a note that I have the internet back permanantly (I hope) so I will reply if you interact with me. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[DrowArchmage]

Zak moved closer to the building, in front of everyone eles. Everyone ready? he asked everyone in a quiet voice as he shifted his hood over his eyes and put his hands together as if he were about to pray. Because after this, there is no turning back,after I cast this, Detheriel and Narar, the darkness should cover you, and i belive Ansolon has some useful spells to throw over there.A spell of silence pherhaps? Just be careful, your still humans, all of you. No ones the hero. I'll stay out here in case of reinforcements, if they do have a wizard, he's gonna want help. Kagarioni,go with them, they'll need another sword.I'll look after Iskola, if its alright with her. Anyone that dosn't wish to fight should spread into the woods, to scout. Isn't that something close to what you were going to say Soldier Boy?

[dplax]

Nivram

Preparations for war. Needless destruction. How depressing. - Nivram thought as he stood back.

"I wish you luck." - he said in a soft voice so as not to arouse the sentry's suspicions. "But I do not wish any part in this attack. I was wrong at first to say that I would participate in the fight against the bandits. I do not need their riches, neither do I have anything to gain from their deaths." - he nodded at Isokla. "Which is also probably the reason for you not taking part, isn't it?"

[Legolas]

Ydalon

"Close enough," he said, "if you think the whistle stopping won't alarm anyone, or that the fighting is back here, or that scouting is a safe thing to do. Still, you're right about care."

Ydalon also didn't seem to like the Soldier Boy much, though now he pretended he hadn't noticed.

"I don't expect any of you to fight, let alone as I direct it. I won't tell any of the others they have to wait here, but if you want to wait it out, I think this is as good a place as any and I'll know where to find you if we're going to cross the river when this is done."

He took a moment to peer out at the tower again, flexing his hand to ease the stiffness of the cut.

"I don't have an answer for the whistle either. We'll just have to be quick
and stay together. There won't be many more of them than there are of us and we're the unannounced raiders here. With a bit of luck it'll relieve some of the settlements here."
"Oh, and remember, stay off the top floor and don't burn the whole thing down, we'll be inside it."

Shortly thereafter, a hand gesture indicated his readiness and Ydalon moved closer to the tower and its washerman with all the stealth he could muster.

[Calaethis Dragonsbane]

To Nivram:
"My belief is that it is wrong to kill - for any reason," Isokla murmured back, "There is always an alternative, and even when there is not, you can still fight to disable... you need not slay. If it is a choice between you or them, you should choose to die yourself; to live and clean. As pure as a human is able to. If you protect another, you have to accept that you take blood onto your hands to save them. If you are willing to make that sacrifice, then it is your choice. Just as it is mine not to."

To Zak, the girl hissed, "I do not need, nor want your protection. Leave me alone."

With that, the girl slipped away into the bushes...

~~~
Everyone Else:

---
OOC: As Leggy has already posted a desc of the tower, I'll repost it here for your benefit - in case you'd forgotten
---

It stood in the midst of a clearing of its own, though over the years the forest had worked to reclaim much of it. A dirt track only slightly wider than a deer trail wound its way off through the forest, doubtless on its way to better travelled roads.

It was the structure itself, however, which dominated the site. The tower was tall, with four or five floors, the top one looking out over the treetops like a crow's nest over the sea. Individual stones jutted out at odd points, and the whole of the old building might be tilting just so slightly.
Down at the base of the slim structure, the stones were often cracked and the cracks lined with moss, as though this, too, was slowly being reclaimed.
Two windows on different floors, little more than slits, peered out in each of the four directions. Its upper rim was crenulated, like a warlord's keep.

The whistling man had entered the tower, still whistling off-key and faded from view.

If one were to avoid the bushes and branches long enough, one could charge the tower within a matter of seconds, at least thirty seconds - at most, two minutes. If one were to sneak in, possibly between three and five.

The tower door was open, and so far, no one appeared on watch.

~~~

Regardless of how they get there, the tower entrance is a round room, with a single entrance - and a perfectly round wall surrounding it - with no doors, windows or stairs - only arrow-holes. There is no one present in the room. The walls are thick too - at least six foot wide around... above them, is a ceiling with more kill holes. The floor is flagstone.

The only object of interest in the room is a slightly sunken floor, in a perfect circle, sunk, possibly half a foot from the rest, that gradually slopes down at a smooth incline. The walls are grey – cloud grey, as is the floor. The cracks between the floor are almost non-existent, and eight empty blackened torch brackets line the walls. The centre of the circular floor is a single, perfectly round stone with an eight pointed star upon it. The lines are simple, straight and cut into the stone. There is no blood, candles or any other signs of diabolical magic.

The ceiling is at least 10 feet high.

And so far, there are no signs of life, not even the whistle-washer…

[ 09-15-2005, 07:27 PM: Message edited by: Calaethis Dragonsbane ]