Antagonist's Anarchy: Desolation in the Daylight - Chapter II (Open)

[DrowArchmage]

Zak lay there, in a daze, remembering the past.His first love, a girl named Skylar.Tourtured by his Uncle in his house's inner power struggle,she survived,but he never found her after he saved her and took her to her mother's house.The child he had trained,Tyth,whom was killed. But now, it was his turn. Why did everyone he get close to die? Was it his destiny to be alone? To fight an evil that could not be beaten? He thought it was, but to fall at the hand of a bandit? Despair overcame him and he shouted as loud as he could.SKYLAR! I LOVED YOU! he didn't know why he said that. It was something he had never admitted to anyone,if he was indeed going to die, he wanted it known.Maybe Keal would find her and tell her for him. He could only hope.

[ 05-26-2006, 08:50 PM: Message edited by: DrowArchmage ]

[Calaethis Dragonsbane]

So it was that Telryn and Detheriel burst up from their meal, the former having finished his while the latter had not, leaving behind an incredulous Isokla, who folded her arms across her chest and managed to look very put out and quite indignant in fact.

Most annoyed that Detheriel had charged off and Ydalon was nowhere in sight, she hoisted her robes and hurried after the two…

~~~

Upon bursting out to Nivram’s position, the trio immediately spotted the bandits. There were three left, though one was dying. Nivram was wounded but Zak – Zak was almost dead. Nothing but the most instant of magical healing would save him now. His attempt to yell occurred as the three joined Nivram, and was not so much a yell as a barely audible croak.

Fortunately for our intrepid ‘heroes’, the sight of a most irritated and scowling Isokla who was apparently unarmed, though her eyes shone with ire, Telryn and his flail and Detheriel’s notched arrow and bow joining Nivram was enough to deter the wounded archer who decided that discretion was the better part of valour, and stumbled away more quickly than he had arrived, still wounded.

The other two were not quite as smart. The one that Nivram had struck had already pulled his dagger out of his stomach and was already bleeding to death. Still berserk, his movements were growing weaker and by the time he had reached the party, he fell all too easily to Telryn’s more experienced flail without landing a single blow. The last remaining bandit would fall to Nivram’s knives and Detheriel’s arrow long before he could reach any of them, should they choose to target him.


Meanwhile…

Isokla knelt beside the fallen Zakaria, distaste strong on her features. Seizing him but not ungently by the jaw, she clinically examined him with the cool detachment of a healer, she looked up at Nivram and Detheriel, knowing Telryn was too busy.

“This is beyond my skills. I can do nothing for him except ease his passing. He is already lost to us unless either one of you is a master of the healing arts. Mundane means will not save him. He is already passing through the veil.” She shook her head, her eyes holding a hint of regret. “It is tragic,” she sighed sincerely, speaking as though Zak was already dead, “Such needless loss…”

Whatever her private thoughts were, she did not voice them.

---
OOC: To recap: there is a single bandit left, and Zak hovers on the verge of death - he will bleed to death in less than a minute, game time.
There is a single bandit left - the other surviving one is wounded and has run off.
Nivram is wounded.
Ydalon is nowhere in sight and Telryn and Detheriel have rushed to the scene to aid Nivram in the fight. Isokla followed begrudingly and is beside Zak in his possible final moments.
Edit: Anytime Eruwin wishes to awaken, that's fine [img]smile.gif[/img]

Any questions, please feel free to drop me a PM.

[ 05-29-2006, 08:14 PM: Message edited by: Calaethis Dragonsbane ]

[shamrock_uk]

Detheriel

Scowling in anger at Isokla's words Detheriel turned his ire upon the remaining bandit as Telryn dealt with the feisty one.

We could do with this one alive he thought to himself, resisting the urge to strike him down.

Instead, Detheriel planted an arrow in the bandit's torso. The steel head sunk in beside the shoulder joint of his sword arm rendering it effectively useless whilst the impact at such a relatively close range knocked him stumbling backwards onto the ground.

Knowing that he would only have a moment to take advantage of the shock, Detheriel dropped his bow and quickly ran towards the bandit, drawing his dagger as he went.

[ 05-30-2006, 08:13 AM: Message edited by: shamrock_uk ]

[Ivelliis]

Telryn

Telryn sprang into action, just as Detheriel shot his arrow, reading to charge the bandit to the ground. However, as the wounded man hit the ground, Telryn stopped over him, his tall figure looming, and placed his foot on the mans torso, flail looming menacingly above his head.

"I think we have a few questions for you," He said with a slight grin on his face.

His time in the guards had taught him best to disarm, or at least render your enemies weapon useless, before getting close. Detheriel had the same idea.

"Perhaps he has spent time as a guard?" Telryn wondered.

"This ones not going anywhere," He yelled to the others, "How is Zak doing?"


OOC: Telryn's first plan was to keep the man alive, he doesn't possess psychic powers to read peoples mind *wink*

[shamrock_uk]

Detheriel

Detheriel paused halfway to the bandit as he saw Telryn take charge of the matter. He retrieved his bow and quickly headed over to Zakaria, kneeling beside him.

"Is there nothing that can be done?" he asked Isokla anxiously. "Anybody?"

[lost prophet]

Eruwin

Somewhere within the darkness of his mind Eruwin awoke.

Although the pain was excrutiating the thought of survival preceeded all else, he would not die.
He could feel the blood flow from his armpit slowing and slowly patches of light prevailed his vision, as the dizzyness subsided he saw himself surrounded by a group of people he had never seen before. Noticeing the man he had come across after his flight through the forest he tried to sit up but a wave of nausea swept over him and he lay back down again.
Reaching across his body Eruwin gingerly touched the wound in his side, while the blood still flowed it had lessened somewhat and already a light scab was forming over the laceration, he had suffered worse and in the, he decided that it had been the exertion that had casued him to pass out rather than the seriousness of the wound. He would need medical atention thought as he had no hopes of travelling until he had had his ribs and side seen to.

Opening his eyes again he looked around him, apart from the man who had saved him, or thought him dead there were several others standing, or lying around him. It seemed that this group of people had taken the brunt of his foolishness and unless something happened soon it looked to the young man as if for some of them, it would be the last thing they ever did.

[ 05-30-2006, 11:28 AM: Message edited by: lost prophet ]

[Legolas]

Ydalon

Struggling up the tree had not proven the wisest course of action. His hands and feet had become sticky with resin, and he doubted he'd ever get his shirt back to crispy white now. The ancient, rough bark had damaged skin, though he could determine no bleeding. It was just as well.

On the other hand, he reflected, he'd have been better off cutting loose strips of his hide himself. It was no surprise the tree was fruitless. What disappointed him was learning the same held true for his struggles. There had been no view from the upper branches whatsoever, save to confirm the presence of neighbouring growth all around.

In hindsight, falling from the branch he'd slept on twice during the night had been an omen to heed.

Ydalon dropped the last few feet to the ground, landing beside his pack. He searched around briefly, trying to ignore the ticklish throbbing of his palms. Fortunately, the now not so clean white wrap had landed closeby and looked to be salvageable with a bit of a dusting and sufficient water.
He was absolutely cross with himself.
Of course he'd had to take it with him, there was no denying that. That it would suffer some stress was unavoidable. But he might have tied it well enough that it wouldn't fall down most-way up the tree. It was wholly inconvenient and hindering his swift descent, while he should have been monitoring the group.

They were gone now. Thankfully, he added as he hurried towards the stream for an essential change and clean-up. He might have been stuck up there for hours if there'd been no screams. Whatever their cause, it was mostly over now. He'd be left with the toughest, most able members of the group, or else be freed of a ragtag band clearly unequal to even the random challenges of the wild.
He did not linger overlong, but neither were his actions hurried as he gathered up his belongings and set out in pursuit.

[dplax]

Nivram

Nivram's shoulder was throbbing with pain, but the pain must have been nothing compared to the pain that Zakaria must have been going through, if even he was still conscious. Nivram sheathed his knives seeing that his companions had already disabled the last surviving bandit and walked over to where Zakaria was lying. He gently placed his hand on the dying man's throat and felt the dwindling pulse as his life was leaving him.

Nivram glanced sideways at Isokla but did not say a word, his hand still touching Zakaria's neck. Then without another sound, Nivram fell to the ground, unconscious.

[Calaethis Dragonsbane]

The spell Nivram cast was unseen by any, undetected by all and its visual effects were minimal. However, it served its purpose in stabilising him – and though he hovered on the verge of death, he would not fall to being lungshot. He could still easily die though.

~~~

Isokla’s blue eyes narrowed in suspicion, first at Zakaria suddenly reacting to a spell, and then at Nivram passing out with a thud after touching his neck. It had to have been a very powerful spell to still him like that. Especially since there were no visible effects.

Aloud, the girl said – while Telryn and Detheriel were busy interrogating the bandit (OOC: I will get to that soon), “Zakaria, while I cannot heal you, I can give you something for the pain.”

She ignored the newly awoken Eruwin for now, all save for her inward thought of ‘He will make an interesting replacement, I believe.’

“Here, sip this.” Isokla administered to the fallen Zakaria – and although, he had stabilised, she was not pleased with how. There was no way she could have not have known, but with everyone distracted, instead, she tended to him, and pulling out a herb from a pouch, she commanded firmly, “Here, chew on this.”

She did not give him a choice, but placed the dried herb in his mouth and poured a measure of water from Zak’s own waterskin into his mouth. What she gave him was a sedative, but in too large a quantity, was also a deadly poison. It was non-detectable, and quite common actually, if one knew where to look. It would ease his pain a great deal though… and so, Zakaria slipped into dark oblivion as Isokla held his throat and forced him to swallow.

When she looked up, Zakaria was dead.

~~~

There were was no pity in her eyes, but there was a resigned light as she stepped up from him and announced quietly, “He has left us, as I said he would. He died a tragic, needless, but noble, and we would do well to honour his memory. We should look to the living however. First and foremost, they come first. Nivram is injured – I will attend him. See to your prisoner.” Isokla’s voice was bitter as she called over to Detheriel and Telryn, and knelt beside Nivram. Examining his wounds, she pulled out bandages from her satchel, soaked them in water from her second waterskin and poured alcohol over them. Then she pressed several herbs to it and bound his wounds after inspecting him.

Busying herself with keeping her patient alive, she was unaware of Ydalon’s imminent arrival…

~~~

The bandit sneered at Telryn, “Questions? Speak your questions.” he spat, “for all the good it will do you outlaws. The Lords shall have you! I may fall, my brothers may fall, but our numbers are many! You cannot defeat all of us! And when they learn what you have done, they shall summon their full might and our armies shall haunt you! They shall tear you down, one by one, and when the last of you are surrounded, they shall impale you before the crowds!” his eyes were alight with zeal – it was clear he was a fanatic, “We should wipe your lawlessness from this world! Yours and all those like you! We shall return order and prepare the way for the Master! Only He is fit to rule this world! And He shall return! You shall all fall! The Lords of Vision have spoken! Your chaos shall be turned aside and your tide of darkness pushed back! In His wake, all shall rejoice!”

He panted, out of breath from his zealous speech. At Isokla’s words, he beamed, “Already one of you has fallen to righteous justice! It shall only be a matter of time before the rest of you do!”

At Ydalon’s approach, he seemed to pause, perhaps recognising him. He fell quiet.

---
OOC: Again, I would like to point out that some things happen – any IC actions are not OOC, and whatnot. DAM, if you would like to draw up a new character, then please feel free – PM me and we’ll work on something, if you’d like. Otherwise it was a pleasure having you in the game. Thank you for joining us.

[ 06-01-2006, 07:32 PM: Message edited by: Calaethis Dragonsbane ]

[shamrock_uk]

Detheriel

Having been pushed to one side by first Nivram, then Isokla, Detheriel took the hint and made way for more experienced hands. He retrieved his quiver from the trees, making sure to collect the spilled arrows and then walked back into the clearing.

He started walking over to where Isokla had moved to tend Nivram, but a glance from the healer that expressed her desire to be left alone gave him pause.

"We should wipe your lawlessness from this world....We shall return order and prepare the way for the Master...". The words carried clearly in the crisp forest air and despite (or perhaps because of) the gravity of the situation, Detheriel could not help but burst into laughter, slapping his thigh with a free hand, no doubt to the astonishment of those around him.

He was still chortling with mirth as he walked over to where Telryn stood, resting a hand briefly on his shoulder in appreciation at the quick thinking of his large friend.

"Return of the Master...bringing order?!" Detheriel repeated incredulously. "I've never heard such nonsense in all my days!"

Then, perhaps remembering the wounded behind him, he ceased laughing and looked at Telryn. "Shall we make him talk now, or should we wait for Isokla?" he enquired.

The bandit spat once more, this time in Detheriel's direction, the spittle landing on his tunic.

Wiping it off slowly with his hand, an unamused and suddenly icy cold Detheriel drew his blade once more and crouched down, pressing it lightly against the bandit's throat. He slowly drew the point across his neck, the metal tip appearing to bounce slightly as it skipped across the tiny crevices in his skin.

With a small but unreadable smile on his face, Detheriel leaned closer and whispered into the bandit's ear."Pray tell, where is your Master now?" he enquired.

Squatting as he was, Detheriel shifted his balance slightly, choosing to rest his other hand on the arrow shaft that still protruded from the Bandit's shoulder.

[ 06-01-2006, 08:35 PM: Message edited by: shamrock_uk ]