Difference between revisions of "Unti Family/Nerta/A3S3"

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As the burning fires both fed and devoured  her she imagined once again how it would be to enter the column of light...
 
As the burning fires both fed and devoured  her she imagined once again how it would be to enter the column of light...
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|Title= Baroness of Zwering, Priestess of Obeah
 
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|{{Message2
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|Width=
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|Type=Roleplay
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|Sender=Angyll
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|Recipients=Everyone in Keffa
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|Content=Somewhere deep within the dungeons of Keffa sat a thin man with hair of such light platinum blonde that it looked nearly silver. A strong jaw line and high cheekbones made his alabaster face appear almost carved from marble.
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Set symmetrically on either side of a thin bridged nose, were eyes which too were so light a shade of grey they also appeared silver.
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And in those eyes, chaos swirled.
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With fingers curled as if in extreme pain he clutched at his head, screaming at the top of his lungs in his dungeon cell.. a cell so deep and so far back that it was meant only for the truly lost causes, horrible criminals, and the insane.
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Angyll was all three.
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The humming sound tore into his psyche, the madness on the streets bled through the sewers and stone into the dungeon beneath. And so terrible was Angyll's blood curdling scream that soon a guard could be heard running down the hall with "THUD THUD THUD" of metal boots.
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"Quiet in there!" the frustrated guard said, clearly angry at being at such a post with so much going on outside.
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Angyll screamed all the louder, clawing at the wall and slamming his head into the stone, his head careening back with blood spraying into the air.
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"What in the!" the guard shouted in surprise, fussing with a ring of keys at his hip, finally finding the right one as Angyll fell onto his back in the cell.
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The iron door creaked open and the guard rushed in, reaching for a black cudgel at his hip to beat this man into quiet.
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Angyll's eyes snapped open again after the daze of smacking his head on the stone, and launched in almost inhuman capacity from the ground. Within seconds, he was on the guard like maggots on a corpse, clawing, biting, hitting.
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As the guard fell backward off balance, he hit the ground beneath the madman. Angyll grabbed the open faced helmet in both hands and slammed it over and over and over again into the ground. "CLANG CLANG CLANG".
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When he was done.. the head within was caved in, the look of shock and horror locked into the dead guard's face.
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"High, Low, High Low, over the dead guard I must go." Angyll  chimed in a sing song voice as he stripped the keys from the belt.
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"What should we do with you silly mortal," he asked himself as he walked down the hallway with a big smile on his face, the silver eyes aswirl.
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"What a silly question for a silly mortal, of course of course, we go to the portal!"
 +
|Title= Commoner of Obia'Syela
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}}
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|-
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|{{Message2
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|Width=
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|Type=Roleplay
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|Sender=Moira
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|Recipients=Everyone in Keffa
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|Content="I must be a bloody fool for getting involved in this nonsense a second time," Moira offered her hand to Reia, helping the former paladin pull herself onto the temple parapet from the neighbouring guard barracks. It had taken considerable stealth and ingenuity to slip thus far into the temple complex without being seen, but for the woman who in her youth had established the Fontan Bureau of Irregular Warfare such feats of infiltration came naturally.
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"The Queen commands," for a moment her companion doubled over, panting to catch her breath, "and we obey."
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"Aye, well if Aibhlidhn were just my Queen she could get someone else to do this. You know how I feel about sorcery," Moira lifted the flap on her satchel, counting the egg-like stones within to ensure they were all present.
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"And I know how you feel about family," Reia took a sip from her water flask and offered it to her companion, not needing to go further with the allusion.
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The two women bore the signs of many adventures, tempered like fine steel on the anvil of adversity. Reia's grey braids were dressed with ribbons and feathers, her body clothed in thick hides and strung with talismans of Darton and the other saints of The Flow, her frame drawn by age and an aesthete's diet. She'd long since foresworn battle for the life of a healer and bore no weapons, not even a staff or rod to support her.
 +
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Moira was a stark contrast, the raven tresses of the former Supreme Justice of Fontan barely touched by winter frost despite her long and eventful life, her face at once enticing and devastating, smooth and irresistable as the ocean ice. When she smiled it was breathtaking like the summer sun reflecting from the ice fields of the far north. Her armour was a motley of leather straps and silken cloth, drakeskin and silksteel from the unforgiving volcanic peaks of the Nightscree, and she was armed with sword and axe and knife and bow. Weapons proofed against Elf and Man, Troll and Revenant, Zuma and Daemon. Heirlooms ensorcelled by her legend.
 +
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"This probably won't work," Moira stoppered the canteen, tossing it back to Reia, and began making her way across the jumbled architecture of the Temple of Obiah, it's massive bulk concealing them from view below. They'd reach their destination, the centre of the circle of light, without any awkward interference.
 +
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"It worked in Gethsemene," Reia didn't sound entirely convinced, though none could deny the portal had been closed.
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"Did it? Was it the stones which did the job, or all that goat filth Bloodscreamer Thesseus dumped in the portal?" the memory of that stink remained with them both even after so many years had passed. "Were I a Lord of the Nether I'd have shut the portal just to put an end to the stink!"
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They shared a hearty laugh, the kind common to warriors who know only luck has kept them alive so long.
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"Aye, well. We're a long way from home M'lady," there was a resigned tone in Reia's voice. A recognition that home in the strictest sense no longer existed.
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"I'm painfully aware of that," they reached the pinnacle of the dome and set about the serious task of laying the portal stones in the correct alignments. Of all the magics practiced this was by far the most dangerous, seeking to close a portal to the High Firmament. Moira had never really paid much attention to the deeper mysteries of her faith, relying on Reia's knowledge when needed, but she knew enough to understand that beyond the safety of the ethereal roads lay the fiery abode of the Daemons and only a portal could reliably reach these. Whilst the paladin was an acolyte and by the standards of these later ages an adept, her wisdom was that of an infant compared to a matured Balancewalker. A single mistake in the alignments and they may not draw breath to regret it.
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Not for the first time in their travels, Moira longed for the company of her sister Brigdha. Still, if the alignments were true and the tides of the Flow favourable, they might yet seal the portal.
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Of course what Moira didn't know - indeed what very few even suspected - was that there was another closer to hand who waxed stronger in the ancient arts with every passing moon...
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|Title= Commoner of Ar Agyr
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}}
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|{{Message2
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|Width=
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|Type=Roleplay
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|Sender=Kristina Chamberlain
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|Recipients=Everyone in Keffa
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|Content="I knew Brigdha.... she had the good sense to fear me a little, a shame one who shares her stench does not share her wisdom..." Kristina's skin waxed a similar gold to her eyes, the barely contained energies she had absorbed giving her skin a glow like a wax doll in the firelight.
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She stepped from the doorway to confront the two women. "A little old to be scurrying on rooftops don't you think?" Her body felt weightless, like she was walking on air, sure-footed and more secure in her sense of self than she had been for years.
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"What you are thinking is pure folly... understand a ritual before you would seek to disrupt it." She sighed, "the column is not strictly a portal, more intact it is a prison,  trapping the will, the intent and indeed the magic of sixteen others.... you would truly wish to remove such a guard?"
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The wind caught at her hair, sending golden bolts along the ends lifting gently around her shoulders.
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"These good gentlemen have watched your progress with interest... she listened to the air a second... Moira?... yes Moira... you now face a choice. Every ritual needs an insurance plan... your presence and those stones can be such a plan... or you can attempt to set your circle now.... and we shall see if you are faster than a crossbow bolt."
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|Title= Baroness of Zwering, Priestess of Obeah
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}}
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|{{Message2
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|Width=
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|Type=Roleplay
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|Sender=Moira
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|Recipients=Everyone in Keffa
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|Content="Then you didn't know my sister that well," Moira casually rested her palm on the pommel of Lannceann MacTiré, unimpressed by the power radiating from the woman before her, "So what's a maunt doing amongst these children?"
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"Now probably isn't the time to stand about chatting," Reia tugged at Moira's sleeve, exasperation clear in her voice at the thought of battle as a sharp whine emerged from the fresh-placed stones.
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"My companion makes a good point," Moira looked at the now pulsing circle of spinning stones, and as she did a column of light erupted from them, pulsing in counterbeat to that emerging from the temple chamber beneath, "the stones are set for good or ill and there's nought either of us can do to influence that."
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The guardsman, already on edge from the proceedings below, were now visibly shaken and Moira doubted their crossbows would hit much they aimed for. A maunt though. What next? Haktoo? It was an idle thought, but mayhap there was more to this encounter than Moira had at first thought...
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|Title= Commoner of Ar Agyr
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}}
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|-
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| colspan=5 | Strange Lights
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A column of light shoots up into the sky from somewhere in Keffa, and there is a strange humming sound. Beasts behave bizarrely. Nothing else seems to happen...for now.
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|{{Message2
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|Width=
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|Type=Roleplay
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|Sender=Kristina Chamberlain
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|Recipients=Everyone in Keffa
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|Content="You arrogant fool...."
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The thrum of the stones produced a shade of the column already set by the ritual and as she watched the second column was pulled inexorably to the first, its power being absorbed.
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"Controlling the column is difficult enough... this... this just makes everything worse. By Obeah, Moira... you understand the Flow better even than I. Look at it... I mean really look... this isn't a portal in any conventional way... what if you have just made a Daimon bridge and we have Jactosh taking control of the column? "
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She had no way of converting so much energy, though the temptation to ensure a stable bridge from the new column to the old was strong... equally strong was the temptation to disrupt the circle, though how she would achieve this she wasn't sure. She could only hope that the second circle would fail, anything else carried a higher potential for disaster than anything.
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|Title= Baroness of Zwering, Priestess of Obeah
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}}
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|{{Message2
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|Width=
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|Type=Roleplay
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|Sender=Moira
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|Recipients=Everyone in Keffa
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|Content="The arrogance is in thinking a mortal can master such energies," Moira stood her ground, "when only the Hand knows which way the Balance tilts. If it be time for the Daemons to once more Invade then your dabblings alone will have been sufficient to open their way, and if not then all the portal stones in creation could be set and still it'd make no difference."
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"Honestly Moira, we haven't got time for this!" Reia was counting the rhythm of the stones, certain that at any moment they'd reach a critical crescendo.
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|Title= Commoner of Ar Agyr
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}}
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|{{Message2
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|Width=
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|Type=Roleplay
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|Sender=Lambert of Arescod
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|Recipients=Everyone in Keffa
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|Content=Mounted atop his destrier he oversaw these rituals that were happening under the Obia'syelians. He had not witnessed the great daemon invasions, he was simply too young for that. But his father had, and he'd grown up knowing that they could come at any moment. Father had been good at hiding them from the slaughter, but he made sure that he'd never see his sons or daughters see it happen again. To see this ... It was strange, to say the best. He expected it was not an event that happened here in Keffa that happened too often. He hardly believes it had happened at all, at least not eversince the last daemon invasion. But he wasn't sure. He needed to see someone almost twice his age to confirm that. He chewed on his moustache while seeing Fulco's men die.
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"He has the idea that we're summoning daemons." He said to his captain. Captain Reinolt replied with a shrug. It was not his duty, so he frankly did not care. "Pointless. But also not entirely untrue. It may very well be that we are indeed summoning them. Or making it easier for them to be summoned. Or the opposite." Captain Reinolt shrugged again, to which Lambert chuckled halfheartedly. "Let's hope this does not summon them."
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|Title=Margrave of Lastfell
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}}
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|-
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|{{Message2
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|Width=
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|Type=Roleplay
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|Sender=Timsen Quasath
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|Recipients=Everyone in Keffa
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|Content=As Timsen entered the city of Keffa he was welcomed by noise, lights, and general chaos. Quickly ordering his Slingers to peacebond their autobows, before the press of the crowd triggered violence, Timsen also ordered them to stay close and watch each other. In this mass of people there would be definitely be spies, thieves, murderers and more. It would be tragic if any of his troops were shanked in the throng and left behind.
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As one mob of their own, Timsen and his troops squeezed into the streets and took in the sights. The marvels of Keffa were almost lost in the dust and impromptu shelters built by people denied a room in the overcrowded inns. As much as Timsen wanted to explore, though, there was the more pressing matter of the lights. So, like almost every other noble here, he pushed towards the event.
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As he got closer, Timsen could hear his name whispered on the wind. Memories of daimons and their temptations to mortals came to his mind, and Timsen frowned. If everyone here could hear the voices, someone will be tempted.
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|Title=Duke of Providence, Margrave of Vozzessdor
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}}
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|-
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|-
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| colspan=5 | Magic in the Air
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The ravens croak and the sky darkens for a moment. Someone has failed in an act of magic nearby.
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|{{Message2
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|Width=
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|Type=Roleplay
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|Sender=Jecht Tideweaver
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|Recipients=Everyone in Keffa
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|Content= The Emperor held Grandmistress' gaze. There had been some chemistry between the two for some time. Sparks had flown on his last journey to Keffa between the two, but Jecht had suppressed the urge to act out of courtesy to her station.
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Her invitation was not unwelcome.
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He returned her wicked grin.
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"I would certainly be available for some ...exploring. I look forward to the evening."
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He took her hand and planted a kiss on it. A courting custom of the south. Then flashed her a dazzling smile before taking his leave to seek out his piper.
 +
|Title= Emperor of Shattered Vales
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}}
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|{{Message2
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|Width=
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|Type=Roleplay
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|Sender=Yao Ling Pryde
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|Recipients=Everyone in Keffa
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|Content=Yao Ling watched the column of light shift and undulate from atop the walls of the Temple of Daishi with the eyes of a woman who had seen such things many times in her years.
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She had even been here in Keffa the last time it happened here.  It was interesting.  So much of Keffa was the same now as it had been then.  But other parts were different.
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Where the Obian temple now stood had been a crater then.  Holding Daimons reportedly tamed by some otherworldly magic.  Whatever the truth of that, they had stood silently as she approached the woman in the center of that crater.  The founder of the religion who now sought to... what?
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Repeat that?  Reverse it?  Do something different?
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Yao Ling could not tell.  There were many competing forces at work here.  Even from within Obia.
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The first was easy to see.  The second competing push was there as well, winding around the first.  A third?  Maybe a fourth?  Other magical attempts to change or break it popped up from all over Keffa.  Some melded with it.  Others fizzled out.  Some met opposition.
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Keffa was filled with magic in a way Yao Ling had not seen in years.  Decades?  Longer?
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Keffa of course.  Wudenkin, when the magics rained down so heavily they changed the very nature of magic everywhere.  Reeds during the last Daimon Invasion when the power of magic literally erased them.  And her hand.  Before rebuilding it and giving an old woman the amazing young body she had now.  Creasur, when the power of the gods shone from the Daishi and she harnessed that power to attack the Daimons again and again.
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The magic flowed and intertwined here in ways that were... amazing.
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Not entirely unprecedented, but certainly... amazing.
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Yao Ling watched a line of large rats travel through the square, avoiding the legs of soldiers holding back those who were not allowed in.  She wondered where they were going.
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She hoped, whatever happened in Keffa, that the consecrations the lesser priests continued to perform even now inside the Temple of Daishi would hold.  Would be enough.  Or would not be needed at all.
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That would be for the best, really.
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She fingered the scrolls in her possession.  She had brought many with her when it became time to make the journey.  Scrolls of power.  Some specifically designed to fight daimons wherever they appeared.
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Others of more... interesting lineage.  One she had kept for years, holding against the day when its magic would be required.  She hoped now would not be the time she would need it.
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Miracles from the gods were not something to call on when not needed.  They did not always work the way you wanted them to, after all.
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|Title= Sophos of Nothoi
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}}
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|{{Message2
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|Width=
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|Type=Roleplay
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|Sender=Saoirse MacArbin
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|Recipients=Everyone in Keffa
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|Content=Saoirse's grin stayed for a moment, before the shouts and screams from outside and a new humming sound broke through the moment.  As Jecht made his way to his own people, she made her way to hers, finding Alberich's banner easily enough in the incipient melee around a Vordulian banner that she did not recognize.  By the time she made it out of the temple itself, the brief battle with one of the Vordulians was finished, but another banner still stood in a standoff.
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Her voice rang out.
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"Nobles of Vordul, your Blood Regent has agreed to peace and our terms!  Stand down, and we can work in peace for this day."
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Alberich quickly rode to her as she mounted her own horse, speaking quickly and closely.  Saoirse's face grew dark.
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"This Polli who blasphemed against the Veiled Goddess will be cast out from Keffa and forbidden from its sacred environs on pain of death.  If this ritual ceases, now, and no further blasphemy is offered, that will be all.  Any further actions, however, will result in the sentence of death being delivered immediately."
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She lifted her lance, the violet tip matching the armour of the Grandmistress, and her troops moved to meet up with the approaching Grand Templar's forces, and any other Obian or Valesfolk in the area.
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"Stand down, and there need be no other deaths this day."
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She could see another column of light from the corner of her eye, but whatever that was would have to be tended to by others, at least for the moment.
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|Title= Grandmistress of Obia'Syela, Duchess of Amen Obeah
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}}
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|
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|-
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|-
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| colspan=5 | Magic in the Air
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The ravens croak and the sky darkens for a moment. Someone has failed in an act of magic nearby.
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|-
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|-
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|
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|{{Message2
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|Width=
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|Type=Roleplay
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|Sender=Emilia Delamoire
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|Recipients=Everyone in Keffa
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|Content=Lady Emilia stepped out from the wall of troops that stood in a protective formation around Polli.
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Defiantly standing before the Grand Mistress, she responded.
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"The Blood Regent has agreed to peace, not your right to execute one in my company."
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Emilia pointed toward the pillar of light in accusation.
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"I think we have bigger things to worry about, like the damned pillar of light shooting into the sky from the center of OBIAN lands, not Vordulian." The short woman shouted so her voice would carry to those in the square.
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"I promise you that I had no part in Lord Gustav's madness, and my troops have not laid a single blow while defending against your attempts to apprehend this poor troubled woman." Emilia bluffed, laying down her short sword on the ground and holding up her hands.
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"Now let's everyone just calm down and focus on what portal you are about to open into this world, and more importantly,  what will be coming out of that portal."
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Lady Emilia awaited a response, ready to step back within the human barrier if necessary. Her archers poised and at the ready, they would fall, but not before bringing a fair share of people with them.
 +
|Title= Dame of Pel Mark
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}}
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|{{Message2
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|Width=
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|Type=Roleplay
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|Sender=Valian Stone Daubeny
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|Recipients=Everyone in Keffa
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|Content=Valian and his men backed off from the Vordulians, forming around them shields and glaives ready.
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When Valian heard Saoirse’s command he walked over and knelt before her, his men forming up behind him and joining him in kneeling.
 +
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“What is your order, Mistress.”
 +
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Valian looked nervously to the coffeehouse that he saw Elizabeth run to.
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“May I ask for permission to retrieve Elizabeth and Viviane.”
 +
|Title= Knight of Ossmat
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}}
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|{{Message2
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|Width=
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|Type=Roleplay
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|Sender=Saoirse MacArbin
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|Recipients=Everyone in Keffa
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|Content=Saoirse looked to Valian first.
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"Go, get them to the temple, and guard the approach."
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Then back to the Vordulian noble, trusting that Vahanian needed nothing from her.
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"I certainly have the right to expel anyone I so choose, Sanguinian.  And so does the Duke here.  The pillar is our affair, and while those who wish to observe are welcome to do so, interference will not be brooked.  Stand aside."
 +
 +
She gave the signal to advance, spears pointed into the air rather than leveled, straight at Polli.  If any got in their way, then so be it.
 +
|Title= Grandmistress of Obia'Syela, Duchess of Amen Obeah
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}}
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|{{Message2
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|Width=
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|Type=Roleplay
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|Sender=Emilia Delamoire
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|Recipients=Everyone in Keffa
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|Content=The guards stand closer to the circle where Polli remains on her hands and knees. Emilia is joined by her Captain who holds a shield out protectively.
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"HOLD MEN!" Emilia shouted to her troops, who tightened ranks as she stepped back within them.
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"If they want to see a blood ritual, let's give them one. Everyone of you, encase the circle, if you die may your blood join in that Eternal. May your blood join with this circle of power!"
 +
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Shadow's Blight remained in a tight circle with bows leveled. From windows and roof tops her snipers watch in anticipating, ready to fire on their targets.
 +
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The troops will not fire unless struck first.
 +
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(OOC - should we pause eventually to allow Polli to respond? A lot has happened since her last RP.)
 +
|Title= Dame of Pel Mark
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}}
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|{{Message2
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|Width=
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|Type=Roleplay
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|Sender=Yao Ling Pryde
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|Recipients=Everyone in Keffa
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|Content=The column of light changed colors again, the magic shifted once more, another voice on the wind called her name, and Yao Ling blinked.
 +
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She shifted her attention to square below her and watched the Obian and Vordul troops standing off against each other.
 +
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She considered interfering for a moment, but the dies of fighting with weapons like that were long gone to her.  She was a priestess.  She fought with words and ideas now.
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The Vorduls had long since made it clear they would not listen to her, and their campaign to destroy the Temples of Daishi, consecrated bastions against the threat of the Daimons, made their intentions towards her and her people even more clear.
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Yao Ling shook her head.  They had chosen their path.
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She could do nothing for them at this time.
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Yao Ling returned her attention to the glowing pillar and the magics roiling within it.
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|Title= Sophos of Nothoi
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}}
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|{{Message2
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|Width=
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|Type=Roleplay
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|Sender=Osgar Dacara
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|Recipients=Everyone in Keffa
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|Content=Osgar finally arrived in the city and it was swarming with people.
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Much to his excitement, the bars were also open.
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Not paying attention to any strange happenings or the pretty obvious light beam, he decided to rest in the nearest pub.
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His men and himself got comfortable until one finally dared to ask the question that was on everyone's mind the entire trip
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"Sir, why are we here exactly, if not for crushing in some skulls?"
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Osgar pointed at a well curved bar maid who brought everyone some ale. Before taking his first sip, he mumbled:
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"Who knows. Shut up and drink."
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|Title= Margrave of Sandefur
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}}
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|-
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| colspan=5 | Magic in the Air
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The ravens croak and the sky darkens for a moment. Someone has failed in an act of magic nearby.
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|-
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| colspan=5 | Magic in the Air
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The ravens croak and the sky darkens for a moment. Someone has failed in an act of magic nearby.
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|-
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| colspan=5 | Magic in the Air
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The ravens croak and the sky darkens for a moment. Someone has failed in an act of magic nearby.
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|-
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|-
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| colspan=5 | Magic in the Air
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The ravens croak and the sky darkens for a moment. Someone has failed in an act of magic nearby.
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|-
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| colspan=5 | Magic in the Air
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The ravens croak and the sky darkens for a moment. Someone has failed in an act of magic nearby.
 
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Revision as of 18:04, 29 September 2020

KeffaCity.jpg


The Cafe The Square The Roof The Kings The Street
Roleplay from Valian Stone Daubeny
Message sent to Everyone in Keffa
Valian gave the guard a withering gaze when he heard Yxevarii cry out in rage.

Valian stepped back and withdrew a horn into which he blew sharply, a loud sound resounded through the square and swiftly 25 men in glistening white armour came out of the Temple, golden shields in hand with long sliver glaives at the ready “Guard, tell your Lady Emilia that she is in Keffa, a holy city, an Obian City and that we will not tolerate a blasphemous ritual in her walls.”

By now the 25 soldiers had come to Valian’s side “Defend the Grand Inquisitor!” Valian ordered as he ran around to Yxevarii, he stepped into front of her rage filled charge “Grand Inquisitor, wait, you are too important to risk right now, let me and my men help you with this.” The last of that sentence was whispered to the Grand Inquisitor’s ear as Valian held his mace arm out defensively to hold her back, he admired her fervour, this was the first time he had seen her shout, but he wouldn’t let her fight alone. “Say the word and we are with you.”

The men in white armour formed around Valian and Yxevarii in a circle, golden shields locking together and glaives sticking out the cracks, ready to impale any who approached.
Valian Stone Daubeny (Knight of Ossmat)
Roleplay from Mulki Laraak
Message sent to Everyone in Keffa
By Order of the Prelate

She called out to one of the Inquisitorial guard who had been the picture of vigilance since she returned to the city: "Franklin, tell your Mistress to have the Soothsayer Polli hanged from the walls before the wretched woman causes a riot."

---

While Inquisitor Franklin makes his way down the seemingly-eternal sets of steps leading down from the Inner Sanctum, dozens of peasants have begun pushing and shoving toward Polli. At this point, Yxevarii's charge has slowed to a sluggish pushing-match as a veritable sea of stinking, unwashed peasants trample the temple square. Makeshift clubs, shivs, stools, and even empty tankards are thus wielded, the fools beating one another about as often as they attempt to overrun the blasphemers' positions. Nearby, the anti-heretical bloodlust has begun to infect unrelated events. Adventurers are accosted and shoved by drunken fools looking for an excuse to fight, Templars drag bloodied peasants to jail by the dozen, and Inquisitors try their best to blend in while struggling to reach their assigned targets - occasionally fighting off peasants who mistake them as foreigners or adventurers themselves. All it took was one bloody word for the entire thrice-damned city to go up in flames. Figures.

Chaos descends as the most fervent of the masses begin pushing against Lady Emilia's warriors, a tsunami of ineffectively-perfumed and often half-drunken partygoers enraged by Polli's blasphemous insult to their faith, holy city, and realm.

Even the Inquisitors and Templars nearby are overwhelmed by the tide. Panting and pushing against the human wave, the Grand Inquisitor sighs angrily. None can hear her comments over the din of screams, thumping of makeshift shields, and clashing of steel.

"DAMN IT! Why'd you have to go and - BY ORDER OF THE, OH F UCK OFF!- say that... Lucky if there's enough - OUT OF MY GODDAMN WAY YOU INBRED CURS! - limbs to piece together a corpse - MOVE YOUR ASSES! - when this is all over..."

Mulki stood there smiling, when a group of uptight peasants sauntered over and began looting one of the wagons. Another three approached from behind intent on manhandling Mulki and Dolores, when suddenly one of them grabbed Mulki herself. Confused, Mulki struggled against her captor while screaming, "HELP! FRANDS! BAD MAN!"
Mulki Laraak (Commoner of Obia' Syela)
Roleplay from Yxevarii Auru'in
Message sent to Everyone in Keffa
The Riot Guard had come home to roost. Just in time, too.

Shields pushing against the mass of bodies before them, Valian's men pierce that drunken, gelatinous blob of idiocy in time to free the Grand Inquisitor.

"Valian! Bloody f uck, we have to stop this madness! Grab Polli before the damn peasants burn Keffa to the ground, and end up killing a bloody Royal or every damned one of us for that matter!"

Would be surprising if he managed to hear anything more than scattered words, like:

"Bloody... stop... madness... polli.... burn... Keffa... kill.... bloody... royal... damn... us..."
Yxevarii Auru'in (Grand Inquisitor of Obia'Syela)
Roleplay from Duncan Blackstone
Message sent to Everyone in Keffa
Duncan was drunk, not just from the wine but the sheer weight of magic he felt, he walked onto the street and smirked at the crowd assaulting some poor sods in the Temple Square, he heard a shout and looked to his right, he saw two women being manhandled by some ruffian looking fellows.

Duncan swigged the last of his wine and marched over, “Oi, ya f uckeads piss off and leave the girls alone.”

The three men laughed and continued their disgusting handling, Duncan drew his shortsword and hand crossbow, he levelled the crossbow and fired, causing the one who was holding Mulki to fall back dead with an arrow in his eye, Duncan breathed in deeply, his eyes beginning to glow a bright red, he felt the alcohol leave his system, his head was clear and Duncan smiled cruelly “Leave or I will slit you two from balls to brains.”

The two ruffians backed up, one pulled out a cudgel and charged Duncan, who just dodged to the side and with a swipe of his shortsword left the ruffian headless as his ugly head rolled across the floor, that was enough for the last to run off, Duncan thought about firing his crossbow again but didn’t bother, not worth the energy, he walked over to Mulki and Dolores “Evening Ladies, you two alright?”
Duncan Blackstone (Commoner of Thalmarkin)
Roleplay from Valian Stone Daubeny
Message sent to Everyone in Keffa
Valian nodded, getting the gist of Yxevarii’s orders, he turned to Captain Tomasa and Lieutenant Haydrian “Get Yxevarii our of here, find Vivian and Elizabeth and get them all to the Temple, NOW!”

Valian and his remaining 23 men broke from their shield circle and began to push their way towards Polli.

Tomasa and Haydrian ushered Yxevarii back and out of the square “Sorry Mistress but we have to keep you safe, we must find Vivian and Elizabeth, and get you and them to the temple.”

Valian swing his mace at any who got in his way, he could almost see the Vordulians and Polli, his men were with his, lashing out with glaives it maxes of their own.
Valian Stone Daubeny (Knight of Ossmat)
Roleplay from Emilia Delamoire
Message sent to Everyone in Keffa
Shadow's Blight, the armed regiment of archers that surrounded Polli and Lady Emilia tightened shoulder to shoulder.

"HOLD!" Emilia commanded.

"Do not let them through, but do not land the first blow!"

Though all thoughts went to unleashing the rain of arrows Emilia knew that the first blood drawn would erupt into more chaos, and one her small unit would not fair well in.

The large figure of Captain Brictilda came into view with her large shield raised to protect Lady Emilia.

Emilia shouted backwards at Polli,

"I'm not sure what you are doing but whatever it is, do it quick!" The young Lady Emilia urged the woman.

If Polli's intent was to get them all killed, she was doing a great job so far.
Emilia Delamoire (Dame of Pel Mark)
Letter from Saoirse MacArbin
Message sent to Everyone in Keffa
Luto, I have no quarrel with any being here in Keffa at this time, so long as they respect that this is, foremost, a rite of the Heralds of Obeah.
Saoirse MacArbin (Grandmistress of Obia'Syela, Duchess of Amen Obeah)
Roleplay from Gustav Kuriga
Message sent to Everyone in Keffa
The Guard of the Golden Feather would begin their march on the city, attempting to breach it or find a way in, in an attempt to stop all the rituals and destroy the portal stones currently in use. They are outnumbered, but will fight with a zealotry of men who die to destroy a threat to the entire continent.
Gustav Kuriga (Ambassador of Vordul Sanguinis)
Roleplay from Viviane
Message sent to Everyone in Keffa
Viviane nodded to Valian, "Yes, that is where the column emanates from, that is where I must go. I would appreciate your continued protection."

A turtle sauntered down the road.

Hearing conflict in the square, Viviane yet again retreated to shelter with Elizabeth, this time finding a coffeehouse down the road in which to wait out the hostilities. Even so, animals that had followed Viviane from Ossmat, Mekoter, and Zwering mingled around Viviane, inside and outside the coffeehouse.
Viviane (Adventurer)
Letter from Training Match
Message sent to Everyone in Keffa
Valian Stone Daubeny, Knight of Ossmat meets his challenger Yxevarii Auru'in, Grand Inquisitor of Obia'Syela, Royal of Obia'Syela, Margravine of Ossmat, Priestess of Heralds of Obeah for the agreed training match.

Both participants are using the 'defensive' strategy, so that neither has an advantage.

After a series of blows, Valian Stone wins the training match.
Training Match (Event)
Letter from Fiorina Margaretener
Message sent to Everyone in Keffa
The former Steward of Wudenkin and Marshal of the Golden Southern Legion ordered her handful of guards to take aim on the one-armed historian only, her former Liege. She held no grudge against him, even liked the man, but for the sake of the current hour it was her arrow that wounded the Disciple of Xlair Silverblade.
Fiorina Margaretener (Dame of Zwering)
Roleplay from Jecht Tideweaver
Message sent to Everyone in Keffa
Several scores of heavily armed soldiers from the Shattered Vales now protect the square where Emperor Jecht and Dolores are performing their ritual. This includes the Emperor's personal royal guard. None but Dolores' procession, adventurers, soldiers, and nobles of Obia'Syela, and the Shattered Vales are being permitted access. Those who did not fall into one of these categories have been escorted away from the square.
Jecht Tideweaver (Emperor of Shattered Vales)
Roleplay from Valian Stone Daubeny
Message sent to Everyone in Keffa
Valian had reached the Vordulian soldiers, he and his men were close they formed shields around their commander, forcing the rioting peasants back “Lady Emilia, stop this madness, surrender the blasphemer or me and my men will attack.”

Valian did not get a response before armed men rushed into the square swinging wildly, Valian turned his men and they rushed to hold thee new foes back.

Elizabeth had hidden in the old coffeehouse with Vivian, she could feel it, the fighting, the magic, all of it, conflicting tunes that turned melody to cacophony and she began to cry, she felt something in her veins burn, like the hot metal that left her left arm scarred from her first wound.

She didn’t notice that her eyes were no longer the teal they were before but shining golden orbs, her sobs echoed as if another voice cried within her.

Without warning golden energy arced from Elizabeth’s back, reaching out like lightning, striking glass and animal, a bolt brushed against Vivian.

Elizabeth felt it all swirling in her, the cacophony, the chaos, it hurt her head and heart, her soul wretched in pain and she screamed.

The scream was loud, it cracked and in some cases broke the glass in the coffeehouse, even to those outside the coffeehouse and even in the temple square itself could feel the shockwave of energy that resonated from the girl.

Elizabeth shook on her feet as the energy stopped spewing from her, she stumbled and then fell towards the floor, blacking out.
Valian Stone Daubeny (Knight of Ossmat)
Roleplay from Yao Ling Pryde
Message sent to Everyone in Keffa
"I will always be ready to fight the Daimons," Yao Ling said with a smile.

Then a procession of cats crossed in front of her and she turned to follow, intent of where they intended to lead her.

And what exactly the voices from the light were saying.
Yao Ling Pryde (Sophos of Nothoi)
Roleplay from Saoirse MacArbin
Message sent to Everyone in Keffa
Saoirse had been spending her time deep in the temple, where the ritual had taken place. Pacing, going through her sword forms, anything to occupy her body so her mind was free to think. Her troops had been patrolling the city, and Tayla had been reading her correspondence to her in between her meditations, but for the most part she had been trying to understand what was happening. And, unfortunately, failing.

So when she received word that the army of the Vales was arriving, and Jecht wanted to meet, she gave word to bring him to the temple happily. Some good news was a welcome distraction, and maybe Jecht had more information to help untangle all of this.

She grinned at his approach, and gave him a quick embrace, rapping her knuckles on the back of his armour before taking a step back.

"Fruit indeed! And it is good to see you, and the rest of your people. I think we will need all of them before this is over, one way or another."

Her grin turned wicked.

"And I would hope that it had to be resized! There are a few differences between how armour fits us, which I think we should explore this evening once you have settled in."

She held his eyes confidently. Soon, they would both have many and urgent duties to attend to, but for now...They might well die in the days ahead, and she would seize this moment.
Saoirse MacArbin (Grandmistress of Obia'Syela, Duchess of Amen Obeah)
Roleplay from Yao Ling Pryde
Message sent to Everyone in Keffa
Yao Ling had lost track of the penguins when the light from the tower turned black. But the polar bear walking down the street had been impossible to miss.

The voices emanating from the light had whispered louder at that moment, and Yao Ling followed the creature as it meandered through the market square.

She eventually ran into the new arrival Luto, who always seemed to know more about what was going on than was proper.

Luto leaned in and said, "Sophos Yao Ling Pryde,

"We must decide. Are we to begin the ritualistic work to welcome It to Nothoi or are we to kill the Others to stop them from completing the rituals before we have done so? We need at least Two Others alive to complete the rituals.

"For Nothoi."

Yao Ling cocked her head to the side and examined Luto for a long time. "What is It? Who are the Others? And why should we kill anyone here?"

She waved her hand at the polar bear who had stopped to eat some food someone had left. "Even the wild animals are friendly. Surely that means nothing but goodness and light comes from this event, yes?"
Yao Ling Pryde (Sophos of Nothoi)
Roleplay from Rosko Nabarl
Message sent to Everyone in Keffa
It wasn’t exactly hard to see the towering pillar of light, so Rosko and his troops had just kept heading towards is, small groups running off ahead to check on the easiest route.

Arriving where there was a lot of commotion, and apparently some rituals and such, a bit of a battle, some shouting, Rosko assumed this must be where everyone was gathering, and had his men at ease, but ready to go.

A group came along to try to escort them away from the area, to which the soldiers snapped to attention as Rosko sent them on their way. He would not be leaving here now, he was here to see what was going on, and destroy and daemons if they appeared.
Rosko Nabarl (Margrave of Vatrona)
Roleplay from Yao Ling Pryde
Message sent to Everyone in Keffa
Yao Ling stopped when the wild stag looked at her. It turned towards the temple of Daishi that still stood in the center of the city and began to plod that way.

Yao Ling followed as the voices from the light seemed to grow stronger for a moment. Then they faded away as the local soldiers began to escort people out of the square.

Yao Ling moved closer to the stag and it walked straight into the temple complex without deviating in any direction. Only when they were inside the walls did the stag stop and turn to look at her once more. Its expression was expectant.

Yao Ling turned her head to see the Obian soldiers clearing the square and waved one of the temple acolytes over.

"Please get this fine fellow some food," she ordered. "He has done me a great service today."

Then she walked up onto the walls to see what she could see.
Yao Ling Pryde (Sophos of Nothoi)
Roleplay from Godfrey Greybrook
Message sent to Everyone in Keffa
Losing himself in the fevour, Godfrey fell onto both knees and placed the Goblet, now filled with blood. Then, taking a scroll out of his satchel and rolling it out before him, the Prophet began to cite his sermons, hoping the sworn would hear him and that that while the portal was made from Heraldic energies, the true champion of humanity would use it to shape the future of all whom occupied the city of Keffa, the unholy birthplace of Obeah, for the better.
Godfrey Greybrook (Ambassador of Vordul Sanguinis, Priest of Vordulism)
Roleplay from Emilia Delamoire
Message sent to Everyone in Keffa
Emilia was hard pressed as the wave of Obian soldiers and peasants rushed her units as they attempted to protect Polli and her ritual.

The sound in the vicinity went from a dull roar to a cacophony of unrest as battle rung out in full force.

Disadvantaged due to her short height, Lady Emilia couldn't see anything, but drew a short sword and looked out in a panic.

"EMILIA! They are attacking!" Yelled Captain Brictilda.

Emilia, seeing only the peasants throwing stones and anything they can find at her troops while the Obian troops pressed forward with shields.

"I can see that!" She responded loudly.

"NO, Lord Gustav us Attacking!!!" Brictilda yelled back, thrusting out her shield and deflecting an arrow that sailed toward Emilia.

"WHAT!?!" She screamed back in response, clearly surprised at the unexp ected action from the sponsor of the Golden Southern Legion.

From that moment on, things became complete chaos. The young noble woman knew that those defending the city from Lord Gustav would soon not discern the difference between the rogue Lord Gustav and her troops.

"POLLI! DO WHATEVER IT IS YOU NEED TO DO AND DO IT NOW!" Emilia shouted as she half ran half crawled through the mayhem to kneel on the ground next to Polli and her ritualistic drawing.
Emilia Delamoire (Dame of Pel Mark)
Roleplay from Aelanta Peregrine
Message sent to Everyone in Keffa
This one house overlooking the market square seemed somewhat out of place here. It had heavily reinforced walls, windows fortified with thick iron bars. It's only door was a square chunk of metal, size-wise best fit for a dwarf. It looked like a disguised fortress and it sure was one.

Aelanta remembered very well how this old manor was turned into a mini-citadel. It was her uncle's project, back when he served Eldest Wilhelm of Grehkia and they resided in Keffa. He always expected a dagger in his back, her uncle. And he eventually got it, but not in a manner that he could have protected himself from. Such is the irony of life.

Aelanta was looking out of the third floor's barred window as the ruckus in the streets was getting more intense. First nobles clashed and now the peasants showed up with improvised weapons. There will be blood soon. Was it a part of the ritual? She looked up, over the roofs, and immediately saw the pillar of light connecting the sky with the local temple. It was absolutely terrifying.

"I am scared, my lady," Petra, one of her amazons, blurted out, as if having read her lady's own thoughts. Aelanta turned around and eyed the three women from her retinue who were present in the room. Young Petra and Helena were on duty, guarding their lady's chambers. Septinia, her captain, has just returned from a patrol bearing the news: Rogue, Aelanta's own wildcat, still was nowhere to be found. Truth be told, one of the main reasons Aelanta was here was to find Rogue, who ran away along with countless other beasts following the pipers to Keffa. Septinia also brought in fresh correspondence.

"It seems that we have a choice before us on whether to work together to see the ritual through, or to turn on each other in a bloodbath to stop it." Aelanta read aloud. Her skin crawled when she reached the word "bloodbath". When she raised her eyes from the letter, she noticed that all three other women were looking out of the window. Their eyes reflected various emotions, ranging from fear to anger.

"I think it calls my name," said Petra, her gaze transfixed on the pillar of light. Her voice sounded almost desperate. "It also says something I can't quite get. But in my dreams I can remember it all and it scares me so much I wake up. And then I immediately forget it again."

"It says I will die here." Helena added in her husky voice.

Aelanta shivered and looked out of the window once more. The mob was still in motion, like a stormy sea. It moved according to some secret patterns, it seemed. Each man and each woman were like chess pieces on a board. Being positioned carefully by powers that be to start the good old game where only one colour wins in the end.
Aelanta Peregrine (Dame of Firbalt)
Roleplay from Phelan Dragonborn
Message sent to Everyone in Keffa
Phelan had watched from a doorway in amusement as a beautiful woman, he found out later it was Yao Ling Pryde, collected, fed, and even followed the many creatures who had been drawn to Keffa. Being a humble commoner, he would never approach her. He looked around and saw many nobles from many realms. He of course knew Emperor Jecht of the Vales. The Emperor had been speaking to Grand Mistress Saoirse. Yxevarii looked to be having a good time, though her bottle was running dry. Phelan watched it all and pondered the pipers all of which were asking if their lords wanted to selfishly keep "It" solely for their own realms by killing all the rest or if they were inclined to work together and share whatever "It" was. He hoped this gathering of almost all the realms of BT which had the feel of a carnival or a baudy celebration would turn into the bloodiest battle this island had ever seen,
Phelan Dragonborn (Commoner of Shattered Vales)
Roleplay from Antonia Fitz Roberts
Message sent to Everyone in Keffa
Antonia had been enjoying a few quiet days in the parlour of her estate, drinking wine and playing cards with her companions, Jessica curled up at her feet. She had left the balcony doors open behind her and her ladies occasionally flinched at the sounds of whatever was occurring outside.

"My lady, should we not..." Rosie had asked more than once, but had been silenced for the third time by Antonia holding up her hand and saying 'Eponine, I'll raise you 40 gold and this tiara'

In the end Rosie had given up. Afterall, her mistress deserved a rest, she had spent the last month and a half traipsing all across the realm inspecting granaries and mills, discussing theology with minor prelates and addressing large crowds of commoners, convincing them to come under the guidance of the one true Faith. The beating she had received at the hand of Daishi followers had hurt her pride more than her body, although the broken clavicle was still very sore. Rosie knew that Antonia had been tempted to raise the banners once again and conduct a personal crusade against the unfaithful. Why she had not was anyone's guess

It had been many days since all this mess in Keffa had started and Antonia had not looked out of the window once. At that moment, however, a messenger boy was shown into the room and coughed to try and get Antonia's attention. Antonia looked up, curious. The boy was clearly not a member of her own household, for one thing he was male and for another his livery was frankly ghastly.

"What is it?" she asked, pouring another glass of wine, before thinking better of it and downing the bottle.

"erm, we have reports that the Grand Inquisitor could use your assistance" the boy stammered

Antonia smiled sweetly at that "well, surely then she can have her little pet heretic deal with the crisis" "erm, m'lady, I don't think that Valian is technically a hereti.....ouch!!!" the boy yelped, having had an ashtray flung at his face. He began sobbing at the blood ran down his nose onto his livery.

"Relax boy, a broken nose will do much to improve your visage and that livery was already ruined before you had blood on it" she turned to Rosie "I am going to go and see what all the fuss is about, it's been very loud. Quite inconsiderate, when you think about it, trying to have a relaxing bath with all those flashing lights, height of rudeness. Never wanted anything to do with this blasted thing in the first place, but I guess even the grand prissy prude needs a hand sometimes for one 'so crude and vile' as me. Fetch me a bottle, I'm going out"

"Shouldn't some of us go with you?" Rosie asked, "there's rioting in the streets, some say, and..."

"I am quite capable of protecting myself, besides Jessica is coming with me" she glanced down at her food stained priestly vestments and looked over to the two stands in the corner. One held a second set of robes, carefully cleaned by the household servants. The other bore the weight of her scarlet armour, the snarling fox mask glaring at her. No need for any of that, and certainly no point changing. Riots were messy affairs and blood went rather well with curry. "See you in a jiffy, do wait up, I want to finish the game later. Actually sod it, pack away, Eponine is cleaning me out"

She clicked her fingers for the cat to follow her, picked up from a bowl what she thought was an apple, spat it out and cursed Vahannian for leaving yet another onion in her fruit bowl. Grabbing an actual apple, she swiftly went down the stairs, across her well-maintained courtyard and out the side gate. She strolled along the canal, gazing in curiosity at all the hub bub going on around her.

"Oh do piss off" she said absentmindedly as a man sidled up to her, pushing him into the canal. "Not as good as Rines" she muttered, "look, it's nowhere near deep up enough, he's cracked his head on the bottom. He'll drown now, isn't that a shame Jessy?" She sauntered off down the street, biting into her apple and humming a merry tune before switching into a bawdy song that made some merchant's wives blush

She pushed her way through the Vales soldiers, vaguely wandering what the hell they were doing here. Some tried to stop her, but seeing the cat and the dagger in her belt, plus the look in her eyes, they obviously thought better of it. At last, she found Yxevarii. Tapping her on the shoulder, she remarked casually, as if talking about the delightful weather we'd been having

"I understand there's a spot of bother you need a little hand with?"
Antonia Fitz Roberts (Grand Chancellor of Obia'Syela, Dame of Keffa, Priestess of Obeah)
Roleplay from Kristina Chamberlain
Message sent to Everyone in Keffa
She hadn't truly recovered from the ritual to create the pillar as yet... containing the magics had taken an effort of will that was far beyond what she thought was possible, now guests of the Kingdom sought to denature and destabilise it... she could not allow it to happen.

She had spent the days in prayer, praying for strength, praying for the edges of the Goddess power to protect her work. Even sleep had been no respite as the pillar called to her, literally pulling her toward it. She woke unrested and tired in the depths of her soul.... now there were constant reports from the faithful of blood magic being practiced in the Holy city, daimonologists plying their crafts...

She felt the void in her soul like a gnawing hunger, while at the same time feeling nauseated. It had taken a huge effort even to light the braziers at Ossmat and now she trembled on the verge of exhausted tears. The temptation to pull from the pillar was there, but so was the potential for the pillar to pull back and consume her.

Pulling back the veil she shooed the inquisitors as she mounted the stairs and pulled herself up to the balcony at the crest of the Temple, she had preached to the masses from here on many occasions reaching the ears and minds of thousands at a time.... never though had the square thronged with so many crammed and teeming through the marketplace.

Despite her protests a pair of Inquisitors appeared at her sides eyes vigilant looking for threats... gripping the balustrade she accepted the wave of blinding pain as she allowed her eyes to truly see... the faith was awash, vibrant and shimmering as an ever expanding bubble across the city... then she saw it, her ears tuning until she could hear the husky invocations of the Vordulist. She had never thought of blood magic as a reality, but she could see the creeping stain of his invocation rising and seeping toward the pillar. Invoking the Goddess she pulled on the thread if his words and intent, feeling the spell as she pictured it being wrapped around a spindle.

The bitter taste of his magics filled her mouth and she tried with limited success to change its nature to the primal energy that she herself was so lacking. It writhed within her unnaturally and she sought its release almost as quickly as she had absorbed its potency. Her eyes normally the golden hue of the Obean workings, were streaked the crimson of the blood priests as she extended her will to the east, a spiritual self shutting and barring the doors of the temple, magically sealing them.

His magic made her feverish, shaking with its casting and the need to evacuate it from herself.

But she needed more, there were pockets of alien workings across the square and the market place and she pulled on them all, feeling their alien quality like the whispers one would hear in the woods or in an unfamiliar house.

The pressure was much but she could not be allowed to fail. Slamming the doors of the northern corridor left her barely standing. Then she saw it, a flare of golden energy from one of the coffee houses near to the Temple, distraught she could feel the child's soul howl as Obeah used her as conduit, and Kristina once more set to harnessing the primal fire. It entered her outstretched hand and she felt with satisfaction, as the child went limp, sleeping a restorative sleep... the burn of the fire quickly devoured the alien magics, once again lighting her eyes golden. The air felt cool around her and as the pressure dropped she could see the play of golden lightning arcing between fingers and along her hair. How the child had held so much energy she would never know, more than fifty years of training and she could barely restrain the power as it surged and discharged in its tiny arcs.

As the burning fires both fed and devoured her she imagined once again how it would be to enter the column of light...
Kristina Chamberlain (Baroness of Zwering, Priestess of Obeah)
Roleplay from Angyll
Message sent to Everyone in Keffa
Somewhere deep within the dungeons of Keffa sat a thin man with hair of such light platinum blonde that it looked nearly silver. A strong jaw line and high cheekbones made his alabaster face appear almost carved from marble.

Set symmetrically on either side of a thin bridged nose, were eyes which too were so light a shade of grey they also appeared silver.

And in those eyes, chaos swirled.

With fingers curled as if in extreme pain he clutched at his head, screaming at the top of his lungs in his dungeon cell.. a cell so deep and so far back that it was meant only for the truly lost causes, horrible criminals, and the insane.

Angyll was all three.

The humming sound tore into his psyche, the madness on the streets bled through the sewers and stone into the dungeon beneath. And so terrible was Angyll's blood curdling scream that soon a guard could be heard running down the hall with "THUD THUD THUD" of metal boots.

"Quiet in there!" the frustrated guard said, clearly angry at being at such a post with so much going on outside.

Angyll screamed all the louder, clawing at the wall and slamming his head into the stone, his head careening back with blood spraying into the air.

"What in the!" the guard shouted in surprise, fussing with a ring of keys at his hip, finally finding the right one as Angyll fell onto his back in the cell.

The iron door creaked open and the guard rushed in, reaching for a black cudgel at his hip to beat this man into quiet.

Angyll's eyes snapped open again after the daze of smacking his head on the stone, and launched in almost inhuman capacity from the ground. Within seconds, he was on the guard like maggots on a corpse, clawing, biting, hitting.

As the guard fell backward off balance, he hit the ground beneath the madman. Angyll grabbed the open faced helmet in both hands and slammed it over and over and over again into the ground. "CLANG CLANG CLANG".

When he was done.. the head within was caved in, the look of shock and horror locked into the dead guard's face.

"High, Low, High Low, over the dead guard I must go." Angyll chimed in a sing song voice as he stripped the keys from the belt.

"What should we do with you silly mortal," he asked himself as he walked down the hallway with a big smile on his face, the silver eyes aswirl.

"What a silly question for a silly mortal, of course of course, we go to the portal!"
Angyll (Commoner of Obia'Syela)
Roleplay from Moira
Message sent to Everyone in Keffa
"I must be a bloody fool for getting involved in this nonsense a second time," Moira offered her hand to Reia, helping the former paladin pull herself onto the temple parapet from the neighbouring guard barracks. It had taken considerable stealth and ingenuity to slip thus far into the temple complex without being seen, but for the woman who in her youth had established the Fontan Bureau of Irregular Warfare such feats of infiltration came naturally.

"The Queen commands," for a moment her companion doubled over, panting to catch her breath, "and we obey."

"Aye, well if Aibhlidhn were just my Queen she could get someone else to do this. You know how I feel about sorcery," Moira lifted the flap on her satchel, counting the egg-like stones within to ensure they were all present.

"And I know how you feel about family," Reia took a sip from her water flask and offered it to her companion, not needing to go further with the allusion.

The two women bore the signs of many adventures, tempered like fine steel on the anvil of adversity. Reia's grey braids were dressed with ribbons and feathers, her body clothed in thick hides and strung with talismans of Darton and the other saints of The Flow, her frame drawn by age and an aesthete's diet. She'd long since foresworn battle for the life of a healer and bore no weapons, not even a staff or rod to support her.

Moira was a stark contrast, the raven tresses of the former Supreme Justice of Fontan barely touched by winter frost despite her long and eventful life, her face at once enticing and devastating, smooth and irresistable as the ocean ice. When she smiled it was breathtaking like the summer sun reflecting from the ice fields of the far north. Her armour was a motley of leather straps and silken cloth, drakeskin and silksteel from the unforgiving volcanic peaks of the Nightscree, and she was armed with sword and axe and knife and bow. Weapons proofed against Elf and Man, Troll and Revenant, Zuma and Daemon. Heirlooms ensorcelled by her legend.

"This probably won't work," Moira stoppered the canteen, tossing it back to Reia, and began making her way across the jumbled architecture of the Temple of Obiah, it's massive bulk concealing them from view below. They'd reach their destination, the centre of the circle of light, without any awkward interference.

"It worked in Gethsemene," Reia didn't sound entirely convinced, though none could deny the portal had been closed.

"Did it? Was it the stones which did the job, or all that goat filth Bloodscreamer Thesseus dumped in the portal?" the memory of that stink remained with them both even after so many years had passed. "Were I a Lord of the Nether I'd have shut the portal just to put an end to the stink!"

They shared a hearty laugh, the kind common to warriors who know only luck has kept them alive so long.

"Aye, well. We're a long way from home M'lady," there was a resigned tone in Reia's voice. A recognition that home in the strictest sense no longer existed.

"I'm painfully aware of that," they reached the pinnacle of the dome and set about the serious task of laying the portal stones in the correct alignments. Of all the magics practiced this was by far the most dangerous, seeking to close a portal to the High Firmament. Moira had never really paid much attention to the deeper mysteries of her faith, relying on Reia's knowledge when needed, but she knew enough to understand that beyond the safety of the ethereal roads lay the fiery abode of the Daemons and only a portal could reliably reach these. Whilst the paladin was an acolyte and by the standards of these later ages an adept, her wisdom was that of an infant compared to a matured Balancewalker. A single mistake in the alignments and they may not draw breath to regret it.

Not for the first time in their travels, Moira longed for the company of her sister Brigdha. Still, if the alignments were true and the tides of the Flow favourable, they might yet seal the portal.

Of course what Moira didn't know - indeed what very few even suspected - was that there was another closer to hand who waxed stronger in the ancient arts with every passing moon...
Moira (Commoner of Ar Agyr)
Roleplay from Kristina Chamberlain
Message sent to Everyone in Keffa
"I knew Brigdha.... she had the good sense to fear me a little, a shame one who shares her stench does not share her wisdom..." Kristina's skin waxed a similar gold to her eyes, the barely contained energies she had absorbed giving her skin a glow like a wax doll in the firelight.

She stepped from the doorway to confront the two women. "A little old to be scurrying on rooftops don't you think?" Her body felt weightless, like she was walking on air, sure-footed and more secure in her sense of self than she had been for years.

"What you are thinking is pure folly... understand a ritual before you would seek to disrupt it." She sighed, "the column is not strictly a portal, more intact it is a prison, trapping the will, the intent and indeed the magic of sixteen others.... you would truly wish to remove such a guard?"

The wind caught at her hair, sending golden bolts along the ends lifting gently around her shoulders.

"These good gentlemen have watched your progress with interest... she listened to the air a second... Moira?... yes Moira... you now face a choice. Every ritual needs an insurance plan... your presence and those stones can be such a plan... or you can attempt to set your circle now.... and we shall see if you are faster than a crossbow bolt."
Kristina Chamberlain (Baroness of Zwering, Priestess of Obeah)
Roleplay from Moira
Message sent to Everyone in Keffa
"Then you didn't know my sister that well," Moira casually rested her palm on the pommel of Lannceann MacTiré, unimpressed by the power radiating from the woman before her, "So what's a maunt doing amongst these children?"

"Now probably isn't the time to stand about chatting," Reia tugged at Moira's sleeve, exasperation clear in her voice at the thought of battle as a sharp whine emerged from the fresh-placed stones.

"My companion makes a good point," Moira looked at the now pulsing circle of spinning stones, and as she did a column of light erupted from them, pulsing in counterbeat to that emerging from the temple chamber beneath, "the stones are set for good or ill and there's nought either of us can do to influence that."

The guardsman, already on edge from the proceedings below, were now visibly shaken and Moira doubted their crossbows would hit much they aimed for. A maunt though. What next? Haktoo? It was an idle thought, but mayhap there was more to this encounter than Moira had at first thought...
Moira (Commoner of Ar Agyr)
Strange Lights

A column of light shoots up into the sky from somewhere in Keffa, and there is a strange humming sound. Beasts behave bizarrely. Nothing else seems to happen...for now.

Roleplay from Kristina Chamberlain
Message sent to Everyone in Keffa
"You arrogant fool...."

The thrum of the stones produced a shade of the column already set by the ritual and as she watched the second column was pulled inexorably to the first, its power being absorbed.

"Controlling the column is difficult enough... this... this just makes everything worse. By Obeah, Moira... you understand the Flow better even than I. Look at it... I mean really look... this isn't a portal in any conventional way... what if you have just made a Daimon bridge and we have Jactosh taking control of the column? "

She had no way of converting so much energy, though the temptation to ensure a stable bridge from the new column to the old was strong... equally strong was the temptation to disrupt the circle, though how she would achieve this she wasn't sure. She could only hope that the second circle would fail, anything else carried a higher potential for disaster than anything.
Kristina Chamberlain (Baroness of Zwering, Priestess of Obeah)
Roleplay from Moira
Message sent to Everyone in Keffa
"The arrogance is in thinking a mortal can master such energies," Moira stood her ground, "when only the Hand knows which way the Balance tilts. If it be time for the Daemons to once more Invade then your dabblings alone will have been sufficient to open their way, and if not then all the portal stones in creation could be set and still it'd make no difference." "Honestly Moira, we haven't got time for this!" Reia was counting the rhythm of the stones, certain that at any moment they'd reach a critical crescendo.
Moira (Commoner of Ar Agyr)
Roleplay from Lambert of Arescod
Message sent to Everyone in Keffa
Mounted atop his destrier he oversaw these rituals that were happening under the Obia'syelians. He had not witnessed the great daemon invasions, he was simply too young for that. But his father had, and he'd grown up knowing that they could come at any moment. Father had been good at hiding them from the slaughter, but he made sure that he'd never see his sons or daughters see it happen again. To see this ... It was strange, to say the best. He expected it was not an event that happened here in Keffa that happened too often. He hardly believes it had happened at all, at least not eversince the last daemon invasion. But he wasn't sure. He needed to see someone almost twice his age to confirm that. He chewed on his moustache while seeing Fulco's men die. "He has the idea that we're summoning daemons." He said to his captain. Captain Reinolt replied with a shrug. It was not his duty, so he frankly did not care. "Pointless. But also not entirely untrue. It may very well be that we are indeed summoning them. Or making it easier for them to be summoned. Or the opposite." Captain Reinolt shrugged again, to which Lambert chuckled halfheartedly. "Let's hope this does not summon them."
Lambert of Arescod (Margrave of Lastfell)
Roleplay from Timsen Quasath
Message sent to Everyone in Keffa
As Timsen entered the city of Keffa he was welcomed by noise, lights, and general chaos. Quickly ordering his Slingers to peacebond their autobows, before the press of the crowd triggered violence, Timsen also ordered them to stay close and watch each other. In this mass of people there would be definitely be spies, thieves, murderers and more. It would be tragic if any of his troops were shanked in the throng and left behind.

As one mob of their own, Timsen and his troops squeezed into the streets and took in the sights. The marvels of Keffa were almost lost in the dust and impromptu shelters built by people denied a room in the overcrowded inns. As much as Timsen wanted to explore, though, there was the more pressing matter of the lights. So, like almost every other noble here, he pushed towards the event.

As he got closer, Timsen could hear his name whispered on the wind. Memories of daimons and their temptations to mortals came to his mind, and Timsen frowned. If everyone here could hear the voices, someone will be tempted.
Timsen Quasath (Duke of Providence, Margrave of Vozzessdor)
Magic in the Air

The ravens croak and the sky darkens for a moment. Someone has failed in an act of magic nearby.

Roleplay from Jecht Tideweaver
Message sent to Everyone in Keffa
The Emperor held Grandmistress' gaze. There had been some chemistry between the two for some time. Sparks had flown on his last journey to Keffa between the two, but Jecht had suppressed the urge to act out of courtesy to her station.

Her invitation was not unwelcome.

He returned her wicked grin.

"I would certainly be available for some ...exploring. I look forward to the evening."

He took her hand and planted a kiss on it. A courting custom of the south. Then flashed her a dazzling smile before taking his leave to seek out his piper.
Jecht Tideweaver (Emperor of Shattered Vales)
Roleplay from Yao Ling Pryde
Message sent to Everyone in Keffa
Yao Ling watched the column of light shift and undulate from atop the walls of the Temple of Daishi with the eyes of a woman who had seen such things many times in her years.

She had even been here in Keffa the last time it happened here. It was interesting. So much of Keffa was the same now as it had been then. But other parts were different.

Where the Obian temple now stood had been a crater then. Holding Daimons reportedly tamed by some otherworldly magic. Whatever the truth of that, they had stood silently as she approached the woman in the center of that crater. The founder of the religion who now sought to... what?

Repeat that? Reverse it? Do something different?

Yao Ling could not tell. There were many competing forces at work here. Even from within Obia.

The first was easy to see. The second competing push was there as well, winding around the first. A third? Maybe a fourth? Other magical attempts to change or break it popped up from all over Keffa. Some melded with it. Others fizzled out. Some met opposition.

Keffa was filled with magic in a way Yao Ling had not seen in years. Decades? Longer?

Keffa of course. Wudenkin, when the magics rained down so heavily they changed the very nature of magic everywhere. Reeds during the last Daimon Invasion when the power of magic literally erased them. And her hand. Before rebuilding it and giving an old woman the amazing young body she had now. Creasur, when the power of the gods shone from the Daishi and she harnessed that power to attack the Daimons again and again.

The magic flowed and intertwined here in ways that were... amazing.

Not entirely unprecedented, but certainly... amazing.

Yao Ling watched a line of large rats travel through the square, avoiding the legs of soldiers holding back those who were not allowed in. She wondered where they were going.

She hoped, whatever happened in Keffa, that the consecrations the lesser priests continued to perform even now inside the Temple of Daishi would hold. Would be enough. Or would not be needed at all.

That would be for the best, really.

She fingered the scrolls in her possession. She had brought many with her when it became time to make the journey. Scrolls of power. Some specifically designed to fight daimons wherever they appeared.

Others of more... interesting lineage. One she had kept for years, holding against the day when its magic would be required. She hoped now would not be the time she would need it.

Miracles from the gods were not something to call on when not needed. They did not always work the way you wanted them to, after all.
Yao Ling Pryde (Sophos of Nothoi)
Roleplay from Saoirse MacArbin
Message sent to Everyone in Keffa
Saoirse's grin stayed for a moment, before the shouts and screams from outside and a new humming sound broke through the moment. As Jecht made his way to his own people, she made her way to hers, finding Alberich's banner easily enough in the incipient melee around a Vordulian banner that she did not recognize. By the time she made it out of the temple itself, the brief battle with one of the Vordulians was finished, but another banner still stood in a standoff.

Her voice rang out.

"Nobles of Vordul, your Blood Regent has agreed to peace and our terms! Stand down, and we can work in peace for this day."

Alberich quickly rode to her as she mounted her own horse, speaking quickly and closely. Saoirse's face grew dark.

"This Polli who blasphemed against the Veiled Goddess will be cast out from Keffa and forbidden from its sacred environs on pain of death. If this ritual ceases, now, and no further blasphemy is offered, that will be all. Any further actions, however, will result in the sentence of death being delivered immediately."

She lifted her lance, the violet tip matching the armour of the Grandmistress, and her troops moved to meet up with the approaching Grand Templar's forces, and any other Obian or Valesfolk in the area.

"Stand down, and there need be no other deaths this day."

She could see another column of light from the corner of her eye, but whatever that was would have to be tended to by others, at least for the moment.
Saoirse MacArbin (Grandmistress of Obia'Syela, Duchess of Amen Obeah)
Magic in the Air

The ravens croak and the sky darkens for a moment. Someone has failed in an act of magic nearby.

Roleplay from Emilia Delamoire
Message sent to Everyone in Keffa
Lady Emilia stepped out from the wall of troops that stood in a protective formation around Polli.

Defiantly standing before the Grand Mistress, she responded.

"The Blood Regent has agreed to peace, not your right to execute one in my company."

Emilia pointed toward the pillar of light in accusation.

"I think we have bigger things to worry about, like the damned pillar of light shooting into the sky from the center of OBIAN lands, not Vordulian." The short woman shouted so her voice would carry to those in the square.

"I promise you that I had no part in Lord Gustav's madness, and my troops have not laid a single blow while defending against your attempts to apprehend this poor troubled woman." Emilia bluffed, laying down her short sword on the ground and holding up her hands.

"Now let's everyone just calm down and focus on what portal you are about to open into this world, and more importantly, what will be coming out of that portal."

Lady Emilia awaited a response, ready to step back within the human barrier if necessary. Her archers poised and at the ready, they would fall, but not before bringing a fair share of people with them.
Emilia Delamoire (Dame of Pel Mark)
Roleplay from Valian Stone Daubeny
Message sent to Everyone in Keffa
Valian and his men backed off from the Vordulians, forming around them shields and glaives ready.

When Valian heard Saoirse’s command he walked over and knelt before her, his men forming up behind him and joining him in kneeling.

“What is your order, Mistress.”

Valian looked nervously to the coffeehouse that he saw Elizabeth run to.

“May I ask for permission to retrieve Elizabeth and Viviane.”
Valian Stone Daubeny (Knight of Ossmat)
Roleplay from Saoirse MacArbin
Message sent to Everyone in Keffa
Saoirse looked to Valian first.

"Go, get them to the temple, and guard the approach."

Then back to the Vordulian noble, trusting that Vahanian needed nothing from her.

"I certainly have the right to expel anyone I so choose, Sanguinian. And so does the Duke here. The pillar is our affair, and while those who wish to observe are welcome to do so, interference will not be brooked. Stand aside."

She gave the signal to advance, spears pointed into the air rather than leveled, straight at Polli. If any got in their way, then so be it.
Saoirse MacArbin (Grandmistress of Obia'Syela, Duchess of Amen Obeah)
Roleplay from Emilia Delamoire
Message sent to Everyone in Keffa
The guards stand closer to the circle where Polli remains on her hands and knees. Emilia is joined by her Captain who holds a shield out protectively.

"HOLD MEN!" Emilia shouted to her troops, who tightened ranks as she stepped back within them.

"If they want to see a blood ritual, let's give them one. Everyone of you, encase the circle, if you die may your blood join in that Eternal. May your blood join with this circle of power!"

Shadow's Blight remained in a tight circle with bows leveled. From windows and roof tops her snipers watch in anticipating, ready to fire on their targets.

The troops will not fire unless struck first.

(OOC - should we pause eventually to allow Polli to respond? A lot has happened since her last RP.)
Emilia Delamoire (Dame of Pel Mark)
Roleplay from Yao Ling Pryde
Message sent to Everyone in Keffa
The column of light changed colors again, the magic shifted once more, another voice on the wind called her name, and Yao Ling blinked.

She shifted her attention to square below her and watched the Obian and Vordul troops standing off against each other.

She considered interfering for a moment, but the dies of fighting with weapons like that were long gone to her. She was a priestess. She fought with words and ideas now.

The Vorduls had long since made it clear they would not listen to her, and their campaign to destroy the Temples of Daishi, consecrated bastions against the threat of the Daimons, made their intentions towards her and her people even more clear.

Yao Ling shook her head. They had chosen their path.

She could do nothing for them at this time.

Yao Ling returned her attention to the glowing pillar and the magics roiling within it.
Yao Ling Pryde (Sophos of Nothoi)
Roleplay from Osgar Dacara
Message sent to Everyone in Keffa
Osgar finally arrived in the city and it was swarming with people.

Much to his excitement, the bars were also open.

Not paying attention to any strange happenings or the pretty obvious light beam, he decided to rest in the nearest pub.

His men and himself got comfortable until one finally dared to ask the question that was on everyone's mind the entire trip "Sir, why are we here exactly, if not for crushing in some skulls?"

Osgar pointed at a well curved bar maid who brought everyone some ale. Before taking his first sip, he mumbled:

"Who knows. Shut up and drink."
Osgar Dacara (Margrave of Sandefur)
Magic in the Air

The ravens croak and the sky darkens for a moment. Someone has failed in an act of magic nearby.

Magic in the Air

The ravens croak and the sky darkens for a moment. Someone has failed in an act of magic nearby.

Magic in the Air

The ravens croak and the sky darkens for a moment. Someone has failed in an act of magic nearby.

Magic in the Air

The ravens croak and the sky darkens for a moment. Someone has failed in an act of magic nearby.

Magic in the Air

The ravens croak and the sky darkens for a moment. Someone has failed in an act of magic nearby.