Ascending Legends

[Dragongal]

"A dark ley line, otherwise my father'd likely be here. Last one was a nature lay-line. I know what I said about killing around Addy, however, we need to stop their spell," she whispered, before unholstering her crossbow and taking careful aim. Click... thunk. The one she'd noted as the leader fell back with a bolt in their head - she hadn't had a clear shot of the cloaked woman, and wanted to keep her other crossbow full in case of an emergency. "I have Addy and the bitch, you get the other two! Remember, as little blood as possible." She said before drawing her borrowed sword and rushing forward, sliding on her greaves under one necromancer's swing, moving to the altar.

 

[BookWyrm]

The other three stopped chanting and looked up at their leader as he fell backwards, a bolt stuck in his face. "Run!", the second one yelled to the woman before the three turned to attack. One took a swing at Arryn, though she ducked under it. The woman slowly started coming to, herself being far into a trance to hastily come out of it. Dayn charged forward and leaped into the air, pouncing on one of the three left, tearing out his throat with his claws, looking up just in time to catch a downward cut across his face. Dayn yelped in pain. Obviously the blade wasn't silver, otherwise the person wielding it would be in trouble, but it still hurt. Dayn retaliated, catching the next swing before bringing his claws across the man's stomach before picking the man up and throwing him against a tree. The man slumped to the ground with a sickening snap.


One more. Dayn turned to see the last one standing, his blade shaking, as he finally charged with a half hearted yell. Dayn lunged, but right before he made contact the man disappeared, only to reappear behind Dayn. Dayn lurched forward with a howl as the blade came across his back twice. Dayn pivoted on his feet and caught the man's arm. He had jumped up with the intent of stabbing his blade into Dayn, who now saw the look of fear in the eyes behind the mask. Dayn let the man's momentum carry him into his open jaws. Remember, you can't bite unless you kill them. The crunch of bones in his mouth and the sudden explosion of blood in his mouth told Dayn that the man was dead. Dayn dropped the corpse before raising a fist and bringing it down on the man's head. Just to make sure.

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn finished untying Addy, then turned to the cloaked woman. She glanced at Addy and said, "Do not look. Cover your eyes and ears." Arryn leveled her sword, about to make a killing strike - despite what he'd said about not killing, she couldn't resist, even despite her stitches, nothing was going to stop her now. As the blade was about to hit the woman, the woman said something in the dark language, making Arryn pause. She stumbled back, mumbling, "Cad a rinne tú?" Arryn shook her head again, then plunged the sword forward, through the woman's chest. She stood holding the hilt, panting slightly, disoriented by the spell - whatever the spell was or was supposed to be. After a few moments, she looked to Dayn, and said, "Let's go home." She reached down and picked up Addy, gently saying, "It'll all be okay. I promise."

 

[BookWyrm]

<Leave her blindfolded. I don't want her to see me.> Dayn looked at Arryn, his wounded eye closed and his fur covered in blood. It took him no time to retrace his steps and leave the haunted woods and the forest behind. His adrenaline was still pulsing, though he could feel it slowly declining as he ran out of the woods and towards the city. Outside the gate a search party was forming, torches lit and spears glinting in the light. Dayn came to a stop near the road and let Arryn off. <Take her to them, I'll meet you back at the garden.> Dayn followed a secret path around the city and over the wall before sneaking the rest of the way back into the garden to wait for Arryn.

 

[Dragongal]

As Arryn had been carrying Addy, she could feel her start to shiver - perhaps from cold, perhaps from the whole ordeal. Arryn set her down and wrapped her in her cloak, keeping the hood over Addy's face. When Arryn noticed that she was still shivering, she quietly began to sing, an old Northern melody, soft and sweet, a very comforting song Arryn knew well. Arryn hadn't sung since the banshee attack - and it had been something she'd missed; she'd been a vrey good singer, though she'd always only sung discreetly, when working on sketched or potions, or comforting children. Arryn carried Addy toward the Guards, who caught sight of her instantly. The Brageland males were there, Japhet, Geoff, and Rasrik. Japhet saw her first and ran over, thanking her profusely and asking how it had been done. She explained that she'd jumped atop the carriage as it had pulled away, and so stayed hidden. She'd taken the Guard's sword because with the undead, she hadn't been sure if she'd need silver. The family thanked her profusely and offered to let her ride back to the inn - which she accepted.


Back at the inn, she was returned her cloak, and gave the guard his sword back; he admitted to having been quite startled when she took his weaponsbelt, not knowing who she was at the time. Addy had been taken straight to the Doctor. Once in her room, she slipped out and began another roof-run to the Elven garden, now with her pack and some clothes for Dayn. Her shoulder hurt terribly, as did her head, but she continued with her run. At one point, she skidded to the stop atop a roof, even falling back, having thought she'd seen a banshee in her path - but a few seconds later, the image was gone. She continued running, until she made it to the garden. "Mo chroi? I'm here. She's okay."

 

[BookWyrm]

Arryn came in to see Dayn on his knees. He suddenly raised up into a howl as the moon light fell onto his body. Suddenly a mist formed around Dayn, cloaking him from view for a few seconds before moving out in front of him, revealing Dayn in his normal wolf form. The mist then slowly formed into the shape of a white wolf baring the same wounds as Dayn. The two stood there for some time quietly before they both stuck out their right foreleg and lowered their head, their ears laying back in the proper wolven bow before the ghostly white wolf faded from sight.


Dayn turned around and looked to Arryn before slowly shifting back into his human form. This time though, Dayn was his usual self. Lean yet strong, just like he had always been. "Good. I'm just glad we were there to-" Dayn fell forward, his strength having been sapped from the whole experience.

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn rushed over to Dayn's side, kneeling next to him. She gently adjusted his position, then set down her pack and began sorting through it. She carefully picked out balms and solvents, then cleaned out the wounds on his back before gently applying the balm, then wrapping the bandages around him diligently. She was tempted to stitch one of the cuts, but decided that with his lycanthropy, just packing the cut would suffice before wrapping it. She laid his clothes out under him then rolled him over carefully, putting her cloak over him before beginning to treat the cut on his face. Not about to let that scar. Once that was done, she bandaged it carefully so he'd still have full vision, even using the last dregs of her mana to ensure there's be no risk of scarring and so she wouldn't have to bandage the whole side of his face. Arryn quietly sang as she worked, partly to keep herself awake and partly because it felt good after all this time.


Once she was finished with her medical work, she rooted through her pack for her blanket. As she did so, she heard her father's voice. "Arryn. I'm sorry I couldn't warn you sooner - I hadn't known. But even with them gone, there's some disturbance within the spirit plane - not within the afterlife mind, that's different. I cannot stay any longer - the spirit Guard will find me soon, as they do everyone eventually." He smiled wryly. "Though I doubt they'd hold it against one of their own. I'm going to find out more about what's happening, but you have to be careful, okay? I'll see if I can't find some way to tell you what I find out, but... don't count on it. I'm sorry. For everything." Arryn moved over to him and hugged him, with tears in her eyes. She knew he meant more than what had happened tonight. "I'm proud of you, Arryngale. Even after everything, you've still got a pure heart and a fighter's spirit. You picked a good man. I promise to check in on you when I can, but... I have a feeling things are about to get busy with the Guard. I love you, daughter. At least this time I can say good-bye." Arryn closed her eyes, hugging him tighter for a moment, before she opened her eyes to find that there was nothing there. She wiped off her eyes, smiling slightly before moving next to Dayn's side and curling up next to him with the blanket spread over both of them, her head on his chest, her shoulder aching, her stitches sore, but her heart content.

 

[BookWyrm]

As they slept in the garden a cool mist formed over and around them. Two ice blue eyes opened in the mist as a figure slowly formed. It stepped over and sat down above their heads as it looked down at the sleeping pair. The ghostly white wolf bent down and licked Arryn's face gently before whispering in her ear. Lay deep in rest under the moon's watchful gaze. Let her children's lullaby bring you peace, for tonight we watch over thee, Beloved Arryngale, who hath stolen the Wolf's heart. Love him dearly and true, for it is the way he loves you. The White Wolf leaned back and howled a peaceful song before fading into the mist again to keep watch as it had promised.


The morning sun kissed Dayn's cheek as it shone in through the mist. Dayn opened his eyes, blinking away the blur only to find that the mist was still around him. He smiled, knowing that presence. "Hello friend." Dayn reached up and felt of his face, just now realizing that he had been bandaged the previous night. Looking down at Arryn Dayn gently brushed aside stray strands of her hair before kissing her lips softly. "Suns coming up love, and we have a guest." As Arryn stirred the mist formed once more into the White Wolf before sitting down in front of them, awaiting Arryn to come around from her sleep.

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn opened her eyes, smiling to Dayn, before sitting up straight. First thing she noticed was her lack of exhaustion - she was tired, but her mana seemed full. She looked from Dayn, to the white wolf, then back to Dayn, giving him a rather confused look. She looked back to the wolf, and said, "I cannot claim to understand... however, I believe I should thank you."

 

[BookWyrm]

The wolf made a slight bowing motion with it's head. "I didn't understand it at first, the transformation into the white wolf, but now I do. This is the first Moon-Born, the Alpha, if you will. Ever so often one of the Moon-Born will receive his blessing, but there is always a purpose behind it, such as last night. When the purpose is fulfilled they return to normal." The White Wolf nodded, seeming to appreciate the explanation. Slowly it got up and walked forward. With each step though the grass neither bent now swayed, and the steps were silent. It stopped in front of Arryn and leaned forward, touching it's nose to her cheek before gently licking her and repeating on the other cheek before standing up and slowly bowing as the wind blew it and the fog away. "I don't understand him completely, but I suspect he will be watching us."

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn smiled to Dayn and said, "He won't be the only one. Turns out, Da's part of the spirit Guard." Arryn hesitated, then decided to outright tell Dayn, even if it might ruin his good mood. She reached out and brushed back his hair, beginning to heal his wounds with her magic. "He said that even after last night's escapade, things are still off in a bad way; we have to be careful." Arryn nuzzled lightly against his neck, and said, "But I'm sure we'll figure it out, we always do. Right?" In all honesty, she still felt a little bit off after last night's run-in with the necromancers, but t was nothing too bad. Arryn paused for a second, then sighed heavily, groaning. "I didn't provide an excuse for where you were last night. Should we say your wound troubled you again and you got backlash after i tried to heal you with low mana?"

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn leaned into Arryn's hand, closing his eyes and enjoying her touch. "I can only imagine, what with a necromantic cult and all. Which makes me wonder, what kind of ritual they were doing." Dayn sighed. "I guess that'll work as cover up, because I am not going to my parents with these wounds all over me. Perhaps, yes, I know. We need to go to the library in town. We'll have to get into the restricted archive, won't be a problem. There is an account on necromancy in there. It was written by an inquisitor, it should have the details we might need to understand what is going on. But first I say we take some time and relax. I think having the White Wolf wore me out."

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn focused more on healing him, noting that it was somewhat easier now that she had practice with his kind. She kissed him gently and said, "I can have you patched up by noon, if you don't mind having a little thin scratch on your back." She giggled and said, "If you like, I could get you into the restricted archive without anyone seeing. After a nap, of course. Back at the inn. You can wear my hood to hide your face."


(Feel free to timeskip to the library if you like)

 

[BookWyrm]

After a nice nap back at the Inn Dayn and Arryn dressed and left for the library. Despite how much fun it would have been, Dayn turned Arryn's offer down. "I'll take you up on it another time. Right now I feel like we need to get this done." Once back in the restricted section they began to peruse the isles looking for the book. Thankfully though it this portion of the library wasn't very large, and Dayn had the book within a few minutes. He flipped through it as he searched for one specific bit of info. When he found the page his jaw almost hit the floor. "They were trying to perform a ritual that would allow something dark a way into the area. It was a welcoming ritual, almost like some kind of barrier needed to be destroyed that would allow whatever it was to arrive. It doesn't say what exactly, but it does say that it must be performed on the point of a dark ley line in the area."

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn's eyes widened. She whispered, "Ironcrest." She quickly moved to his side to look at the page. "I didn't understand their language, but i heard them say Ironcrest, I didn't think of anything, I mean, why would I when I was hunting them down? There must be another ley-line there, gods.... does it say anything about it needing to occur in two places at once? If not.... Gods, they might have been welcoming two things."

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn looked over the book, carefully studying each line of text. "No, nothing about having to use two ley lines, only that it must be performed on one. Which would mean that they were trying to open a gateway for something here." Dayn looked up at Arryn, the slightest hint of terror on his face. "If there is another coven in Ironcrest, unless they were stopped they must have performed the same ritual last night."

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn nodded, then said, "We don't have time to waste, then. Tell your father to send a message via magic to ironcrest saying that we'll be there, snow or no, we're on our way." (Sorry for sorry post)

 

[BookWyrm]

"I wonder if that's what Rorik was wanting us to look into from the beginning. Get back to the inn and get everything prepared, I'll see about everything else." It took the better half of an hour for Dayn to get everything done. He had found the local cleric and sent a message to Ironcrest stating the situation and events before heading back to the inn to meet with Arryn. "Do we need horses or will it be faster to look into some other kind of transport?"

 

[Dragongal]

"Only other kind is spatial displacement magic; there's no river-route on our way. We'll take the merchant's path, just in case it did snow. It'll be faster that way anyway." Arryn pulled on her pack and glanced at him. "We still have to be careful... we might meet whatever they released on the road, and..." Arryn took his hand, and quietly said, "If-if something happens... I mean... with my vulnerability to mind-magic, and necromancers sometimes have mind-mages with them, or demons do their possession thing, if something happens... I'd rather I die than innocents. I don't want you getting hurt either. I love you, and I don't want to leave you, but... I know we'll most certainly meet up, eventually. "

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn frowned as he reached up and rubbed Arryn's cheek with his thumb. "I love you Arryn, with everything I am I love you. I made a promise to protect you and keep you safe, and I will not break it." Dayn leaned forward and kissed Arryn softly, savoring the taste of her lips. "No matter what happens, I will always be there beside you, and I don't plan on moving any time soon." Dayn smiled before wrapping his arms around her and spinning her into a dip before kissing her, taking some time to enjoy the intimate moment before standing her back up. "That was just because I really love kissing you."

 

[Dragongal]

"On that we agree," she said with a smile before pulling him into an embrace for a few seconds before letting him go. "Come on, we've got to go so we can make it to the pass before dark." Arryn was about to go, then paused and held her hand over her stomach, healing her wound. "Gods I love having mana back." She paused to remove her stitches, then finish healing, before nodding to him. "Let's get to the horses."

 

[BookWyrm]

As the walked out and prepared the horses Dayn found himself thinking back on the conversation they had about buying land and building a house together. Once all of this madness in Ironcrest finished we can look at the land then. If we buy and begin building while we are finishing up clearing Arryn's name we should have the home built by the time we return. Once they had finished packing the saddled up and left Riverbend for the Merchant's Path.


(I'll let you navigate us to a stopping point, Ironcrest or a camp, your choice)

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn halted the horses, saying, "Wonderful weather this evening," with a wry smile. It was cold, and a thin layer of snow was on the ground beside the roads. "We'll camp here. I'll cast a shield that'll keep heat in, if you'd be so kind as to start a fire." There was a copse of trees, under which was very little snow. After tying up the horses, she waited for Dayn, who had the tent and could make fires without flinching.

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn scavenged around for some dry fire wood, and maybe a couple of damp pieces to smolder for the night. After preparing the wood Dayn turned back to get the shelter pieces, focusing enough on lighting the wood so that when he turned around to start back towards the horse the fire sparked to life. Dayn heard the crackling and smiled, being quite pleased with himself for that.


Within a matter of minutes Dayn had the shelter and fire taken care of and was sitting against the tree trunk, Arryn in front of him as he massaged her shoulders. "You're a little tight from riding today, but it's nothing I can't handle."

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn closed her eyes, and quietly said, "And I am willing to bet that you are still tired after... yesterday. I wish we had been able to say good-bye to your family, and check on Addy, but... this is a bit of a pressing matter." She squirmed slightly and said, "Careful of the right shoulder blade, love... still kind of sore from wielding a sword." After a few more minutes, she leaned back against his chest, quietly saying, "Maybe eventually i'll be able to re-strengthen the muscles enough for swordplay again."