Fantasy The Endless Night - A Gothic Dark-Fantasy Roleplay [IC] [CLOSED]

[EdwardDewey98]

"Gæste..." murmurred Izold rather softly. "...Ever since the moon cast its cruel hex on the world, there's been a rise in the number of people who insist they've seen gæste. It's rather disturbing for us at the church, and the brotherhood of light. We know that the gæste exist, but most reports were nothing but folk stories and legends surrounding 'cursed' places."

The young priest seems to be lost in his own thoughts for a moment, before looking at Yanitsa and Asher with a smile. "I do not doubt that, at the very least, the thieves guild must know something. The question is if they want us to pay for that knowledge... At any rate, let us reunite with our companions." he said while raising one of his hands. A soft glow of holy light appeared in Izold's pale palm. The "miracle", as often called by those who do not practice the holy sacraments, caused the constables and nearby crowd of free folk to look at the priest with fascination.

Back in the tunnel, the hunter eyed the Vampyr for a moment, not buying the possibility of Valko being completely unaware of the activities of other Vampyrs. But he saved his words for later, for the Vampyr's request made sense. It'd be better to hear from the main witness in this case. The Goblin eyed Valko from head to toe, taking a deep, stressed breath before turning to the horde of glowing eyes behind him and calling for the name of the Rat Shepherd. After a few minutes, another Goblin came into the light emanating from Tremeurs lamp. This one was slightly smaller than the other, had hair covered by a leathery cowl, and, just like the Goblin speaker, her clothes had holes in them but were rather clean. Resting on her shoulder was a small, infant rat, and she held another in her left arm, which she gently stroked while looking up at Valko.

At first, the Goblin seemed to be friendly. Its wide, toothy grin gave an air of confidence to the small creature, but upon locking eyes with the Vampyr, the Goblin held the rat on her hands rather tightly as her eyes widened. "Lief l'rd, thou art a vampyr. A vile blood!" she asked with fascination, only for the Goblin speaker to glance at her. "Nev'r seen a vampyr!" she claimed with a her wide, toothy smile. "Thou art looking f'r those two wer? Vile... vile creatures..." she said while lifting the rat on her hands. Her eyes meeting with the dark eyes of the rodent. "Is yond not true? Vile... evil knaves! dresseth in gold, silk and silv'r... Throwing little childer... Who is't couldst kill an innocent childer?"

As the Goblin talked, Fulstan, Cecilia, and Octavia looked at the mask. Now on the hands of the Gitovan, she began looking at the details. The more she looked into the mask, a few glimpses of her past began to appear in her mind. Memories of beautiful dresses and colorful masks. She snapped back to reality as Cecilia pondered about the possibility of the two men seen by the Goblin were simply accomplices for someone else. She looked back at the mask, studying its features carefully. It was excellent craftsmanship, and it's details were breathtakingly beautiful. There was a coat of arms in the center of the mask, similar to the royal lion of the Empire of Volkmar. A hint of the origin of either its creator or the patron who ordered it. Using the little light coming the lamp on the ground, Octavia showed the details on the mask to Fulstan and Cecilia.

Just as Izold and the rest of the group arrived at the scene, the Goblin rat shepherd raised her little pet. The one it so lovingly stroked. The dark eyes of the rodent met with Valko's as it's strange owner spoke. "Me own sweet lass. I did search f'r her. Little lady did see what i couldst not seeth... Rats seeth what w'r and w'rhel cannot seeth... but we can seeth it in their eyes... and thou can seeth it too!" Valko eyed the Goblin for a moment before turning his attention to the rat in her hands. He could see his reflection in the dark eyes of the rodent for a moment, and then, as he read the rats memories, he could see a glimpse of the two men. Dressed in elegant clothing, clothing that would only be worn by the higher schelons of society. Not Catanachs or freefolk. They were throwing the body of the child into the cold waters below, and during that scuffle, one of the men drop their mask down to the ground. Sadly, the rat runs away, spooked by the loud sound of the mask falling to the ground. Why didn't they pick it back up? It seemed too valuable to leave here.

Valko shook his head for a moment, before looking at the Goblin shepherd who had a big, strange smile on her face. "He he he... Thou seeth it too!" she said while gently petting the rat. Tremeur seemed to be a bit puzzled by what just happened. From his perspective, Valko had a very serious blinking competition with a rat. But maybe the Vampyr got something out of it that was worth it. Izold approached the group with a friendly smile before asking if they had found anything of use. Octavia was quick to show them the mask, and Cecilia mentioned the possibility of there being more victims. Tremeur looked down for a moment, shaking his head. "I'm sure there are more victims... but let's be real. Bodies are thrown into the aqueducts all the time... We might be dealing with a serial child killer, or maybe something else." he said, while picking up the lantern on the ground.

Izold gently caressed his chin, considering what they just learned. "Hmm... Well, we made some discoveries as well. Hannalore was able to figure out an approximated time since the child's been dead, and Yanitsa got a possible clue about the thieves guild and a case of missing equipment from Dr. Thrope's clinic." Tremeur visibly cringed at the mention of Dr. Thorpe. The man was insane, but then again, most doctors in this cursed place go insane. While Tremeur turned his attention to Valko, Izold and the group stared at the two goblins in front of them. The strange creatures noticed this, and simply made a friendly little bow. It was strange for Izold. They had these strange, calm expressions and smiles. They were wearing colorful clothes and their glowing eyes had a glimpse of life in them unlike the tired darkness of the wer outside these dark halls. They seemed so disconnected from the darkness of the world of Wer. "So... did anyone know anything else?" he asked while looking at Cecilia, Fulstan, Valko and Octavia. "Goblin lass over there said something about men wearing silver and silk... Any idea what could that mean? Hell, some of us right here are wearing stuff made out of gold and silk." he said, while pointing at Izold with his thumb.

 

[Breadman]

Yanitsa took one look at the goblins and struggled to contain her disgust. She absolutely hated children. The small brats would get their hands everywhere. Covered in dirt, grime and mucus. Even the ones from 'better stock' like nobility were covered in snot. Tall, bald vermin. Every one of them. And the sounds they make. Saints take her life if she has to spend more than a minute with one of them. But these small pint sized creatures were somehow worse. A hundred times worse. It took a good bit for her to regain her composure befitting a merchant of her stature. Despite the horrid sight, she would just grit through it.

"Nobility if I were to hazard a guess." She finally said something. Anything so she wouldn't talk directly to or about those things. "Very often the upper class would come down and have their fun with the commoners. Maybe some took their game too far." She had been a witness of several such cases, not that she did anything to stop them of course. Those same peasants would spit on her just a day earlier if they found her true nature. So it was simply nature's way of dealing with them as far as she was concerned.

 

[Humble1]

Fulstan points to the coat-of-arms on the mask. "Nobility with some connection to Volkmar, perhaps. Not that this helps much. Volkmar is a rat's nest of nobility - erm, not literally, I suppose I should say in this company. Real rats are more civilized."

He hunched a bit, remembering the back-biting and duplicity of the Volkish courts. He'd been hip-deep in it all, of course, making it worse. "The Volkish courts have schemes within schemes, and this could easily be part of one. I'll have to check the heraldry records and see if this coat-of-arms is associated with any family in specific. "

 

[K0mori]

"...Yeah, definitely not commoners," Valko remarked as he rubbed his eyes. Unlike Yanitsa, Valko found the goblins a bit charming in their strange ways, and had even greeted the shepherd with the closest thing to a proper smile he had given anyone that night, although it quickly disappeared. He didn't mind the rats, either. Intelligent little vermin, aren't they?

"Thank you," he said to the shepherd, flatly, before turning back to the others. "I think we ought to pay that doctor a visit."

Valko quietly wondered what Izold was talking about when he mentioned the doctor's "missing" equipment. Obviously he knew that the items had been stolen, but items don't go missing. People do. Either the equipment was still here in the city, being used or maybe pawned, or it was in the hands of someone conspicuously absent. They also couldn't rule out the possibility that the doctor could be connected to the murder. Valko knew that, sometimes, a killer would pose as a victim of crime themselves, in order to create deniability. Thief bastard took my hunting bow, they'd cry. You say he was shot through the heart? ...It must have been the thief who stole my bow.

Then again, Valko would need to meet this doctor before jumping to any conclusions.

 

[Infab]

Octavia found herself looking back to the mask again, tracing its details with her fingers. At last, some memories were actually returning. She faintly smiled, before looking up as Valko spoke of paying the doctor a visit. She wished to go with them, so that she could properly thank the rather esentric doctor for his help, but perhaps following the clue provided by the mask would help unlock more of her own memories. "I shall go with you." said Octavia, looking to Fulstan. "Looking at the mask seemed to help ease my mind a bit, so perhaps delving into things related to it may help more....And, of course, it may help us figure out whom the two men may be working for."

 

[EdwardDewey98]

Izold and Tremeur looked at each other for a moment, before looking at the rest of the group. "Luckily, both the records and the doctor's clinic are in the Church Ward." said Tremeur, while looking at Yanitsa and Hannalore. "I say that while Fulstan and Octavia head to the church's records and library, you two come with me to the doctor's clinic." Izold's expressions sours for a moment, before he made a step in front of Tremeir, quickly interrupting him. "I'd rather not separate the group too much. We should see what the next course of action is when we arrive at the Church Ward. It's another half hour to get there." said the priest, reminding everyone of the walk back to the Ward. Some of the group could hear Fulstan's audible grumbling as he was reminded of the walk back to the church. "Is there anything else we could do on the way there?" asked Tremeur, while adjusting the flame on the lamp. Izold gently stroked his chin, thinking for a moment before turning his attention to the group. "I believe you all might have some ideas once we arrive to the ward. I imagine some might want to do a thorough autopsy of any previous victims, contact the thieves guild, or seek guidance in the church." Tremeur nodded in agreement before turning his attention on the Goblins. There were a few who approached the group during the time they were talking, and they were already dividing the pie in small portions to distribute among the youngest goblins. Tremeur smiled a bit upon seeing this, as it reminded him of a time when his village would share their harvest and baked goods among the children.

"Thank you once more for allowing us to speak with you, master goblin." he said with a genuine respectful smile. The goblin speaker simply returned the gesture. "'T's rare to seeth wer in our humble domain, besides those who is't maintaineth these fusty aqueducts." the Goblin gently pet a child's head that was now struggling to eat a piece of that tasty pie. "I doth not knoweth what is happenin' in the w'rld of w'r, but I can only wish thee the most wondrous of luck. Findeth those who is't murd'r'd the childer." Tremeur gave the goblin a nod and a little wave, before walking back the way they came. Leaving the reclusive Werhel in their dark, yet lively and cozy home.

On the way out of the aqueducts, the body of the child was already gone, and only one constable remained in the crime scene. Who quickly approached the group with a question on his mind. "So... was it those things in the tunnel?" he asked bluntly. "No it was n-" said Tremeur, before being rudely interrupted by the constable. "I did not ask your opinion, Catanach... I was asking the priest." Tremeur was taken aback by this, but quickly looked away and let Izold do the talking. "I... I ask of you to be respectful to my companion here, for he's a valuable member of this team. Just like everyone else." said the priest, which only caused the constable to give lazy shrug and a nod. "It wasn't them. We have some clues, however. We think the real murderers are two human males of freefolk or noble origin." The constable seemed a bit surprised by this information. "How do you know that?" Tremeur simply smiled, eyeing Valko for a moment. "I think a rat told us." he said before walking away, laughing to himself and soon to be followed by the rest of the party.

Random Event Roll
28
"The Enchanted Blood"
​

• Laurine District •

As the group walked through the lower sections of the Laurine District, they could hear a bit of commotion ahead of them. "What now...?" asked Tremeur while putting his hand on the hilt of his sword. It sounded like a serious battle inside a nearby building. Suddenly, the doors to the building opened wide and a person came rushing down the steps. It was a Vampyr.



Tremeur drew his sword, ready to battle the Vampyr if he had to, but from the building emerged another figure clad in thick and heavy armor. A helmet covering their features fully, the darkness of the streets draining any semblance of humanoid features from the Werhel's face. It was a Dverger, another very rare and rather reclusive race. Tremeur looked at the others, before shaking his head. "Dverger... this town is becoming a bloody circus." The group watched as the Vampyr tried to claw the eyes out of the Dverger through the eye sockets on the helmet, but the Dverger, using some sort of miracle - or magic? - pushed the vampyr away with a thunderous shout. The vampyr looked desperate, and when it noticed Valko and Yanitsa among the group, he rushed towards them with a helpless look on his face. But before he could reach them, they dropped to the ground, twitching as a silver axe jutted out of their back. Smoke and blackened blood coming out of the wide wound. The Dverger hunter slowly made his way to the Vampyr, and using a wide sword, he began to stab and cut the vampire apart while the Vampyr desperately called for help. A final slash ended the vile bloods life, cutting the head clean off. The vampyr's dark red blood oozing out all around the body.

"H-holy fuck..." said Tremeur, shocked at the short man's sheer brutality. The Dverger, coldly and indiferently, retrieved the axe that was still stuck on the vampyr's dismembred torso. Then, he looked at the group, his eyes still obscured by the darkness of the street. He remained immobile for a few seconds, taking deep and rather menacing breaths. They sounded like the blasting of bellows, and there was a certain dryness to it. He then pointed at Valko, Yanitsa, and someone else in the group hidden behind Tremeur and Izold. "Wer and Werhobs walking together?" he asked, with a dry and crisp voice. It was rather hard to describe. "Not good. Werhob are not trustworthy. Their mind slowly go away, for they are corrupted... Not their fault. They deserve rest." said the Dverger while using a rag to clean the dark blood from his sword. "I give rest to the restless... Especially those who grow... whats the word... uregjerlig... Unruly...?" Once finished cleaning his blade, the dverger looked at the group. "...Need rest?" he asked, while showing his sword. Ready for combat.

Tremeur seemed ready to fight the Dverger, but Izold looked at the others with a expression of worry. "I... I think we should talk this through. After all... you are not... um... unruly..." Tremeur looked at the others, unsure of what to do. "I don't know, Izold... Short guy over there seems to have made his mind up." He said while the dverger approached the group, axe and sword in both hands. "If someone wants to talk him down, do it now!" he shouted while looking at the rest.

Sæbø the Hunter, Dverger Warrior
(Combat Successes: 0/6) (Persuasion Successes: 0/4)
Thurmuth's Teachings: Sæbø can use a powerful magical shout to push a target away from him. Once per turn.
Hard Hitter: Due to his dverger strength, Sæbø is capable of knocking down his enemies more quickly.
Stocky Build: Sæbø can only direct his attack to a single target.

(Note about Combat: to succeed a combat roll, a 1d20 must rolled, any result over 10 is considered a success. Same rules apply to any attempts at persuasion.)​

 

[joshuadim]

Asher had been silent as the investigation went underway, as he didn't have much insight to share that had already been spoken of already. Curious developments has been found thus far, but nothing concrete as to what the motive was or who the killers were. It didn't help that they now came across a rather rare site: a dverger killing off a Vampyr in rather brutal fashion. Such ferocity from this race was the stuff of legends that even the people of Khoshkan had in their stories, dating back to the age of the Ashkan Empire and perhaps further before that. What became clear was that the Dverger had switched its aggression towards the group now perhaps out of confusion or blinded by battle.

Asher quickly stepped in as he calmly walked up with both palms raised by his side. "Hail, friend. We are not your enemy, nor do we have any quarrel with you. We are simply a hapless group investigating the death of a child and others in this city." he spoke aloud with a calm voice, trusting in Yazjweh to protect him as well as to help the Dverger see reason.

 

[Breadman]

Much like the head earlier, the violence being perpetrated in front of her, didn't shock Yanitsa. The frequency of the acts was more worrisome. Another thing that stood out to her was just how casually he had killed and dismembered that other vampyr. Like it was day at the workplace. Maybe this was his line of work given how we wasted little time to get back to it. But he still showed some hesitation.

"No need for us. Thank you for your concern." She said politely from where she stood a fair distance away. She would follow Asher's lead."You really shouldn't worry yourself with us. We're working with the church by our own volition. We only mean to help, but we're aware of the tensions and as such are escorted with a capable hunter as insurance."

 

[FloweryMuffin]

By now, she should have gotten more used to seein gruesome sights, since she had seen plenty throughout her life and especially now, after the curse that has befallen the world. Yet, each time Cecilia witnessed an act of cruelty, this time a Dverger simply ripping apart a vampyr, her eyes snapped shut and she turned away.

Of course, when she recovered the Dverger and the vampyr's remains were still there, lying on the cold concrete. Why was he even giving them a chance at all if killing meant almost nothing at all? It mattered very little and she wasn't about to pass up the chance to escape without resorting to weapons.

Seeing Asher and Yanitsa attempt to persuade him to not subject them to immediate dismemberment, she tried to reassure the Dverger, as respectfully as she could,

"We're merely trying to help, we don't mean any harm. There's no need to resort to...blades and axes..we volunteered to help the Church solve the crimes taking place in this city."

 

[Emperor Sagan]

Hannalore watched the stark and brutal murder of the vampyr with curious indifference, observing how each hack and stab tore into the creature's body until they were thoroughly dead. Far closer to butchery than the more professional, artistic style of her own taste. Such a waste of material to tear into a body like it was a slab of meat to be divided up. It was... distasteful.

She eyed the creature as several spoke up to negotiate with it, lest they be forced into conflict. She didn't see how she could lend much assistance to fighting a thing like that. Perhaps a quick scalpel push through the eye socket. The eye socket was always the best entry, or the ear, though the latter was so often covered by helmets. Regardless, looking at the creature's unkempt beard upset her. All that hair and it wasn't manicured to the highest degree. No silky sheen, no glistening in the light. This Dverger offered nothing but a hassle.

 

[Infab]

Octavia looked on, her eyes wide as the vampyr was eviscerated by the Dverger. And now he was coming for them. Or at least the ones in their group that weren't Wer. She heard the others attempt to talk the Dverger down, so she decided to go with the heard. Besides, trying to talk it down was what she was planning to do regardless. "Everyone here is certainly in their right mind, sir. No need for violence. As they've already said, we're assisting the church with matters." she stated, looking to the others before looking back to the Dverger.

 

[K0mori]

Valko stood stiffly still and stared unflinchingly as the Dverger dismembered the hapless vampyr. His sharp eyes watched the stout foe as he said nothing and allowed the others to do the talking. If it was about to come to blows (and he wouldn't mind if it did), Valko was determined not to be the one responsible for it.

 

[Humble1]

Fulstan shook his shaggy head. A Dverger? Goblins and now this? He'd come to the city knowing it was a crossroads of cultures, but this was rapidly getting absurd.

His method of dispatching the vampyr was all too familiar, however. It was the approved method of the hunters in parts of Volkmar -- well, the parts of Volkmar that were not quietly being ruled by Vampyrs. Dismemberment followed by decapitation. Gruesome, but an effective way of dispatching a creature that could be both stronger and more resilient than it looked.

Others had already spoken. Fulstan hung back, waiting to see if the creature was amiable to reason. Or if it was time to run.

 

[EdwardDewey98]

Asher's Persuasion Roll: 20
Octavia's Persuasion Roll: 19
Izold's Persuasion Roll: 11
Cecilia's Persuasion Roll: 4
Yanitsa's Persuasion Roll: 1

Valko, Hannalore, Tremeur, Fulstan and Raili abstained.

​

Sæbø continued approaching the group even after Asher made a few steps forward, attempting to calm the Werhel warrior. He was joined by the other members of the annointed, and Octavia's words made the Dverger stop for a moment as he looked at Izold. The only Church official on the scene. "Yes... our friends here have been annointed. They are helping us trying to maintain the peace in Castow." said Izold with a fainth, reassuring smile. "I promise they are not unruly. They are valuable members of this group." he said, while looking at both Yanitsa and Valko. The dverger fully stopped by now, quietly looking at the group from a few feet away. The dverger looked to the side for a moment, some light shinning through the eye holes in the helmet, revealing the dvergers sickly-pale skin and strong orange eyes that had a reflective look to them...But suddenly, the dverger looked back at the group, before tossing it's silver axe at Yanitsa.

The axe flew sideways towards her, and she couldn't have moved out of the way in time. She felt the incredibly painful cut burning through her flesh, searing through her neck. The force of impact nearly decapitated her. Tremeur looked at her in shock, and quickly dislodged the axe from her neck. Tossing the silver weapon away as Yanitsa's head suddenly fells backwards. The group gasped, fearing that she might have been decapitated...except for Fulstan, who stood right behind the Vampyress. Her eyes, still moving, looking at his. Her head hung on by a few tendrils of muscle and veins, which connected to the rest of her body. The pain was unbearable, but she pushed through it to put her head back in place. Her powers soon started to regenerate the burnt flesh and bone, but she knew this would leave a large scar across her neck.

Sæbø the Hunter, Dverger Warrior
(Combat Successes: 0/6) (Persuasion Successes: 3/4)
Thurmuth's Teachings: Sæbø can use a powerful magical shout to push a target away from him. Once per turn.
Hard Hitter: Due to his dverger strength, Sæbø is capable of knocking down his enemies more quickly.
Stocky Build: Sæbø can only direct his attack to a single target.

Valko's HP: 3/3
Yanitsa's HP: 1/3
Octavia's HP: 2/2
Cecilia's HP: 2/2
Asher's HP: 2/2
Hannalore's HP: 2/2
Tremeur's HP: 2/2
Izold's HP: 2/2
Fulstan's HP: 1/1

​

The dverger looked at the group in utter silence, a bit amused at the fact Yanitsa survived that throw. The only sound coming from him was his heavy, bellow-like breathing. Eventually he broke the silence, readying his sword while continuing slowly walking down towards the group. "Led meg, verdens guder, for jeg er et ekte barn av ildmoren og jordfaren... Led mitt våpen imot de som vil skjende the hellige av denne verden..." said the dverger. It seemed to be a prayer of some kind. He then pointed his sword at Yanitsa and Valko. "Vampyrs are nothing but a cancer... festering in the rotten world of Wer... Og oss av den gamle verden må rense hva de har oversett!"

Izold quickly approached Yanitsa, trying to use his healing magic to help the Vampyr in some way. Meanwhile, Tremeur steeled himself to fight a creature he never fought before in his life. He rushed towards the dverger warrior and attempted to pierce through the gaps in its strange and heavy armor. As Izold prepared his miracles to aid his vampyric companions, he couldn't help but to think of the Dverger's consideration or hesitance before he attacked Yanitsa. Perhaps there's still a chance of talking him down?

 

[Humble1]

Fulstan quietly swore. There was little he could do now that the fight was starting. His new-found authority with the church was unlikely to impress this bearded warrior.

... actually, it might impress someone else. He was working with the church now, wasn't he? That opened up options. Options like liturgical curses. And liturgical curses were FUN.

With a quick flip, Fulstan rolled up his sleeves and raised his hands. "O Saints Vsyr, Salaul and Silitor, patron of armsbearers, O Saints Demor, Zanno and Syrtroy, who deceive the mortal senses, and I call on Saint Nathaniel to protect one of his own." He pointed towards Sæbø. "Cloud this creature's senses. Stuff his nose with nitre, close his eyes with grave-salt and fill his mouth with ashes. Leave but his ears to hear the sweet words of your divine will. By the light of Unnus, I invoke you!"

... there. Let's see if the saints are awake and feeling helpful.

 

[Breadman]

The pain was indescribable. Closest she could think of was blinding. But she pushed through and gritted her teeth as the flesh began to mend and melt together. Her mind began to rush for her options. Run? No. Separation makes her an easier target. Not to mention it would worsen her relationship with the church members. Fight? She had a dagger and her own vampyr talents. But that wouldn't help her now. Not with that thick of a hide the dwerge has on. Currently what she could do is throw curses at him as her throat had reformed.

"Dreben psihopat! Svetsite da te zavlekat v dun zemya dano, iztursak na kamuk i kur!" Hardly ladylike, but not much she could do as she held her neck where the axe hit and tore through. That and wave that dagger around as little as it was.

 

[joshuadim]

Asher watched wordlessly, and with a rather emotionless disposition, as the dverger's axe struck true and very nearly decapitated Yanitsa with the sheer force of the blow. Asher was no lover of vampyrs, given his experience with them as Hashishdiyan, but he quickly turned his gaze back to the dverger as he realized that any one of the group could be victim next to such an attack. Still trusting in Yazjweh's guidance, Asher took a drastic step and put himself in between the vampyrs and the dverger that ranted about in anger. Silently he watched the dverger for any further signs of attack as he spread his legs slightly to get a strong footing and prepared for whatever might come next.

 

[Infab]

Octavia watched in shock, as she witnessed the dverger practically behead one of the vampyr in their group. Thankfully it wasn't a complete beheading, as she saw the vampyr reattach her head a few moments later. "We need to try and talk him down, not antagonize him!" said Octavia, looking to the others. "There's no need to fight!"

 

[Emperor Sagan]

Hannalore looked curiously at Octavia. "Thine creature hast forsaken more than diplomacy. These cobbled stones beneath our feet will run scarlet." The nun had produced her scalpel and was holding it in one hand as if it were a cigarette of some sort, clasped casually between two fingers as she observed Tremeur approach the dverger. She was no fighter herself, relying more on the already afflicted to deal with. A healthy specimen was easily subdued when they did not expect it. This stout warrior with armor and weapons... a challenging prospect!

She knew her scalpel was almost useless. Had she even gotten close enough to jab it through an eyehole, or other open slit in the armor, she'd have to deal with the creature's attacks. Her black habit and shroud would not stop even a glancing blow.

That Volkish scholar had a better idea. Fulstan was not unlike her, in many ways, she considered. Him wielding a blade against the dverger was about as likely as her doing the same. Instead, she found temporary sanction near Yanitsa, kneeling down and opening up her traveling medical case. Few could catch a glimpse of what was really inside before she removed what she needed and latched it back up. Whatever she held in her hands was rather small, easily cupped in the palms of both hands, and to whoever might have noticed would have gotten the impression that she was holding a tiny cloth doll, a simple peg draped in cloth with a round puppet head and arms fixed straight to either side, like a crucifex. She brought it up to her face, obscured by her cupped hands, and began to whisper to it.

Tremeur would need assistance in this fight. If she could imbue this poppet with speed, perhaps he would be able to make his strikes come faster, and his feet dance him away from danger.

 

[K0mori]

Valko stared as Yanitsa placed her head back on her neck and smiled a bit as she yelled obscenities at the dverger. "So that's how it's going to be?" he asked as he turned and approached the stout man. Tremeur was already charging forward on the attack, so the vampyr dipped behind him, reached into his cloak, and pulled out a stiletto. He knew that when his foe next swung his weapon, he could pounce on him and try to stab him in the pit of his dominant arm. He had done it once or twice before, disarming his opponents in the process, but this time his hopes rested on Tremeur creating the proper opportunity.

 

[FloweryMuffin]

Cecilia merely watched, petrified, as the Dverger nearly beheaded Yanitsa. She was starting to doubt that their words might reach him. And seeing that the rest of the group was preparing to retaliate, she pulled out her dagger and kept her distance, as she watched the dverger for any signs of movement, unsure whether or not she might try to attack him.

 

[EdwardDewey98]

Tremeur's Combat Roll: 13
Valko's Combat Roll: 15

Fulstan's Hex Roll: 9
Hannalore's Buff Roll: 3
Izold's Healing Roll: 5

Sæbø's Attack Roll: 1

Asher, Cecilia, Octavia, Yanitsa and Raili abstained. Valko is unable to attack for a turn.
​

Tremeur and Valko rushed towards the Dverger warrior, who took a defensive stance. He blocked Tremeur's immediate swings, until Valko's presence became apparent to the werhel warrior. Using this as an opportunity, Tremeur attempted to pierce through the gaps on the Dverger's armor, and successfully pierced the warriors shoulder. A thick, brown blood spurted out of the wound, which looked like very wet clay. The Dverger warrior then grabbed the hunter's sword and pushed it away. Now further distracted, Valko attacked, burying his stiletto on the stout warriors side. More of that thick clay-like liquid came oozing of the wound. "Faen!" he shouted, his strange orange eyes locking with Valko's for a moment before making a powerful shout. "Vekk med deg!" It was so powerful that it sent the Vampyr flying through the air, breaking through the window of a building on the street. Valko, being a vampyr, easily landed on his feet almost unscathed, but he now had to get out the building. He dusted off the pieces of glass on his clothing, before noticing an old lady sitting on a rocking chair nearby. The old woman said nothing, looking shocked, and simply pointed at the door for Valko to leave.

Outside, Asher had taken upon himself to act as a barrier between those who were not attacking, which included Octavia, Yanitsa and a panicking Cecilia. Izold was next to the Vampyress, attempting to soothe the pain she was feeling. But while his miracles were working, they were not calming Yanitsa's pain at all. Fulstan used the opportunity to test a theory, now that he was anointed by the church. He thought it would give him access to the miracles many priests and priestesses use. He raised his arms and made a saintology chant, calling forth the favor of the saints. And indeed, it worked as theorized. He could see the holy aura emanating from his hands, and felt its comforting warmth.

But... nothing happened. The saints were listening, but they did not grant their favor. Perhaps Fulstan had forgotten a part of the prayer, or maybe the Saints were not able to hex the Dverger warrior? On the other side of the street was Hannalore, who was looking down at a doll. Various heathenish cults and faiths used such items to perform hexes on people, but also invigorating spells. Hannalore performed her strange, ritualistic magic, whispering her will to it. But while it worked, Tremeur barely felt its effects, being already fueled by his adrenaline.

Tremeur looked over at his shoulder towards Raili, who was simply standing under a lamp. Arms crossed and seemingly unwilling to help them fight the foreign warrior. "You won't help?!" he shouted while blocking an attack of the Dverger. "Damn Arkhanites!" He turned his attention back to the warrior, who tried to attack Tremeur with a thrust, but missed and nearly fell to the ground. "You Wer... don't understand! This is your doing!" shouted the werhel warrior. "This... darkness! This is all your doing! You brought it upon us all! Helvete! I will not let the leeches thrive in this darkness!" The warrior held the wound on his shoulder, which continued spilling that strange mud-like blood.

Sæbø the Hunter, Dverger Warrior
(Combat Successes: 2/6) (Persuasion Successes: 3/4)
Thurmuth's Teachings: Sæbø can use a powerful magical shout to push a target away from him. Once per turn.
Hard Hitter: Due to his dverger strength, Sæbø is capable of knocking down his enemies more quickly.
Stocky Build: Sæbø can only direct his attack to a single target.

Valko's HP: 3/3
Yanitsa's HP: 1/3
Octavia's HP: 2/2
Cecilia's HP: 2/2
Asher's HP: 2/2
Hannalore's HP: 2/2
Tremeur's HP: 2/2
Izold's HP: 2/2
Fulstan's HP: 1/1
​

 

[Infab]

What is with these people? This could have been simply avoided! Octavia drew her rapier, remaining behind Asher as she watched the others try and fight the Dverger. Watching the male vampyr get sent through a window while Fulstan attempted to call for assistance from the saints. Hannalore seemed to be...playing with a doll. Oddly, Raili did nothing. Standing away from the group with her arms folded, watching them. Octavia shook her head rapidly, face marked with worry as she looked back to the Dverger.

 

[joshuadim]

The situation continued to deteriorate as the dverger seemed blinded by hate and anger and was lashing out wildly as a result. The rest of the group was ready to fight, but the Hashishidyan was not yet willing to give up on preventing further bloodshed. With his arms spread outwards as a show of being a non-threat, Asher stepped forward toward the Dverger once more and shouted once more: "Once again I beseech you! We are not your enemy... the enemy is something we are trying to find. Stalking in the shadows, killing innocents. As the sword of Yazjweh, I am bound by my code to solve this and bring those responsible to justice. Not just for the killings, but for the sun having set and not returned! Stay your hand, and we can end this without anyone's death!"

He hoped such words would be enough.

 

[Humble1]

Fulstan clucked his tongue and spoke disapprovingly, "Saint Nathaniel. I expected better."

Maybe they were all still mad at him from his days as a black-market relic dealer. Come to think of it, he had sold at least four of Nathaniel's toe-bones. Still, he hoped that if he ever transcended and left the mortal frame behind, he'd be less likely to hold grudges.

"So be it. If the saints won't come marching, we'll try the spirit world." So saying, Fulstan removed the silver knife from his robes. Now to put it to his intended use. If the church had known he intended to use it as an athame, they'd never have given it to him. Turning in a circle, he made looping gestures with the knife in the cardinal directions.

"Oymelor, Demefin, Lamair, Masair. Symofor, Rodobayl, Tentetos, Lotobor. Memoyr, Tamafin, Leutaber, Tatomofon. Most cheerful, glad and joyous spirits, I, Fulstan Schroder, adjure you ... to come to me here in a gentle, pleasing, and cheerful form and make manifest whatever I say. Whisper soothing words to this Dverger, press soft hands to his brow, calm his ire and cool his blood. Let him hear the truth that we speak to him."