For the King (fantasy rp)

Ketka followed Rae into the trees several members were already gathered. She closed her eyes and let out the glorious notes that would correspond with each of the weapons being used. To have them honed, to have then sharper, to have them blood thirsty. After she was done she dropped down from the mount and hurried to the others that were already gathered. She placed her sword back in it’s rig and retrived her axe. The one handed piece was far easier to carry.

She hurried after the creature as it began to weave between the trees.

“It‘s big,” she shouted, “Try and get it stuck.”

 

Drake was tireing fast, his sword stuck halfway into a tree as he finally had to stop. He ripped the sword out and looked around the dark forest. He could hear a faint hissing sound coming from somewhere. But where? He found out as he turned to see the massive snake head? To close to counter attack. He leapt back useing the huge sword as a sheald and the monster struck. Drake was hurled through the air and smashed into a tree. His breast plate possibly saving his life. now he had some breathing room, he thought as his rage returned. He raised the sword high above him and waited, the strike came and down went the sword both hands, dead center it's face. Drake's swing saved him from the bite but did little to wound the monstrous snake. He flew back and rolled to a stop some thirty feet back, his head spinning and his sword on the ground near him.

 

Haskeen, being the slender man that he was, what with elven blood, managed to pass by his companion Drake quickly only to find himself face to face with the thing, indescribable and deadly already at battle with the dragon knight. "Blasted be all the divine!" he screamed, dropping his sack and trying to fish out one of the red pots within, but the beast gave him no time, it jabbed and so he dodged, countering quickly, jabbing at the thing's tail with his spear and twisting it. But the tip merely bounced off, he hadn't been able to get a proper blow, as he only pushed with one hand, the other grasping a pot. He set it down quickly and dodged another nearly fatal swing and this time delivering a proper jab, a tiny spray of hot blood landing on the leaves of the forest ground. "Ha, all things bleed, even this abomination!" he screamed. The beast howled in protest, swinging its tail angrily in a downward motion, shaking the ground as it struck. Haskeen backed out of its range momentarily, looking for his pot as the others kept the creature occupied, tiny wounds like that wouldn't kill this thing, but maybe fire would.

 

Rae jumped back into the fray. The creature appeared to have been distracted by the others, at least momentarily. He heard the creature yowl in protest as Haskeen managed a small pierce in its thick hide. Certainly not enough to kill the creature, but it did give Rae some hope.

He jumped onto the abomination's back and charged for its head, sword raised to stab. The creature shook and threw off Rae's balance, sending him towards the ground. Rae managed to narrowly roll out of the way of a succession of quick tail slams before the creature refocused its attention on Haskeen, its long tongue whipping back and forth as it slithered after him.

 

The wood hated the man with spear. It had been long since the monster had felt the sensation of its own hot blood instead of that of its prey. It focused on the man, slamming its tail down hear and there, shattering logs and uprooting trees. Blind rage absorbed it. It needed to taste that man's flesh.

 

Ketka rolled away from the tail as it slammed down to the earth once again. Chips of rock flew upwards with a heavy spray of earth. Spere had retreated some paces back. The weapons were not working not sharp enough not strong enough. The man with the spear had managed to wound the creature. But there had been no blood drawn other then that. Ketka frowned. Fire would be risky, they chanced burning themselves and spooking the mounts. Her cries to have it trapped had gone unanswered. She smiled As she thought of the creatures eyes other then the belly those and the inside of it’s mouth would be the softer points to attack. She moved to the front of the creature.

“You with the pole arm, could you perhaps hit him in the eyes?” she asked.

 

There was a hissing sound within the darkness of the woods behind the tree where Nateia was kept, behind the fierce beast that had kidnapped her to devour.

The hiss followed the metallic sound of a coiling chain-like substance and a object suddenly whizzed around the creature several times. In fact, it was a chain but different in composition, seemingly demonic and hellish in appearance. It instantely seized the creature as it stood on it's hind legs and was thrown off it balance.

Quickly the end of the demon chain which was shaped into a dagger coiled itself around the tree and lodged itself and pulled the great beast back and pinning it agains the tree. The creature thrashed wildly, trying to break free, but with no avail.

The other end of the chain submerged in darkness came forth as Leon stood steady, holding the daggertail with boths hands to keep the creature pinned to the tree, though it would not last for very long. The daggertail continued to constrict and Leon called out to the group.

"DO IT! DO IT NOW!!! I CAN'T KEEP THIS UP FOREVER!!!"

 

"DO IT! DO IT NOW!!! I CAN'T KEEP THIS UP FOREVER!!!" came Arc's strained cries as he held the monster through an amazing display of strength.

Rae'Non acted swiftly, charging the beast with his blade and narrowly avoiding the creature's lashing tail. He dodged left, then to the right. Back to the left again. In one final mad dash, Rae jumped into the air and lunged. But it was too late.

The monster strained hard against the chains and at the last moment managed to pull forward hard, slamming Arc into the base of the tree. Rae came face to face with the beast. Its eyes were full of rage. Then its tongue came out and whipped at Rae's neck. He managed get his arm up to block it, and instantly pain flooded through it. He felt the two sharp barbs on the end of the monster's tongue shoot into his arm.

"Arrrgh!!" he cried out.

With his other arm, he jammed his sword straight through one of the monster's eyes. The thing let out a great and terrible roar as it began thrashing about. Its tail may have caught a couple of the heroes. Then it slithered up into the darkness of the tree tops and was gone.

Rae lay still on the ground for a moment before dropping his weapon and tearing the barbs out of his other arm. He cried out again, but he had no doubt they were poisoned.

"One of you hurry and get Nateia. She's up in the tree."

Rae soon became light headed, then darkness took him.

 

Chaos had erupted…..

The winged one was gone and all of Senora’s companions immediately set out in pursuit of whomever or whatever had taken their companion. The priestess jumped off her horse landing in a defensive crouch with her mace drawn. Had she not been so consumed by her environment, she would have admired the battle-seasoned steed loaned to her as he didn’t even flinch.

After a quick scan of the immediate area she stood up and took one step forward to follow the others. That’s as far as she got before the powerful wave of emotion reached her. It hit her chest first and she took a deep breath as if physically impacted. Within second, wave after wave of emotion washed over her.

Hate…

Anger…

But more powerfully…HUNGER…

The emotions were carnal even Feral. She felt like a predator who had found worthy prey. Satisfaction felt just barely out of reach.

By the time the waves of the beast’s emotions left her, her vision began to clear and her right hand felt way too light. She looked down and clenched her teeth as she realized she had dropped her weapon. Bending down she deftly picked it back up again and then ran headlong into the forest in the direction of the sounds of battle.

How long was I out of it? Kaelin’Dar, please don’t let me be too late.

The woods were dark and it was hard to make sense of the chaos of the battlefield that she stumbled upon. However, her trained healer’s eye automatically scanned the ground for injured people. She noticed that someone was down.

She weaved her way through her companions dropped onto her knees next to Rae’non. She immediately felt relieved as she realized he was still alive. She placed her hands on his chest and closed her eyes and began whispering words beneath her breath. Her hands gave off a soft purplish/blue glow as her goddess of love and light granted her the healing gift she called upon. She felt the power flow through her, such stark contrast from the emotions she had felt just moments earlier, she could only assume from the foe they now fought.

As she completed the healing process she opened her eyes and saw Rae’s eyes start to flutter as if they might open shortly . She crouched over his body protectively quickly scanning the area looking for any other injured.

 

Ketka clapped and let out a whoop, before scrambling up the tree. Elves came in handy for their limber nature, Ketka’s people were no different from any of the other types of elf breeds. The brittle bark broke under her feet but she kept her pace up until she reached the winged one in the high up boughs of the tree. Nateia had stopped screaming but looked about with wild eyes. Ketka started at her wings peeling away some of the congealed goo that held her in place she flicked it off her gauntlets. It hit the earth beneath her with a faint splat. The globs came off in an uneven pattern, Ketka became concerned that the globs still glistening on her wings would make it impossible for Nateia to fly down, there was also the loss of energy she would have endured trying to escape the slick that had held her.

Ketka finally managed to free her and helped her slowly move down the tree. Then stepped away from her giving her some space.

 

The beast had been momentarily distracted, and so Haskeen had taken advantage of the moment and found what he had been looking for, his pot, his plan. He searched and searched, his eyes passing frantically across the ground, A stump, a shattered log, a bunch of old leaves, a slimy rock, some tall grass. The southerner was thankfully given more time, for the creature retreated as it broke free. He finally found the pot, lying in the wet grass, and said, "Fire! I need a flame, who here can provide one!"

 

Leon emerged from behind the base of the tree where he held the monster holding his head in his left hand. The daggertail coiled around his right arm as it slithered back underneath his tattered cloak and disappeared, hopefully before anyone could see it.

He removed his hand and saw the blood on it. That much didn't bother him, but when he removed his glasses he found that a lens had cracked.

"Damnit..."

Leon walked past Ketka who had just freed Nateia from her confindment in the tree, past Rae'non and Senora and to the desert man Haskeen. He reached into one of his belt pockets and removed what appeared to be a few matches and a roll of tobacco. He lit one of the matches skillfully with his fingers and lit his smoke stick and flicked the other towards Haskeen.

Leon then walked a few paces off and sighed.

 

Nateia wobbled at first, but quickly let out her wings to help her with her balance. She could feel the globs still on her wings, annoying them greatly as they gently fluttered, as if a tic, to get them off. She quickly let her wings shoot back and forth in quick movements, in attempt to get them off. Within a few seconds, most of it had flown off, leaving her more content. She brushed herself off, realizing how tired her body felt from the struggle. She sighed, picking up her bow from the ground, and sliding it over her shoulder. The bow she had sat upon it had long away fallen from her grasp. She quickly looked in her satchel, making sure she had everything.

She looked back at the woman in front of her, a broad smile on her face. In one quick movement, she glided closer to her, her footsteps soundless with the help of her wings. She took her hand, vigorously shaking it.

“Thank you.” She said with a joyous voice, “I couldn’t have gotten out of there on my own…” She gave a small curtsy, and walked off towards the others. She was rather concerned about their safety… her mind specially worried about Drake.

 

Chaos was all around him, but Shao'Tio did not do anything. Now was not the time for a battle--A battle would spell certain defeat for him in his current state. No, he had to regain his composure, destroy the fear that plagued him. Thirsty and weak, he walked away from the noise, until he came to a small stream in the woods. Cupping his hands together, he drank some of the water. It tasted surprisingly good. After drinking a little more, he pulled out his bow from inside his cloak. He fixed an arrow to it, and aimed at a squirrel up in the tree. Two seconds later, the squirrel fell down to the ground with the arrow stuck to it. Washing the arrow off in the river, he put it back in his cloak. As he held the bow with both of his hands, a white light began emanating from it--A light that lit up the forest.

As the light got brighter, a translucent arrow that was infused with light appeared on his bow. Aiming it, as at some invisible specter, he released the arrow. Instantly, he saw a dark shape disappear into the forest. At the same moment, his fear left him, and he felt his strength come back again. Putting the bow back into his cloak, he now pulled out his short sword. Swinging his sword back and forth, he shouted into the forest, “Never come back again, or next time I will kill you!”

 

Haskeen dropped his spear and took the match and nodded in thanks, twirling the tiny light in his fingers. After a moment, he touched it to the dirty black cloth sticking out of the top of his pot, which took to the fire immediately. He then tossed the tiny spent sliver of wood aside and reached for his spear.

The southerner spoke quickly as he turned in the direction the beast had fled. "We must chase the demon, drive it back to the abyss. Its alliance with this place is strong, so we must burn it and its home!" Haskeen drew back his arm and tossed the pot in the distance, followed by an explosion and bright, angry flames apparent through the trees. Far off in the woods, a beast howled in agony. "You see!" he said, pointing in the direction of the noise, "Each blow to this cursed place is a blow to the monster, they are one in the same!" Haskeen began to search through the dark, tall grass of the woods, searching for where he had dropped his sack, where many more pots lay hidden within.

 

Poison Dream--Rae

As soon as the cold darkness of unconsciousness came over Rae, he came face to face with a man. He was sitting on a small stone chair a few yards from Rae, garbed all in flowing white and blue robes with a golden circlet on his head. His hair was long and white, like Rae's. His eyes, also like Rae's, were a vibrant red. The man was strong. Not just physically, but he radiated a kind of quiet spiritual strength. Then Rae noticed the sword the man had laying across his knees. It was Rae's sword, Kaelos.

“Hey! Give me my sword back!” demanded Rae.

The man simply smirked and gave a quiet laugh. “You are not ready to wield a weapon such as this.”

Before Rae could reply, he felt a gentle warmth fill him. He felt himself being dragged away from the void, away from the man. “Hey! What are you doing!?”

The man smiled again and shook his head. “Until next time...Rae'Non.”


Rae sat straight up. He was back in the forest. The cleric girl named Senora was crouching next to him, her hands drawn back over her heart.

“Are you alright Milord,” asked her voice with such a melody as to make it sound like a song.

Rae looked up into the shadows around her face. She seemed to shy away from the look a little. “Excuse me Milord...I think there are others who need me to tend to them.”

With that, she was gone away towards the others. Rae stared after her for a moment, an odd feeling drawing him to her. It lessened as she became distanced from him though. His thoughts drifted back to the man who had taken his sword in the dream. No doubt it was just some effect the poison had on him. Nothing to be taken seriously.

"We must chase the demon, drive it back to the abyss. Its alliance with this place is strong, so we must burn it and its home!" came Haskeen's cry as he lit one of the pots and threw it off into the woods. Flames erupted from it and engulfed the tree. Far off in the woods, a beast howled in agony. "You see!" he said, pointing in the direction of the noise, "Each blow to this cursed place is a blow to the monster, they are one in the same!" Haskeen began to search through the dark, tall grass of the woods, searching for where he had dropped his sack, where many more pots lay hidden within.

Rae jumped to his feet. “Haskeen no! We will continue through the woods with all haste. This is the creature's wood. We came into this place uninvited. Besides...I don't think it will be back to bother us.”

 

Rune's nose was assaulted by the smell of burning wood and dying life, all around him. For a moment he was confused until he reached a man and a woman.

“Haskeen no! We will continue through the woods with all haste. This is the creature's wood. We came into this place uninvited. Besides...I don't think it will be back to bother us.”

"We should get out anyway," Rune spoke lowly, looking at the two. "We should look for the others and cross these woods while we can, that's...what we were supposed to do anyway."

For a moment, he hoped they would recognize him, or at least not be scared by his current appearance.

 

The wolfman and the Dragon Knight would dare disagree with me? This thing is an abomination, a creature unfit to crawl upon the ground and they wish us to leave it here? Haskeen looked from one of the opposition to the other, sensing they would stand against his plan, until they were attacked again that is. If they were proven wrong they would crawl back to the old and wise soldier, beg for his guidance, but until then they would have to move forward.

Mustering up an agreeable voice, a tone of affirmation, he said, "I suppose you are right, oh Dragon Knight and warrior of the wolves." the cloth above his moth shifting with each word. He looked to the ground and snatched up his spear as in the distance the crackling grew louder as did the sense of suffering and hate that surrounded them constantly. No, Haskeen did not like being in the territory of another, out of his element, but he would make due, he was with powerful, if not mis-thinking, allies. "Well come on then, are we not to set forth with haste?" said the desert man in a nervous tone as he looked around the area, the fire drawing closer.

 

Leon let out another sigh and took a puff from his roll of tobacco.

"If I knew you were going to burn the place I wouldn't have gave you the light"

He stood up and brushed himself off and gave the desert man an annoyed glare before turning away.

"Well....suppose I didn't like this place anyways..."

He walked towards the one named Rune and raised an eyebrow.

"...so you're the dog boy?"

His eye twitched.

"...you smell....bad...."

 

Rune didn't answer back, only shook his body to rid his fur of some of the ashes, some still burning.

"I suggest we hurry up now...and get out or find the rest."

He could smell the rest, but only intermittently due to the smoke ad fire. It confused and angered him, not being able to use one of his more skilled senses.

 

"We should get out anyway," said the wolf creature that Rae could barely recognize as one of the heroes. "We should look for the others and cross these woods while we can, that's...what we were supposed to do anyway."

"I suppose you are right, oh Dragon Knight and warrior of the wolves." said Haskeen with a slight undertone of annoyance in his voice. Rae began to wonder if the man was ever genuinely agreeable or happy about anything."Well come on then, are we not to set forth with haste?" said the desert man in a nervous tone as he looked around the area, the fire drawing closer.

While the desert warrior had been rambling on, Arc had made some rude remarks to the wolf-man. Rae patted him on the shoulder, not being one to judge based on appearances since he wasn't entirely normal looking himself. "Thank you for your help friend. Right...lets get moving then."

 

Chapter 3--Bolozet

The treacherous Aranach Wood had caught the heroes off guard. While they had managed to fend off the ancient terror that dwelt in its shadows, something of the seriousness of their quest seemed to have sunk in. For the first time, many of them realized that death was quite possible, if not probable. The forest seemed as if it would stretch on for days, but the heroes finally managed to get through. The end of the Aranach marked the beginning of what had once been the nation of Daragkhar.

Bolozet was the largest town within the borders of Daragkhar and its people had long served the Dragon People before their fall. It seemed word had already reached the town of the group of heroes who came with the last of the Daragkhari in their number. The festival that was prepared in honor of their arrival was truly magnificent to behold. There was much music and dancing, food and fine drinks.

However, not all was well on the streets of Bolozet. There had been whispers of devils lurking in the shadows. They said that it was unsafe to venture outside after dark. Indeed, children had disappeared. While they were a festive people outwardly, they lived in fear of what walked in the night.

 

Rae could hardly believe the procession that awaited all of them. People lined the streets and hung out of windows, all trying to catch a glimpse of the heroes who had come to find Melchior's Heart and end the Darkness. He didn't like to admit it to himself, but he noticed most of the awed looks were directed at himself.

In the old days of Daragkhar, when the Dragon People still thrived, Bolozet had served as the kingdom's main source of eager young warriors, longing for the chance to train with the Dragon Knights in the fabled Emerald Hall. Rae would be the first true Daragkhari many of them had ever seen.

 

Leon groaned as the large town of Bolozet came into view. The brilliant lights seen from a distance marked a hint of curiousity in Leon. He'd imagined any town or village within Daragkar to be deserted or somewhat hostile, but it would seem that from what various hues he could see without his glasses Leon figured they might be expecting the company of heroes.

His eye twitched. He was no hero, but the thought of a nice bed and a bottle of wine was welcoming. He had finished his flask and was craving something hard to put him to sleep, having been awake and alert for some time.

He looked about his companions and wondered if they were welcoming the same things, but Leon seemed to already know that nothing was at all what it seemed, and what luxuries he was imagining would probably never last.


He wanted to at least get a new pair of specks if they had any.

 

If Rune could smile in this form, he would. Gently he pushed the shoulder of the Dragon Knight with his muzzle, as a friendly gesture.

"This is pretty nice. Doesn't it?"

It had been a long time since Rune had stepped foot in a large populated area and not have everyone screaming and running for their lives. It actually felt nice to be celebrated as a hero he wasn't. It felt nice nevertheless.