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Post by Cyran Fenastra-Asiliari on Jun 27, 2023 13:51:57 GMT -5
Protection jobs were becoming much more common as of late. It was… concerning to say the least when an assassin could find more work saving lives rather than ending them. But Cyran wouldn’t turn his nose away at the money when Shade’s Valley needed all it could get right now. He found himself taking jobs he wouldn’t normally consider. Right now, that meant watching a handful of merchants as they made their way to Zeinav City from their settlement. Supposedly, naga had been growing rapidly more common around these areas - merchants accosted by bands of these roving monsters. Cyran didn’t mind lending his hand as he made his way south, especially when it came to earning some extra coin. But the nervous energy in the air as the merchants packed up in preparation of setting off was making him nervous. They all walked around like they expected to be accosted by serpentine warriors any moment. Cyran hoped they didn’t run into any danger, but he had a feeling that would not be the case. Given the rise in monsters, madmen, and natural disasters as of late, he didn’t put much stock in hopes and wishes. It was a rather pessimistic outlook, but he’d found his optimism and goodwill had run thin ever since Del had been taken straight from their own home and the two had nearly been sacrificed. The shadows seemed to stir around him at that thought. A couple of merchants stopped what they were doing to stare in bewilderment at the elven man as the air grew darker around him. But given that he’d offered to help, no one decided to look too closely at him. Cyran stopped, forcing himself to calm, take a few meditative deep breaths. The past was in the past and there was no changing it. Right now, he had to focus on this protection mission, and wait for the other bodyguard to show up before they set out.
Quest Name: Hissing Around Town Participants: Two or more Location: Zeinav Desert Post Requirements: 6 post per person, 200 words per post Reward: +1 Renown, +1 Scales, +1 Venom Description: Bands of Naga have always been common out in the wilds of the desert, but over the last few weeks they are been getting closer and closer to the main road and the small settlements around them. They are getting braver, attacking travelers, small caravans and merchants. Their speed and agility in the sand makes it hard to out run them, forcing people to defend themselves against much stronger enemies. You have been hired to act as an escort for a group of travelers, regardless of their business, protecting them from any wild Naga attacks.
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Post by Leandros Aurthurian on Jun 27, 2023 22:25:42 GMT -5
There certainly were a lot of strange things happening around Charon. Leandros often worried about the sudden boldness of so many monsters. There were more and more incursions into what they had thought was safe territory. Whether it be man or monster, the sinister forces were moving across the land.
Leandros and his crew couldn’t worry about chasing down every single story they heard carried on the winds of rumors though. They could help when nearby though. This week they happened to be moving through Zeinav when they heard word of the nagas and decided to head over to the caravans.
Immediately Theobo went to work as the knight and his wife approached to talk with whoever was heading this wagon group. As usual, Gilder did not bother engaging with anyone and only fed snacks to his owl while everyone waited.
It wasn’t hard to convince the driver to allow their group to offer their protection. Hard to say no to a big shining knight who seems to know how to fight. Can’t turn away anyone willing to help given the situation.
"It has been some time hasn't it." Leandros smiles from atop Byrr as they pull towards the front of the group.
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Post by Cyran Fenastra-Asiliari on Jun 28, 2023 10:59:53 GMT -5
It had been a while since Cyran had seen the reflection of the Zeinavian sun glinting off that particular set of armor. Funny, how he and Leandros Arthurian often met by coincidence - but how fortunate it was. Even in the uncertainty of the world, Leandros was someone Cyran knew he could trust. Leandros was dependable. At the very least he knew he would not have to watch his back around the honorable man. He could not speak for the retainers that seemed to follow the man around, but Cyran trusted that Leandros kept good company.
Cyran offered Leandros a small smile as the man and the woman Cyran recognized as wife approached the caravan.
“I guess we’ll always just keep running into one another when people are in need.” He joked, but his fatigue did not make it easy for him to muster up any humor. “It’s good to see you again, Leandros. I trust you’ve been well.”
He nodded respectfully to Apogee - not all of the manners ingrained in him from his time in high society had been lost upon his exile. “It’s nice to formally meet you, my lady.”
A few curious merchants made it no secret that they were watching the group, surprised to see that the two vastly different guards were ere acquainted to one another. But as they were too busy trying to get ready and set forth to reach their destination, they were mostly too concerned by their own business to bother with the others. So long as knight, assassin, and retainers could take care of the threat and ensure their safe travel, it didn’t matter.
Cyran turned his attention back to Leandros. “Have you ever fought a naga before?” He’d fought an undead naga before in the underground of the Sultan’s tomb, but Cyran doubted that the giant skeletal creature he’d survived was similar to the serpentine warriors raiding merchants on the road. But he trusted his blades well enough. Time would tell what kind of threat they were up against.
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Post by Leandros Aurthurian on Jun 28, 2023 21:58:44 GMT -5
“I think you and I both know the life of adventuring hardly includes planned meetings.” He smiles as he climbs down from Byrr to give Cyran a handshake.
Apogee feigns a flutter and soft chuckle, “So proper, I like him.” She grins widely, “Just call me Apogee, Cyran. As I’m sure my husband has said, our titles don’t hold out here...nor do either of us particularly mind.”
Theobo shoved the last box up onto the back of the cart before letting out a huff. Meanwhile, Gilder conferred with his owl to scout the threat ahead. They had some time to walk and talk before needing to really consider looking out for any threats.
The knight takes to walking to start, save Byrr’s legs for a time. He looks to Cyran as they talk, “Nagas...no, though I know like most beasts they are a bit more clever than you may think. The desert always seems to offer some unique challenges....the shifting landscape makes ambushing prey easy....likely why these attacks have been so successful as of late.”
The halfling jogged to catch back up as people started moving as GIlder fell back to keep pace.
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Post by Cyran Fenastra-Asiliari on Jul 1, 2023 20:44:00 GMT -5
Cyran accepted Leandros’s handshake, still relieved at the familiar sight of a friend.
He shouldn’t have been surprised that Leandros’s wife, Apogee, carried the same informalities as him. She didn’t seem to care about stature. Cyran himself didn’t mind much for standing, but centuries of programmed manners were difficult to unlearn. Cyran straightened, giving her a small smile. “Of course… Apogee.”
The group set off as Leandros’s retainers finished helping the merchants get their goods onto the wagon. Cyran kept pace with the taller man, nodding along while Leandros spoke about what he knew of the creatures. That lined up with his experience with the snake-like beasts. And the sands were difficult terrain to fight on if you were caught unawares. Hard to find sure footing. He’d had his fair share of battles with monsters in Zeinav but Cyran would never allow himself to be so overconfident as to believe that he could handle whatever threat came his way.
As they walked, one of the merchants walking in the corner of his eye caught his attention. Someone who matched the description of a mark from one of his contacts…
He narrowed his eyes, drifting closer to pluck something from the man’s pocket before making his way back to Leandros’s side, tucking the letter into his own bag before anyone noticed anything off. Even when he was meant to be taking it easy, there was always work to be done. Information to steal. People to watch.
He turned his attention back to Leandros, tapping at his chin in thought. “I’ll keep an eye out for an any possible ambush.”
A pair of wings sprouted from his back, though Cyran didn’t take to the skies just yet.[1] Rather, he walked by Leandros’s side, clicking his tongue to get a lay for the land around them. If there were any threats laying in wait to ambush them along the path, he’d know - and he could take to the air just as quickly.[2] 1. Bat Wings (post 1/3) 2. Echolocation - Bat Wings
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Post by Leandros Aurthurian on Jul 1, 2023 21:10:57 GMT -5
While Leandros remained oblivious to the shifting in the movements, Apogee at least caught the intentionally subtlety of Cyran's movements. He was careful enough not to let her see what or who was targeted, clearly practiced. The elf makes note of it and nothing more, he had his motivations and she wasn't the type to stick her nose into things like that.
Before the knight can promise Cyran there are enough eyes, he's watching the man take to the skies. He simply smiles and shakes his head. From what little he knew of Cyran, he was cautious and careful. Something Gilder had been hoping the knight would pick up on some day, but when your as large as Leandros and as thickly armored your threat recognition is far apart from what others consider.
Leandros had also promised as a knight he would remain standing for the people of Capitol Landing so long as needed, but current events might push that promise to its limits. Still, he was too pure and knightly to backdown once a promise was made.
Gilder's owl soars above the sands along with Cyran. Massive orange dunes seemed to wall the road and narrow things down. The ranger narrowed his eyes at the formations before looking up to Cyran. Something was off, these dunes couldn't have formed naturally, they are too large and uniform.....large enough to hide nagas.
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Post by Cyran Fenastra-Asiliari on Jul 2, 2023 21:53:17 GMT -5
The sky was something familiar and calming to him.
Cyran relished the sensation of flying. There was peace in the weightlessness of being suspended in the air, with the world sprawling below you. And yet, he couldn’t bring himself to enjoy it right now. He was too busy scanning the area surrounding the caravan, trying to ensure their survival. He appreciated, at the very least, the owl flitting around him, one that he thought he’d seen with Leandros’s retainer earlier. The extra pair of eyes would be helpful as they forged forward.
As he flew ahead, the owl hovering around him, Cyran spotted something odd in the distance. The sand seemed to have artificially been shifted around the defined path, seemingly making it funnel and narrow before widening once more, as if it had only been tampered with in that one spot.
He clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth, trying to get a better sense of what might lie ahead. He could feel the people and animals ambling behind them, and the hovering nearby… and a handful of foreign creatures concealed just behind the artificial dunes. Eight in total.
Immediately on alert, Cyran turned down to the others where they were still moving along. Leandros’s ranger was looking up to the skies, clearly noticing something was off ahead. Tucking his wings closer to his back, Cyran descended to the ground, landing softly around the others.
“There are eight of them, up ahead, laying in wait.” He subtly gestured towards the dunes, where the creatures were waiting for the caravan to draw closer. “Five on one side and three on the other. They’ve tried to morph the terrain to their advantage, but we’ve stripped them of their element of surprise.”
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Post by Leandros Aurthurian on Jul 2, 2023 22:28:02 GMT -5
"Stay with the caravan Apogee, you and Theobo can protect them." The knight climbs down from Byrr, his wife will need the mobility more than him.
"I have healing if need remember." She smiles and leans down for a kiss before pulling away to meet with the caravan leader and explain what is happening.
The caravan comes to a slow and lurching halt as word travels along, nerves among the common folk grow. From the back of the horse Apogee smiles, "Don't worry, my husband and the other guard were the ones that slew the dragon that threatened this sands a few months ago."[1]
Her words seemed to ease some of the nerves as Leandros strode to the front, Gilder falling to his side. The knight looks over towards Cyran.
"Can you pinpoint their location for me? I may not be able to hit all of them, but I think I can stir one or two of them from their hiding places. Prepare yourself for an assault otherwise." The knight draws his halberd from his back, a new once since they had last fought together.
The blade of the polearm seemed to have a faint melodious hum, the brilliant gold filigree matched well with the blue leather that wrapped around the shaft. It was a knightly weapon to be sure.
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Post by Cyran Fenastra-Asiliari on Jul 4, 2023 15:01:38 GMT -5
Nervous energy stirred about the camp at the mention of a threat. They’d known there was the possibility of an attack, but being confronted with the reality of it was something else entirely. But Apogee’s words seemed to reassure them - they fell quiet and looked to Leandros and Cyran, realization dawning for some who’d heard the story of the fierce lightning dragon that had been terrorizing the sands after it awoke from its slumber. Cyran kept a wary eye on the group while he spoke with Leandros, who pulled an unfamiliar polearm off of their back. The make of it seemed perfect for a knight of his stature, and the faint power seemed to radiate from it. Cyran didn’t question what Leandros had in mind, trusting that the knight had something in mind as far as drawing out the naga.
He closed his eyes, clicking his tongue again. The sound reverberated in the air, bouncing around the sand dunes and the creatures hiding within them.
“There are a group of three gathered over there.” He gestured towards one of the dunes to the right, where three creatures waited at the edge - they felt like a strike team of sorts, while a group of three and two waited on the other edge of the road. He relayed this information to Leandros in hushed tones.
“And two behind that mound, a little further out. Three waiting to their left. If you draw them out I’ll follow behind.” He could pick them off from the darkness while the larger knight distracted them. Cyran stepped into Leandros’s shadow cast from the sun, cloaking himself in the shadow until he was unseen, able to follow behind Leandros and strike where he was least expected.[1] 1. Dark Form
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Post by Leandros Aurthurian on Jul 4, 2023 23:22:23 GMT -5
"Make sure to ready yourself to spring your attack, I am not sure how many I can hit, but I can stir them from their hiding places...And don't worry, I'll keep you protected." For a brief moment Cyran could see the Aurthurian family crest alight on his chest before fading.[1]
With intentionally heavy footsteps he marches to the front of the caravan to take point and focus the attention on him. It was subtle, but with Cyran's guidance he catches some of the movement underneath the shifting sands.
"Your gambit has failed leave with your lives or be crushed by the pride of a lion. The king of beasts will not be so kind to a lowly snake." He waits a pause as Apogee silently sighs, she really needs to help him sound less cliche.
When Leandros sees there is no retreat, he flourishes his halberd. "So be it." With those stern word he levels the point of the halberd at the dune and a beam of holy light pierces the soft earth.[2]
As one naga reels from the burn in its chest, the others to burst forth and ready to descend. Another is clipped with an arrow Gilder had loosed, the fire and holy energy burning into their scales.
1. Bond of Life 2. Paladin's Halberd
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Post by Cyran Fenastra-Asiliari on Jul 6, 2023 17:59:47 GMT -5
Cyran nodded in silent thanks for the enchantment placed on him. The knight’s magic coursed through his body momentarily, before settling into the background. Silent as a mouse, he crept unseen behind the knight. Leandros was making a big show of storming across the path on a mission, keeping the attention of the naga on him. Cyran’s wings had faded away, no longer having the energy to keep them corporeal, but even without the aid of echolocation he could still see the subtle movement of the stealthy raiders where they’d concealed themselves in the earth. The brown tones of their scales made it easy for them to hide, but once you noticed them, it was difficult to lose track of the creatures.
He split from Leandros, creeping the long way around in a flank. He could hear Leandros speaking out in a booming voice, commanding the attention of all the monsters lying in wait. Even now, he still wanted to give them a chance to retreat before they met their end. It was a noble offer - not one the naga were interested in taking, though. With a resigned sigh, Leandros lifted his weapon and let forth a burst of holy light, and the battle began in earnest.
The other naga from the strike team vaulted over the side of the dunes, forked tongues parted with a hiss and curved weapons brandished. Cyran was waiting for them, though - he held his arm out in front of him, clenching a fist with his hand as he wrested the shadows under his control. Dark spikes erupted from the earth, catching along their tails and slowing their movement.[1] At the same time, the dark cloak protecting him from sight melted away, leaving him exposed for one of the naga to shoot his crossbow at.
But Cyran was prepared for this eventuality. Quick as a whip, he plucked the crossbow bolt from the air where it would have otherwise pierced his throat and tossed it to the ground.[2] Cyran glowered at the creatures, murmuring under his breath in elvish as his shadow behind him morphed and twisted and took shape, a monstrosity of shadowed wings and a screech that echoed over the dunes.[3] The naga immediately turned their attention on the two bigger threats, allowing the assassin to slip back and hide in the shadow cast by a dune once more, unseen.[4] 1. Stinging Nettles 2. Steel Catch 3. Summon: Dark Elemental 4. One with the Shadows
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Post by Leandros Aurthurian on Jul 6, 2023 18:26:58 GMT -5
The flurry of activity startled some of the horses up front, but Apogee quickly made her way up to try and soothe them. A calm voice to rise above the chaos and keep everyone together.
The naga pinned by the nettles is quickly pierced again by a few arrows, Gilder aiming to make quick work of as many as he could. The ranger darted towards the shadows as well, he didn't have quite the abilities Cyran did but he knew the benefit of staying out of sight. He was a support fighter, he wasn't willing to risk his body in a fight.
Leandros, on the other hand, was willing to and often did. A bolt flies his way as well, but a quick spin of the halberd knocks the bolt aside before the knight quickly follows with a burst of forward speed.[1,2]
He slashes upwards through the naga to gouge through its chest. Two of the nagas surge towards the dark entity with their own immense speed.[3] They take their spears and attempt to pierce into the large being, unsure if it can be ended so quickly.
A final naga slips past and starts to charge the carts, but before it can reach a halfling crashes into from the side. Theobo shoulder checks the snake with his shield sending it off balance. It got closer than he'd liked, but it was stopped. that was the important part.
1. Shifting block 2. Rushing Charg
3. Nagas using Sudden Lunge
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Post by Cyran Fenastra-Asiliari on Jul 9, 2023 9:41:58 GMT -5
From the darkness, Cyran watched the ranger retreat to safety - clearly employing the same tactics as him, ducking in and out of combat to prevent from being hit. Cyran reached out and put a quick hand on his shoulder, muttering something under his breath in elvish, a small spell to guide him on his way.[1]
A few naga rushed Leandros, shooting bolts at him that he quickly deflected. They’d swarmed him, but Leandros was holding his own well enough. He was so engaged he couldn’t stop the last naga from slipping past him and making its way towards the cart. His retainer knocked it off its course before it could reach the defenseless merchants, but it was still alive. Cyran darted from the darkness again, summoning Spell Slicer and Cold Steel to his hands and delivering a flurry of quick blows against its back before it could recover.[2,3,4]
The sound of hissing and words spoken in a guttural, unfamiliar reptilian language rose through the air as the remaining naga slithered down to assist their brethren. Cyran waved his hand, directing the hovering shadow to deal with the new threat. The shade opened its mouth, letting loose a beam of shadowy energy that pierced one of the naga. Another one of them lunged at him with unsurprising speed - Cyran didn’t have time to dodge. Rather than the pain he expected though, the protective enchantment from Leandros took effect, protecting the assassin from the harm as the knight took the brunt of the blow through the magical link.
Cyran whirled around and drove Spell Slicer’s hilt into the naga’s temple, knocking the creature off balance with a CRACK to the skull.[5] The snake staggered, head spinning from the force and precision of the blow, giving Cyran an opening to carve a line with Cold Steel across his torso from shoulder to sternum.
An eye for an eye. 1. Quicken 2. Summon: Possession 3. Cyran’s Haunting Blade 4. Back Stab 5. Head Strike
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Post by Leandros Aurthurian on Jul 9, 2023 9:57:29 GMT -5
As the naga reals back from the quick hits from Cyran, Theobo strikes out with a wide horizontal slash to carve into the snake. It hisses as it falls back into the sand. The halfling shoves the body off to the side away from the horses.
Despite being swarmed, Leandros' halberd helped him manage the distance well and prevented himself from getting overrun. That didn't mean this was an easy fight for the knight. He feels the impact of the knife from the bond, but keeps moving.
He brings his blade overhead as a naga comes to block it, but with surprising speed he twists the shaf and brings the back end up to spilt the naga's jaw from below its guard.[1] When it reels back, it finds three arrows embeded into its chest almost immediately. The new found speed from Cyran's spell made Gilder into an automatic weapon.
Just two nagas remained, still desperate to fight until the end. They both lunge forward with spears to pierce Leandros, the knight twists causing on to scrape against his armor[2]. The other he grabs in his hand, lifting the naga over head to slam it into the sand behind him. The naga is left prone and exposed, a perfect position for an assassin.
1. The Lion's Swipe 2. Cuirass HP used
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Post by Cyran Fenastra-Asiliari on Jul 11, 2023 20:13:09 GMT -5
Not much longer now.
No matter how experienced Cyran was in battle, the longer a fight dragged on, the more reminded he was of his own age and limitations. It was difficult to draw upon his magic for so long - as the nagas thinned out, he could no longer afford to keep his concentration on the hovering construct. Leandros seemed to be holding his own against the other two - the serpentine warriors struck at his armor, facing the sting of his halberd in an elaborate dance, knight against raider.
One of the nagas lunged at Leandros, who returned the favor and knocked the creature prone to provide the perfect opening for Cyran to take it out. Sprawled out in the sand, it struggled to pull itself back up - Cyran only had a moment to act. Thankfully, he was fast enough. He tapped his boots together, triggering the mechanism for the hidden blades underneath before skating up to the naga, bringing his leg overhead, and bringing the blade on the bottom of the boot downward in a devastating axe kick right on its throat.[1]
Only as the naga released its last, shuddering breath, blood spurting from the wound onto his pant leg, did Cyran turn to Leandros, chest heaving from battle. 1. Ice Skates
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