Legend Event First Act: Scales and Webs

[Douglas Haley]

Areck Slums
Interacting With Acillio Nazzaro │ Aurra │ Galen │ Samson Jadik
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The last group of sailors still in the tavern rushed over, almost pushing Aurra aside as they collectively rested their burly hands on the ring and pulled. Their synchronization spoke ages to their time working together on ships, a heavy groan giving way as the cellar’s hinges desperately tried to remain at rest; quickly followed by the majority of the sailors quickly moving to the basement with fists raised, and alcohol bottles in tow. It seemed even in danger, they knew where their priorities were.

Douglas glanced to the alcohol covered eyes of the spider that Aurra had gracefully managed to hit with the bottle of high alcohol spirit, lifting a hand as he swallowed hard. It’d been a long time since he’d used his magic in a truly offensive manner, and the idea of such didn’t come easily to the boy; but the danger they were in, and the inhuman nature of the massive beast was enough to help alleviate whatever apprehensions he had. A crackle moved between his fingers before lighting tore from his finger tip and lashed out at the spider, arcing between its legs faster than the blink of an eye. The alcohol spread over it by Aurra only a moment before forced it to ignite, filling the room with a terrifying death howl of a spider that up until this point had made nothing but aggressive chattering and clicks; though it filled the tavern with a new source of heat despite it all.

With some satisfaction at revenge, Douglas quickly forced himself to move towards the cellar. His legs threatened to give out with each step, still unable to regain their full effectiveness, and with knees wobbly, he tripped down the last few stairs, landing ungracefully on his shoulder near the bottom, giving out a soft groan as he tried to come to terms with his mistake.

The prior sailors who had disappeared up the steps only a moment before followed only a moment after, carrying with them two massive chests, though both seemed to be carried by the same large individual. His expression was apathetic, despite the growing tension of the situation, but it was slightly comforting to see someone so calm. The other, a bit more of a wiry fellow, quickly closed the cellar door behind him and latched it shut; ensuring nobody from above would be able to disturb them.

“Where now?”, he asked the group.

In the same motion, the massive individual carrying the chests set them down and opened each in turn. Inside, swords of all sizes, daggers, even a few pieces of leather armor; whatever their purpose once being, now redone for the sake of everyone now faced with danger. He grunted, as if to get the group’s attention, before pointing to his collection.

“I’d stack up while we got a chance. Can’t imagine this will be easy…”, the one now sitting on the cellar stairs offered.​

 

[Raziel]

Aurra stalked around the case before approaching and taking a slender short sword. It wasn't a well balanced blade, but a little more distance between herself and the spiders provided some reassurance.

That feeling was instantly eroded by an insistent scratching at the cellar door above them.

"Over here!" someone called, leading the group around a row of barrels to the passage. No one hesitated in following it. It was cold, dark and narrow. The light from the candles in the cellar behind them barely provided enough light for Aurra to see the puddles before her feet. She had to battle her imagination to stop it from conjuring spiders in the darkness ahead.

Eventually the group came to a halt. All bunched up in the dark. There was clink of metal on metal as someone searched for the keyhole. The doors opened up, bathing them in blue moonlight. They crept out into a back alley. The doors looked as if they led to a cellar under a row of terraced houses for labourers.

The mists were worse than they had been. She turned her eyes to scan the root tops but could barely see more than ten metres. Usually she was the most dangerous thing that would be slinking across those tiles in this district. Not tonight. Not by a long way.

"This way to the walls," she hissed. She had to hope that the walls were safe.

 

[Douglas Haley]

Areck Slums
Interacting With Acillio Nazzaro │ Aurra │ Galen │ Samson Jadik
______________________

Douglas’s hand shook as he extended it towards the chest, picking up a rather plain lookings longsword, exhaling slowly as he rested it into the leather belt that held most of what he carried with him. He swallowed hard as he glanced towards Aurra;

“Theres a good chance the city is surrounded, and the walls aren’t safe if they’re already inside. I say we head to the keep.”

His voice was shaky, a byproduct of the shock that still threatened to overtake his system, but he at least was reasonable set on a solution.

“The guards are probably treating this like a siege, and falling back to the inner ramparts are the regular action to take in these situations. Elbion has plenty of drills on it for the Merchant Guard…”, he said as he glanced to Acillio.

“That might be our safest bet, to at least regroup. I doubt the Geckan’s can stand up against Alliria once it gets organized.”

"Kids got a point. The city has the biggest retinue in the region, kept it independent in the face of every threat so far. I say we bet on that.", one of the men loading up a few more swords than he should be carrying offered.​