Quest Loot runners #6 We found a darker place

[Zaid Ardin]

North​

Something about the man saying to "trust" him rubbed Zaid wrong. Perhaps it was his long history of working with underworld people that made him think that. Most of the time when people told him to trust them it was right before they double crossed him.

He didn't say any of this, but filed it away in his mind as a precaution. Before he could do or say anything else, the screeching from down the ravine became louder. His drew the sword from its scabbard before glancing over to the rumbling of stone nearby. A towering golem of stone rose up to defend them.

Impressive, he said, eyeing the thing up and down.

I saw some others, but I don't know them. At least two, maybe more, he confirmed. He wouldn't have been surprised if a few had even looped around from other directions, but perhaps not. He was always ready to plan for the worst.

They didn't have to push forward far before it seemed the cry of the harpies was responded to. The flutter of wings from a small cave to the right saw the sudden emergence of at least a half dozen of the creatures. One, Zaid managed to catch in the wing with his sword, stopping its ascent and causing it to crash precariously into the ground several meters away.

Can your golem smash that opening? he asked hurriedly, taking another swipe at one of the harpies and catching it with a shallow cut to the leg. If more of these things kept coming they could be easily overwhelmed.

Wallace Grimley

 

[Trovik Half-horn]

WEST

Trovik heaved some sort of cupboard that stood next to the door to barricade the door, it was heavy and big but he didn't know if it would be effective since things seemed to have supernatural abilities but he tried.

he turned his attention to the room and it seemed Elfie had already slain one of the creatures and was currently fight another one, not one to be outdone by a poncy elf, he charged the one he was fighting, pinning it against the wall, it trying to bite and scratch has pressed his blade into its neck with a sudden force, removing its head from its shoulders like a paper cutter.

he turned to the elf with a grin but before he could say anything he felt ta pair of claw dig into his back along with a set of teeth. He growled in pain as two of the creatures had jumped through the window and onto his back, he immediately went to grab one of his back, throwing it away from him and slamming the other into the wall, it let going as he walked way, letting the elf deal with it. he was pissed now.

"come 'ere you little bastards, I'm going to tear you from limb to limb and beat with your own body parts " he shouted sticking his head at the window before retreating back in ready to fight

the vampires weren't only coming through the window that had started probing other weakness, they could be heard rustling on top of the thatched roof tearing their way through it, landing next to the human, Alexios.

Nefieslab Zier Xya Zythos

 

[XoChitl]

NORTH - Brock

A grunt of pain fell from Xo's lips, the bright gold eyes flickering up to gather her bearings. Along her back, she felt the three thin claws that had ran across the back of her feathered cloak. It had given her some protection, but even with that, she still felt the trickle of blood as the scrapes would well.

The big green half-orc managed to be successful at being the bait again, taking the third harpy in hand. However, the resounding cries that would billow around them made the Raev's tall furred ears twitch with a dark forbearing.

With a flick of her wrist, she summoned another pair of magenta feathers. With a twist and flick, she sent those feathers flying towards the Harpy's head They went plunging within its head, its weight coming to crash down, following suit just after the Half-Orc drove its sword into it.

"RUN!" she cried out in her thick accent, three toed clawed feet propelling her forward. All around them, the ear deafening sound of flapping of wings and banshee-like cries grew louder.

 

[Zier Xya Zythos]

He advanced to strike it, but Trovik seems to have that covered, decapitating the creature. His help was appreciated until he decided to turn away and flash a smug grin. Almost as if it was a display of dominance. Oh, senseless machismo in a fight is something Zier loathes. There's simply no time for it. It's a team effort and here this barbarian is waving his accomplishment. Oh, bravo. I hope your ego wasn't damaged like your back.

He stifled a laugh of satisfaction as his back was dug into. However, his giggling was short lived when he tossed one and slammed the other into a wall. This dumbas-. He narrowed his eyes in annoyance as Torvik turned his attention to the vampires out there instead of the active threat in here. Zier turned his blade so it's pointing towards the floor and kneeling as he brought the blade through the vampires skull. It dispersed in embers like the first.

He pulled his blade out, standing up. "Hey, big guy, Precision and efficiency." It's as simple as that. Deal a killing blow and clear the active threats in the immediate vicinity. He lashed his arm forward, conjuring a flaming whip that wrapped itself around the head of the vampire that Trovik simply slammed into the wall. It's face sizzled as the smell of burnt, putrescent flesh wafted the air. It's hands shot for the whip but they got burned as well. As it screeched, Zier dropped to the floor on his knees, yanking the end of the whip and snapping it's neck beyond it's limit. It fell limp to the ground as the whip disbanded.

He sheathed his sword, trying to catch his breath. This whole skirmish is quickly becoming tiresome. He heard tearing above head, and to his dismay he saw them coming in through the roof, and one landed next to Alexios. Fuck! "Of course the one with the flask is nowhere to be seen. Lovely." Unfortunately that's just how things are swinging.

 

[Alexios Marxan]

WEST​

Well it seemed that his fellows were getting their jollies.

Alexios got his own he supposed.

When the Vampire landed beside him it tried to pounce on him and Alexios likely surprised the creature by allowing it to do so. Instead he wrapped his arms tightly around the creature and grinned at it's surprised expression, is eyes shining for a moment.

"Burn."

Flames leapt up all along his arms, which he dug into the creature in a bear hug. At the same time flames began to pick up all over his torso, meaning that the creature couldn't take a bite out of him without having it's skull reduced to ashes.

Which occurred anyway when it finally caught fire on it's own and Alexios stepped away from it, the flames across his upper body dying away to reveal he had burned off his own shirt. Thankfully the shirt was beneath a breastplate so he wasn't suddenly half naked.

That would have been dumb after all.

"Capture one!" he called out to his allies, "We'll capture one and torture it - it's pack mates will send their strongest to save it when we kill some of their waves. What's the betting the strongest has the prize we seek?"

Trovik Half-horn Zier Xya Zythos

 

[Azulian]

EAST

Azulian watches as the Leshon gets engulfed with fire and recoiled back. She flicks her wrist again and he blade whip smashes into its midsection causing it to snap as the fire had weakened its wooden structure.

With a faint scream, it slowly slows down until it comes to a stop and its cage crumbles down. Azulian runs to Willis and looks at his back, "I can heal it as we move." She tells him putting her hand on his back and a faint light form from her hand.

"Move quickly now before any more of them show up." She whispers concentrating nudging him along. "We can't dally any more here than we already have."

Smiling One

 

[Smiling One]

EAST

As the pain in his back slowly subsided, Willis grabbed Azulian hand as they escaped the charging Leshon who raised its hand summoning more Wolves. "You know!" Willis said while he was still grabbing Azulain's hand sprinting through the thick fog trying to navigate the forest. "It would help if you open the book! Perhaps there's some spells for you to use! Preferably one that can get us the hell out of here!"

 

[Wallace Grimley]

NORTH​

Wallace walked with his hands hooked onto the lapels of his coat. Strutting along as his Rumbler stomped beside him, the heavy thuds of its footsteps like a slow and steady drumbeat.

Two. Maybe more. So his newfound partner said. Hopefully they weren't the ornery types. Hopefully they were more like Zaid, more like Wallace, the "let's make a deal" types when it came to stuff like this. Maybe one of them was dead set on gettin' that loot, or maybe even that prize the wily ol' wizard Grangomelle promised at the end. Didn't mean no deal couldn't be reached. And, well, if'n that was the case, the no deal thing...that's where a little shady business and underhanded tactics came into play, hehehehe.

Wallace was about to say as much to Zaid, but then a cave to their collective right bristled with movement. Harpies. Son of a bitch. Zaid got one. Quick reflexes on him, if Wallace did say so himself.

Can your golem smash that opening?

"You damn right, he can. Just watch my back," Wallace said. He gave a little wave of his hand and pointed two of his fingers toward the cave, and the command was sent.

The Rumbler stomped toward the cave, swinging its thick right arm in a windmill-fashion to crush the skull of another emerging harpy. Then the Rumbler stood at the arch of the cave's entrance. It smashed at the rocks of the sides and hanging above, breaking them and destabilizing the cave until the packed dirt and rocks above collapsed down and sealed it--nearly burying the Rumbler along with the former entrance.

Wallace, meanwhile, stayed awfully close to Zaid. Shit, he had a few little tricks up his sleeve if things got real hairy, but he wasn't no swordswinger, that was for damn sure. He kept a look out, trying mostly to watch Zaid's back in case of something trying to come from behind.

Huh. Did he hear some say RUN! in the distance?

Zaid Ardin (Brock XoChitl )

 

[Azulian]

EAST

Azulian opens the book and blinks a few times, "ITS BLANK!" She yells and slashes the wolves deeply and deadly with her blade whip as they came at them.

"We just need to stay on the path we started on and it should not take us too long to get to the lady." She tells Wills looking at the trees, "We are at least."

Smiling One

 

[Smiling One]

East

Willis stared at Azulian bewildered at that statement. "BLANK?!" he shouted as a spiky vine sprouted up in front of them forcing Willis to dodge its attack. "You mean to tell me that we've been sticking our necks out for a fucking blank book?!"

The young man began to cutting through the Wolves as they tried to surround and pounce on he and Azulian. Willis made sure that the red headed Elf's flank was protected while she protected his. "The lady?" Willis said decapitated a Wolf who leapt at him. "It's kinda hard to see which we're going when there's so much fucking fog!"

 

[Azulian]

EAST

"Don't ask me, it's not like either of us asking about the book anyways!" She drives her blade into a wolf's neck producing a crunching sound.

"You humans don't look for the wind and all that! Fell the wind!" She tells Willis ducking under and disemboweling a wolf. She then takes the lead as they quickly approached where the lady was. Just another few seconds and they would be upon safety.

Smiling One

 

[Smiling One]

East

More Wolves came through the fog barking and howling rummaging through his bag, Willis took out a small smoke grenade and placed next to his feet. "What the fuck are you on about?!" he growled at Azulian bisecting another Wolf that leapt towards. "Speak sense damn it!"

 

[Brock]

NORTH

It turned out that they were unwittingly going to be the decoys that drew the harpies away from the nest, affording Wallace Grimley and Zaid Ardin the time to snatch the prize.

XoChitl had chosen the wrong person to follow. Or perhaps she had not. He was a slower and more obvious target.

It was too dark for the harpies that left the revine to cast shadows, but he could hear them overhead. He darted through the trees after the colourful woman, the winged monsters drawing ever closer.

 

[XoChitl]

NORTH - Brock ( Wallace Grimley Zaid Ardin )

This was the worst plan ever!

Bounding on powerful, but light three-toed feet, the Raev did her best to try and gain some space between her and the score of Harpies flying towards their direction. The furious beating of their wings was near deafening as it was terrifying.

Glancing behind her she caught sight of the big green oaf and the large swarm further back.

“Chiat’s claws!” She cursed, only to start manifesting feather after feather into her hands. She began to throw them behind her, some hitting the trunks and branches of trees, others the ground. To anyone looking they might have thought she had terrible aim.

 

[Brock]

NORTH

XoChitl

Brok wished he had an axe or a spear. Something larger to swipe at the harpies before they could rake him with their claws.

Brok went down, crying out in pain. He was back on his feet quickly, throwing his shield across his back on the strap. It offered some protection. Beneath the wood he could feel his own blood seeping through the tears in his leather armor.

"They're not giving up!" he called to the hooded figure. Shew as throwing more colourful darts behind them, but not even thinning the swarm of harpies.

 

[XoChitl]

NORTH - Brock (Wallace Grimley Zaid Ardin )

"O' course dhey ernt!" the Raev would shot back, her long legs bounding up and over a fallen log, twisting at her waist to do a half vertical spin and send another flurry of magenta feathers from her hand. They went zipping past the Half-Orc, almost striking him, only to slip past and hit the trees and the branches behind him.

To the observer, she must have terrible aim, but the glowing bright pink of the feathers gave a sort of otherworldly appearance in a wedge formation. Dozens of Harpies would bat their wings, flying past the trees impaled with the feathers, giving chase to the pair.

Landing on her feet, three toes spread, the golden-eyed Rave narrowed her eyes. Up came her hand, clawed fingers all of the sudden curling inward in summoning. A dark smile went curving over burgundy lips.

All of a sudden, the feathers along that wedge-shaped path began to quiver, only to shoot back in recall towards the Raev, resulting in the sudden mass slash and rip of the Harpies caught within. Their death cries were loud, terrifying howls that brought joy to the Raev.

Perfect!

 

[Azulian]

EAST

Azulian sighs wanting to yell at the human but then the reached the point of where they left. The trees still the same as they were and swaying in the air.

Azulian lets out a cheer and points out where they were going, "There it is!" She yells happily as she let Willis run past her and she licks her finger, places it on the dirt and the dirt erupts, burying the wolves that were chasing after them in a layer of dirt. Taking a few deep breaths she catches up with Willis. They were safe and now they had to have some fun with this book.

"As I told you, look at the trees. They don't change much from a few hours. Years yes, but hours? Not really. Those can lead you your way." She smiles patting Willis' back walking past him.

Smiling One

 

[Smiling One]

EAST

A portal formed in front of Willis and Azulian followed by a tremor summoned by the redheaded Elf. A smirk formed on Willis' face as he saw the Wolves buried under layers of dirt. "Yeah you're right," Willis said looking at the trees. If there was one thing he learned about tress that each of them were unique. "Just the ones that stick out and you can create your own path," the young man muttered crossing his arms.

"Let's get the fuck out of here." Willis took Azulian's hand as they went through the portal. Unbeknownst to the two of them, the wounded, burning Leshon lumbered towards the portal as well crossing through it just before it dissipated.

 

[Brock]

NORTH

"Why are...you stopping..." Brok called out. She seemed pleased with herself after nearly killing him and failing to bring a single harpy down.

The screaming started. Brok turned on the spot to look back. The bright streaks of the feathers wove a web through the air, bringing more light to forest floor than it had ever seen.

"I thought you were really bad at throwing those," he muttered.

A few harpies survived, though they hadn't escaped without being wounded. Brok didn't think it would be honourable to stab them in the back as they flapped and limped away.

 

[Zier Xya Zythos]

Jollies was one way to put it.

Alexios seemed to be gettin' extra Jolly by getting hugs from a vampire, and soon burning it to a crisp. He's officially the fourth pyromancer he's seen on his travels.

Zier wouldn't normally have an issue with killing or torturing a creature that's one hundred percent incapable of feeling emotions apart from hunger and killing. However, he does find a few issues in Alexios plan. He could've sworn that the old wizard that summoned them all here clearly described the vampires as Mindless tralls. Plus, he isn't that enthusiastic about torturing a sentient creature.

"I would go with that plan if we weren't on a time crunch. Also, the wizard stated that they're feral beasts and nothing more. therefore they shouldn't care who we torture and I doubt they have the knowledge to send in their strongest." He paused, pointing upwards as they tear at the roof above. "and they appear to have zerooo strategic thinking whatsoever. Hunger is driving them and I believe the only way to use that against them is to stay here and keep them back, pick them off in small numbers and close off entrances. Get the vile and fucking run."

He'll leave that for objections, but he'll begin setting up a defense for them. He stomped onto the ground once, followed by a small spin as he quickly waved his arms in tensed, circle motions before raising both arms above his head in the direction of the window, summoning a small wall of solid granite that shot up through the floorboards to cover the window. Sure it was showy, but such magic requires the full body. A new entrance was created so he closed off the former. He turned, readying his blade and awaiting the threats above.

Trovik Half-horn

Alexios Marxan

 

[XoChitl]

Brock

The Raev gave a roll of her eyes, as if the mere thought that she would be terrible with her aim would be a silly thought.

"O corase ahm na." she told him, gold eyes flashing at the Half-Orc's direction. By now, the deathcries and wounded wails would come crying here and there. Some dead. Others not, trying desperately to fly away.

Honorable or not, there had to be something of worth. She drew a small dagger and went wallowing back towards the bodies of the dead and wounded Harpies on the ground.

The big green guy could follow her or not.