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Post by ringmasterrob on Sept 26, 2004 20:19:52 GMT
[ModNote: Continued from Into The Lion's Den.] *The morning has come in Wolfenden, bearing much grave news. Charles Redmun, his 2 bodyguards were murdered at the Wolf's Howl grand opening, a low-life named Tyler was found beaten to death in an alleyway and there have been rumours of further opposition kidnaps, the panic is rife and weapon traders in the market are doing a roaring trade. The shadow sweeps into the market square, blending into the shadows of a well, the shadows of villagers, making those shadows slightly distorted from their correct shape. No one notices such a minor detail, they are all too busy talking in close knit groups about what all these horrible things could mean. Some are talking of them being omens, signs that the end is coming. Some dismiss this as foolish supersicion but are secretly unnerved. With all the panic another trade that is roaring are the local inns, with the Wolf's Howl closed while the town guard make an investigation then the Crazed Heifer is doing the best business it has done in many years, much to Owen Varten's delight. The shadow hovers around incognito, an unseen, unheard menace that can see and know all without the realisation of anyone else. It eventually finds what it is after, the dark alley where the man Tyler is rumoured to have been killed. The shadow has no interest in the life and death of a simple lowlife, more the fact it is an ideal location for a quiet death, or at least it would have been had another not beaten him to it. It waits for a time, observing the progresses of the square as the sun gets gradually higher. Then the sun goes behind the clouds and the shadow is gone...* [ModNote: For the Wolfenden militia's reactions to the murders, see the Guardhouse thread. For a reappearance of the shadow, see The Flames of Fear.]
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Post by ringmasterrob on Sept 26, 2004 20:32:07 GMT
*...The Ringmaster opens his eyes, it is difficult for him to do so instantly as the sun above him is bright, having just emerged from behind a cloud it is beating down on him with all its fury. He gets to his feet, fairly difficult as he has now idea how long he has been out. The black spots varied from time to time, but he was so sure he had taken the right dosage this time. Without paying attention to his surroundings, only enough to notice that they are not the dungeon (in a blackout he channels his energies within the earth, earth energy is very powerful and can often drive a person mad to use it when concious a regular problem for elementals is channelling it when forced unconcious as the blackouts did), the last time he had awoken on sharp rocks at the bottom of a waterfall. His head clears slightly and he remembers the two ladies, what trouble could they now be in!? He checked his robes and the floor around him, the gun belonging to Marcus is gone meaning it must have been dropped when he blacked out! He decides to head back to Marblehead to help them in whatever way he can, then he remembers something he must do first. He takes out his mirror and looks into it, summoning up a face not his own into the glass.* "Ah the good Ringmaster finally decides to report in well..." *Rob interupts* "Not now, i'm in a rush. Your potion is NOT working, I blacked out again at the worst moment. For all I know two people could be dead thanks to this and I need advice, right now" "Nice to speak to you too Ringmaster, as it happens the dose reccomended it what normally works for elementalists but clearly your previous power means you require a larger dose, try 3 shots a day and if that doesn't work then I have a stronger ingredient we could add. Hope that is of some help." "It'll have to do, expect my full report soon, i've got some people to help, villains to aprehend, killers to catch. Just the daily routine stuff really." "You thrill me as ever Ringmaster, see to it your status report contains EVERYTHING of interest this time won't you, best of luck though I expect one with your unique talents will not need it." *With this Rob waves his hand over the mirror, removing the face and places it back into his pocket. He turns back to the direction of Marblehead and prepares to head there. However he is so exhausted and his joints ache greatly. Plus clambouring all the way back through the indents in this state could take hours. Time will be of the essence, he cannot fail those two and certainly not let them be killed by one as useless as Ma. He heads through the square to Marblehead, leaving the alleyway by the Crazed Heifer where he had woken up.* [ModNote: Continued in Into The Lion's Den.]
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Post by Leytan on Sept 18, 2004 15:00:37 GMT
[ModNote: Continued from New Employment.] *Tyler sat drinking ale in the pub. He was smileing to himself. He'd realy put one over on Lord F.* "Ha I can't belive he bought that shipment of broken Goblin Horns." *He chuckled to himself. He was unawere of the dark shadow that lurked down the Ally way beside The Heffier, unaware of the danger he was in, unaware that this was his last night on earth.* *Tyler had been there for an hour or more. He was getting progressival more drunk and starting to make improper advances towrads the serving wenches.*
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Post by Young Grimwold on Sept 19, 2004 20:38:32 GMT
*The piper is playing Footloose.*
*Owen Vartern the tavern owner, clearing a nearby table, overhears what Tyler says.*
Owen: Oi!
*Owen stalks over to Tyler's table.*
Owen: Look at me when I'm talking to you. On second thoughts, don't. I don't mind you drinking my ale - not at all, only the strongest stomachs can drink as much as you've had; I even put up with you chatting up my girls - we all need a bit of that, after all.
But I won't have you boasting about your dealings with the Opposition in my tavern. Them and their associates ain't welcome within these walls - not since that Frightknight was in here, wreaking chaos. There's one word for people like you - OUT!
*Owen hauls Tyler from his seat, removes a few coins that he hears jangling in Tyler's pocket, marches him to the door, and sends him stumbling out into Wolfenden.*
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Post by Leytan on Sept 19, 2004 21:55:21 GMT
*Tyler stummbaled drunkly down the ally. He didn't see the dark figure that emerged from the shadows.*
"Been drinking away the money you made conning Lord Fear have you Tyler?"
*The voice was that of Death. Tyler didn't have time to react. A kick to his back sent him sprawling. As he got up and turned round a fist hit him so hard in the stomach it ruptured his spleen.*
*Blood spewed from his mouth. Some how he pulled himself up right but it did him no good the fist conected with a powerfull uppercut to his chin and jaw. So powerfull that he neck snapped in half.*
*As he slumped downwards still alive barley. His killer applied the final fatal blow a knife like chop to his throat and voice box that crushed his windpipe.*
*Tyler garled for a minuet as he gasped for air, chockeing on his own blood and trying to breath threw his destroyed throat. Then all went quait.*
*Leytan looked down for a few seconds crossed himself and said a quick prayer asking for forgiveness. Then he turned and dissaperd into the night as people came from the crazed Heffier to investigate the noises of the killing.*
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Post by ringmasterrob on Sept 20, 2004 20:48:16 GMT
*Unseen by Leytan, which is saying something given the exceptional skills the mercenary possesses someone has in fact seen him commit the crime, a man with red robes. However there is a bigger fuss being made and voices screaming about a different assassination, apparently Charles Redmun & his guards have been murdered. The man in robes looks down the alley at the man Leytan has murdered was a similar size to that of Charles, it didn't seem that this man HAD done the crime but the robed man had to follow Leytan anyway.
If Charles was dead he had already failed the first part of his task, to prevent Redmun from being killed, the second was to find and stop the assassin. The robed man knew Leytan by reputation, a few of his old companions had known the mercenary in the Netherworlds. Leytan it seemed really was as good as rumours suggested, even the man in robes had difficulty keeping near him. Eventually he headed from the main part of Wolfenden towards the dungeons, there would be no one here this time of night and the man struck.
Leytan was listening as usual for any signs of pursuit, he had heard none and was about to go into a quicker pace when something struck him hard in the back of the head, sending him forwards and crashing to the ground. The blow would have rendered a normal person unconcious easily, Leytan was different.*
"It appears I finally have the pleasure of meeting the famous Leytan face to face, well not quite seeing as you can't see my face. I'll be fair and even us up in that respect"
*The man stepped forwards and pulled off his hood to reveal a man that Leytan recognised, a face that almost put fear into Leytan. The Ringmaster, perhaps the most famous hero in the Netherworlds, the one who had decimated a great army, which Leytan had been working for without being near them. Suddenly the temperature dropped around the Ringmaster but he didn't seem to be interested.*
"A very nice trick Leytan, I suppose you're expecting to give me frostbite? or do you hope a bad case of the sniffles will dispatch of me? All I want to know is who you've just kill. Yes, I saw you but I didn't have time to check who the unlucky soul was who took the punishment, you're a difficult man to follow. Was it by any chance your old employer Mr. Charles Redmun?"
*The ringmaster waves his hands slightly, not casting a spell but a gesture telling Leytan to hurry up with the answer, while the blast had not render Leytan unconcious, he would not have time to get up and run before the ringmaster could fire another spell.*
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Post by Leytan on Sept 20, 2004 21:05:28 GMT
*Leytan looked at Rob with a mixture of, supprise, anger and a hit of respect.* "So I Fianlay meet the famous Ringmaster Rob. A rather unexpected pleshure Ringmaster the last I heard you had perished in a powefull magic blast." "Tell me have you come to take me back to The Neatherworlds to stand trial??" "And no you can rest assured the man I just killed was NOT Charles Redmun. He was a Opposition Minnion who had gone astray. A man by the Name Of Tyler. My current employer Lord Fear had been conned by him so I was sent to............extract punishment."
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Post by ringmasterrob on Sept 21, 2004 7:16:25 GMT
*The ringmaster wasn't really expecting Leytan to name the murdered man as Charles Redmun, but by this point he was sure Leytan had no need to lie. If he had killed a man such as Charles then he would almost certainly be willing to bragg about it.* "Working for Lord Fear, eh? A mercenary like you is surely worthy of greater things than working for an egotistical mage? Still, I didn't come here to question your motives nor, more to the pity, did I come to bring you in for a trial." *The mercenary doesn't seem affected by the words, the ringmaster realises he hasn't the time to stand around chatting, he could be giving Redmun's assassin a vital lead* "Well Leytan, I'm afraid I don't have time to start up a sowing circle and exchange gossip. Still, you may be ruthless but I've heard you have morals at least and in this world that does count for something. With any luck that knock on your head will easily be healed given you unique 'talents'. One final thing though, tell your employer I may wish to pay him a visit in the near future. I bid you farewell mercenary." *With this he doesn't give Leytan a chance to reply, he sweeps off at a remarkable speed. Something about his manner is slightly different to how Leytan had previously heard. He seemed a little sarcastic, a little less of a mindless loyalist of good and more of a clever person, one with the ability to get what he needed. Leytan groggily got to his feet and returned to the task of mentioning his success to Lord Fear. The ringmaster however was going the the Wolf's Howl.*
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Post by Young Grimwold on Sept 23, 2004 15:34:02 GMT
*Shortly after Ringmasterrob and Leytan have left the scene, some of the people from the Crazed Heifer emerge to investigate the earlier commotion. Gasps and mutterings, almost second nature to Wolfenden folk (especially the drunk ones), abound. But there is one person among the tight crowd who is more sober, and quieter, than anyone else.* *Young Grimwold.* *The ogre has been using his time since he was released from the Battle Royale to try and find out the fates of the other contestants. Not usually one to start conversations, he has been listening in on other people's, being as inconspicuous as an ogre can be. All the contestants were apparently returned, alive, to different parts of the area outside the battle arena, by some form of magic; but from there, their paths diverged. Lord Fear and Sylvester Hands are back in the Dungeon; FrightKnight and Lady Morgan de Chaos ran off after reappearing; Skiprazor died in some kind of fight; Tom Troughton vanished in a magical confrontation; and most painfully for YG, Ursula and Hordriss haven't been seen or mentioned at all.* *YG feels lonely and aimless again. He hears tales of newcomers and their adventures, including a member of the Brinkatore dynasty whom he believes he might have met when he and Ridolfo spent time at the court of the Count, and an Atlantean whom he might have encountered on his visit with Captain Nemanor to Atlantis; but all the people he connected with in Wolfenden seem to be gone. He thought he'd left death and bloodshed behind in the Forest of Dunn, but here it is, seeping into the town he's trying to call home, with two murders in one day. YG knows he should be out looking for Festus, as his mother keeps nagging him to, but he can't find the stamina to look for the creature. He thinks for a moment about the incident many years ago, where Festus lost one of his heads - a far more elaborate story than Mrs. Grimwold would have dungeoneers believe - and smiles. But only briefly. Smiling seems a sin once more.* *A serving maid from the tavern, Lanesra [OOC: football!] pushes through the gathering with a blanket, which she lays over Tyler's body. It immediately begins to soak up his blood, prompting groans from the onlookers.* Lanesra: The Landlord asked me to remind you about our PMS. Our Post-Mortem Special. Half price wine and spirits after a local killing. But only, he says, if you get back in quick. *Most people find this offer appealing, and drift back into the Crazed Heifer. But YG feels too sick for any of that. He stands alone, listening to the night until he loses track of time; then he wanders off again, away from everyone but himself.* [OOC: He'll be back...] [ModNote: YG would return in Training!]
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