Hunt the Great Hellwyrm

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Lox regarded Baros' suggestion with silent applause. He was a goodly Seer, and prolonged exposure to the Taint here grated on his constitution. The Seer wobblec loser to the rune-covered box and regarded the symbols, not knowing of them but recognizing their potency - he was no archmagus, but he knew the ways of magic well enough. His own Art was subtle, or at least, was usually subtle in practice. The fate of a cultist who had gotten to close demonstrated the finality of his Art, how something good could be forced into something brutal. It was good, yes, but it was a reflection of the Universe, not the logic of mankind.

His cards were mirrors, and sometimes mirrors showed a brutal face.

As he thought, Lox Regardie drew out the mystical deck that seemed the center of his practice, and he set them into his palm. Immedietly, he felt a bit better - the stinging reminder of the wraiths attack on his spirit fading considerably at the soft touch of those eldritch cards.

"Shall I divine our best course of action, before we decide anything rash?" Yes, it might prompt them NOT to leave this terrible place, but honestly, Lox didn't know if he could live with himself should their path turn to self-comfort and not the salvation of unfortunate souls. How many more catches of victims were still huddled around Freehaven?

Before Baros would approve or disapprove, Lox drifted his soft hand over the top cards and drew it. The deck always seemed radomized, and Lox only shuffled them when giving a divination with another - the other persons touch energized the cards and provided more accuracy and personality.

The card came face up, and it neither shocked nor dismayed the Seer. The card sparkled in its own inner power, and the Seer felt reassured. Apon the face of the card stood a magnificent sword, rising from a hand that in turn emerged from a cloud. In the background shewd a vast rolling countryside leading to dark and mighty peaks. Lox understood that the cards oftentimes mirrored actual places, and his geographical lore spoke that those mountains happened to be a range that wasn't to far from their current position - not to far as mountains went anyway - but the Seer didn't for aminute ponder finding them, for they were the Black Fang Mountains, a range filled with terrible legends and even more terrible truths. Regardie knew that those peaks were somewhere north of their present location in Freehaven.

Regardless, the message of the card was clear - this was the Ace of Swords, and it demonstrated the application of new ideas, of gaining a base of power and of planning. The arrival of this card meant that the means were there, and that they must now take this route as the best possible route.

The Seer looked up at Baros and nodded. "We should go to your chapterhouse, and when there, we should seek as much aid as we can - I can perhaps divine more of the cause of this destruction, if your people have the proper magical tools. I am proficient with the school of Divination."

Still, the appearence of the Black Fangs nagged at Lox Regardie, and he hoped beyond anything that their path would not turn towards them.
 
Asana watched as the Seer moved it was almost painful to watch him hobble, although such sympathy seemed to only last till his eyes moved to Aramil, something about that man seemed more off than the rest, with exception to the dragon man and the woman who appeared to be heading off. " Shall you not join us Madam ? these lands will surely be dangerous for many weeks till a new local center of power is set up to flush out the less desireable elements" He said as he rose his wings pulled in tightly to his back as he looked at the captured cultist before grabbing the rope he was bound with and looking back to Aramil " You can have this back if you like ? " He said with a small chuckle.

Asana felt a little better that he did not have to give Lox the cultists life force as he had intended, it would be one less sin he would have to work off. Gathering the broom weed and Wolfs Bane that he had scattered he collected it into two pouches awaiting Aramil to come and collect his prisoner as well as his wolfs bane pouch. His eyes Shifted as he heard the loud bellow of a dragon his eyes swirled around as did his neck looking towards the source off in the distance. A dragon and judging by the sound a massive one that was angry. Asana was certain it was not a red dragon though nor a dragon of a truely positive alignment, which ment it was on the menu of creatures to be attacked if it became an immediate threat.

Glancing around slowly he noticing that Dragon man had left thier company he felt himself a little at ease and assumed what had made the noise now. Baros and Lox let alone poor Rand seemed more than willing to leave and get to the chapter house. " Well if you are all Certain you wish to leave when we have such an oppertunity to gather intell on what kind of creatures are being summond here by whatever energies then I suppose we should get to the chapter house, atleast then perhaps I can obtain a good horse." He said calmly as he picked up his own bag and slung it over his arm avoiding hitting his wing with it.
 
As the alarm of a dragon rang out she tilted her head and seemingly sniffed the air. She knew who it was and raised a brow. Looking in the direction he had disappeared she shook her head. Rather foolish of him to change form, even for a brief moment.

As everyone spoke of leaving she looked to each in silence. Should she join them? Would they even want her to join them? Her cold gaze shifted to Asana and she nodded.

" I will go as well. Though how long I stay is yet to be determined. " She didn't bother to say that if she wasn't transported, she would have no problem taking care of herself. They didn't know who she was yet, and that was fine. But she wanted to make sure they were all safe before she headed out.

Falling silent once more, she waited, her right hand idly playing in Zeus' mane. How she loved her steed, her war pony as she often called him. He certainly had the size for it. A soft chuckle escaped her lips as she thought about that and all they had been through. As if reading her thoughts, Zeus pranced lightly from foot to foot. He was ready to go, and so was she.
 
Baros drew his sword once more, and inverted it so that the point rested against the ground. He quickly touched several of the twenty or so tiny runes upon the pommel, and then the pommel opened out like a flower bursting from its bud. There were three crystals in slots within the pommel, and another three chambers were empty. Baros slotted the crystal he had removed from the box into one of these, and then touched a single rune in the pommel's centre. This caused the pommel to close up once more.

"Are we then decided?"
 
She cared little about what her appearance did for the dragon. For once she hadn’t actually been trying to startle anyone or anything. She was just trying to get to the center of where the beast escaped from. His ignoring her entrance and presence all together grated on one of her few nerves but she supposed she would have to let that slide this time. After all he was a dragon, and quite possibly more vain than herself. She actually chuckled at that thought.

She also felt the use of power in another area of the city and she raised a brow slightly at who that could be. When he finally speaks her lips curl in a smile. She nods her head slightly toward where the other power is coming from “Friend of yours?†she asked. As she waited for his reply she focused on the energy left behind by the hellwyrm. She wasn’t expecting it to take her long to figure out the direction the beast was traveling in.
 
The old man's head dipped forward in a barely perceptible nod, the shadows of hood continuing to shroud his face as he led his horse slowly to his prisoner. Once more he took up the rope, holding the bound cultist and he gave some thought to what he might do with his prize. It would be difficult to keep him around much longer, especially if they were to go after this creature of theirs.

In the midst of shoving the pouch from Asana back into his saddlebags, the dragon's roar swept over the group. His horse startled jerked suddenly, but was quickly pulled back into line, standing defiantly beneath Aramil. With a surprising calmness the old man tightened his saddlebag and turned around to find Rand, who seemed to be chasing his own bedraggled mount. Despite the roar, the solitary old man simply led his horse toward where Baros stood, resigning himself to the whim of the group.

Eventually, his hood shifted once more to Rand, the thought of being teleported into the chapterhouse seemed less than exemplary. Though he could not be sure, and wouldn't suggest so aloud, he had his suspicions about just how welcome the thief would be. Turning to Baros once more he questioned, as passively as he could manage; "Does this... spell of yours only work between two points? I have an errand I need to take care of. Is there anyway you could place me just outside of the chapterhouse? I need to gather a few things before we set out. Nothing grand or time consuming." After a brief pause, he quickly followed the question with another comment, hoping to interject before Baros responded; "Oh, but I fear I might need a little assistance. I am not as young as I once was, if perhaps Rand could be transported along with me, that would be best. I wouldn't want my gathering to hold up the rest of you."

Aramil could only hope that the spell was capable of such a thing and that Baros would agree to it. Typically these altruistic chapterhouses had one too many over-zealous knights that would be more than happy to see a thief brought to justice, no matter how inconvenient. A brief detour wouldn't hurt the old man, and it could very well save them some aggrevation.
 
Baros shook his head, then paused a moment and spoke. "The spell can only take us to one location, and then it will be exhausted. There is a small town a mile from the chapterhouse, not even on Freehaven's scale, but it may have some of what you need. What is it that you require? The stores in the chapterhouse may even contain that you seek."
 
Rand had hoped that with everyone's sudden desire to be elsewhere, things would start to look up for him. Anywhere had to be better than this Light-cursed place, with the stink of burned everything think in his nostrils, ash constantly staining his expensive clothes, and apparitions materialising from thin air, right? Wrong! Now they want to teleport straight into the bloody spell-swords chapter house! And from there it's a short, sharp step to one dead thief, dangling at the end of a rope...

Rand had been hoping to mill around outside the chapter house, keeping a low profile, and awaiting the return of the others from inside. At worst, he hoped he could hide in the midst of the group, hooded and cloaked like Aramil. With the battered cloak stuffed into his saddlebags, and his care-worn mount, he wouldn't attract much, if any notice. He wouldn't be taken as the dashing young lordling he so often portrayed, and he certainly wouldn't be seen as the thief he was.

Now they wanted to use a bloody spell to teleport them all into the chapter house. Rand supposed he could still pose as a lordling, off 'adventuring'...

Then he saw a light at the end of a very noose-shaped tunnel. Aramil was the unlikely source of that light. Light illumine you old man! I'll carry you and your bloody horse if you get me out of this!

But alas, it seemed not to be, since the spell would only take them to one place. Rand smiled at Aramil, expressing his thanks for trying, without words. Looked like he'd just have to take his chances. Inside a building full of holier-than-thou spell-swords. He drew a breath.

"Well Aramil, if you can't get what you need from the stores, then I'll take a ride out with you to the town" he said, even though he knew full well it was an empty pretence. He turned to Baros "Well, if we're going, lets be going."

He grinned, as though he had not a care in the world. He was good at that.
 
Asana nodded slowly to the womans words. It seemed she was hiding something and something he could also tell but it seemed vague and far reaching to be the truth. Clicking his tongue he turned on the ball of his foot and looked to Baros " Well Lets get going I would say we should approach from the exterior, considering we do not know what kind of shape your chapter house is in" He said calmly Glancing to the horses before annotating " and can you imagine the smell of those horses in an enclosed area."

It seemed all were in agreement to get on the move and some more flighty than others. " Well Baros let us not delay any longer we must get a move on if we are to prevent this kind of catastrophe from happening elsewhere! " he said with a small nod as he hoisted his gear on his back and waited for the spell to be set.
 
Baros gripped the hilt of his sword alittle tighter and nodded to the others. "If you have any magical defenses operating at the moment, I suggest you let them down. Otherwise you will be having a far shorter journey than the rest of us. I am going to transport us to a wooded clearing a few minutes ride from my Chapterhouse."

Then he spoke three arcane command words, and his sword was briefly enveloped in flame. A second later a wall of light radiated outwards until it enclosed all of them, then they were gone. A moment or two stretched into eons as they were channeled magically though the astral plane, then reassembled in a lush green grassy clearing, surrounded by tall oak trees, and with a single path heading towards a distant stone structure. The difference between the clearing and the ruins of Freehaven was striking to say the least.
 
Rands mount skittered as they materialised in a lushly grassed woodland clearing, and Rand tried to calm the rolling-eyed animal, more in case the damn creature had a heart attack than anything else. He tried to calm the animal, but wished he could calm himself. Magic being used on or near him always made him uncomfortable, and left him feeling like he needed to bathe. It was stupid, he knew, but there it was.

The moment Rand drew a breath, he smiled broadly, all thoughts of magic swept away in a tide of fresh air. The smell of ash and smoke, of unidentifiable and unpleasant things burning was gone, replaced by the open, clean air of Ayenee's countless forests. He felt better already.

He glanced quickly around at the others, wondering if anyone had been left behind...
 
Fang looked to the young woman for a moment and spoke quickly. "Excuse me." He had been utilizing his greater senses to keep track of the others, analyzing the magic as it was used, it took him only a few second to locate them once they had changed positions.

He reached for Sevenstars, the holy weapon on his side, and quickly sliced through the air, opening a portal to the transitional plane. Upon stepping through, it was simply a matter of taking another step while concentrating on his destination. The second portal opened just over a couple hundred feet away from those that had been transported by the other's magic. Both portals closed, and he leaned against a tree, watching the others, once again, keeping in mind their lack of panic from his roar.
 
As everyone slowly appeared through the portal, Amelina and her steed stepped through as well and moved off to the right. Silently, she observed each and every being who stepped through. Her eyes roamed to Fang and she perked a brow. The dragon looked so non-chalant leaning against the tree. He left her wondering a bit about what went through that ancient mind.

Dismounting from Zeus, she patted his neck idly as she waited to see what would happen next. As she stood there in wait, something deep inside began to stir and her eyes drifted closed. Her hand tightened and her fingers clenched onto Zeus' mane. If anyone watched, they would probably wonder what was wrong with her, but there was nothing anyone could do as memories flashed through her mind. Joshua, then Reiner, Dmitri, so many people passed through her memories. One especially struck out, Hotho. He cured her, and in doing so, she shared a life force of sorts with Joshua.

That familiar ache began, a slow throb that escalated to a soft ache. That in turn grew stronger and the pain was almost unbearable. She turned, leaning her head against her steed as she fought to regain control. She knew this, had felt it a few times in the past. She just didn't understand why it was hitting her now. She hadn't seen him in so long, so very long. Had since thought him dead, but to feel this, it meant he was somewhere close. She could even feel Hotho's presence. Were they connected? Slowly the pain began to lessen and she drew in a ragged breath.

Zeus shifted beside her a little, his head turning to nudge her, almost as if reassuring her of something. Releasing his mane, she stepped back and cleared her throat, her eyes drifted open slowly. Her head moved, eyes seeming to glaze over as she looked to the distance. In her mind, she could feel him, she could sense him, Joshua was near.. the only thing that was different, was that it wasn't Joshua at all. This was much darker, dangerous. She could sense no Nobility, honor in him at all. But she felt death, evil, darkness. With a soft shake of her head, she looked back to the others, hoping she had gone unnoticed. The last thing she wanted was to answer questions.

Still, she knew something wasn't right. Could feel it in the pits of her stomach. Why now? After all this time... it just made no sense. " Joshua... what have you become? " she spoke in her mind. If he heard it, she didn't know. But now, this pain meant he was somewhat close. She was left with the decision to seek him out or stick here with these people she barely knew. Or she could simply say " screw them all " and return to her realm. If only she could pick a path... then maybe it wouldn't be so bad.
 
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Katrina tore her gaze from the sky to look back at Fang. She smirks lightly at his words “by all means. Don’t let me hold you back..†she replies with an air of self importance. Watching him remove his holy weapon she actually took a step back and was glad when he used it to open a portal instead of attempting to open her. In her mind she didn’t have the time to deal with such things when there was a much bigger prey to find and deal with.

Once he was gone and she could sense that his “friends†had left she took her own exit through the shadows. She would return to her home to analyze what she had found and decide where she needed to go from here. This other dragon could represent a problem if he got in the way of what she wanted. She would have to think on this before making her move.
 
Asana looked around and one moment he was in the ruined city of Freehaven and the next he was in a medium sized clearing. It was truly impressive magic and something he hoped he could learn one day but at the moment that seemed to be a distant ambition. Taking in his surroundings he glanced at his fellows and then his eyes circled around the clearing he could not be certain that the magic would have taken them to any place that would be safe especially after such a loss of stability for the region. His eyes fell upon the draconic man who had not been in the area of the spell as far as Asana had seen before the spell and let out a long sigh. It always seemed that the powerful creatures liked to act aloof and smug. Clearing his throat he spoke " Did we leave anyone behind ? So how far is this chapter house Baros ? " He asked trying to get a head count.
 
Baros put checked that all of his belongings had been stowed in his saddle bags, then slid the Sword of the Flame into the scabbard upon his back. One foot went into a stirrup, his hands went to the saddle horn and he sprang up onto his horse's back. The horse was well trained, it didn't even flich as the extra weight fell upon it.

"Less than a mile, we shall be there within a very short period of time..." He cut himself off and then gestured to Fang. "..You I did not transport, yet you stand here with us. Identify yourself sir."
 
Fang had not been attempting to produce any air of overconfidence about himself. Then again, he never tried, and apparently succeeded in doing just that on a more than regular basis. Despite the fact that he had shown no emotion of any sort in the past several centuries, he was still labeled as cocky. Perhaps he was, but he found it interesting that, despite his inability to show anything but neutrality, he was still looked upon in that manner. Granted, by Asana's quick look there was very little Fang could determine without the utilization of a mental probe, but it was still ironic.

The elder pushed off of the tree and took a pair of steps closer to the group. He removed a small cut of parchment from the single pouch on his belt and tossed it toward Baros. It was a carefully chosen cloth. Fang was associated with many groups. However, only one of those groups would be recognized by any here, if at all. There was one who would know of all of them, without a doubt. But, as Baros was not that one, it was a moot point.

The parchment would land at Baros' feet with the image side up. It had the symbol of CryClad, a dragon encircled around a multi-faceted orb against the background of the Crystal Valley. Fang spoke in his emotionless tone. "As I said before, caster, I am known as Fang, and as before, I am here simply for observation."
 
When all had suddenly arrived in the clearing, the old man was surprisingly undaunted by the teleportation. Maintaining a calm demeanor, he casually trotted his horse around the immediate area, his eyes roaming over the ground constantly as he completely ignored the rest of the group. It would appear he was searching for something.

Finally, when Fang appeared and the others were content to make a spectacle of the whole situation, he stopped. Looking up about the rest of them, and eventually to Asana and Baros, he spoke the moment the opportunity arose. "If you don't mind... My weary old bones could use a little rest and..." He paused looking up above, before continuing; "This sunshine is quite enjoyable away from the dirt and ash of that... city." Another brief pause found his words, before he added thoughtfully; "I will be happy to wait here, or just outside the chapterhouse... But I have no desire to venture inside. It would be nice to pick up a few rare herbs in the area too, if one of you..." His gaze turned intently to Rand. "...Wouldn't mind lending an old man some aid?"
 
Standing at the edge of the clearing, the druid watched as a small band of misfits appear. Looking the age of a mere young man of 25, his age was well hidden. Wrinkles nor scars adorned his pristine alabaster skin. Crimson lips part slowly, releasing a soft breath. Cerulean pools, deeper than the oceans watched carefully. Still he remained, not a hair on his body wavered in the northern zephyrs. Cautious glances switch from each member to the next. The tangled mane of mahogany and crimson dance around hollow cheeks and pointed ears, randomly tickeling a bare neck and shoulders. The body was taunt and pale. Muscular it was not, however many knew in combat muscle was not always the best attribute to hold. Weak he was not, ney, strong in mind, strong in spirit and resolation. The energies of the earth resonated through his veins. Through his blood coursed the ancient workings of the druids.

He was the last, the first, the only one. There was he before and he shall stand alone in the aftermath. Many of the realms knew him, few knew his name. Some praised him as a god, to some he was reviled and viewed as a demon. To a select few he was a friend; a dear friend that had laid his life for some, protected others and would stand beside in the torrents of war.

A cloak of ivory satin lay lazily tossed over a low lying maple branch. Slowly it swayed in the breeze. The vermilian slacks hugged his thighs and calves, though restricted him not. His feet were bare. A single pendant hung from his neck, a token of a friendship long gone.

The oceanic orbs that gazed upon the party exploded into a brillant array of light at the sight of one. It was a female, one who resounded with power and athority. With a coy smirk, he stepped back, his body fading into the forest undergrowth. The wind spiraled around his body, as though comming back to its master.

From the path of the golden rays of the sun, something screeches. Illuminated with pure flames of eternity, the bird neared the group. Onyx eyes locked onto the solitary woman, to whom her master watched. She released another cry from her crimson beak. Echoing through the lands, it finally vanished. Hovering in the soft breezes, she matched gaze with Amelina. With the slow flaps of her wings, here it was she waited for the woman to speak, if she dared.

A hand formed of the wind itself caressed the cheek of the woman. Gentle nails slipped down her cheek, across her collar bone and finally grabbed her bicep. In the forest, the man vanished into the wind. Fading quickly from existance, his body was swallowed by the very gales he commanded.
 
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Pulling herself out of her moment, she looked to Asana and shook her head. " I believe all have made it... " Whether he heard her or not, was anyone's guess. Stepping away from her steed for a moment, she glanced from one to the next, blocking out the thoughts and feelings of knowing Joshua was somewhat near. She hated him now anyhow, so why should she care that she felt such darkness ebb from his soul? Laughing a little uneasily at her own thought, she began to stroke Zeus's neck as she remained silent, waiting.

When Baros spoke, she glanced to Fang as he addressed him and raised a brow. She watched the exchange between Fang and Baros with her head tilted in amusement. Her lips thinned lightly as they took a small smile onto their feature. " If I speak out of turn, forgive me. " She spoke to Baros and Asana. " I do not think you have anything to worry of from him. " Of course, they didn't really know who she was, so she wouldn't be surprised if they ignored her completely or disagreed. This was after all, their domain, not hers.

Slowly, her gaze shifted to Penumbra where she studied him for a moment. She offered a tender smile, something not seen from her in a truly long time. " If noone will accompany you good sir, I should be honored to do so myself. " She laid the offer out even though she noticed he spoke to one in particular. With a soft nod, she looked to the sky and closed her eyes. The warmth of the sun felt good, the breeze that passed was invigorating. In that brief second of time, she felt at peace.

As her eyes drifted open a familiar screech filled her senses and she looked towards the sun. Zeus reared and landed in anticipation and greeting to an old friend who now hovered not far off from them. " Isis? " she whispered as she stepped infront of Zeus, her voice filled with wonder. The breeze picked up and with it brought a caress, a touch so gentle and playful, yet unseen. Turning around she looked, half expecting to see the only one who could affect her so. But no sooner had she felt that touch, it vanished. She knew though, knew the source and looked once more to the beautiful bird of flame before her. " Where is he Isis? "
 
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