New Changes. Old Demons pt. 5
The group began formulating their plan concerning the two different destinations. Each provided any insight to the respective directions. It wasn’t long before the pressing question regarding the Kelekene would come up.
‘Erothlos.’ began Eifraien, ‘There is one thing that still troubles me. What exactly are we up against? What is the great threat Ar’Kelos may unleash with this act? I need to aware of what is going on so we can properly prepare.’
Erothlos sighed. ‘Your concerns are well placed and you deserve an answer.’ he looked back a Lady Arialas whom still stayed silent. ‘We believe he seeks to unlock the past. What we believe he is unlocking is not what we fear. How he is going about it, is. If allowed to proceed, it jeopardizes the lives of many. Something we Elorii have sworn to never do again. I am truly sorry, I cannot give you more than this.’
Eifraien pondered the Marokene’s words deeply for a moment. ‘I believe I understand. Let us find him quickly and end this.’ Everyone nodded in agreement at the Cleric’s words.
Normally, tracks three months old would be almost impossible to find, but the little traffic in the area and no weather doing any significant changes made tracking difficult, but feasible.
The Eloran group headed off first, charging quickly toward the East basin of the mountain, toward the Fervidus Hills and Voei territory. Eifraien’s party headed off South bound moments later.
No later than half a day’s travel, signs of the tracks Efraien's party followed took on an odd pattern. The foot and wagon prints displayed signs of trailing off to the side. Investigating further, they spotted a damaged wagon roughly three-hundred paces from the main path. Who, or what, ever attacked it left it barren of any supplies and signs of a scuffle littered the area. The tracks lead even further away from the path towards a cropping. The trio quietly approached it just in time to notice two humanoid figures searching around, roughly thirty paces ahead. They chattered in an unknown tongue and hunched forward somewhat. That’s when Plish noticed the tails and elongated noses.
‘Ratmen?’ he whispered to the party. ‘What are they doing so far up in the mounta …. OH CRAP!’ Plish’s comment was suddenly silenced with a thud. All three faded into black.
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The three Elorii rode fiercely, stopping only to avoid small contingents of Voei, to allow the horses to rest and feed/drink, or to double check the tracks they were following. As luck would have it, traffic in this area was low with the exception of the Voei, making it easier to follow the other group that could lead to Ar’Kelos’ possible whereabouts. Half a day’s ride they found what they were looking for, much to their disarray.
‘By Belisarda’ stated Erothlos with horror as he witnessed that which was before him.
The scene was something out of a gory murder investigation. Bodies laid everywhere, both humanoid and horses alike. The wagon, too small to provide enough space to carry sufficient supplies, was destroyed beyond repair. Signs of decay began to settle in and the first signs of carrion birds circled the sky above.
Talendos dismounted and began to scrutinize what happened here.
The other two Elorii dismounted. Erothlos prepared a makeshift post to tether the horses to. He began to approach closer ‘This was a slaughter.’
‘This makes no sense.’ began Talendos as he analyzed the site.
‘Elaborate, Talendos.’ asked Erothlos.
‘Eil, we are amongst each other, what's with the formalities?’ interjected Talendos. ‘The caravan is too small to make it all the way toward where we suspected. And look at the signs of the skirmish here. No indication of anyone being dragged off, nor are there any deeper impressions than other amongst the prints. Thankfully, it does not appear like Ar’Kelos was here, but still this disturbs me. It’s like this team was set up as a distraction.’
‘Why does that seem troublesome?’ inquired Erothlos.
‘Because I do not know if the group deliberately knew or were unaware of being sacrificial pawns.’ completed Talendos.
Lady Arialas began to walk throughout the area at a certain pace. She held her holy symbol in hand and offered silent prayers to those that fell in hopes to provide their souls some semblance of peace into the beyond.
‘Rain check on that, ail, we got company.’ stated Talendos as he drew both his swords.
Surrounding them was a pack of Voei. However, they did not charge violently as they’ve been known to do. Weapons in hands, they started to bang them against their shields. Upon doing so in unison, they charged in.
Erothlos quickly cast a spell and immediately took a defensive stance to protect Arialas.
‘Never say there are dull moments when traveling with family.’ chuckled Talendos to himself.
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Tabithna awoke with a smashing headache. She attempted to move about and gather her surroundings, but found herself restrained. Upon opening her eyes, she looked around. She was tied against a post in what appeared to be a courtyard of sorts. To her sides she saw both Eifraien and Plish also tied to similar posts.
Before them were three of the rat-like humanoids from before. They held spears in hand, watching over their captives. One of them scurried off behind the prisoners when all three regained consciousness.
‘Are you okay, Tabithna?’ whispered Eifraien.
‘Aye, though I have a headache that could rival one of Plish’s hangovers.’ she stated.
‘You wished.’ scoffed the Dwarf.
‘You figure a way out of this yet?’ inquired Tabithna.
‘Nay. And the rope job they’ve used on me is pretty remarkable. I have yet been able to wriggle myself free from it.’ completed the Rogue.
Moments later, the ratman that scurried off returned to his post besides the other two ratmen. ‘Good, you have all awakened.’ followed a voice in calm, alluring manner. A woman began moving from behind the restrained group to face them, walking with a familiarly sultry grace, wearing a familiarly scant robe that still managed to make even Larissan Dancers blush.
‘You have GOT to be kidding me!’ quipped Plish.
‘Aww. You DO remember me! You’re making me blush, Dwarf.’ she faked coyly trying to cover her face as she caressed the Dwarf's.
‘So this is where you fled toward? We thought you long gone. You were overdue for a dip.’ taunted Tabithna, hoping to strike the right nerve.
‘Down, kitty. No claws for you today. And seeing the precarious position you’re in, no magic either. Btw, I feel even a minor mental pulse and the other three bite it.’ warned the woman looking at Tabithna.
‘Three? Wait, you have the Elorii?’ demanded Tabithna.
‘For about three months now.’ boasted the woman. ‘He’s been my plaything for the time being.’ smiling mischievously as she continued to brag.
‘You want to see claws? I’ll show you claws!’ reacted Tabithna as she tried to break free from her bonds.
‘My, my, my, aren’t we the green one?’ taunted the woman.
‘What do you want with us? If it’s another invitation to join your flea-bitten club, our answer is still no.’ stated Eifraien defiantly.
‘Your chance for the Gift was squandered, heathen. You’ll never get that offer again.’ she scowled. ‘After you defeated me back then, my pups and pupils were rounded up and exterminated. As if we were vermin! How dare you! No, your fate shall be different this time. Food for the Gods, starting with the Mage below.’ she smiled wickedly.
‘NO!’ yelled Tabithna, continuing to struggled versus her bindings.
The scant robe woman instructed one of the ratmen to go below and give the order. It proceeded toward the entrance of the courtyard and turned into an entrance on the left, there if followed a rampart down to a set of short stairs which lead to a set of jail cells. It went to the first cell. There a figure laid a figure chained against the wall. Battered and beaten so badly the bruises on his face covered one of his eyes.
The Elorii looked up as best he could at his would-be visitor. ‘Your time comes, Elorii. You. Come do as the lady commanded.’ pointing at a figure further down the cell hall. A massive creature came forth and faced the cell with the Eloran captive. The ratman started to head back upstairs. The Elorii looked at the being before him. ‘Finish what you should have done months ago.’ The being grasped the cell’s door and ripped it off its hinges. It approached the captive, grasping him by the throat as he lifted the Elorii off his feet …
The ratman made his way back to the courtyard. ‘It has begun, my Lady.’ it reconfirmed when it reunited with his other ratmen and the woman.
‘Good. Now for you.’ as she turned to her captives. ‘I wanted to see you die swiftly due to all the troubles you have caused me. But, in my time brooding over your demise, it seemed much more appropriate to see you suffer. I want to see you squirm in pain, writhe in agony, and watch in horror as you are consumed slowly to death. Normally, I would have brought forth zombies to do the job, but seeing where we are and how scarce food is to come by at times, I figured I’d let the ratmen here feast off you until nothing but pure white bones are left. Yes, I think I will thoroughly enjoy the site of this. Go, my children, feast to your hearts’ content.’ commanded the woman.
The ratmen dropped their weapons and began to approach the three captives. Their mouths salivating at the prospect of humanoid flesh. They never made five feet away from their starting point ...
A loud roar came from the heavens as a large hunk of flaming rock crashed upon the ratmen and the woman. The sheer force of the impact along with the massive heat evaporated the ratmen into nothing, even the three captives were struck with soot, ash, and debre from the comet’s collision. The woman’s robe burned right off and her skin displayed signs of first degree burns.
‘WHAT?!’ cried the woman in disbelief, her skin already began regaining composure and structure, testament to her amazing regenerative abilities.
‘AR’KELOOOOOOOOOOOOOS!!!’ yelled Tabithna, both in defiance and succor.
By the courtyard's entrance to the jail cells stood a beaten and battered Kelekene using a plank of wood as a makeshift crutch while still donning broken chains on his wrists and ankles. His gaze affixed on the now naked woman. His aura blazed with the fury of Hell itself.
To be concluded …
_________________ Talendos, the Shadow Raven 3.0 Expert, Soldier of Retribution, Assassin "When you do something right, it's as if you didn't do it at all ..."
Echo B-lister, Super Human, Brawler "Bringing the noise!"
Last edited by EddieS on Sun Feb 25, 2018 11:01 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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