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Arcanis: Gonnes, Sons, and Treasure Runs (COMPLETED)
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<blockquote data-quote="talien" data-source="post: 3808287" data-attributes="member: 3285"><p><strong>As Gray and Cold As Stone - Part 8b: A Restless Night</strong></p><p></p><p>Some hours later, Ilmarė was awakened by a loud crash from the back part of the villa, followed by a heavy thump. After that, silence descended once more.</p><p></p><p>Ilmarė lay in her bed, staring at the ceiling. She really didn’t want to investigate the disturbance. But she knew she should. And she knew that things would only be worse if she didn’t get up.</p><p></p><p>Ilmarė drew her trusty throwing dagger from beneath her pillow. She had never given it back to its original owner, Captain Bezyli, but with good reason; it had saved her life and ended the lives of others on more than one occasion. </p><p></p><p>“Quintus!” she hissed. “Wake up!”</p><p></p><p>Quintus was still dressed in his party attire in a bed on the other side of the room. Ilmarė was sure that an unmarried female sleeping in the same room as an unmarried male would offend human sensibilities, even if she were elorii. But she didn’t care. </p><p></p><p>Or at least, she told herself that when she shook her companion awake. People had just assumed, and Ilmarė was not inclined to disabuse them of the notion.</p><p></p><p>“Get up, Quintus! I heard a noise.”</p><p></p><p>Quintus’ eyes fluttered open. “Wha?”</p><p></p><p>“A noise.” Ilmarė threw his sheathed gladius to him. He was too groggy to catch it, so it thumped into his stomach. “I think it came from Acastus’ study.”</p><p></p><p>That got the legionnaire to his feet. He opened the door and poked his head out. “There’s a light under the door.”</p><p></p><p>Ilmarė crept past him and made her way over. She peered into the darkness on the other side of the lit doorway.</p><p></p><p>“Kham?”</p><p></p><p>“Oh, hi.” Kham held Fleshripper pointed towards the ground. “Did you two just come out of the same bedroom?”</p><p></p><p>Quintus didn’t bother to answer. He kicked the door open with his bare foot.</p><p></p><p>Acastus’ study was dark, but light from the hallway revealed a ransacked mess. Books and papers were strewn everywhere, and bloodstains dotted the floor in several places. The curtains in the window swayed gently in the still night air, but there was otherwise no movement or sign of life.</p><p></p><p>“Show yourself, intruder!” bellowed Quintus.</p><p></p><p>Suddenly, a hideous figure leaped out from behind the desk, snarling from its sharp-toothed mouth. It wore a bloodstained toga. A bloody wound still gaped open at its throat. By far its most horrible feature was its face; it leered, pallid skin stretched tightly over the skull, its eyes as gray and cold as stone.</p><p></p><p>“It’s Acastus!” shouted Kham.</p><p></p><p>Quintus lifted the amulet at his neck and lifted it towards the thing that was once Acastus. “Foul creature of Neroth’s rage, back to Beltaine’s embrace!”</p><p></p><p>Acastus’ lips peeled back in a feral snarl. Then it leaped at Quintus with claws outstretched.</p><p></p><p>There was a flash of metal, and Acastus stumbled. Kham held Fleshripper with both hands. Gibbets of flesh dripped from the blade.</p><p></p><p>“I saw someone escape out the window,” said Quintus. “Keep going! I’ll take care of this!”</p><p></p><p>“How?” asked Kham. “By shouting at it?”</p><p></p><p>The ghoul launched itself again at Quintus. He drew his gladius in time to run the thing through. Its claws gripped Quintus’ face.</p><p></p><p>Then Captain Bezyli’s dagger jutted from Acastus forehead. And for the second time, he was still.</p><p></p><p>Acastus slumped to the ground, eyes wide, jaw slack. </p><p></p><p>Ilmarė kneeled down to pluck something out of Acastus’ mouth. “Here’s the problem.” She flipped a coin to Kham.</p><p></p><p>Kham snatched it out of the air. “Canceri coin,” he said, holding it up to the moonlight. </p><p></p><p>“A Coin of the Soul’s Travails,” said Ilmarė. </p><p></p><p>Kham pocketed the coin. “If I had a light I could tell you more…say, where’s the statue?”</p><p></p><p>“What?” asked Quintus. </p><p></p><p>“The statue. There was a statue of Illiir in here and now it’s gone.”</p><p></p><p>“So we have a murderer and a thief,” said Ilmarė. “Whoever assassinated Acastus wanted to ensure he could never be brought back. They didn’t just violate his corpse…”</p><p></p><p>“They violated his soul.” Quintus’ nostrils flared. “Whoever did this will pay dearly. Let’s go.”</p><p></p><p>Quintus hopped up on the windowsill. </p><p></p><p>“Uh, you may want to—“</p><p></p><p>The legionnaire disappeared over the edge. Kham winced when he heard the sound of legionnaire tumbling down the steep hill. It was followed by a loud curse. </p><p></p><p>“Never mind,” said Kham. </p><p></p><p>Ilmarė leaped easily onto the windowsill. “Child’s play for a child of Osalian,” she said. She waved at Kham and then stepped backwards off of the sill. </p><p></p><p>“You do that,” said Kham. “The children of Althares take the steps.”</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="talien, post: 3808287, member: 3285"] [b]As Gray and Cold As Stone - Part 8b: A Restless Night[/b] Some hours later, Ilmarė was awakened by a loud crash from the back part of the villa, followed by a heavy thump. After that, silence descended once more. Ilmarė lay in her bed, staring at the ceiling. She really didn’t want to investigate the disturbance. But she knew she should. And she knew that things would only be worse if she didn’t get up. Ilmarė drew her trusty throwing dagger from beneath her pillow. She had never given it back to its original owner, Captain Bezyli, but with good reason; it had saved her life and ended the lives of others on more than one occasion. “Quintus!” she hissed. “Wake up!” Quintus was still dressed in his party attire in a bed on the other side of the room. Ilmarė was sure that an unmarried female sleeping in the same room as an unmarried male would offend human sensibilities, even if she were elorii. But she didn’t care. Or at least, she told herself that when she shook her companion awake. People had just assumed, and Ilmarė was not inclined to disabuse them of the notion. “Get up, Quintus! I heard a noise.” Quintus’ eyes fluttered open. “Wha?” “A noise.” Ilmarė threw his sheathed gladius to him. He was too groggy to catch it, so it thumped into his stomach. “I think it came from Acastus’ study.” That got the legionnaire to his feet. He opened the door and poked his head out. “There’s a light under the door.” Ilmarė crept past him and made her way over. She peered into the darkness on the other side of the lit doorway. “Kham?” “Oh, hi.” Kham held Fleshripper pointed towards the ground. “Did you two just come out of the same bedroom?” Quintus didn’t bother to answer. He kicked the door open with his bare foot. Acastus’ study was dark, but light from the hallway revealed a ransacked mess. Books and papers were strewn everywhere, and bloodstains dotted the floor in several places. The curtains in the window swayed gently in the still night air, but there was otherwise no movement or sign of life. “Show yourself, intruder!” bellowed Quintus. Suddenly, a hideous figure leaped out from behind the desk, snarling from its sharp-toothed mouth. It wore a bloodstained toga. A bloody wound still gaped open at its throat. By far its most horrible feature was its face; it leered, pallid skin stretched tightly over the skull, its eyes as gray and cold as stone. “It’s Acastus!” shouted Kham. Quintus lifted the amulet at his neck and lifted it towards the thing that was once Acastus. “Foul creature of Neroth’s rage, back to Beltaine’s embrace!” Acastus’ lips peeled back in a feral snarl. Then it leaped at Quintus with claws outstretched. There was a flash of metal, and Acastus stumbled. Kham held Fleshripper with both hands. Gibbets of flesh dripped from the blade. “I saw someone escape out the window,” said Quintus. “Keep going! I’ll take care of this!” “How?” asked Kham. “By shouting at it?” The ghoul launched itself again at Quintus. He drew his gladius in time to run the thing through. Its claws gripped Quintus’ face. Then Captain Bezyli’s dagger jutted from Acastus forehead. And for the second time, he was still. Acastus slumped to the ground, eyes wide, jaw slack. Ilmarė kneeled down to pluck something out of Acastus’ mouth. “Here’s the problem.” She flipped a coin to Kham. Kham snatched it out of the air. “Canceri coin,” he said, holding it up to the moonlight. “A Coin of the Soul’s Travails,” said Ilmarė. Kham pocketed the coin. “If I had a light I could tell you more…say, where’s the statue?” “What?” asked Quintus. “The statue. There was a statue of Illiir in here and now it’s gone.” “So we have a murderer and a thief,” said Ilmarė. “Whoever assassinated Acastus wanted to ensure he could never be brought back. They didn’t just violate his corpse…” “They violated his soul.” Quintus’ nostrils flared. “Whoever did this will pay dearly. Let’s go.” Quintus hopped up on the windowsill. “Uh, you may want to—“ The legionnaire disappeared over the edge. Kham winced when he heard the sound of legionnaire tumbling down the steep hill. It was followed by a loud curse. “Never mind,” said Kham. Ilmarė leaped easily onto the windowsill. “Child’s play for a child of Osalian,” she said. She waved at Kham and then stepped backwards off of the sill. “You do that,” said Kham. “The children of Althares take the steps.” [/QUOTE]
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