Midnight - Crown of Shadow

Tokiwong · Aug 4, 2003

OOC: Toki, your picture didn't link. Evidently, animeshrine, doesn't supoort linking.

Swashbuckler · Aug 4, 2003

OoC: I had a post written, and the site crashed out my Explorer while it was attempting to post it. In it, I described Kal's reaction to Choric's question, his reaction to the lightning blasts, and his subsequent asking Choric for leave to investigate the damage (if any) to Bailey's farm (since he's on duty).

I can only assume that Choric agreed and/or came along as well.
---------------------------
IC:

Kal smelled the smells of ozone, burning wood & field grass, and ... something else he couldn't quite place. It was foul, whatever it was. The group stood amongst the trees at the edge of Bailey's farm-field, the scent of the carnage they were sure to find strong in their nostrils.

Damn the morning fog, Kal thought. I cannot see a thing in this weather!

Mace in hand, he moved forward into the gloom, not even pausing to wait for the others with him. There were duties to be done. At least this wouldn't be another boring day on the guard post ...

They were indeed following, and the group came upon the back of the little farmhouse. Black smoke billowed into the air, and it seemed as if the others were glancing about for signs of raiders.

To the Fell with this, Kal steeled his mind. If the Bailey's ARE indeed inside, that's no way to meet one's end.

Moving quickly, Kal runs around to the front, intent on kicking the door down (if he has to) to get to anyone who might be trapped inside.

Emiricol · Aug 4, 2003

Elig freezes. The smoke, that other smell... The sense of dread...

Elig motions the others to stop, crouches down, and looks carefully about the clearing, and at any potential hiding spots, trying to see if there are any servants of the Shadow of the North about. No use getting killed over the Baileys, after all.

EDIT Elig sees Illa, but realizes there is little he can do about her right now, or for her. Not until the group is sure there are no enemies about.

Tokiwong · Aug 4, 2003

Finally... after minutes of struggling throught the forest, you come to it's edge. The smell of burning wood is in the air....... and something else.... Ahead of you is an old farm house, Bailey's home, which you have approached from behind. It is a small one story building, with a front porch and a grey slate roof which now appears to be smoking heavily. Fire slithers upward and has begun to spread. Soon the entire roof will be in flames.

Ilsha blinks unable to comprehend the damage being done, she shrieks loudly, "Fire! Fire! Fire!" the smoke already burning at her eyes, she looks for any water, or a bucket, or even a well to find something to perhaps abate the flames.

"Someone please help... there is fire!" she shrieks again, trying to maintain what little composure she has left.

Sir Osis of Liver · Aug 4, 2003

Aerenar Tell

Aeren quickly puts his hand on Ilsha's shoulder and tries to gently turn her around so he can look her in the eye, "Calm down, we'll go try and help. You have to stop screaming though. Who can tell what may hear you. Alright?"

Guest 11456 · Aug 4, 2003

OOG: Sorry for the late post.

Earlier: Upon witnessing the lightning strikes, Choric calls to the nearest watchmen. "Hold your stations! Kal and I shall investigate. Alert the watch captain!" then Choric rushes after the others through the woods.

Now: Choric rushes toward the farm house.

Tokiwong · Aug 5, 2003

Re: Aerenar Tell

Sir Osis of Liver said:
Aeren quickly puts his hand on Ilsha's shoulder and tries to gently turn her around so he can look her in the eye, "Calm down, we'll go try and help. You have to stop screaming though. Who can tell what may hear you. Alright?"

Ilsha screams again, not expecting the hand, and stumbles away from Aeren, "Calm down..." she mutters, "we must help them, if anyone is inside..." she looks back to the house... still shaken. Ilsha looks around, "By the Shadow, this is horrible!"

Swashbuckler · Aug 5, 2003

He heard the screams and shrieks coming from outside, sounding vaguely like it was coming from the area where he left the others.

Just what we need ... some woman panicking, grumbled Kal, while checking the door to see if it was hot or cold to his touch.

If there is any goodness left in the world, may it be watching over me ..., and with that, Kal tried to kick through the door of the farmhouse. The door rattled on its hinges, but it did not fall. Trying the handle, he found it quite locked. He shook it vigorously, then cried out to those that might be inside.

"Is there anyone in here? Do you need help?"

Sir Osis of Liver · Aug 5, 2003

Aerenar Tell

Aeren says,"Uh, someone stay here with, Ilsha?" as he runs across the yard to catch up with Kal. "Kal wait up, you shouldn't go in there alone!"

Ashrem Bayle · Aug 5, 2003

Kal, dashed toward the back door and checked it for heat. It wasn't very warm, but it was locked. He was in too much of a hurry to notice what lay in the front yard.

-------------------------------------------------------------

As the others approached from the forest, they where able to get a look at the horrific scene. What awaited them, was nothing short of a nightmare made real.

A slender spear, seven foot long, had been planted vertically in the ground. It was upon this spear that Tad Bailey would suffer through the last tormented moments of his life. The young man was stripped naked. The spear held him aloft, penetrating his anus and exiting through a hole near the base of his neck.

Tad's eyes fluttered, his body spasmed. With a sickening, wet, tearing sound, he slid another inch down the spear. The movement brought on another wave of convulsions and a stream of blood poured from his lips. Dark blood had collected in a pool below him. He suffered as no man was meant to, but yet he lived.

Aerenar and Ilsha noisally vomited up what little they had eaten earlier.

Choric and Tamari noticed, past the poor impaled soul, something was smoking near the opposite forest edge and seemed to be the source of the sickening smell.