Log View

Source	Contents
Tenken	The middling portion of the East, nestled between the Scavenger Lands and the Eastern Wyld is largely wild forest. While to the south more tropical rainforests exist, to the east more distinctly deciduous woods are the order of the day. To the North there are more coniferous woods. In this particular region, leaves change and fall with the seasons seeming to have a sense of aesthetic depending on the year. reach the infinitely high trees of the Eastern Wyld. It is currently that gray period between the end of winter and the beginning of spring, a seasonal dead point in which the land hasn't decide what the weather should be. Frost still tips the deadened branches of the trees in the mornings, and fires are needed to keep residents warm throughout the nights. In this sparsely populated area to the East of Great Forks, Middle-Point rests on the edge of a darkened forest. Rumors of various monsters spread around regularly, and recently the rumors have been that demons have been taking residents of Middle-Point in the night, which coincides with the arrival of two men to the waystation. The village often sees folks from other regions, mercenaries escorting goods further East, or travelers making the journey either coming or going. These men were of a different sort though, appearing to be scholars or acolytes of some type. They claimed to belong to 'The Order', shorthand for some formal longer name, but all the residents know is that these two seemed particularly shady. Tenken made his way to Middle-Point due to a message sent to him by one of his priests. With a small cult following him as the patron deity of lost battles/hopeless causes, one of the villagers here petitioned for Tenken's help. He arrived at nighttime by means of sorcerous flight, and the glow from fires in the inn and alehouses along with smoke rising from chimneys let him know that he was close to his destination.
Bright Journey	In among the selection of guards, merchants, travelers, and locals there stands a young lady in gold, white, and black. Cloak fastened around her throat, hood over her head, she looks clean and at least decently well rested in a situation where most people have their heads down, looking to not attract attention, and be on their way. Even more noticeable is the large sack over her shoulder, one she can barely lift. The bottom of the sack is starting to soak through with a dark substance. Fortunately, she makes as much of a beeline as the people around her allow to the local butcher, and it becomes plain that her goal is less than nefarious. One less sack full of deer meat and one more pouch of jade later, the young woman looks curiously around. Perhaps for something in particular, perhaps simply for something to do.
Iron Reed Scholar	Iron Reed has been seeking out the other members of the Order of Turvar. His former colleagues have become increasingly violent since the schism. He arrived via a Cirrus Skiff, having brought with him several of his followers. They're settled in the town, yet Iron Reed has headed to the edge of the small town, axe slung over his back, his robes worn thick hood raised against the cold. He scratches at his beard as he considers where his quarry may be hiding. His other hand worrying at something tucked away in his loose-fitting grey robes.
Tenken	Tenken makes his way along the outskirts of town, his robes concealing his hands as well as most of his frame. His chestnut brown hair moves with the wind as he walks into it. Becoming annoyed at the hair plastered against his face and obscuring the vision of his one 'good' eye, he wraps some of it back into a kind of ponytail, bangs still frame the left side of his face and revealing the black eyepatch covering his right side. He finds the small temple to the gods used by the town, in which various shrines to different deities are found. A priest cares for them all equally, as the village is not big enough nor does it have the resources to have individual temples to each. He steps through the large wooden archway and double doors of the temple, and once out of the wind he sees a few different priests, one of whom he recognizes. With a smile, he says "My my, it seems my priests find it amusing to call me into the middle of nowhere pretty often these days," at which Jin, a priest in grey robes, looks up and hurries over. He bows his head and explains the situation, and tells Tenken about the disappearances of villagers and how the initial investigation revealed that new arrivals to the town were responsible. Jin hadn't found much information on the Order they claimed to be with, but gave Tenken a map scrawled on parchment to their approximate whereabouts in the woods. Tenken nods, taking the map, though it seemed he wouldn't need it as a woman's scream rang out through the quiet village. Running outside, he looks in the direction of the scream, and leaps into the air flying towards the full moon shining brightly in the night. At the edge of the woodline, a woman is weeping as she moans "Where are my daughters???".
Bright Journey	Uh-oh. In a town this size, 'Where are my daughters?' is a heck of a lot less likely a question than it'd be in a real city. Or even a real town. Mind you, the black-cloaked woman -had- been looking for the nearest tavern, thence to have a seat and a pint, but it's clear now there's more important things to do. In a dark hood with the moon the strongest light around, it's very nearly impossible to see her eyes. Her jawline, though, tightens in pain as she hears the mother's wailing. With an inaudible sigh under her breath, the young woman scurries down the street, moving at a brisk walk and craning her neck up to try and spot the woman. She can't be that hard to spot in surroundings like this.
Iron Reed Scholar	Iron Reed spins running towards the source of the scream. He was already loosening his axe when it's revealed someone is looking for her daughters. He swears quietly to himself as he slips his axe back into place, though his features a set in a hard expression, his eyes scanning the crowds for signs of anyone he might recognise, an easy way to find the culprit, or the woman. He knuckles his his beard gently as he searches his other hand moving once more to his axe.
Tenken	Tenken flies silently overhead and sees the source of the commotion, one of the villagers that lives in a cabin on the edge of the woods. The woman, appearing to be in her mid-40s, is dressed in a nightgown and as emotionally distraught as she slaps the shoulder of her husband who is embracing her, telling him to do something about it. Tenken spots two other figures moving toward the woman, and decides to land in between two buildings in an alley, then walking the rest of the way towards them. He arrives about 15-20 seconds after the others deliberately, as his excellent hearing is tuned into the conversations as well as the woodline.
Bright Journey	One thing you can say for the young woman: She doesn't hesitate. That brisk walk turns into a run as soon as she turns the corner around a building and sees evidence of violence. With her cloak streaming in the wind behind her, her hood catches the air and falls to show a young lady with very pale features, silver eyes, and long, straight pale pink hair. Underneath the black cloak is golden armor and a white skirt. Without a moment's hesitation she's in front of the couple, lips pressed in a thin line, eyes narrowed as she looks at the damage. She offers the couple as reassuring a smile as she can, but let's face it--you'd have to be an Anathema to convince them everything's going to be all right at a time like this. "Please, ma'am...let me help." She reaches out to touch the woman's shoulder, but thinks better of it. Now's not the time. "Introductions later. What did you see, and where did they take your daughters?" The mother looks almost ready to actually answer, but breaks down into another heaving sob instead. The husband doesn't look one whit less worried, but all he can do is shake his head helplessly. "We didn't see! They were just big, hulking, dark...they just grabbed our girls and ran off. Uhm..." He pauses, squeezing tears from his eyes as he thinks. The wife is way past words at this point, but she points eastward, into the woods...
Bright Journey	Once the woman points, Tenken sees it right away, and Bright picks up on it after a moment. Creatures this size rarely barrel through woods without leaving any trail, and there's a few large, broken branches in that direction. In this light and distance there's no way to tell when precisely it happened, but it doesn't matter. There's no time to waste. Iron Reed would see it eventually, following where everyone else is looking.
Iron Reed Scholar	Iron Reed Scholar arrives near the woman, he looks down at her, his attention turns to the door. He grunts a complaint to himself, not missing the fact that he looks a lot like the cultists he's here to deal with. He's about to speak when Bright Journey beats him to it. He nods slowly as he looks the way instructed, a gust of wind blowing dust in his eyes. He closes them briefly, waiting for the wind to die down it's a moment before he can see anything as he clears the dust from his eyes. Then he's looking the same way as everyone else and actually aware of what they're looking at.
Tenken	Tenken walks up to the group, and nods to the young woman with pink hair. She is beautiful in the moonlight, as her attractiveness is a quality that would stand out in a large city, let alone a small village like this. He introduces himself quickly, saying softly, "Hey, I'm Tenken, looks like these folks could use some help.." his sentence trails off as he notices Iron Reed. According to the map and scrawled notes that the priest gave him, Iron Reed Scholar's (IRS) description matches up to a 'T' with the notes on the paper. Tenken keeps this information to himself, and does his best to resume his normal cadence of speech. Luckily, dust blew into Reed's eyes so he was momentarily blinded and couldnt see Tenken's momentary change in expression, though Bright may have. For a moment, Tenken glared at Reed as if he were the one who had busted through that wall after looking at his notes. Tenken puts the map away, and introduces himself to Reed as well, and gestures toward the woodline, stating, "Im sure we will have time for pleasantries later, maybe we can chat on the move.. but it's probably best to get going." As a description of the daughter wouldnt help much in this situation, Tenken just asks quickly for a name, to which the couple responds, "Her name is Alyssia... please help her." Tenken nods, and looks to the others, his sorcerous wings swaying in the moonlight casting a translucent light which gave him a somewhat ethereal quality.
Bright Journey	Bright Journey looks at Tenken and nods graciously in his direction. She raises an eyebrow in his direction, but her smile could light up a room if she kept it on longer than a half second, but let's be honest. Now's not the time for pleasantries. She points towards the woods, and without a further thought, starts heading in that direction. "I'm called Bright Journey. A pleasure, but we'll share tales over wine another time. I...think I know what these things are, from the--ugh--stench. And we do NOT have much time. But their head start won't stop us from tracking them down if we move -now-. I hope you're both prepared." And with that, they're off.
Iron Reed Scholar	Iron Reed sniffs the air, his expression becomes thoughtful, then concerned. "I am Iron Reed Scholar, but we need to move if we are to find the children." His expression is again severe as he heads for the forest, he only continues once they've some distance from the parents. "Blood Apes took the children, while I suspect even heretics would not seek to harm children, blood apes are dangerous none the less." He doesn't elaborate, his hand once again moving to his axe, the bone haft apparent.
Tenken	Tenken had thought the stench was familiar, and as soon as Bright identified it he placed the sense of unease he had - these things were pretty tough to control. He nods in response to the others, and begins to move at a jog toward the woods, though he lets Iron Reed run point in front of him, as he still isnt sure what the connection is between their targets and this man. "These demons are pretty tough to control.. they might have been expressly ordered to take these people for some reason, but they would also do the exact same if they 'werent expressly told NOT to'... whichever it is demons don't belong out here, and whoever summoned them isnt controlling them correctly." He notes the path and follows the broken branches and smells, running notably behind Reed, matching his pace whether he slows or picks up in speed.
Bright Journey	There's one thing to say about chasing after things the size of blood apes: Sure, they're moving at a good clip, but it's not like anyone's having trouble telling which way they went. Even moving at full speed, at night, in the woods, Bright doesn't have the slightest trouble finding just about every tree branch they broke, every mudhole they stepped in. It's a good thing, too, for as everyone said, time is of the essence. Along the way, Bright looks carefully at both of the people she's traveling with, gauging their expressions carefully. "So. Gentlemen. I don't suppose either of you think much of the Immaculate Order, do you?" Her question is sudden and a non sequitur, and is clearly designed to draw a reaction. She's paying very close attention, trying to see what both men think on the topic.
Tenken	Tenken's response to her question is a mischevious grin, as his own view of the immaculate order is pretty tough to hide anyway, he doesnt think much of them at all. Instead of answering, he flashes his grin at her and pulls his robe aside revealing a starmetal daiklaive, using his thumb to catch the crossguard and bump the sword's hilt up, angling it forward as he runs - ready to draw... then he disappears from view. As Bright was running in the lead, she had glanced back to catch their reactions, and Tenken then asks, "Right back at ya," from her left, now running in stride with her. Anyone with even a lick of combat or martial skills would know that he hadn't leapt, sprinted, or even moved physically. This was something else entirely, as he disappeared and reappeared somewhere else. To do so without blatant use of sorcery though was also a different matter entirely.
Iron Reed Scholar	"They are fools." Iron Reed moves through the forest, letting Bright Journey lead the way he keeps pace with that same grim determination. "I suspect however that they will have commanded the children brought to them unharmed, unless they are simply making the effort to cause upheaval, they're likely to be looking for recruits." He seems to make no effort to hide that he's aware of how these cultists work. The mention of the immaculate order brings a frown. "We aren't too fond of each other I think." He smiles as he looks at the others. "My Order seeks to learn truths, the Immaculates take offense at that."
Bright Journey	Herst Tenken's little stunt, Bright can't help but jump a bit, startled. No, she certainly wasn't expecting that. But to be fair, she just doesn't have the mastery of lore necesary to know what the limits of charms are supposed to be. After the initial surprise, she takes it in stride. "Er...heh. No, it sounds like all three of us have no plans to ever be seen by the Order. That's what I was hoping for." At the reactions of her fellows, Bright Journey just grins a bit, and again, her brilliant smile is striking. "Sorry if that was a bit insulting. I didn't mean to offend, but it sounds like you both understand then why I had to ask. We've all got things to hide." And with that, she plucks from nowhere whatsoever a -massive-, six foot powerbow in Moonsilver and bone. It's taller than she is. In addition, two quivers appear, one at her left hip under her cloak, the other over her right shoulder. "I might talk them into giving up the girls, but...we'll see." And with that, the three of them come upon their quarry...
Tenken	Tenken nods, "We sure do, and everyone is entitled to their secrets." He motions as if locking his lips and throwing away the key with a wink, and turns to look ahead, though he almost stumbles when the powerbow appears from nowhere, or perhaps elsewhere, either way - somewhere. He chuckles, then begins to slow down, gesturing for the others to as well. "They're close". He begins to pan the forest around them, realizing they had traveled rather far in, and the silence was deafening, only broken by occasional hoarse breathing and low rumbling growls. Distance was tough to guage, but they were certainly nearby.
Iron Reed Scholar	Looking over to Bright Journey, Iron Reed grins. "We all have our secrets. Let me say that I know the cultists, they are heretics from my Order, they are far from the most sound of mind, be careful you don't provoke them." His smile slips as he looks at the axe in his hand. "They are often eager to fight." He shakes his head sadly. "I would like to think they will be spoken with, but it is unlikely."
Bright Journey	Bright Journey's silver eyes narrow as she gives Iron Reed Scholar a sidelong glance. "Just what exactly do you know? You've mentioned cultists twice but we only came out here hunting blood apes. Your being here isn't a coincidence, is it?" She glances at Tenzen as he reveals the presence of the Blood Apes and starts looking for them herself. "Never mind. Truth is, we don't need to speculate." Bright stands there, in the middle of the woods at night with a pair of blood apes hiding, ready to strike, and for the first time that bright smile is as wide as can be. "After all, why speculate when we can just ask them!" With that, Bright Journey takes another step forward, standing tall, and brushes her cloak back so it doesn't cover the gleaming golden epaulets on her shoulders, or the golden armor covering her torso...and soon, on her brow, where a third eye might be a gleaming golden center-dotted circle begins to shimmer into view. She calls out into the woods. "Erymanthoi. By my authority as envoy of the Unconquered Sun, I invoke diplomatic immunity. Come forth and parley, Creatures of Darkness. You know against us, it's your only chance of survival."