Fall Of Ortul

[WolfNightV4X1]

Pyral screeched and fled from the branch, the gnarled fingerlike ends moved to snatch him from the air, missing just barely. Pyral swooped away and turned to face the creature. The creaking grew ever louder as the entire tree began to move from it's sedentary position. The creature seemed to glare at Pyral with divots in the bark that resembled eyes, and it's hollow hole creaked, gaping ever wider; the splinters that rimmed it's maw resembled teeth.

The most disturbing thing to Pyral was that this creature wasn't a typical treant. He could feel it's aura lifeless and brutal, unlike any of the treants in his homeland. It horrified him to think that this was a living, yet nonliving being; it was something lower than a skeleton because it was simply mindless.

Pyral dodged a swinging branch, the leaves making shuffling noises as it arced through the air. Pyral flapped harder and higher, escaping the misty forest and proceeding into the less moist air directly above. He was far above the treant and Skoll and was barely able to make out the skirmish between the treant who would likely turn on the wolf with his disappearance. Pyral flapped his wings and ignited his body, his feather heating up rapidly as he took on the essence of flame. It took him minutes to rekindle his fire but when he was finally at full potential he folded his wings and plummeted.

His fiery red body jet downward, with a blue flaming tail licking the sky behind him. The air rushed around him, the trees rushing up at him. The mist around him vaporized into steam. He barely had time to witness the damage Skoll had already done, fragments of wood littering the grassy glen. Pyral braced for impact, his body flew straight into it's center, shattered wood flying into the air. Pyral jet out the other side.

As soon as he flew out he unfurled his wings, whirling around to face the creature he had attacked, already his fiery form had began to dissipate, leaving his charred, dark feathers behind. He watched as the severely weakened creature creaked, the smell of burning wood filled the air, though the mist kept it from catching fire fully.

The treant hobbled over to Pyral and Skoll, a single branch in the air ready to swipe at them both in a last attempt to attack.

 

[Akuma]

As this tree came to life Skoll stood in place as pyral took off flying and dodging but as the beast couldn't see Pyral he immediately came at skoll with the kill he ducked under the branch and came up with a large paw to scratch the arm of the tree making shards of wood fly everywhere. But the tree came around and smacked skoll back making him slide back and thats when pyral came flying through the tree with the kill that he thought would happen. but this bastard wasn't going down without a fight.

Skoll looked as pyral hobbled next to him and the hulking beast was ready to strike them down " ENOUGH! " skoll roared as he put pyral behind him his large paws held out in front of them his body surging with power and energy as the strike made contact with his paws. He began to go down into the floor by the strength of the treant but he then let a large howl go and he began to push the attack back the ground underneath him beginning to crack and turn up as he is pushing the force back.

His immense lycan strength holding the treant causing him to become a bit shocked, " AAAAAAGH! " skoll shouted as he tossed the attack back causing the treant to shake back and begin to topple over. Skoll stood up straight looking at pyral " You alright? " He said as he turned to face the downing threat. Walking towards it breathing heavier and heavier as he became angrier and angrier.

 

[WolfNightV4X1]

Pyral shook his feathers and stretched his wings, he felt a bit banged up from shooting directly through a solid wooden object "I'm fine. Mostly" he said, looking at the devastation they had caused the tree "I'm liking this forest less and less" he said pondering the life essence the tree might have had if not corrupted by the location. Pyral gazed up at Skoll "I saw the entire forest from up there, mostly misty just as I presumed it would be, but the closest exit would be in that direction" He pointed with a talon.

He was disappointing that he hadn't seen any of their teammates, but it was to be expected. He took off in the air again and flew into the forest, hoping not to run into any more of those corrupted treants.

 

[Akuma]

He nodded and placed his paws onto the floor and began rushing through the forest the dirt kicking up behind him as he rushed through the forest watching the mist move in weird ways which he didn't like, He looked up to make sure he could still see pyral because getting lost in here by yourself would be the downfall of everything you have done. And he was not about to die in a fucking misty forest.

 

[Glazer]

Violet returned to Collem's side with news: "Hey.. I think the Chimera's den is around the rock.. we could camp there?"

Collem nodded, "Sounds like a good plan to me. Plenty of shelter.. and the beast sure ain't using it." He chuckled, flashing the girl a weak grin as he stumbled to his feet and made his way to the cave. He kicked the chimera's carcass as he passed. Snake bite had his arm on fire, but the rest of him was feeling okay. But then he felt the ache of a fever creeping up on him. He made a silent prayer that this wasn't about to get any worse for him. Funny how a man gets faithful when death is on the line.

Only Collem wasn't laughing.

 

[Jae- The nonexistant]

Violet nodded and stood up, casting a worried and careful eye at their surroundings. She half-smiled back at Collem before following him silently. When they reached the cave, she sat at the entrance, leaning cautiously against the rock. She looked at Collem. "Are..Are you sure you're okay?" She asked gently, a slight worried tone in her voice. She bit her lower lip gently. If he gets any worse..I might have to carry him out of here..and I don't know if we can make it out then..

 

[Glazer]

Collem grimaced as another spasm of pain ripped through his arm. "Armor kept the monster from biting too deep," he paused, bit his lip, "but I can't rightly say. Reckon we'll spend the night in this cave. If I'm still breathing by morning, we'll have our answer."

He plopped down, more collapsed, beside a rock and rested his head against it. He was tired, very tired, but he got the impression that his rapidly intensifying fever would keep him from getting any actual rest tonight.

 

[Jae- The nonexistant]

Violet nodded, staying silent now. She watched quietly outside the cave and fidgeted with the handle of her bow. We have to get out alive.. She thought to herself. Fear, panic, calm, and wonder all rose up like a rollercoaster in her stomach. She took a deep breath, trying, and failing, to calm herself. She closed her eyes. Please let the others be okay.. She prayed silently. Let us all get out safely and be okay.. She wasn't very strict in her faith, but she didn't wander away from her faith too much. She opened her eyes again, looking around nervously and begging silently that everything would go well. She couldn't do this herself, and she knew that well.

 

[WolfNightV4X1]

Pyral burned a few poisonous plants that protruded before the toxins could reach Skoll. Though he was sure the lycan could care for himself, still, better safe then sorry. The plants didn't catch fire but shriveled from the few embers and sparks he could muster. The hours passed silently, Pyral didn't say much to the Lycan, and Skoll seemed equally silent. Pyral landed on a branch to better get his bearing, "I remember seeing the closest exit in that direction, but there's no point if we can't find the others first". Pyral fluffed his feathers, pondering the situation "I think it wouldn't be right if we couldn't find them first" he spoke "I also remembered seeing something shrouded in mist somewhere in the center. We should head that way" he pointed his beak in the direction and swooped down, hoping that this nightmarish romp through the demented forest would be over soon.

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Dead grew worried when he lost visage of his teammate, he scaled down the rocks, back into the mist. The form of Edward became clearer. He was relieved to see he had eradicated one of the worms. Dead watched as the worm retreated into one of the crags. He scaled the rocks lower, coming face to face with Edward. "Nice shot, seems like you've taken care of them, we should probably leave before the worm returns". Edward nodded and Dead began to climb up, his phantom muscles began to ache, Dead couldn't want to reach the top fast enough. Something slithered from within the rocks and it created an echoing noise. "Watch out!" Edward shouted, pushing Dead away. Dead plummeted as his grip on the rocks was lost. He grabbed another rock mid fall, his fingers holding on for dear life as the rest of his body slammed onto the edge of the precipice. He could only watch in horror as the spot where he once was, the worm had gripped Edward in it's maw, Edward stabbed it multiple times, but with each stab his arm became stiff and locked up. The worm slowly began to consume him, his body receding inside the worm.

"Edward!" Dead shouted, scaling the rocks faster. At this point only Edward's upper body was visible, his arms and legs hopelessly frozen as if he was truly dead. "Dead, don't worry about me! Go! Complete the quest! Before the worm gets you too!" Dead felt as if an invisible heart throbbed in his chest, "I can't leave you! We're a team!" he said raising his blade to stab the worm. Edward mumbled "No! Any second now the worm will attack you as well, don't risk it!" only his skull was visible at this point "I'll be fine! I'm undead, remember? Now go!" Dead nodded, respecting the wishes of his teammate and climbed the rock ever higher. The worm would finish feeding soon and go after him. As much as he knew he could kill the warm and release Edward, the worm could also devour him. Dead gripped the top of the cliff, pulling the rest of his body up with him.

He stared solemnly down at the misty rocks below, "Farewell Edward" he whispered. His teammate now trapped yet again. Dead didn't worry though, the worm couldn't kill him, and he had a feeling Edward wouldn't be imprisoned forever. He looked at the rest of the landscape now, panning as far as the eye can see. As expected, most of it was covered in mist. But there was one spot, not so misty, yet misty enough to cover something. He gazed at it, trying to figure out what it was. He pulled his hood over his skull, trekking in the direction he placed in his memory.

 

[TiedInBone]

Three days pass while our intrepid adventurers wonder aimlessly in the dark recesses of the Mist Strewn Forest, they had grouped together close to the center of the forest in a hollow completely devoid of mist. There, they had moved onward together, the now five travelers; Dead, Violet, Collem, Skoll and Pyral had been lost in the forest for little under a week and with supplies running low and tensions running high they needed to escape.....more than they knew.

It had taken Rowan's messenger little more than half a day to reach the deck of the Fog Drifter:
A vast airship that floated high above Mist Strewn Forest from there the King's forces have access to all the wind roads that run atop the continent, channels of dense air bore into the sky from years of harpies migrating to their different nests. The wind roads had until Gawain's rule only been usable by the Harpies and Gryphons but that was before the airships. Airships are magically enchanted sea vessels docked in the clouds above Ortul that use the wind roads to travel over the land faster than any other army could, usually an airship cannot dock anywhere apart from over a wind port. The first wind port hovers over Ortul leashed to the Six Horned Palace and other three each lie at the highest points in the empire one to the south, west and east. The Fog Drifter however is special, it is far lighter than the other airships and as such can dock anywhere there is enough moisture in the area, it was created by the top shipwrights and magical professors and is almost as aerodynamic as an actual bird. It is captained by James Ironwill the admiral of Gawain's sky fleet and a most dangerous man behind the wheel of an airship, right now he and his crew track our adventurers through the mist waiting in ambush!

It did not take long after the group emerged from the trees before they saw the shadow of the descending vessel, Skoll and Pyral looked ready to fight but Collem knew better, he had seen the devastation of the airships too many times to count. All military men are required to serve at least one year on an airship and for a natural seaman like Collem North, the allure of traversing the skies was all too tempting. Collem had served first on The Firekite, when his skill was recognized he was transferred onto The Fog Drifter as one of its officers. Captain Ironwill knew him well and made no threat as the airship finished its descent ten meters from the ground ahead of them.
"Get on aboard then, we've no time to lose" Ironwill spoke with a light tone but there was no masking this as an order, the group climbed the boarding ladders as Pyral flew up to meet them on the deck.
"Chain the bird down and disarm the rest", the group looked to Collem once more for guidance and saw in his eyes a reluctant acceptance, only Skoll seemed agitated enough to fight but as he had stepped onto the deck he seemed incapable of shifting out of his human form.
"Now as you can see unauthorized magic is prohibited on this ship, a nasty little hex that should subdue any special talents you might have. So I think your position is clear to you but I will fill you in just in case, your on your way to The Crystalline Mountain where you will disappear from the world forever. Now to the brig with you."

The group shuffles down to the brig as the guards stand either side of them, Pyral cradled in Violet's arms chained down by a large metal ball Skoll was kind enough to carry, he stood just behind Violet anger flaring in his eyes as he desperately wished he could tear these guards apart. Dead and Collem made up the rear both had resigned themselves to this fate quickly, they both knew the odds of escape here and were experienced enough not try. The metal of the cage door rang as it swung open the cold air blowing in from the nearby window clearly putting a lot of pressure on the weak metal; The Fog Drifter was built for speed and maneuverability so all the structure on board is very lightweight. The door slammed behind them, locked and bolted the guards walked to the entrance of the large room and turned inwards to face the prisoners. Escape was impossible and even if they could escape they were high enough in the air that only Pyral could survive if they made it off the airship and she was chained to a dead-weight, Skoll paced back and forth using all the strength he had to shift as the others sat idly and defeated, then he glimpsed it, the smile on Collem's face it lasted only an instant then vanished. He leaned in and inquired "What? What is it?"

Collem smirked and looked to the other side of the cell Skoll traced his gaze and saw it, a message scratched into the wooden planks of the floor, it looked brand new as if one of the group had made it just now, but they hadn't so who. *Wait* Skoll thought *why does who matter, what matters is what it said 'HELP IS COMING'*