Ray Heart (Completed/Finished)

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Thorne Glowbrew
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It was no use trying to look for a clocktower that was nearby to hide out in, all Thorne could find was a decrepit church that was barely standing. Thorne had a distinct aversion to churches due to his “affliction” as an undead. He was overly paranoid about the thought of a priest discovering him and putting him back into a coffin without any empathy for his situation. Thorne had already had close experiences once or twice with very devout religious leaders, and having to deal with them in his job always made him uneasy. Gritting his teeth was all he could do though as he made his way into the church on the edge of the slums. In his haste, he didn’t initially notice it was the same church that Kyrian and Naeve had fled to.

Thorne awoke the next morning to the sound of a man cackling in the distance. He had accidentally dozed off during the night, thankfully having not encountered any assassins. From his perch, Thorne could peer into the church and see it was more like a homeless shelter. A man was missing his pants in one corner, scrounging for food, and there seemed to be baked potatoes being passed out below. It took Thorne a few moments to notice the priest and Naeve inside of the church, but when he did, he sighed. Well… his escape didn’t quite turn into much of an escape, and his attempt to move away from others didn’t quite go to plan. His bones ached from the past few days’ activity. He didn’t have many other options, so he might as well go down and ask for some help. There was no way he was going to attempt to take down his assassins’ boss alone, so he might as well gain some backup.

It took a few moments for Thorne to stand, but eventually he made himself look somewhat presentable when he appeared. His stature didn’t last long though as he appeared before the two, collapsing to a knee from the pain. “Shit… alright, do either of you know healing magic that doesn’t involve a screaming plant,” He said, getting annoyed that he was making a habit of asking for healing at this point.
 
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Interactions: @Skyhunter
Running as fast as his legs could, Nyxus paid no mind to the stragglers behind him: their forlorn cries only pushed him to go further. Amidst the darkness, save for the glow of his Ethercaps, Nyxus followed the back of whoever was in front of him. At that moment, he put aside his disdain for the gang who made him a fugitive and the self-pity created by the unfortunate events of this night. The only thought rattling within his head was a primal sense of self-preservation.

Soon the feeling of hopelessness was replaced by one of relief. As Nyxus continued his sprint down the murky pathway, he noticed the sewer walls seemingly stopped the further he went down. Soon he no longer found himself in the confines of the cramped, dank sewers but now back outside in the cold, snowy night. Nyxus didn't have time to catch his breath as he was suddenly pushed forwards by someone, landing face-first in a nearby pile of snow.

Now his legs and his body aching, Nyxus slowly rolled over to see whoever pushed him. Much to his surprise, it was the same dark-haired fellow he met earlier in the sewers, Kaz, if he recalled. Despite the concerning injuries on their arms, it seemed they made it out relatively safe, much to Nyxus' relief. Though their introductions were brief, Kaz was the closest thing to an ally Nyxus had in this bewildering city. It would've been a shame to lose them so soon.

Getting up from the cold earth, brushing off the snow that clung onto his clothes, Nyxus approached his fellow fugitive, giving a small grin in response to their jest, "Not dying is all I can hope for sometimes."

Amidst their friendly reunion, Nyxus noticed the men around him were starting to regain their bearings and move forwards - all being led by the same red-haired man as before. He figured following them would be his best decision: not only would he be surely arrested out in the open like this, but he also had little knowledge of how to traverse the city, following the men wherever they went seemed to be the only thing he could do now. Kaz also seemed to have the same idea, Nyxus watching him follow the crowd. After a brief moment of thought, Nyxus decided to follow after them, but not before taking one last look at the sewers he'd emerged from.


After evading guards patrols and strolling through dark alleys, Nyxus would find himself huddled in a small building with a few of Yeothal's men and his recent ally, Kaz. From the aimless wandering of the city, the ordeal in the bar, his unfortunate arrest, and the trek through the sewers, this day was tiring, both mentally and physically. After all this, some time to rest was rightfully deserved. Nyxus fell asleep where he sat; tomorrow would be a new day.

Waking up to the sound of shuffling and talking, Nyxus raised from his slumber, rubbing his eyes as he scanned his surroundings. Unfortunately, yesterday's events were not a vivid nightmare, much to his dismay; Nyxus found himself in the same ruined house as before. The cold breeze and equally cold floor made him wish he was back in his camp outside the city walls. He had only hoped it was still intact: a quick visit there could resupply him with some Ethercaps and a temporary weapon whilst he looks for his sword. Nyxus was sure his precious Wyrm's Tooth was hanging on some dingy weapon stand, practically screaming for him to come and save it - but to his general confusion of the city and his new title as fugitive: retrieving it would be no easy feat. Perhaps it'd be a quest for another time; for now, Nyxus decided to follow the sound of the commotion, leading him straight towards a small crowd, the same red-haired man speaking once more.

With the red-headed man finally finishing his speech, Nyxus was still conflicted on how to feel. He wanted no part in Yeothal's gang, but aid from them could prove helpful in the future - maybe they could help him retrieve his blade. Though, the notion of only being able to travel through the slums did worry him. He knew from first-hand experience that the slums were no place for a naive outsider; the impoverished districts of his kingdom were notably treacherous and unruly - he was sure this city's slums were no different. He had no choice; he had to reach his camp one way or another.

Nyxus figured he should bring Kaz along for the trip: the dark-haired man had proven to be a trusty and versatile ally. Perhaps they also knew how to escape the city without barging through the front gates. Though it seemed the man was in conversation with another one of Yeothal's thugs, Nyxus decided to wait until their chat was over - then he can discuss what he had in mind.
 
The words ringed in his ears like the sweetest honey for the hungriest honeybee, though he was once again reminded of the chilling degree of manipulation that easily transpires beyond the eyes of the common folk. During the first minute of him thinking, his hand clenched the writing tool too tightly causing it to snap in his half. Luckily that was his only mishap, though the bulging veins along his temples spoke enough for him when it came to his feelings about this scenario. True, he had intended to apply for knighthood the morning after his tavern got burned but this was a completely different scenario to what he had in mind. Though, he didn't dare to waste more time than he already has since his family depended on him.

Turning to what he could only believe to be a devil in the flesh of a living man, Gattas raised the corners of his lips forcefully. "
Ah am gratified mightily by yer offerings, ah can swears me name will be put here, but ah hope ah can get one say in all this. Won't be bout' the punishment, no point in tryin' ta change somethin' that won't. Two requests, they's small if ya look at what already be offered. Ah'd like me kid, Miranda, ta be sent ta them fancy nobles schools with them numbers, accountancy schoolin', she's good with maths. Me other kids more like their pa, ain't goin' ta make 'em suffer yer books. Me wife tho, Nevas, hope ya can also find her some places where she's gon' work as a teacher. Yer shitty laws make it hard for folks like us ta get inta work.", grumbling all this, he signed his name onto the paper with the same thick but strong format, almost holes ripping the paper.

"
One last teensy thing, when all this be over, an' by gods believe me ah'll end it, ah'd like ta bonk them idiot knights that treated me tavern and kin all coldly, Gon' make them pay for me door!", with a cheerful but determined smile, the goblin finally shook some of the recent stress from his heart. Replacing it now is that familiar bestial desire from earlier, though now further emboldened by the threat of his family's greater suffering should he fail. Gattas lost his name as an innkeeper on this day, and honorary or not, a vengeful Knight he'll be to those that have slighted him.
 
Time: 10:30 AM
Day: Tuesday
Weather:
snowing (small flakes at a constant pace). cold.
Those Involved: @Wiggin @slifer @Elvario @Ur Degaton @Skyhunter @TheEccentric @CaptainLiterally @EldridSmith @Nero Kunivas @Valkan @The Last Curse
TooLongDidn'tRead: Kaz and Nyxus must decide to follow gang or not, Thorne, kyrian, and Naeva chillin in church, and the rest that posted are released.

Note From The Author: (Assume anyone that hasn't posted is dead and gone until they post again. Do not let their inactivity hold you back.)
Post Listening:


Gattas's Release

"It will remain to be seen whether the child's tuition will come out of the reward money for your tavern's restoration or added on top of your compensation, but rest assured your child will receive a proper education during your service. As to your wife, I'm afraid the matter will be a difficult prospect. Even assuming prejudices were put aside and her talents were fairly evaluated for a position at a nice school, there would be no one to look after the rest of your children. "

Replied the knight working with Gattas on his case. After Gattas signed, the man added,

"Welcome to the order of Eldritch Knights for Ray City, Honorary Knight Windle. Follow me. We will retrieve your family before we put you to work. I also encourage you not to seek vengeance, but justice while on the job..."

The knight stood and led Gattas out into the stone halls that he was allowed to walk without armed escort. The pressure in the air was less than when he arrived. While the pressures of his duties would come, for now things were looking up for the goblin. After his family were released, the brood would then be able to accompany the knight to the front of the HQ where a couple female knights would escort the family when they were ready to the Knight dormitories. Knights needing affordable housing and family accommodations often made use of them.

Gattas, on the other hand, was turned over to the squad of knights working the case of the museum and Yeothal by extension. He would be offered the Knight barracks to get cleaned up, fed, and armed as he saw fit before reporting for duty to Knight Captain Eko. Knights would accompany him to show him the way, but other than the occasional condescending looks from other knights of a noble status, no one gave the goblin a hard time or got in his way. Everyone and everything seemed fairly regimented to reduce idling that led to misbehavior.

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Solomon's Release

"Congradulations on your promotion, Knight Captain Aquila. Let us go retrieve Knight Verity. Your work begins immediately."


Said the Bureaucratic Knight after Solomon signed. As they walked to the cell housing Verity, Solomon was filled in on their first case.

"You are to be dispatched to the nearby House of Kazm. It's an offshoot church of a lesser diety. Despite its lesser position, it still receives financial and material support for the religious association presiding over the city. Many reports have come in describing the decrepit state of the building and its outreach programs. It is suspected the funds are being embezzled or at the very least squandered. You are to take Verity to the site and verify the situation first hand. Be wary though. Verity has yet to be cleared of suspicion and the church is close to the slums of the city. If your reception is a cold one, situations could grow dire quickly. I would suggest not hesitating in making calls, Knight Captain. By the way, take this,"

The knight then offered Solomon a magic ring.

"This ring, while in your possession, will make you resistant to mental tampering. Ensure Verity does not put you under the effect of her magic or risk waking in a week from a stupor of drooling and self defecating in a cell."

With Solomon in tow, the knight had Verity released and had her accompany the pair of them to the front of the HQ. Solomon was given the key to Verity's cuffs. He would be allowed to keep the cuffs should they ever become necessary in the future. It would be up to Solomon to brief Verity on the situation after the Bureaucrat left her in his custody. She was not officially not under arrest, so it would be up to Solomon whether or not her cuffs needed to come off yet. Otherwise, the two were free to chart their course and handle their new assignment.



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City Slums

Bob turned to Kaz and Nyxus with an overly happy smile for that cold morning. His plump self swiveled their way as well.

"Glad you guys made it. Sorry, bub. We don't have any magical healers. But hey, we are actually heading to a church. If you come with us, you may get someone to see you. Oh, and you guys should have these if you are coming with us."

Bob added in his deep voice before turning overly abruptly to a pile next to him. It was a some spare clothes and a couple of swords in scabbards. Basic, cheap, worn, but free and not nearly as smelly as the poncho Kaz made for himself. While Kaz made use of the stuff offered to them or not by Bob, Bob would idly chat with him,

"Ya, some of our boys have already spotted some of our previous employers men. Turns out they may be harassing a church that's been friendly to us. We gonna go f'em up. Maybe get some leads on their boss too while we're at it. Who knows. Maybe the priest there will appreciate the help and give out some free heals while he's at it. I do know at the very least they generally run a kitchen of sorts for residence of the slums. Our men could use something warm and filling for the work ahead."

Kaz and Nyxus would have to decide whether or not to go with Yeothal to the House of Kazm and potentially get involved with that struggle or not.

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House of Kazm

While Kyrian, Naeva, and Thorne hung out in the ruined church enjoying potatoes for breakfast and being serenaded by the mentally unstable and deranged, they would occasionally notice shadows at the windows and openings in the building that would disappear as soon as they looked that way. The drafty church suddenly felt colder and the open spaces of the main hall felt oppressive as pursuers on the outside started closing in. What they wanted and what their intentions were to get it and what would happen after they got it were several questions that may start bubbling up in the minds of those that started noticing the presence of those that would not allow themselves to be seen. Kyrian, Naeva, and Thorne had time, however. The interlopers did not appear to be honing in on anything in particular and were likely just scouting the place out...for now.

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Kaz seeing Bob smile made his own smile grow wider and maybe a little creepy too, Kaz had a habit of creeping people out with his unnatural smile. Although it turned into a sadden face when Bob mentioned he couldn't help him with his arm, it was getting hard to move his hand with how deep the muscles were torn. The mention of a church and a healer that may restore his arm did intrigue Kaz. Is that who I think it is? Kazy boy I think it may be... No no no. No. I don't think that little man would be there... Well you never know. These men saved you, you return the favor Kazy boy. The Bloodhawk thought to himself as he had narrowed eyes looking off into the distance.

His different colored eyes looked to Bob and he offered a smile once again " Well I can't say no to you, you got me out of that rock cage. I'll help you lot this one time. But, I'm useless without my arm getting healed, I should head there and find this healer and they can, uh, fix my arm up, Bobby boy. " Kaz explained, " Can you tell or show me where to go to find this church? " Kaz asked, walking pass Bob while he ripped his poncho off his body, showing his battered and scarred torso. He rummaged through the clothes to find something that'd fit.

Eventually Kaz found a long sleeved dark grey tunic that fit him perfectly. He looked at his attired and shook his head, using his teeth he ripped the sleeve that his burnt arm was being covered by. Shaking his arm until the sleeve flew off Kaz smiled, clenching his hand as he looked over his arm proudly. He looked back into the clothes and was able to find old boots to covered his cold feet, slipping on pairs to find the right ones. He eventually found a faded black leather pair. He sighed of relief, his feet felt better. He would be a lot warmer now and looked somewhat decent. Although his eyes were a dead giveaway that he was a outsider.

Kaz looked to his friend, Nyxus and held out his arms with a wide smile " My lizard friend! Come here! " he marched up to the lizard man and gave him a tight hug, " I thought you left already! I'm glad to see you stuck around, I need your help, friend. " Kaz released the lizard and wrapped his burnt around him as he huddled close to him pointing at Bob " Bobby guy here needs help with something, i don't know i wasn't listening, but they are defending a healer is all I know and I need to get to that healer so they can fix my arm and chest, im useless without those things, Nyxy. What do you say? " Kaz asked him, his different colored eyes full of excitement and hope. He was always hyper and ready to move onto the next adventure. But Kaz was definitely useless in a fight at the moment. (Considering he's at 2 health, yeah he's pretty useless.)

" And if you help me with this, friend, I'll return the favor. Since this band of men helped me escape, I feel like I owe them. Bobby guy didn't have tk get me out, but he did. So... He's okay in my book! " Kaz was laughing, having a good time. He released Nyxus and moved in front of him, awaiting a answer.

Mentions: @The Last Curse
 
Entering the House of Kasm would be like entering a shabby street fair. It was bright and loud, as some of the fabrics had been scrounged from the nobles who threw out perfectly good fabrics, but the shabbiness had crept up and had taken over, no matter how hard Kyrian tried to fix that. He was one man, and there was so much to do. At least Kasm used his mischief to keep the patrons fed and the money coming in- although they usually tended to break even. For the past 12 days they had only potatoes to eat, but Kyrian had done his best to make it differently each time so the food would be eaten. It was what had been given to them, and he couldn't complain when he had managed to procure a few sticks of butter that were kept in the freezing basement- an item that would spice up tomorrow's use of potatoes.

The pews were for those who needed a night or two, who would probably disappear in a day or two. The special fabric rigging was for the permanent residents who had nowhere else to go, like Taz, who was running around without pants again. "Have you considered a skirt, Taz? It frees you from the constraints of pants, and it has a nice breeze. They also come in such nice patterns as well. Very fashionable. I heard of a group of men who would wear these skirts into battle, almost like a uniform. I heard they come in really nice colors." Kyrian asked Taz. Hopefully that seed was planted, but if anything, it would be interesting banter with the man. Most of these folk had a rapport with him, that had only grown with time and effort. Though the effort to cover Naeva's eyes were strong at the sight of the man just letting it all hang out. By now he knew of the human form, and it held no secrets from him. His patients had an array of illnesses, and if he had been modest, he wouldn't have been able to care for them as well as he did.

While caring for his patrons, as night quickly drew upon them, Kyrian noted the sight of the boy coming into the church. Relief slammed into him at the sight of the hurt but alive boy. He hadn't wanted to leave him behind, but if it was between all three of them being hurt or only one, he would make the decision again to leave him behind to his questionable choices.

Kyrian tiptoed around the church, checking on the mostly sleeping patrons, giving the place a once-over before coming back to Naeva and a now sleeping Thorne. He disappeared from view behind the stunning icons of other gods that lead to the back of his church, appearing with two blankets from his quarters. With care not to wake them up, first he tucked in Naeva, gently placing the blanket so it covered her body before going to the boy, tucking him in in a similar fashion so they would at the very least be warm. With that out of the way, he disappeared into the back, the small room providing him the privacy needed to get some sleep himself. It was the cleanest room in the church, meticulously clean in comparison to the rest of the church, considering he kept it locked. Not that there were any valuables inside, but he would probably loose it if one of his flock were sleeping in his bed. It had one special feature, one that helped connect him to his roots and that was a small bathtub, one where he could relax in his merform and rest for a little while, away from prying eyes.
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The next morning, Kyrian was up early, tending to the small group that called the church home. Then he would make breakfast, the smell of a warm baked potato filling the church, drawing its patrons over so they could get their own. The shadowy figures were everywhere, and it was putting Kyrian on edge. This was his and so many other's sanctuaries. IF this place fell, chaos would reign in the city, and innocents would be hurt by the Knights.

The boy came up to him and asked for healing, and that was something he could do. He pulled them aside, his voice lowering so only the pair could hear him. "Come with me to my quarters. I can heal you there away from prying eyes. You and your friend Naeva will then explain to me why shadowy figures are watching my church." Once the other patrons had been fed, Kyrian would lead the others to his private quarters, sitting them down with their baked potatoes so they could eat and talk. "What kind of threat is out there? I need to know as much as possible. If I have to call in favors, I will, but I need to know if these folk are enough of a threat to warrant that. Are you both involved with these people, or only him. What is your name?" While talking, Kyrian took out his bandages and salves, starting to clean up Thorne's wounds, treating them as best as he could. It was always best to conserve magic, and helping the healing process didn't strain his magic as much. Once that was done, he touched Thorne's skin, letting out a prayer to Kasm before starting to heal the other man.

@Novama @CaptainLiterally @Wiggin
 
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Thorne Glowbrew
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Thorne appreciated the fact that the priest was happy to help his situation, but the barrage of questions when he entered his office were the consequence for it. “Well to get things out of the way, you’re going to notice that I’m all bones and partially rotting skin” Thorne sighed as Kyrian moved to inspect his wounds. Upon revealing the bones to treat, Kyrian and Naeve would be met with the light stench of rotting flesh due to the few remnants of Thorne’s body that he still possessed. “She’s not involved, but she’s probably in as much danger as me due to assisting me a night or two ago,” Thorne said, gesturing to Naeve. “I’m also going to take a guess that she told you my name, so I’ll save you the annoyance and say that it is Thorne Glowbrew. I made a deal with these guys to steal something for them, and now they want to tie up some loose ends while I still have it. I’ve dealt with this type of deal before, but these guys have probably been the most difficult in my experience. They have assassins that skulk in the shadows, and they seem to have wide connections. Now, before you say anything else, can you promise me that you won’t shove me in a coffin because I’m some sort of abomination to nature or your god or whatever you worship?” Thorne finished with a chuckle, only half joking.
 
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Mentions: @Skyhunter
It seemed Nyxus' escapades were not yet over. As he listened in to Bob's conversation, Nyxus immediately knew that he was about to get roped into another adventure, only this time, he had a choice. Though his instincts immediately told him to decline and go his own way, Nyxus still had to retrieve his sword, and he needed all the help he could get. If completing this task earned him the favor of Yeothal's men, it'd only make his future struggles much less hard. Besides, how dangerous could a church get?

After the conversation ended, Nyxus walked over to the pile of assorted clothing and swords Bob had previously mentioned. Though he was more acquainted with the luxury of wielding a greatsword, a simple shortsword would fare him well for the time being. Nyxus bent down and sifted through piles of raggedy clothes and equally raggedy scabbards: he knew he would find no quality blades in this mess, but he would not be seen holding an ineptly forged sword - especially one sheathed in a scabbard dripping with an unknown liquid.

Eventually, Nyxus found a sword that was slightly less worn than the rest. Sliding it out of its scabbard, he gave it a few good swings for practice, finally deciding to keep it. Just from looks alone, Nyxus knew that it was a relatively cheap blade: its weight and rugged appearance suggested it was mass-produced for guard or civilian use. Regardless, Nyxus strapped the scabbard to his hip: quality was not his biggest concern at the moment.

After removing the sword from the pile, another thing caught Nyxus' eye. Past a few shirts, lied an ordinary brown leather knapsack, slightly tarnished bronze clips holding it together. Nyxus picked up and gave it a more detailed look, noticing that the leather was slightly faded and worn, though it still seemed reliable. Nyxus figured it'd be good for storing his Ethercaps: his pockets could only hold so much, and there was always the possibility he could encounter more in the future - Ethercaps could sprout in the most unpredictable locations. Nyxus shrugged and slung the knapsack over his shoulders, not before removing the glowing fungus from his pockets and dropping them inside.

Moving away from the pile, Nyxus was soon greeted by the sight of his fellow fugitive Kaz. It seemed the dark-haired man had also found something of use in there as well, sporting a different outfit from what they were wearing before. Nyxus was caught off guard from Kaz's embrace, slightly stumbling from the sudden greeting, "Yeah. It's uh, nice to see you too, Kaz."

Nyxus listened as Kaz explained the situation about to occur at the church. Apparently, there was a healer holed up there with a couple of other civilians. Nyxus did not require any medical attention at the moment, but Kaz unquestionably needed to get looked at, despite their cheery and enthusiastic demeanor.

"Well, I don't think I have a choice here, friend. I guess I'm coming with," He rested a hand on the hilt of his sword, it was already starting to grow on him, "Let's clear out this church, get you patched up, then we'll talk about what I have in mind, alright?".
 
Kaz Bloodhawk - In search of a healer

Kaz raised a brow when Nyxus agreed so quickly, but his smile only grew wider as he raised his burnt arm into the arm with his hand clenched into a fist " Thats what I wanted to hear! " Kaz had wide eyes, he looked like he was demented and crazy. But he suddenly calmed himself down and turned to the pile of clothes and rummaged through them again. Pulling out some sort of dingy coat with a cowl attached that would hide his face, Kaz was a idiot but he wasn't stupid.

He knew people were looking for him now, he needed away to hide his noticeable eyes. Kaz threw on the coat and pulled the cowl over his head that covered down to his nose, Kaz pushed the cowl up to see Nyxus as he gave a thumbs up with his hurt arm. Barely able to move it. Now Kaz knew he was hurt and his powers wouldn't help him out just yet, his powers were too volatile to use so freely that they hurt him. He needed to protect himself if it came down to it, he hated what he was about to do...

Kaz picked up one Saber from the pile of weapons in front of him, staring at it with hateful eyes... He hated using weapons, he had to use them a couple times on the past, looking to Nyxus he sighed deeply like he was put into a situation with no choice. He then attached the weapon to his belt as best as he could, in all honestly, Kaz looked ridiculous with his Saber on his hip the way he had it attached. But he looked proud none the less, no shame the naive boy had.

The Bloodhawk then patted Nyxus on his shoulder as he passed by him smiling " Come on! We have a healer to find! " he said, almost like he was a little kid running to find a new toy to play with. But in this instance it was a sociopathic killer who wanted to use his powers again and be able to use his fists again rather than some dull blade. The Bloodhawk, enthusiastically, ran on through the crowd of people and pushed open the doors to rush out into the snowy streets. Kaz felt warm again, he felt great. He felt like things were finally looking up again!

Mentions: @The Last Curse
 
@Elvario
Solomon walked down the dark, barely lit halls of the glorified dungeon that was the “suspect holding area” as others have called it. The stench of earth still permeated the area from the phenomenon that just took place prior. The clapping of multiple pairs of boots on stone was the only sound he could hear, next to the occasional cough or murmur of a prisoner. As they reach the front entrance of the HQ, the glare of the sun momentarily blinds Solomon. After being in such a dark place for hours, sunlight was not his friend. After the guards bid them good luck, he turned to Verity, his face set in a serious expression.

“You work for me now, and we’ve been given a new assignment. Apparently there’s a small time church in the slums, suspected of proliferating funds by nefarious means. We’ve been dispatched to investigate these suspicions.” He explained to the knight while twirling the key to her cuffs.

“Your mind magic will help us authenticate whether or not these claims are true. If we succeed in our mission, it’ll look good on our records. So let’s go.”

Without even bothering to see if she was following, he begins heading in the direction of the church at a relatively brisk pace.
 
Verity

Interactions: Solomon @Ur Degaton

Her offer to Arnold wasn't accepted. It was as if they couldn't care less about the knights that just went missing and only cared about making her out to be a villain here. She was aching for a bath and a decent bed, by the time someone finally arrived to release her. However, rather than any of that, she was meant with an absolutely stunning degree of ridiculous insanity.

Solomon casually explained that she was placed under his command and that they'd gotten a new assignment. If he'd been on his own, Verity wouldn't have believed him, but the fact that she recognized the knight accompanying him and opening her prison door, she was forced to do so. Even so, she couldn't stay silent about it. “You've gotten into the same trouble as me, yet while you were sounding like you were on the verge of attacking our colleagues, I was trying to de-escalate and explain the situation. Even so, you're the one that got promoted and I'm the one that's put on leash? I must have gotten on the wrong side of an entire pantheon of gods in all of my previous lives combined for them to remove every shred of a sane thought process from the collective knighthood that came to this conclusion.”

She rubbed her wrists. At the very least those awful handcuffs were off. Being without her magic made her feel incomplete. She followed along, for now at least, but couldn't help but wonder about their 'new' assignment. “Are you sure they're not just trying to distract us, or worse, to set us up? There are some good reasons for us to start losing faith in whoever is running this operation lately... Surely you agree on that, at least, right?”
 
@Elvario
Solomon turned to her, never breaking his stride. His blue robes shimmering slightly in the sun’s blinding glow.

“For years I’ve suspected that the order was corrupt. Any organization with that much power is bound to abuse it. Don’t tell me you thought the authorities really care for this city or it’s inhabitants? Had they cared, there wouldn’t be any slums in the first place. But behold, crime is rampant even if you cannot see it.”

He cast a light frost spell on himself, designed to keep the subject cool. Useful for dealing with the sweltering heat.

“But honestly I was just as surprised as you are. By all rights I caused more mayhem, and still I got off scott free while you got punished. Perhaps the order fears your use of mental magicks, and are thus trying to keep you as restrained as possible. Whatever the reasoning it hardly matters now. I’ve never uncovered any evidence of their corruption.”

He snorted at that last part. He’d tried so hard for years to find any wrongdoings the authorities might have committed. And while he did uncover some internal corruption regarding dirty knights, he never was able to tie that corruption with the higher ups.

“Who knows, maybe I’m just paranoid and the order is in truth a divine harbinger of justice and virtues.” He said sarcastically as the church comes into view in the distant slums. The building itself was just as rickety and decayed as he imagined it. How anyone can hold ceremonies and religious doctrine in their was beyond him. By all rights it would be safer and more efficient to just hold gatherings outside.
 
Verity

Interactions: Solomon @Ur Degaton

Verity gave a light chuckle at Solomon's admission of equal surprise to their current situation. At the very least he was self-aware and honest, which made her think the current situation was a whole lot better than it could be. The thought of the order being a divine harbinger of justice and virtues was also enough to warrant a chuckle. “There is a fine line between pragmatism and corruption. Allowing the slums to exists might just be a form of pragmatism. Nobody is omnipotent, so keeping the crime contained to certain parts of the city and among a certain population is often a second-best solution to an impossible utopia. The thing that I don't understand, is that the involvement of a noble-woman didn't seem to make them take a more competent approach.”

She clicked her tongue, then sighed. “The least the knights could do is maintain enough of a semblance of authority to show that they're in control of everything outside the slums and that they could crack down on whatever is going on in there if it were to be needed, but the current situation makes it seem like they're failing to do either task, which is shameful at best.”

There was one other part of what Solomon said that she wished to address. “It's difficult not to come across corruption as an internal investigator, so I've seen my fair share of things, but none of it was rooted too deep into the order itself. It's mostly individual actions, though sometimes by small groups, that can't resist the allure of extra money or power. It's ironic. All those with dirty secrets wish me to leave the order altogether, but if they were to state that in public, they'd immediately be suspected of hiding dirty secrets. I guess this case gave them a convenient excuse to keep me occupied with different matters.”

She then realised something, as they were nearing the area. “Wait, this area... is the church we're heading to the one from that priest, Kyrian?” If it was true, they might have an issue. “He doesn't seem to be a bad person, but the god he worships doesn't make things easy and from what I've gathered of him, I fear he'd easily associate with the wrong people, albeit for the right reasons.”
 
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Mentions: @Skyhunter

Nyxus watched curiously as Kaz bounded off with the rest of Yeothal's gang. He sighed; watching someone so eager to adventure only reminded him of his days back underground. Every single day was full of exciting escapades, new experiences, and boundless enthusiasm - something his pal Kaz seemingly had infinite of. Nyxus only wished for a shred of that optimism: yesterday only brought feelings of confusion and anger, and he knew today would be no different.

However, seeing Kaz, this strange man whose body was almost completely broken, so oblivious to their situation and so excited to explore this bewildering city, only started to inspire the forlorn prince. From all of his previous endeavors: to being exiled by his own people, braving the strange and unfamiliar wilds of the surface, and tangling with beasts and men alike, they were all obstacles faced with determination and hope - hope that it will all get better in time, so why should this city be an exception? Though he may have little control of his situation now, his brief time with Kaz has started to show him that one doesn't require complete control to have a good time. Simply sitting back and enjoying whatever life threw at him was the only way he could find happiness in this city.

Sure he might have been arrested, robbed of his blade, and almost eaten alive by rats - but Nyxus had an entire city ahead of him, waiting to be explored and its secrets unveiled. This city offers adventure around every corner, and the trek to this church was just another one of its many gifts. Instead of trapping himself in a cycle of self-loathing, Nyxus figured he should be more like Kaz: optimistic, adventurous, and complacent.

With new resolve, Nyxus started his trip to the church. He only produced a small smirk as he watched Kaz move past in front of him - ushering small gratitude in his head.

"Thank you, Kaz."

- - -

After moving through the dreary atmosphere of the slums, Nyxus had found himself approaching the aforementioned church. Just at a distance, he could already make out the ruined structure of the church, confusion starting to take hold of his mind. Down in the Beryl Throne, Nyxus had always heard tales of surface cathedrals: beautiful mosaics of stained glass painting the walls, dear marble and precious metals lining the floors, and large imposing building reaching high into the sky - but this church had none of it. As he grew nearer, all he could see is rubble, dirtied glass, and a ruined ceiling.

Surely this church had seen better days, or perhaps it was more spectacular in its prime? Nyxus didn't bother himself with those questions; they were more important tasks at hand. He only kept one free hand on the hilt of his sword - what did this church have in store for him?
 
As both Kaz and Nyxus made their way through the slums to where this church was, Kaz took in the sights. Well as good as the sights are gonna get with the slums, decrypted homes, disheveled streets, the strange people running about(funny considering Kaz was pretty strange himself). The Bloodhawk looked back to make sure Nyxus was with him and could see what he was, this was new territory to him.

Upon reaching this derelict church with Nyxus, Kaz stared up at the falling apart walls, mossy wood, it looked so unsecured. Kaz rubbed a finger on the door as the painting chipped off, Kaz rubbed his fingers as it flaked off his fingers and onto the ground. The Bloodhawk stared at the door and shrugged, he lifted his leg up and kicked the door, trying to open them but for how old the doors looked they didn't budge open. Kaz stood there staring at the doors for a moment then sighed rubbing his face and shaking his head. Kaz then grabbed the door handle and opened it normally instead, pushing the doors open " Hey! " Kaz walked on into the church, " Um, is there a healer somewhere? I need my arm healed. " Kaz called as he removed his cowl.
 
A brief flicker of surprise hit Kyrian's face as his fingers touched rotten flesh, but he shrugged it off as the healing didn't seem to hurt Thorne. His fingers were steady, and somehow, this was just another condition to him, not something that he would call an abomination.
"I personally don't care either way, as long as you're not hurting anyone. Those who come here are the homeless, the dispossessed, those who need help that the city refuses to give. I only turn away those who would come and hurt those under my patronage. The assassins will have to be dealt with later." Kyrian said quietly, focused on the task at hand- cleaning the rotted wound and bandaging him up as much as possible- a good way for Thorne to hide his condition from others. Though Thorne may have been undead, Kyrian's magic still gave the warm, golden glow that would help heal him, through the bandages, the poultices and salves that covered Thorne's true nature.


That was when a voice rang through the church- the voice of a man who had power but no sense- a man who had been friendly to him, but also hid a dark side- Kaz Bloodhawk. The pair would hear Kyrian swear, hurrying to finish healing Thorne before he could see why Kaz was there. Kaz had been apprehended by the Knights, useless fucks as they were, so why was Kaz walking free right now? "Both of you, stay in here for now until it's safe to come out. I have a terrible feeling about all of this, but I can't leave newcomers unattended in here." Kyrian left Naeve and Thorne in the room, closing the door behind him before walking to great Kaz....and a group of filthy individuals- confirming his suspicions that something was very wrong- some of the characters were unsavory individuals, but they came in one at a time- not all bunched up like this.

"Kaz, Yeothal, what is going on?" For a moment, his attention turned to Kaz, who looked to be severely injured. "IF you wish to be healed, line up, and I will tend to each of you, first whoever's worse off." Which meant Kaz would be healed first. For those who didn't know who he was, he introduced himself, while approaching Kaz, who overall looked the worst of the group. "This is the House of Kazm, and my name is Kyrian. This is a place of healing and rest for those who need it."
 
@Elvario

Solomon walked into the decrepit place of worship alongside Verity. Making sure to look out for loose floorboards and pot holes.

“It doesn’t matter, but hopefully he isn’t tied to the allegations made against the church.”
He said while gazing at a sinkhole in the corner.

“I’m surprised this place hasn’t been condemned. You’d think the city would tear a place like this down for safety reasons. Who knows how many kids wander in here looking for an adventure.”


As he looked around, something started to bother him. This would be a perfect place for an ambush. There’s so much debris and nooks to hide in. Especially if someone knew this place like the back of their hand.
 
Time: 11:11 AM
Day: Tuesday
Weather:
snowing (small flakes at a constant pace) wind is picking up. cold.
Those Involved: @Wiggin @slifer @Elvario @Ur Degaton @Skyhunter @TheEccentric @CaptainLiterally @EldridSmith @Nero Kunivas @Valkan @The Last Curse
TooLongDidn'tRead: All have gathered at the house of Kazm for one reason or another. Remains to be seen how many will walk out. All supernatural powers are currently blocked.

Note From The Author: (Unless you are waiting on something from me (like did my attack hit), you do not need to wait to post again if someone else has posted after you. In the event of player vs player, sort it out yourselves like adults. If you can't agree on outcome, i'll adjudicate as necessary. Focus on making things happen and not on dragging out this scene for a year.)
Post Listening:


House of Kazm


Kyrian's aid healed the fractured Thorne (2) enough that the cracks in his body that impeded him closed. He would need more time and healing to regain his stamina, but he was at least completely capable again. The priest's aid to Kaz was similarly helpful. Although it didn't remove any scars, it at least closed open wounds and reduced the pain so Kaz could function normally again. Some bed rest would make him good as new, but he did not have the time.

As Kyrian was using his magic to heal or comfort the men and women who accompanied Yeothal into the old cathedral, the priest noticed his connection to Kazm was growing faint. It was an odd experience and poorly timed as he was unable to provide any additional supernatural healing afterward. Yeothal's men would occasionally stumble into the house of Kazm for one stab wound or maiming or another. In exchange for meager hospitality, Yeothal and his boy's kept the rougher elements of the slums from Kyrian's door. Despite Kyrian's inability to provide additional aid than what supplies they had on hand after his magic was gone, Yeothal thanked him all the same with a charismatic grin and appreciation in his eyes. But then Yeothal's eyes would wander to the 2 walking into the church from the hall opposite of the gang's entrance. Yeothal muttered a curse and spit at the sight of Verity and Solomon from the across the nave.

Then another visitor entered. Stepping over broken stones, a man accompanied by 2 others dressed in black came into view of the gang and Kyrian and might be just visible to Solomon and Verity. Like his entourage, the man was garbed in black, but exposed the bottom portion of his face. A distinctive scar went from his lower lip to his jaw line but there was little else distinctive about the man. He could be described youthful, but his race was unclear.

"Priest of Kazm, Kyrian. One of your guests has something of mine and I would like it back. The guest likely stumbled in here within the past 24 hours wearing a mask. He has an orb. Bring it to me quickly and I can guarantee no trouble for you and your parishioners. Additionally, I can see to it that builders can swing by and improve your living situation considerably at no cost to you. Be quick though..."

The stranger was barely able to relay the information before Yeothal started yelling at the man. The slew of insults was only parted by accusations of betrayal and double crossing. Something about a deal the two of them had that went south. Whatever the case was, neither Yeothal nor the man would be waiting patiently for Kyrian's response as all that could drew weapons and rushed the other party. Before Yeothal and his boys could reach the stranger and his dark clad escorts, several more shadow warriors appeared, seemingly out of nowhere to the untrained eye, and started butchering Yeothal's men.

The cathedral quickly became an echoing din of clashing steel, dying men, and screaming parishioners. Kaz and Nyxus would see yeothal's men getting stabbed or slice all around them and occasionally a ninja would get hurled through the air by bob and his warhammer. The place was no longer safe, but the fighting and chaos quickly fanned out making any direction an unsafe one. What's more, any exits that wasn't blocked off by fighting had more ninjas waiting in the shadows to ambush anyone attempting to escape.

Solomon and Verity would notice, in addition to the fighting and the encroaching danger from ninjas to their rear and disgruntled yeothal gang to their front, they could not currently use their magic or abilities. There was a distinct loss similar to what they experienced in captivity not even a day prior. Solomon was somewhat familiar with the concept and had seen prototypes of items that may be able to accomplish what they are experiencing: chaos jammers: little pearls, babbles, or other small items infused with a chaos intended to interfere with ones ability to connect with the chaos that fuels their magic. The sudden appearance of the ninjas and the experiencing of the nullification of effect did not seem like a coincidence.

Meanwhile, Thorne is in a back room forced to take evasive action as the entire contents of his void storage is suddenly getting emptied into the room at random and occasionally over his head. One item deposited was the orb he stole from the museum, its eerie green glow just has haunting as remembered. In the hall outside the room Thorne was in, Ninjas actively searched rooms, turning over furniture and 'silencing' anyone becoming too loud or uncompliant.

The snow outside was beginning to pick up with the wind and was uncomfortable to be out in as the icy breeze blew it right in your face and obscured vision to a degree.

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Verity

Interactions: Solomon @Ur Degaton

Verity clicked her tongue upon spotting Yeothal and his gang in the church. “Well then, that's an interesting development.” She was debating how to deal with the situation when she suddenly felt a shiver run down her spine. The scar on the new arrival's face was familiar, she recalled it from a memory, and Yeothal's words pretty much confirmed her suspicions. She turned to Solomon. “I'm fairly certain that's the one that orchestrated all the recent events, or at the very least someone directly involved with them at the top level.”

Various options went through her mind. Siding with Yeothal to bring the man down in exchange for offering lenience or maybe even immunity, informing Kyrian that the dude was known to double-cross people so the priest wouldn't be foolish enough to help him... To make matters worse, she also spotted the murderer, Kaz, as well as some others she faintly recognized. Things were getting complicated, but the worst complication of all was the fact that she couldn't use her magic. Despite finally having been uncuffed, she was back to square one.

Whilst she kept her eyes open to see if she could spot the chaos jammers, she watched the shadow warriors and ninja's duke it out with Yeothal's gang whilst the others in the church were trying to scramble to safety. One thing was pretty clear, she'd meet a certain death if she got caught up on all of that. Neither she nor Solomon was a fighter, especially not without their magic, so they'd be cannon fodder if they tried to duke it out with anyone. Hiding was an option, but it was clear that the scarred man was looking for something, so hiding herself would likely just make her all the more suspicious.

She sighed deeply, taking out her flask of orange liquor and taking a swig for liquid courage and then addressing Solomon at a hushed tone. “See if you can locate those magic blockers. I'll try to stall for time. If I die, please make it sound like I did something heroic, rather than stupid.”

With that done, she spoke up, loud enough to be heard by everyone present, but addressing the scarred man primarily. “Surely you are aware that randomly killing everyone will only make it all the more likely that whomever has the orb you're looking for will escape amidst the chaos?” She then turned to Yeothal and gang. “And as much as I understand that you want these people to be punished for betraying you guys, I'm pretty sure you don't want to the innocent in this church to get caught up in the cross-fire.” If she hadn't been stabbed to death yet, she'd continue. “In other words, I'd suggest fighting it out in another time and place... and who's causing this blasted cold?!?” She'd added the latter without much thinking, as the adrenaline of putting attention on herself in the middle of these bloodthirsty goons and gangs wasn't exactly making her think straight.
 
Solomon nods before sneaking away and out of everyone’s sight with the intent on finding the anti-magic devices. He theorized that the enemy wouldn’t he dumb enough to hide the artifacts on the ground floor, so either three things were most likely possible. Either A) the objects are placed on the roof or in the attic, if the church has one. B) they were hidden in the basement, if the church had one. Or C) they were hidden on the enemy themselves, most likely the masked figure that orchestrated everything. With those theories in mind, he began to scour the church for the devices, going up a staircase that led to the upper floors. There are many rooms to explore, but not enough time to explore them all.

He runs into a library, it was small and quaint, but no doubt filled with religious and philosophical texts. He pulls the books off the shelves and moves the bookcases around. Yet he couldn’t find any traces of chaotic activity. Exiting the now disorganized room, he explored the many chapels and empty rooms, but it was all for naught. He goes up to the next floor and continued exploring.

If he was caught by the enemy, he was dead. But it seemed they were too busy fighting to notice his intrusion. Unless he’s being stalked and simply doesn’t know it. In that case he hoped for the former. He never liked assassins and thieves. They were a cowardly lot that used cowardly tactics and cowardly weapons. A sorcerer such as himself always reveals himself to his enemies so that they know exactly who’s going to annihilate them.
 
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