LoD Chapter 1- The Legend of the Salvaged Hope

[Bosolai]

The smell of the salty ocean breeze filled the port district of Goraz. Two figures stood near the docks, both about the same height and wearing the same attire. The one with a blue jacket was wearing black pants, black shoes, and had brown hair. He pointed up to the sky out in the horizon. "Ian, look. Another star is fading from the sky."

Ian, the blonde one with the black jacket, pants, and boots, looked up and responded, "Thats the eighth one this week, Ayden. Its not an uncommon sight."

"It always makes me wonder what could be doing this on such a massive scale, and right under the nose of the Dragon's Blood. We're supposed to be the underground organization of underground organizations. If something's going on, we're supposed to know about it!" Ayden said, holding his hand against his forhead to mask his confused look.

Ian turned to look at the fountain. It was a marvelous piece of work. Not only was it plucked from an artists imagination, but the towering colossus took in the ocean water and pumped out clean freshwater. There were several levels to it, each with a different scene from some legend or other. And the way the water fell, it made it look like the wounded figures were bleeding, the sad figures were crying, and the happy figures were even dancing. Even without a double-take, anyone could see that the Art Renovations Committee was worth funding. Ian then looked around at the street level, and saw some figures coming in the horizon. "Our warriors are arriving."

Ayden turned to look at each as they approached, but didn't introduce himself right away.

[Astral Harmony]

Renetta was happy, but didn't smile. She was very excited, but she carried herself boldly, managing to not skip while she moved. It was unprofessional, and they would probably decide to not take her along if she acted as youthful as she looked. She definitely dressed maturely, having polished and inspected her weapons and armor beforehand to insure that she would look like a lady, and not some girl who just happened to be quite vicious when it came to killing stuff. The weapon revealed that well enough. Richard, her father had bought it for her when she broke her first one during the initiation exam at the mercenary guild, and Renetta had maintained it well ever since. She had gone to bed early and rose earlier, leaving while her father still slept with only so much as a kiss on the forehead and a whispered "It's time."

It was time, wasn't it? Time to no longer accept lies, regardless of their source. Renetta was an adult now, and had been one for quite some time. She was ready for the truth, no matter how bad it would be. Mother. Big brother. And this darkness thing addressed in the letter. Renetta was sure to find more truths than she would ever need as she got closer.

[Raiden]

Samoht walked down the street. He took his time; he was in no rush. In fact, the slowness of his walk was a habit that was still instilled in him. His hood was up, and in the dark depths of the cloth, his crimson red eyes were scanning the area, searching for any ambushes or snipers. Though he gave up his life as an assassin ages ago, some habits die hard. He wrapped the cloak tighter around his body.

He saw the two figures standing ahead of him. He assumed that they were the ones who sent him the letter. He lightly patted the longsword hanging from his left hip as his right hand crackled with electricity.

For their sakes, they better not be wasting his time.

[TheBlindMime]

A sole shadow began moving fron the street towards the dock, his movements slow and shaky, like that of a wandering drunk. Easing himself down the path the figure seemed to be carrying a heavy load on his back. As the figure moved down the path he began to drift to the right, the movement seemed almost uncontrollable. His stumble quickened his pace as began to fall onto the fountain.

He landed with a sullen groan, gripping its rim after his fall he leaned his head in slowly the sound of lapping quickly followed. His head continued lowering downward until his face was submerged, even in the pale moonlight the dirt could be seen floating off of his face and onto the now disturbed lower ring of water.

His sigh of relief echoed over the dock as he stood up and threw his hood off, "So, this reward, how big is it?" His voice was mocking as he dragged the back of his hand against his lips to dry it.

[lazy man]

Kerith was panting in a dark alleyway. He was close to his destination, but he was sure he was being followed. He even saw some of his owners' agents trying to find him when he was hidden. This wasn't good. If he were found when he was so close...

Shaking that idea off, Kerith took one last sprint toward the two figures he'd seen earlier. There were three more now, but that didn't bother him. The letter mentioned multiple people, so he was sure they were more of the others, but he deeply hoped that this group wasn't a group of the people going after him trying to trick him. However, when he got closer, he saw that it definitely wasn't what he was thinking.

Slowing down with his final sprint, Kerith loosened the grip of all the things he'd grabbed during his escape. His claymore, thankfully, with its holder that he would put on his back, his suit of chainmail, and, oddly enough, a pair of gloves that he'd had for a very long time now that he found very comfortable... and that was it. At the very least, he was ready to fight. Looking up, he saw the need to introduce himself, despite the fact that almost anyone else he introduced himself to died in the ring minutes later. Anyone else would have been disturbed, but he thought of it as a way of life after six years.

"I'm Kerith. If you got me because I can kill, then you definitely have the right guy." The statement itself would be disturbing to the average person, but he was a pit fighter, and that was actually normal among his kind. Securing everything in some way or another onto himself, Kerith ignored the looks that were inevitably headed his way.

[Lioness]

"This noble quest requires no extra compensation," growled Ian to the Wolfkin, insulted by his mocking tone.

"Easy, Ian," Ayden said softly, "We have not asked these people to come for no reason. And you know well that they will be compensated, if that is what they wish."

Ayden turned to face all of the new arrivals at once, and he announced, "Welcome. I am the man who brought you all here, and this is Ian Roberts, one of the members of the Dragon's Blood. I will tell you more when everyone arrives."

Some members of his audience began wondering, "Others? How many are coming? How many more?" ... but they did not worry long.

[Mintaro]

A large lumbering figure approached the group from off down the dock lanes. I small dot of red light signified a large pipe in its mouth. As it got closer the sound of hooves on wood could be clearly heard, and the shadow of a pair of massive horns seen on his head. There was a time where such a visage would be thought to be a daemon approaching. Now it was known as simply another Minotaur. As the large creature emerges from the shadows of boats and warehouses, the moonlight illuminates him better. His black horns glinted slightly, waxed in what could only be assumed as a minotaur fashion. His clothing was sparse, a loin cloth covered his pride, and a large quantity of pouches and bags were about his person. He reached the group quickly, his long bovine strides taken up the ground even at a walking pace.

When he reached the group he sniffed the air and snorted it back out in a sound that was like ripping canvas. Taking another long puff from his pipe he looked to the man he had heard speak as he approached. He spoke around his pipe, "I be Karnok. I do be hopin you can help wit dis problem, and dat I can be helpin you." His accent was thick, he was obviously from one of the plains tribes. The scent from his pipe was quite evident now. It was not a tobacco like most people smoked. Or even the mind numbing herbs that sometimes come from overseas. It smelled more like a spice that you've tasted before, but not one you can quite place.


(OOC: Its not Pot dammit! Its just an herb that his people grow that tastes good, and better when smoked. Its fantasy! *runs away*)

[Toastburner B]

Connor walked down the streets of the unfamiliar city. He had only been here a few days before the note mysteriously appeared.

Then again, the monk thought to himself, People take more notice of a minotaur in monk's robes tha stars fading from the sky. Why should a note be so mysterious?

Still, he had been told where the fountain was by the keeper of the inn he was staying at, and he was reasonably sure he was on the right street. Soon, the sound of the fountain assured him he was on the right track. When he saw the group, he hesitated slightly. Another minotaur. Connor still wasn't really used to being around his own kind, especially considering he knew next to nothing about the culture of his own race, having been raised by the monks of the Altus Montis temple.

Still, it was a minor thing. With a slight shrug, Connor continued forward. The monk was lightly equipped, the only obvious weapon being the quaterstaff he was now using as a walking stick. Connor was smaller than the other minotuar, and was lean and lank for his race...if a minotaur could be lean and lank. His muscles were well toned, but not to the point of being oversized like some minotaurs prefered.

As Connor approached the group, he stopped and bowed. "I am Connor of the Atlus Montis." he said. "If I may ask, which one of you is Leonsbane?"

[ThanosOfTitan321]

Gwyn hovered above the streets of the city. Her movements and her face were much more solemn than her usual chipper faerie self. She arrived where the rest of the group were, looked around at all their faces, and opened her mouth to say something. She closed it again, and decided to just sit down and wait for instructions. She landed on the ground, hoping not to get stepped on by all these large people.

[Bosolai]

Ayden watched as the Fairy landed, then said, "Ok, now that everyone's here, I can get started. I am Ayden Leonsbane, the one who sent for you. I summoned you not only because you can kill things efficiently, but because you all have a reason to stick around, not just the money. As you all know, the world is fading from existance, but we finally have a lead on how to slow the darkness. Maybe even stop it entirely."

Ayden stopped to take a breath, then turned to his side to face the ocean. "Not too long ago, some magical activity was detected a ways off the coast. A diving team went to investigate, and they found a mysterious altar. We brought it back to do some further investigations, and found that it acts as a one-way magic gate with a preset, yet unknown, destination. We sent in a team of scouts, and we know they found three things. One of which was a way out, as only one of the scouts came through, appearing right in front of this very fountain nearly dead and quite insane. Which brings us to the second thing they found. There is something at the other end of that gate, and that is a very terrible and ferocious something. Lastly, the survivor could only say one understandable phrase, and that was more or less ‘He holds the key to bringing everything back’ which is why I sent for each of you."

Ayden faced the group again, then continued. "The group was 5 scouts armed with little more than surveying gear. The fact that even one made it back means whatever is at the other end of that gate surely won’t stand up against 9 fully armed chosen. Help me obtain that key, and you'll each receive 20 gold pieces, as much as you can eat and drink at the Gilded Rose Inn tonight, and, whats probably the most valueble, a favor from the Dragon's Blood." He held up eight pouches, and used telekinesis to give one to each person.

"Now, are there any questions, or shall I take you to where we're keeping this altar?" Ayden asked.