| ENTER THE VILLAINS.... |
| Tiernon Blade Well this is interesting, I think to myself. I move from my position in the shadows of the Emperor’s private room. I had listened to the plans given the Sokudo woman by the emperor all the while laughing at the fact that they had no idea I was here. Quickly, I make my way to the streets, letting the armour shift and sliver over my body to take on the appearance of a commoner’s clothes, but letting the cloak cover my eyes so none can see the shadow pits they've become in the last few years. . I approach a bar I've frequented for the last week or so, making my way to my usual spot in the bar... which is full as usual at this time of the day. I throw the peasant sitting in my seat through one of the windows. Of course no one makes anything of it since they've learnt I'm not to be annoyed. Taking my seat quickly I pick up the ale upon the table and ponder the conversation between the Emperor and Captain. My employer would pay handsomely for this knowledge... especially the "voices". Maybe he was right... maybe this was that prophecy? If it is it has to be stopped, so for the moment I'm going to have to trail this Sokudo and find out more before I make my move. The man I threw out of the window barges back into the room, starting a general brawl as he makes his way towards me. I keep my body still, not moving... not acknowledging the approach of the brute until he makes the mistake of grabbing my arm and spinning me to face him... his face contorted with anger. He makes a drunken left hook at me. Sluggish and slow, but then that’s normal of the opponents I fought. I duck the fist and let it swing past me, watching his eyes and the look of horror as I grab his swinging arm. Increasing the sudden lock I hear his scream of pain as it snaps along the femur. Kage Yaiba seemingly grows out of my arm and the shadows themselves twist and move until the solid blade appears in my hand. I slip the sword through the brute’s throat to silence his screams forever then make my way out of the bar, making short work of a number of other brawlers that attack me. I just reach the door as I feel a hand descend on my shoulder. I spin with KageYaiba, about to strike out at any who dare touch me, but stop just centimetres from his neck as I realise it's my master’s pet messenger to meet. His face is hideous, sweat running down his frightened face. His eyes darted everywhere as he fiddled with the sleeves of his garment. "Tell him that it has started, I'll be following the movements of whoever is chosen, but I will not make a move to oppose them... yet." I say coldly before stalking out the bar. Once out an in the street it hits me. MORON! I’d let a fight keep me from my job. I sigh and turn to go back into the bar, risking the bartender’s aggravation, to see if I can spot the woman, Yasmin. All the while silently berating myself for letting my “tag” get away from me. Just as I turn however, I catch a glimpse of movement from the corner of my eye. Unmistakable… Sokudo. It seems I’ve gotten lucky this time, something I couldn’t afford to let happen again. I couldn’t tell if the woman really was Yasmin, but then who else could it be? I trail silently after her, berating myself for even the slightest slips, until she gets to the Andarin River and crosses it. I bide my time until she’s crossed, then disguise my armour as peasant clothing and slip across the river. Once crossed my armour reforms to its natural state. My legs are now aching and my concentration starting to waver, the exhaustion causing too many slips. I am almost ecstatic when I see the girl is getting a horse to travel with. I sneak into the stable after I make sure no one is around and test out each of the horses… finally settling with a midnight black mare… almost a perfect match for me. I lead her out of the stable, trying to keep the other horses quiet so I don’t alert the stable owner. Some distance from the town I mount. Surprisingly she accepts me first try… although a tad excited, so I decide to call her Angel. God knows where I got THAT name. After some effort I finally find Yasmin’s trail again and start to follow her into the forest. To late do I realise we’ve just entered Wyldewood Forest and when I turn to travel back rather then get lost, I find the forest itself has closed in around me… like it’s alive. This was not going well. Not only am I trapped in a forest but also now I’ve lost my “tag’s” scent again. I can tell Angel is getting restless from the forest so I demount and rest myself against a tree, trusting her to stay close. Now what to do… Some hours later I am still wandering, “An ally has to be watched just like an enemy.” Now why did that quote come to mind so suddenly? Finally we make it out of the forest, trotting along an old cobblestone path that sprung up in the middle of nowhere. The forest self once again closing back in to ward me from it. Foul Place I think to myself. I dismount slowly from Angel and lead her off the road a ways then I reach in under my cloak and withdraw a smooth, black ball that swirls with dark clouds “What is it THIS time Tiernon” the voice emanates from the ball, making it seem detached… emotionless, cold. “The forest is repulsing me my grace. I need help to track the book and recover them” It’s moments before the voice replies again, “Do not let this become a habit Tiernon. We will not accept failure in this task and the consequences for failing will be most… lethal. We are sending you help now… proceed to the closest graveyard and choose your warriors. Be warned though, the item we are giving you will not last forever.” “Aye my grace, I won’t fail again. The books will be yours and those in contact with the book shall die” “Then make sure of it” The ball suddenly goes dead and I deposit it back in the robe as a large shadow appears just in front of me. It drops a small silver necklace with a blade on the end then disappears again. “Moronic little twits they are,” I say to Angel while picking up the necklace and placing it around my neck. “I mean, what’s so special about this damned book anyway. Yeah, I’m going to worry my life away over a piece of bark… then again who’s the one talking to a horse at the moment? Maybe I need to get a doctors’ opinion.” Angel steps on my foot at that point with a gruff look at me and I jump around cursing. I grab the reins and swing up onto the horses back then set off at a gallop back towards the city of Terasi, trying not to offend my horse in the meantime. Riding to the edge of the golden city at night is a strange experience. Approaching the walls of the city, I hitch Angel to a tree in a quiet area before moving to the wall and slipping over the high wall. This time in the city I proceed straight to the palace and taking extreme measures not to get caught, working at a painstakingly slow pace to the gardens. Once there and after having spent even more frustrating time scouting out to make sure it’s deserted; I start my search for a grave with what I need. If I could grab a nice big Sokudo with a bit of brains, then I might fair better. Of course I don’t know any of the Sokudo present in the garden and after a few minutes I realise only one thing is going to help me choose which Sokudo to resurrect. I point my finger at one of the graves, and then point to the other graves in turn while muttering Eany Meany Miny Moe under my breath until I finally finish on an old Colonel… one Naogan Chao. I wrap my fingers around the small blade on the end of the necklace, allowing a small drop of blood to drip down onto the grave. The earth begins to shift as if alive… shaping and rising before my eyes, moulding together until the shape formed resembles humanity. The shape paused, then the earth renews its shifting, shaping first the body, the armoured legs, and the chest with its typical Sokudo formal armour. The arms and rest of the body take shape until finally the face defines itself as the firm traits of Naogan are revealed. The former man now stands before me, a less then pleasant look on his face. “What is the meaning of this you petulant child! How dare you wake me from my eternal slumber just to gaze at YOUR ugly face!” I look at him dumbfounded for a moment, and the Sokudo takes advantage of the moment by leaping at me… drawing his sword in mid-flight and slashing through the air at my head… the edge of the blade staying just centimetres from my neck. “Talk you dishonourable whelp, then I can kill you and return to my sleep.” Well this was getting off to a good start… even better when it automatically starts raining heavily out of nowhere… soaking us both to the bone, although the Sokudo doesn’t appear to register it. My teeth on the other hand decided they wanted to chatter from the sudden drenching… then the rain stops just as quick as it started. “WELL!” The Sokudo demands. “Well…” Before I can go on I sneeze on him… repeatedly and he glares at me. “Err… sorry… seems I don’t handle drenching that well” My little joke doesn’t impress him much so I push on. “Well you see, Terasi needs your help Colonel… err… Chao. You see, Terasi is about to be attacked by a… former Sokudo, traitorous wench she is, and her companions. All of the warriors in this fair city are being called to its defence but our honourable Emperor has dispatched a few teams to deal with this threat before she can get here. I found myself without help in my venture. She had wiped out my team, but I chanced upon this talisman.” I point to my necklace, “And I am using it to raise a small force so that I can null this threat and return a certain stolen book to my lord and -*” “SHUT UP!” Naogan shouts at me before I can continue. “You talk to much child, but for the defence of this lovely city and the defence of my emperor I shall aid you. We shall deal with this traitorous witch.” and with that he storms out of the gardens, paying no heed to anyone that could stray upon us. I sigh a little and follow as I resurrect other forms. Half way through raising another one I turn to look at Naogan “Would you stop looking at me like that please?” “Would you stop worrying about what I’m looking at and bloody hurry up, your wasting our damn time here. Why our revered Emperor would hire a sniffling brat like you is beyond me” Naogan responds. “Just stop looking at me like that would ya?” I poke my tongue out of him but quickly stick it back in when his hand goes for his sword. “Alright, alright, sheesh, keep your head screwed on” I turn back to the grave of the last warrior in the normal warriors graveyard and once again prick my hand and let the drop of blood fall onto the earth. For the 15th time that night another warrior rises to face me. “Hail and well met warrior, please take your place in the ranks and all will be explained,” I say to him. I wait for him to take is place with the other 13 warriors and Naogan, then begin to explain the current situation (albeit a lie) and adding a few details. “The only other thing that needs to be explained is your stay here. As long as I’m alive you all get to stay and help me complete our revered mission… however if I’m to fall in combat then you will be sent back to the underworld, which means we will have all failed in our appointed tasks and have to face the jury. The only other way back now is to kill the Sokudo and her underlings. So gentlemen, shall we start?” I lead them off, taking Angel by the reigns and start to walk alongside Naogan. I glance back every now and again to make sure the rest are following. On one occasion I catch one of the undead warriors I summoned sticking a bug in his mouth… and another time I catch another two of the guard playing leapfrog. “This is going to be a long trip” I mutter under my breath. “What?” Naogan demands. “Never mind” The attack comes just before dawn. Too many men to count, all of them are bandits obviously. They quickly overwhelm the troops I have gathered, Naogan still fending off multiple attacks. Not that it matters. One lone bandit manages to get behind me and shoves his sword straight through me. I slump to the ground and the last thing I see is the bandit stealing my necklace. Alister Okaye I hear him as he enters the bar right on time, as I had expected. I don’t know his name but that will not last for long. I begin counting, only loud enough to hear myself. "One." "Two." "Three." "Four." "Fiv...." CRASH! I smile to myself. He’s a little early today. I do as the others in the bar and lower my head, turning away from him. He won’t noticed me. Who would be suspicious of a blind man anyway? It’s not long before the man that was thrown through the window returns. I can hear the glass crack under his feet. The fool. He probably still has glass in his skin from the last time he was thrown through that window, yet he still comes back for more. After a few seconds the fight begins. Chairs crash around me as old drunks start fighting just for the thrill. Suddenly I hear a cut off scream and I know the man is dead. The sounds of a few men being thrown tell me my friend is now leaving the bar. I go to stand up until I hear a whisper. I listen... "Tell him that it has started, I'll be following the movements of whoever is chosen, but I will not make a move to oppose them... yet." He must be talking to a contact. I listen more but all I hear are the remains of the bar fight as it dies down, and the footsteps of an approaching man. The boards of the floor creak as he moves toward me. The bartender then speaks. "I wish you would take care of that bastard for me. All theses windows are getting expensive ye' know?" "Why are you complaining Bardock," I say to him, "I'm the one covering the bill." "True, and I haven’t stopped thanking you have I?" "It’s in your best interest not too." I grin and toss a bag onto the table, to cover the fight, window and the drink. "I never figured I'd be friends with an assassin. A blind'en at that." "He shouldn’t be back anymore, but if he does let me know." I stand and walk to the door, calmly stepping over broken tables and unconscious men. I proceed out of the city. The sound of hooves becomes lighter as the clay under foot softens. In the silence of the night, if I tilt my head just right, I can catch the sound of the Andarin . The ferry wasn’t much farther now. I slowed my horse to a trot; old horses tend to rest more frequently though he still looked remarkably well for a steed of forty-three years. Now he came to a slow stop as I heard the sound of wood under his hooves. Moments later a door was opened and a brash voice, held to a whisper, spoke to me. "'elcome, 'elcome, Mister." 'She was here?" I ask. "Aye, came right 'un through, let her pass meself. You were right, she looked the odd one she did, a commoner with a face as beautin'ful as hers." The Sokudo guard was correct, Yasmin had departed from Terasi City. A shame, the Sokudo allowing such infidels to disgrace their clan. A few extra gold in his coat and he squealed like a bad mouthed parrot. Such was not so in my time. But I cared not. My time with the Sokudo ended long ago. 'You have everything ready, as I asked?' "Aye, I've gotten my fellows with me. A happy bunch at 'et. They just did rob the ferry I sent on down river two days 'go. Wonderful way to make money, charge for the ferry, then rob 'em blind a day later, hah! We do love ours work. Now, what you be wantin' me men fer?" 'Your men are to go into Wyldewood after the woman. She will not be alone however I do not expect much resistance. None of them are to be killed. Any books or tomes found are to be brought to me. Anything else of value may be kept by your men." "A book eh? Don’t ya want the woman as 'ell? 'No. All I require is the book. Bring it to me, Alister Okaye. You know what will happen if you fail.' I don’t need eyes to notice the sudden fear overcoming the ferryman. He assumed this would be just another ferry robbery. But now he realises how much trouble he has gotten himself into... He nods quickly and bows away from me as I continue on into the woods to set up camp to meet my hired bandits. ************************************************************************************** To continue, refer to the RP Transcript: "The Chosen meet the Thief and the Bane” ************************************************************************************** **** Sometime after the events of the Meeting above..**** Alister Okaye Night had fallen again. My ears caught the sounds of numerous insects chirping and cricketing their love cries. The wind bit softly, enough to make its presence known. One hand touched the other, moving over scarred, burned skin. Such was the stain of magic fire, but in these times the pain was merely a nuisances. I had grown a resistance to such fire long ago. The book was in my possession. Oddly enough, the party of adventurers had given it of free well. I could feel quite a few of them at the cottage, enough that a few of their number did not even come out to greet me. How rude of them. Such was not so in my prime days. Nevertheless, I wasn’t payed to harm them; only to retrieve the Book of One. And this was no trick; no magic spell could imitate the powers flowing through the stale pages of this tome. It was indeed the Book of One. I continued over the next hill before a feeling fell over me, such as the feeling of being watched. I look to the sky and noticed a swirl of blackness, forming a glazed over image. "Alister...You have the book? You will bring it here immediately. Our master commands us. To recall your troop of bandits, the companions are going nowhere soon." I smile at the voice. Never once a simple hello... "Gailla...how nice to see you again or should I say hear you?" "You will never know will you Alister?" her voice whips across him. "They took your sight." I am better without it. I still have my other senses. And I made full use of them." "Our master requires it as soon as possible Alister.. Come soon." With those words the feeling is gone and I am again returned to the darker blackness. No, I don’t recalled being payed to kill the adventurers. Nor do I recall being payed to speed the book to anyone. Gailla shall wait for something in her life, for a change. And then I could again retire to my shamble in the wood. **** Simultaneously in time... **** Gailla Shah, Ashanti Bandroi I sit within the high towers of the Citadel, the refurbished and resurrected tower within the deserted and forgotten city of Kraggen Mire. The view of the desert is peaceful and calm. The Desert of Torgaine. “Ahhh soon..” I lean down to caress the cover of the leather bound book before me.. the bindings and cover itself made from human skin... "They leave now. I do hope that Alister has retrieved the wretched book of light... then my dear.." caresses the book again.. "power will be ours." I lean back and smile my eyes heavy lidded with pleasure at the prospect as I summon an acolyte. Some time later I rise languidly and dismiss the acolyte. He had been a pleasing one, I must remember his name. I turn my attention towards a wall, upon which hung a mirror, nothing truly ornamental, not even a large mirror... but the simple decor hid something far more precious.. Rising I move towards the mirror, revelling in the soft caress of desert air from the open window across my naked skin. I reach forward and take a gossamer gown from the chair upon which it was draped, I place it around my myself and move to the mirror. Pausing before it I pass my hand over the surface, murmuring.. the glass clouds, then clears to focus upon the riding form of Alister. I watch him awhile admiring the shape of his shoulders and the muscles of a well-trained and hardened body. Not the most undesirable of partners in crime. In fact it could be a lot worse, I could have been paired with that oaf Tiernon, or even worse the half-dead Sokudo he had summoned up. Or the demon. I shudder. But.. nothing, nothing! compared to the sensual ecstasy of pure power as it coursed through the veins.. the feel of it caressing within. I focus on the image of Alister and within my mind swoop my vision to his saddlebags. A blinding flash of light, which superimposes itself upon my retina..., strikes me I shake my head.. the book was there, he had it, though how he could ride with it so close to him... without it burning.. ohh His hand.. yes. I lean forward and breathe across the surface... "Alister..." I whisper the name and he looks up.. using an incantation I seem to move into the mirror and look at him, he sees me as a haze before him... "You have the book? You will bring it here immediately. Our master commands us. To recall your troop of bandits, the companions are going nowhere soon." He gives me twisted grin. "Gailla how nice to see you again or should I say hear you?" .. his eyes move downward and he grins as if he remembered, his hands moving slightly. I laugh softly, you will never know will you Alister?" my voice whips across him.. "They took your sight." "Not all of it Gailla, I still have my other senses. And I made full use of them." I shrug though he cannot see it. "Our master requires it as soon as possible Alister.. Come soon." I laugh softly fading back to myself. I shiver and stretch.. Power, how good it felt. I move towards the door and pause at a guard nearby.. "Bring me that lovely young man.. the one I saw training the newest neophytes.. I wish to talk to him." The guard bows and turns away hurriedly.. I return to a chair within my room and smile. ************************************************************************************** To continue, refer to the RP Transcript: “Gailla and Alister – Plans within Plans” ************************************************************************************** Or you may return to the Library or The First Meeting - A RP Transcript of the Gathering.. or At Maggies Cottage - The Gathering of the Chosen |
| Excerpts from the Book of One RP Club RP Transcripts are connected below by links |