Old World Monsters Act One: Of Pagans

[LadyTevar]

Each attack on her mind caused the frown to deepen as Jhelian turned to gaze around the townsfolk. {Ital}"How many mages are in the town?" she asked Manfred and Agrilos quietly. "Why is the town under attack?"{Ital}

[Comrade Tortoise]

[ita]"As of a few minutes ago, two that I know of... I dont suppose you would be one?" he asked "As to the second question, we have not been able to ascertain that. Either this particular town is under attack because its inhabitants possess something another desires, or is being used as part of some larger plot"[/ita]

A little voice inside the wizards head, one of his old master spoke up

'Well get to figuring out which one'

[ita]
"In any case, we need to get someplace that can be warded against intrusion, now that I know for sure a hostile wizard is involved, we cannot be sure what his talents are.. I would suggest either the inn or the church"[/ita]

'
With that, he got up, and proceeded in the direction of the church or the inn, whichever was closer.

[rhoenix]

Agrilos nodded at Manfred's suggestion. "[Italian]Yes, getting to a safe place to regroup and discuss some things sounds prudent to me.[/Italian]"

Looking around, he offered his arm to Jhelian while watching whether Manfred was heading toward the inn or the church.

[Charon]

The Inn was closer, but Manfred could tell that there was already a protective ward of some sort over the church.

[Comrade Tortoise]

Manfred headed to the church, hoping to expand upon the ward already in place to protect against more than physical damage.

[The Village Idiot]

Visira had busied himself helping to put out the fires inside the town when a gateway appeard, A little ways away near the church, and an unconsious Per was deposited gently on the ground. He made his way over to the slumbering giant and placed a hand upon him. Looking into him Visira saw that he had been healed quite well, little need for his talents at this point now.

Suddenly he felt the earth began to shake underfoot, Per was safe, and there was little he could do on his own for him so he jogged off to find the disterbance. Following others towards the inn, he saw Manfred sitting in the middle of quaking earth. Standing speechless, watching this spectacle, he could only wonder what was going on. The other mercinaries had run back to see what was going on as well, just as the quaking ceased, but he noticed a new person amoungst them, a striking woman.

"Curious, I wonder where she came from?" he mumbled.

She approched Manfred and began speaking with him, as the others gathered around, he thought it would be a good time to rejoin them. Parting the crowed infront of him he strolled over to the growing group.

[ita] "In any case, we need to get someplace that can be warded against intrusion, now that I know for sure a hostile wizard is involved, we cannot be sure what his talents are.. I would suggest either the inn or the church"[/ita]

He lingered for a moment before heading towards the inn..

"I dont know about you, but I still need to retrive my belongings from the inn," he said as he walked away.

[rhoenix]

He lingered for a moment before heading towards the inn..

"I dont know about you, but I still need to retrive my belongings from the inn," he said as he walked away.

"[German]Make haste slowly Visira, for something is afoot,[/German]" Agrilos said as he walked toward the church.

He may not call himself a Christian, but the steady faith of these Christians seemed to permeate the very stones of the church - relative safety, or so it appeared.

[LadyTevar]

The German syntax confused her, but Jhelian followed what she could of the conversations around her as Manfred lead them to the Church. She paused at the front steps, her head lifting so her golden eyes could trace the warding visible (to mages) over it.

{Ital} "Someone warded the church well," she said to Agrilos. "We should be safe inside"{Ital}

[rhoenix]

{Ital} "Someone warded the church well," she said to Agrilos. "We should be safe inside"{Ital}

Agrilos nodded as they neared the entrance. "[Italian]A good thing too - I've a feeling that things have become more complicated after the attack happened tonight, instead of less. I look forward to getting to the bottom of this.[/Italian]"

[Comrade Tortoise]

"It is warded, but not from what we need to worry about, magical intrusion, spying, things of that nature. I need some charcoal, and a chicken the rest I can do on my own" He looked around "I am neither joking or crazy... in this particular instance"

[Marcao]

His eyes followed the guard as he pointed towards the building in question and he nodded. "I see, thank you." His eyes lingered on the guard for only a moment longer before he began to make his way towards the guarded location. As he did so, he reached within and touched his power starting the tapestries of power that he knew he would need in mere moments. The guards watched him for only a moment before allowing him entrance into the building. He paid them no mind, his mind occupied with what he crafted within himself.

Once inside the structure his head turned and his eyes darted within seeking those that possessed the worst injuries. His task was to stabilize those that approached the gates of heaven or the abyss of hell. He was not here to judge. He was a tool of God, through him his will would flow.

"I have come to help." He stated as he moved towards the one person he had identified as most deserving of his immediate attention. This particular individual seemed to have a leg removed rather forcefully and appeared to have lost a significant amount of blood.

"Relax, I am here now. Let us see what is God's will." He stated plainly as his left hand reached out and touched the man's shoulder. Soothing warmth seemed to seep from him into the individual for a few precious seconds before the spell was released and settled around the man. Life poured into him, seeking to stabilize the injury and seal the wound.

Can I give this man his leg back?

it is within your power. If this man has faith that his leg will return, if he does not recoil from the judgment of God it will return.

How are you so certain?

I am a messenger of God.

The flow of power ended as the tapestry of might completely unraveled. Francesco watched the man closely for a reaction of any type for a few precious seconds before he stepped back and moved towards the next. He would do all that he could here.

[Cynical Cat]

Paul walked the streets. The shadow man was playing with him, but in doing so he gave away secrets. The Enemy was already inside the town. The attack was merely one of His faces. And Paul would not be his only play thing. Time to walk, observe the townsfolk, and truly listen.

[The Silence and I]

Inside his room John sets about cleaning his weapons, inspecting the damage to his armor and his cloths, etc. Once he is satisfied with this he turns his attention to the two wheellock pistols he had recovered from the enemy. They are larger and heavier than normal for a man to use and there are signs both were made by the same smith.

Presently he redresses all his layers and puts the unloaded pistol within his pack before slinging that on his back. Having tucked the other pistol in his belt and holding the long gun and his staff in his hands John leaves his room and slowly wanders over towards the blacksmith's shop. Perhaps someone is still awake there.

[Charon]

The church still had a great number of people within it's walls. Many were still there thanking God for their deliverance from the evil that had been haunting them. Others noticed the mercenaries and recognized them from rumors that had been floating around town all day. They came almost as a swarm, all offering their thanks to them as well as what meager gifts they could offer.

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Francesco's spell had seemed to work, the wound had closed over and the blood had stopped pouring from it. The man still had a deathly pale too him but Francesco's magic told him that for the immediate future the man's life was not lost, though more work would be needed.

There were two others there that were in bad condition. Both of the men who had been caught by Francesco's errant fireball. The burns were bad, covering great portions of their skin, and one who had been particularly close had flesh and muscle blown off along the left side of his body down to the barely distinquishable charred bone. There were several others who had suffered relatively minor injuries, but one body had already been covered by a sheet that was deep red at it's center where the person's chest would be.

---------------------------------

As Paul walked around town, dozens of people were out and roaming the street. Word had spread quickly that the fighting had ended and the creatures had been pushed back, and the people were celebrating in the streets. Mostly Paul simply heard praise for the mercenaries, though mixed with it was worry. It was clear that whatever the giant man was, it was not human, and there were questions as to the nature of the rest of them, and fear that the so far benevolent wizards would turn on the populace. But for every doubt that seemed to plague the people they were reassured by the story of another of how in the old days there had been heroic monsters who saved the people.

As Paul walked he suddenly realized that he had turned down a street that was oddly empty. A shadow flickered oddly, a torch seemed to give no light, and Paul could feel a magical effect that he had not felt before that surrounded him in a sphere. vaguely the boy had the idea that it was some sort of mental effect, but he couldn't be certain. Paul was near the center of town, close to the jail and the magistrate's home when he heard footsteps and voices coming from around a bend that were getting closer.

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John passed through the crowd with the practiced ease that came from his age. Expertly pushing aside and greeting those who praised him for what he had done and carefully countering the advances of several loose women. John reached the blacksmith to see only one of the assistants still tending to the furnace.

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In the midst of Francesco's magic a sudden urgency filled his mind and set his mind on edge. The detection spell he had cast around the town earlier had gone off before, just as the vampires had passed the threshold of the town, as the short man had burst from the ground, and when the troupe had come back from the woods. This time however the alarm came from the enterance closest to the river, and whatever had crossed the threshold was not alive. Last Francesco had known there were two guards stationed there.

[Cynical Cat]

Paul ducked into an alley and hid behind a barrel of rainwater before the voices could turn the corner and spot him.

[Marcao]

He was pleased that the man's life was no longer in danger although he was confused by his inability to immediately regrow the severed limb.

Perhaps it is a matter of faith.

The familiar whisper brushed against his mind and he considered those words. He had the power, there was no denying that. As such, the only possible reason for his inability had to be on the recipient itself. The man did not believe, and that lack of belief was at the root of his inability to give him back his limb. He frowned for a moment but did nothing. He had done all that he would for the unbeliever. His lack of faith was not his burden to carry. There were others that needed his help, the men that were burned caught his attention and he sighed softly. That was his handywork, he remembered it well.

Do not blame yourself. The deceiver manipulated you, your attack was meant for another. Your mind will not fall prey to such tricks again.

How can you be so certain?

I bathe in your faith Francesco. I can see it glowing around you like a beacon attracting God's eyes. Your faith has never wavered before. Do not let it do so now.

He approached the most severely burned of the two men and reached out to him, weaving a spell as he did so. He had noticed the body that had been covered by a sheet but he did not allow himself to worry about it. He had done all that he could, he was not responsible for all these injuries. His power flared and washed over his intended target but he could not quite keep all the doubts at bay. Could he have done something more? Could he have noticed that which had affected his senses earlier?

We cannot change the past. We can only affect our present and shape our future Francesco. Let God's love flow over these people. This is what you should do now.

He took comfort in those words, stopping the flow of power to the first burn victim before channeling might towards the other. He had barely begun the process when he felt his ward trigger itself. A sense of urgency flooded his mind and almost instantly he understood what was occurring. A breach, he could sense it. Undead? The flow of power ceased abruptly, regret dancing in his eyes as he made eye contact with the man he had been in the process of healing seconds before.

"I am sorry, something has breached the perimeter of the town. I must investigate or more lives maybe lost. Please endure, I will return to you." He said calmly to the man before he took a step back and walked away.

Within moments of exiting the building he glanced for the guards and upon finding the nearest spoke.

"Something not alive has breached the perimeter of the town by the river entrance. I go there to meet this thread head on and discern its nature, there were two guards near that entrance if I recall. Let us hope they are
prepared to deal with this threat. Alert the others, it seems that this incursion is not quite over yet." He stated flatly before moving past the guards and heading towards where his ward had been tripped.

As he moved towardshis final destination he felt an unusual calm descend around him. He had been tapping into his power nearly constantly since the initial lull in hostilities. He should have begun to feel weariness clawing at his bones, but something had changed. He did not feel that familiar weight around his shoulders after exerting himself. On the contrary, he felt an anticipation that surprised him. It was almost as if he was ready to move the world. He had never felt so eager, as if his body were rather looking forward to this new challenge that was presenting itself before him. Why? Where was that feeling coming from? Why did he feel so certain so at ease?

Isn't it obvious? The eyes of God have fallen upon you.

The eyes of God?

Yes. He is watching you right now. The calm within your heart is merely your soul recognizing what your mind does not.

And what is that?

That you are blessed Francesco. You are blessed by God and as such you cannot be defeated.

Francesco smiled, power flooding out of him akin to tea overflowing from a cup. As the power oozed out it reacted with the air around him, fire was born and took shape of wings that projected from his sides and back. The heat made the air shimmer around him, Emerald orbs seeming to glow with inner light as he moved ever closer to the breach. What spawn of the dark would he face? What manner of creatures would he kill?

[Charon]

The footsteps came closer and the voices became more distinct.

"That wasn't supposed to happen."

A far more garbled voice replied. "We underestimated them. That is all. Tomorrow shall see the end of this."

The other voice yelled out now. "We had fucking cannons you dumb shit! They shouldn't have been able to hold out against that! And now we're down one cannon because that idiot Hrothgen got his cracked in the explosion! If we couldn't take them now what will be differen-" The voice cut off in a gargled choking noise. The footsteps stopped a few paces past Paul's hiding spot.

"Quiet you impotent boy. They faced only the vampires and the dwarf, and they still barely won. The next time there will be you, those idiot trolls, and Johann. Combined with my magic there is no way they can hold out. Now if I let go of your pathetic little mind do you promise not to say anything else so utterly stupid?"

There was a long pause, then the first man spoke again. "Right. Tomorrow will be different. I still don't trust Johann though, he's been too quiet since those 'mercenaries' showed up, and you know he's never been 100% with us."

"Johann will do what I tell him to, he is far too broken of a man to do otherwise." snapped the more garbled voice.

"Yeah, but-"

"Just shut up and get back in your cell I grow tired of your stench and there is still much work to be done this night."

The footsteps seperated then and began to head in different directions.

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The first burn victim's wounds healed quickly and well, burned skin became pink and fresh again, muscles filled into gaps where they had been burned away. It wasn't perfect, and the man would likely bare a few scars from the ordeal, but he would live and walk again.

The second man needed less care, but the sudden shutting off of healing power was a bit of a shock to his system. The man grunted once, before passing out. His fate was still in the hands of God.

The guard that Francesco told seemed stunned for a few moments, and unsure what he was supposed to do next. As Francesco moved away the other guard finally sprung into action and ran to another guard, telling him what he had been told. That guard started in shock and then spread word to other guards. Some men were sent towards the water gate while others began to corral the citizens away from that enterance.

As Francesco walked down the streets the peasantry stared in shock and awe at his display of power, some beginning to follow after him before a few guards managed to convince them to go elsewhere. A spark of worry was beginning to shoot through the revelers though, and it was apparent to all save Francesco, who was too focused on the glory of his new power to notice those around him.

A few minutes later Francesco was nearing the enterance, but there was no clamor of fighting, or any signs of destruction to be seen. As the Italian wizard turned the last corner he was treated something that he had not been expecting at all.

The guards were still standing at their posts, apparently extremely bored and perhaps somewhat irate that they could not join in the festivitys. One leaned against the pallisade, with his spear in arms reach, the other sat on a box that was apparently filled with seeds and played with one of the torches. As they spotted Francesco however they quickly went back to their positions, trying to act as though they had been standing a dutiful guard this whole night.

[Cynical Cat]

Paul's heart beat like a drum. He had been in tight situations before, hiding from certain death that was across the room, but never against something as terrible as this being. He knew it was an illusion, that his heartbeat wasn't audible to those around him, but he still felt the fear. Terror clasped him with icy talons and would not let go.

He waited for the men to pass before emerging. His master was mad, should he go to him? Yes, yes he would. And if he would not listen, then to another. He hustled quickly through the streets, looking back over his shoulder far too often.

[Charon]

Paul's heart beat like a drum. He had been in tight situations before, hiding from certain death that was across the room, but never against something as terrible as this being. He knew it was an illusion, that his heartbeat wasn't audible to those around him, but he still felt the fear. Terror clasped him with icy talons and would not let go.

He waited for the men to pass before emerging. His master was mad, should he go to him? Yes, yes he would. And if he would not listen, then to another. He hustled quickly through the streets, looking back over his shoulder far too often.

As Paul ran the familiar chill ran down his spine again and the old familiar incorporial voice whispered in his ear.

"Tisk tisk. Children these days. They don't even say thank you after you offer them a piece of the puzzle. Whatever should I do about you?"

[Cynical Cat]

Paul froze. "You didn't do me no favors," said the street urchin. He didn't know what the shadow thing was, but he knew how it acted. It was like a pimp, luring with an open hand, a smile on his face, and a gift and then catching and squeezing. It was no friend of his. "You're playing your own game. I'm not your bloody pawn."

[LadyTevar]

The surge of magic was felt even inside the church, and Jhelian turned and ran to the door to find the source.

Francesco smiled, power flooding out of him akin to tea overflowing from a cup. As the power oozed out of his it reacted with the air around him, fire was born and took shape of wings that projected from his sides and back. The heat made the air shimmer around him, Emerald orbs seeming to glow with inner light as he moved ever closer to the breach.

{ital} "Mother of God!" she exclaimed, staring in shock and awe at the wings of fire trailing Francesco as he walked towards the walls of the town. "Has the madness taken him?" Guards were chasing away the townspeople, herding them for the church and safety.

So young... too young for such a fate
What can I do? What can I do!?

She left the warding, running after Francesco unheedingly.

[Comrade Tortoise]

Manfred felt it too and looked out of the church to see the bright flashes of light "FIre? Francesco!" he shouted before he also bolted in that general direction.

"If the madness has taken him, we will have to work together to bring him down"

"You have seen him... how would his madness effect him?" came a familiar voice. Not his, not The Other, but a kinder voice. His old master was speaking in his mindscape again.

"He is pretentious, highly religious... Oh no..." he replied in a whisper that might be heard from the outside.

[Cynical Cat]

Paul looked around. He couldn't find Manfred. Then he saw the light show around the church and groaned. Damn. He hurried that way.

[Charon]

The voice muttered something under it's breath, still seeming to hover just behind Paul's ear. "Ah you're stubborn, I wonder if it is your father that you get that from. No, your mother was the stubborn one. She still is really."

The voice was quiet for a moment before the light of Francesco's fire erupted. "Oh isn't that fancy, a normal fire. You could do much much better you know, if you just let yourself be taught." With that the voice and the presence was gone again.

[Cynical Cat]

"You're just a pimp," said Paul, "even if you're one of the Devil's pimps." He moved towards Manfred. "Master?"