RP:Return to the Tower
Synopsis: Trent decides to head back to the Tower hidden in the Xalious Mountains. Along the way he finds Aarika who offers to join him. They make new discoveries at a greater risk to their lives.
Original visit: Answers in the Stars
Date: 04-29-2018
Mountain Path
To the east and west the terrain is almost unbearable, but here the land is open and the earth not as rocky. Paths intersect here as the way to the north has been carved out of the mountains, and would take you in that direction. The incline is gradual as far as you can see, and goes up and over some mountains, blocking any vision of the north beyond. To the south is a spectacular scenic view from the edge of a cliff, and you see a small footpath that leads east from it to some unknown location. To the west, as well as east, the path dips down a little and goes into some very rough terrain. Further west you spot what looks like a small village, and you can also make out the two towers of Xalious, the Mage Tower, and another you cant recall the name of. From here they look splendid as they reach up into the sky before the great mountains of Xalious. To the north a path leads to a higher, more strenuous parts of the mountain range.
Aarika was alone yet again, the matron seeming more at peace then ever before despite her appearance. Her flaxen hair was still braided but there was wear, instead of tightly woven plaits there were frizzy loose twists with leaves decorating her blonde mess. Her face had smudges of soot and blood even though she adorned a sweet smile, her eyes told a different story, wild and stormy she could almost pass for feral. Her body resembled her face, the bare skin that wasn't covered with her armor was freckled and streaked with crimson, ash and mud. It was safe to say Aarika had had a big night out and it was also safe to assume she was just returning towards home. She hummed a merry tune and every now and again she would skip up to a rock to kick it along down the path with her.
In the opposite direction of his clan leader did Trent appear to be walking; Solemn, deep in thought, and very much lost to the world that passed around him. In fact, had he not lifted his head to make sure he was headed in the right direction, he might have missed Aarika completely. Broad shoulders carried upon them the straps of a larger sack than he normally brought along, and it seems to have been stuffed to the brim with supplies. It was hard to say what exactly, but there were plenty of clanking sounds as whatever metal was hidden from view would occasionally make contact. Trent slowed his pace as he and the blonde woman neared, finally coming to a halt as he greeted her with a nod. "Afternoon. Did you have a late night?" he would ask, taking note of her disheveled appearance.
Aarika twisted towards the voice and her smile deepened into a grin with the question that it carried, "Trent." She canted her head to the side before executing a deep curtsy, "Well afternoon, good sir." She replied before correcting her posture, "I had a brilliant night." She sighed flashing back to memory lane before she leaned in toward the man, she spoke as looked side to side checking for any unwanted audience "I spoke to the Gods last night." Her fried demeanor seemed to perk up instantly, "They didn't tell me about Schezerade. Though they did make light of my own tribulations." Aarika paused from herself to scan over Trent taking note of his demeanor and the literal and metaphorical baggage he seemed to carry, "How are you?" She asked reaching out to softly touch his non metallic arm, "Whatcha got there?" She had broken the contact to rock to her tip toes attempting to peer over the man's broad shoulder.
Trent wasn't sure what to sat at first. Aarika's behaviour was a little off compared to those times they had spoken prior. Perhaps there was more to the leader of the Collective than he thought. "You... spoke to the Gods?" A brow lifted. "And they spoke back?" Plastered upon his face was this look that would almost call the woman crazy. He wouldn't speak those words, but you could see he was thinking it. "What did they say?" Trent shouldn't be so judgmental. The possibility of communication with a higher power wasn't exactly ridiculous. After all that he himself had seen, anything would be possible at this rate. Steel blue rose to the heavens and he would take to sighing in disappointment. What had started off as a beautiful morning, slowly devolved into a grey, cloudy day. It would not be out of the question that there was rain on the horizon. "I... am well." the human finally managed to spit out. Her attempt at peaking over his shoulder was met with a bit of a chuckle, and he explained, "Supplies. I am on a bit of a mission to the North, up there in the Xalious Mountains. I guess the pull of curiosity is far stronger than my promise to not return." A shrug. "I take it you are returning to the compound?"
Aarika chuckled up to Trent after reading his facial expression, "They said beware of the one armed man." She teased clearly indicating it was the man before her. She would give it a moment before carrying on, "The one with the blonde hair and troubled past." She would continue to study his face to gauge how he received her harmless banter, "They didn't say anything, but they showed me things." She pause once again as her fingers dipped behind her breast plate to fish out a small pouch that she would wave at her clansmen before tossing it his way. If he was curious enough to seek out the contents he would find mushrooms, but not the typical kind one would cook with, "That helps to see the things the naked eye cant." She smiled, "You should try them sometime....." Her voice spiked with interest as she moved on to his subjects, "What kind of mission?" She asked, "...The compound can wait if you need assistance. Henry is holding down the fort." He was also minding the twins, thankfully.
What Aarika perceived as humor, a little harmless ribbing, is something Trent found quite distressing. His chest rose, but did not fall, his breath held as he poured over her words. He seemed worried and anxious. "I see." the man spoke in a defeated tone. If this was the first time he had heard such words, then perhaps he could shrug it off; But it wasn't. This very sentiment had been uttered before, to someone he had once been close to. It would appear that much like his waking, events continue to repeat themselves. Troubled thoughts would not be banished quite so easily, but the tossed item did catch the human off guard for a moment or two. He brought the bag to his nose and took a sniff, the look upon his face said it all - disgust. The mushrooms wouldn't be discarded or ruled out, though. Such an item, especially with such unique properties, would probably come in handy at some point. And so, with the bag tucked into the inside pocket of his jacket, Trent tries his best to smile. "Thank you. i might do that." As Aarika turned the focus to the task that the human had been originally planning, that smile faded and he became hesitant. "I am looking for things that I might have missed once before. Clues that may help in solving this puzzle as to why I can not remember. Although, I am not sure if it is best that you come along. The last time someone came with me, things became quite dangerous. In fact, up until her disappearance, I think she began to avoid me. Whatever was up there, it too warned her about my presence. I would hate to put you in any sort of risk."
Aarika had zero problem reading Trent's body language, she hadn't intended on hurting him with her off colored joke. She should have known better seeing their sort of relationship was merely days old. She parted her lips hesitantly weighing out if she should apologize or ignore the feelings and let them pass. It was the look of disgust though that had her close her mouth once again. Well this wasn't going very well even a blind man could see that. Aarika continued to dissect Trent and the emotions he portrayed, he certainly was a tortured soul. It was hard for Aarika to see the ones around her so distressed regardless of how close or distant they were to one another. However she was beginning to learn less is more, at least with her words and at least with Trent. "I do not scare easy. If you want my help you have it." She promised with a affirmative nod, "I can carry some of that weight." There was a half smile before she glanced over her shoulder towards the direction Trent aimed to go.
The elven woman couldn't be blamed, really. Trent was just that sort of quiet guy that had a severe lack of proper humor. Social cues and norms were foreign to him. He tried, though. Tried very hard to loosen up. And for a while, it had been working- He had made progress. It would take a little time, but once he got to know his leader, then things might not be so bad. "I... suppose it would not be a bad idea to bring someone who can come to my defense." he offered, showcasing a smile for the bloodied blonde. A joke? "Besides, perhaps this will give us time to talk. To learn about one another. It would be good to know from whom I shall be taking orders." Trent made no offer to allow Aarika to take some of the load off of his shoulders, instead beginning the walk toward the north. The first of many questions he would ask, "So, how exactly did you come to form the Collective?"
Aarika gave a wink of her eye, "Don't worry, I'll keep you safe." She assured before pivoting on her heels to follow Trent's lead. As they walked Aarika rested her left hand on the hilt of her sword that hung at her hip, her right hand gestured and moved fluidly through the air as she answered the human's questions, "Orders?" There was a snort at his phrasing, "I am just the glue. I find the contracts and you lot work for yourselves." At the question of how the Collective came about she gave a rise and fall of her shoulders, "I don't really know. These last few decades haven't been the easiest." She admitted with furrowed brows as she glanced down to her boots that continued to carry her, "There's been love, hate, loss, gain, hurt, betrayal. I hit rock bottom, had nothing left...or so I had been lead to believe. So I wandered....trudged endlessly with nothing in my pockets. All I had left was the ability to wield my blade, so I sold it. I sold my services. Then one day I learned my family still lived." She would take a long pause using the crunching gravel under her boots as a mental distraction. "I was tricked to believe Arius and Leralynn had been killed." She swallowed hard remembering the event like yesterday. "I fainted the first time I saw them again." She broke the heavy topic with a loud laugh, "Turned white as a ghost and keeled right over. They gave me back my purpose...And I needed to be able to care and provide for them, so I started looking for bigger contracts and while searching I found others just as lost as I was. There's nothing worse then wandering aimlessly so I offered a hand and I suppose people trusted me. That's why the Collective is more then just a clan to me." Finally she tilted her head up to catch Trent's gaze, "It's a family."
The journey up the mountain wasn't quite so awful. The clouds overhead had thus far held off with any sort of downpour which made for an easier trek. Although, the further that the ascended, the more likely they were to walk into light snowfall. "I'm sorry. Poor phrasing, I suppose." he stated to the first of her answers. As she spoke of her hardships, the human found some sort of relation. perhaps not in the sense of the grand scale in which she spoke, but there was some sort of ability to empathize. As she spoke of her children and finding purpose, Trent could not help but smile a little. Not only for her and the ends to which she persevered, but to the idea that despite when all seems lost, that there may be a glimmer of hope after all. "I'm sorry to hear that you went through such hard times. To think that your children may have been killed, I could only imagine how hard such news would have been. I don't think that I would have been able to go on. Not like that." As they continued on, the ground began to shift from rocky gravel to light snow, the air all around growing chilly. Trent was not all too sure of Elven physiology, but he would suspect that they were like most of the humanoid races- Not too fond of freezing. "But, it seems that although you struggled, you fought your hardest to push through it all." he said, pulling his bag off of his back and opening the flap. "You seem to have come a long way, and such a life can be seen as something to inspire others to not give up. Your outfit- it could be said that you have given others purpose. A place to belong. That is admirable." Finally, Trent pulls free a wolf-fur cloak and offers it to Aarika. As they came to the bend in which they were to turn, the pair might occasionally notice shadowy robed figures watching from higher ground. They would appear and disappear in an instant, but they were there, watching the duo make their way toward the tower hidden in the mountain.
Aarika didn't hesitate to accept the wolf pelt, for she was far from the proper attire, "Ah, you're grand." She sighed with a shutter before throwing the garment around her body. "I barely pushed through, truth be told." She admitted before a shadowed figure caught her attention. Again she furrowed her brows and again she tilted her head, she questioned if she was still hallucinating seeing the form appear just as quickly as it disappeared. This lead her to question her worth to the mission ahead but finally despite the risk of sounding insane she asked, "Do you see them?" Her words were visible with the cool atmosphere, every breath in fact. Again the figures would appear and disappear which sharpened her awareness of her surrounding. Trent would receive a soft elbow to his side while her hands buried deep into the pockets of her coat, "We're sitting ducks down here." The steam produced proved she spoke but her words were hushed and intended for Trent alone.
Trent slowed his pace and looked up, just in time to see one of the robed figures dart off. A short nod was given as he confirmed what she saw. "This is not the first time i've witnessed these beings. I believe they watch over the tower itself. Although, I know that they have been in the background in many places that I have visited. My friend..." Trent paused, brow beginning to knit as he thought about the artist, "Meri, she feared them. Said that they warned her. Although, they did not attack us, and so I do not believe them to be entirely harmful. Still, it would best to be on our guard." Much like his last adventure to the mountain tower, Trent's amulet began to glow stronger, and with it, the gauntlet took on that same familiar luster that told him he was headed in the right direction. As the human lead Aarika further into the mountain, he tried his best to put on a brave face. The last time he came through this way, he had a little trouble crossing that vulnerable rope bridge that spans across a deep chasm. He took the lead and walked carefully at a medium pace; Mostly to conceal the fact that he had his eyes closed the entire time. "It should not be too much farther. If you wish to turn back, I do not blame you."
Aarika released a sigh of relief that was followed by a slight chuckle, "I was beginning to think I had gone a bit mental." Sure the figures put her on edge but her poker face was strong she knew better then to show anxieties, for this bloodied blonde death in battle would be the only way to go with honor. The human mentioned Meri and she wondered if she were the same she had met in Cenril but as Trent's amulet began to glow she flashed back to the training yard and these memories formed space between them...an arms reach to be exact. As they neared the bridge she peered off the cliff with a whistle, "What a drop." She muttered to herself as her right hand moved to grip at the back of her neck. Trent gave her an out and it was her turn to show disgust, "Turn back?" She scoffed, "I don't know what kinda woman you think you're dealing with." She mused picking up on Trent's uneasiness, "We will just take a little peek and see what were are dealing with ok?" Aarika was on the rope bridge soon enough curious about what they were to stumble upon. Clearly this wasn't for the faint of heart.
Trent chuckled to himself with Aarika's persistence. The woman surely held no fear in this venture, and that alone was worth its weight in gold. There was no telling what would be found, if anything at all. Trent had been warned not to return, and yet, here he was, showing defiance to those that protected this sanctuary. "Just a peek. If only it were so simple." the man said with a bit of a sigh. Finally, they would be across the chasm, pushing past the rushing falls that protected the opening to the cavern beyond and soon stepped into the maw of the beast. "There. That's our goal." Trent pointed not too far off into the distance to the tower that stood hidden in this rocky guardian. The hood of his jacket was lifted and he took a good look around, hoping to see anything that might have escaped his view the last time he had been here. THWIP. THWIP THWIP THWIP! The sound of arrows sailing past the blonde traveler's heads broke the silence. THWIP THWIP THWIP! Three more. High above on the cliffside, Aarika's fears had from true- They were easy targets sitting out here in the open. "RUN! For the tower! NOW!" Trent urged, taking grip of Aarika's forearm. He pulled and began to sprint, hoping she would be quick to move.
Aarika couldn't stifle the the sounds of excitement that passed through her lips as the arrows sliced through the air around them. "You missed!" She called out merrily with an overly friendly wave but it was Trent's grip and tug that set the elfess in motion. Running was one of her pass times so stamina wasn't something she lacked. She sprinted towards the tower following a sporadic path, "Serpentine." She advised making sure their path wouldn't be too predictable lining them up for puncture wounds. She had taken an arrow a before and was a huge believer in learning from your mistakes. "Can they not be reasoned with?" She called over her shoulder as they ran. "Bribed?!" Her left hand dropped to her scabbard once again but only to hold the blade in place while her right hand move to free the short ax in her belt, if there was to be a surprise at the entry she would be ready with her own.
Caer Arianrhod
Trent followed Aarika's instructions and began to weave, just narrowly being missed with another arrow as it whipped past his shoulder. "How should I know?! They've never done this before!" he called out, still maintaining his speed. More arrows were fired. From the amount being volleyed, it could be guessed that there were at least four or five archers high above. Luckily for the pair making a mad dash, those archers were also bad shots. As they neared the entrance, Trent began to grow nervous as from what he could see, there was no doorway to be found. "What in the Gods names?!" he shouted, slowing his pace. More arrows flew by, some sticking into the ground near their feet. Trent frantically grasped at the wall, looking for some sort of switch or lever to allow the duo to enter. THWIP. That one bounced off of the tower close to Trent's head. The human sighed in defeat, unsure what to do. He leaned forward and rested his head against the cool stone, the metal of his gauntlet soon balled up into a fist and slammed against the crack that was present on the face of the tower. Suddenly, the man fell forward like a simpleton, stripping and falling flat on his face into the safety of the spire. With the little luck that they had, Trent and Aarika would find no one in wait.
Aarika quickly followed after Trent, her entrance being just as graceful as his. He was a big guy to scramble over but she managed, relieved to find no welcoming committee. She rolled on to her back as she lifted her boots off of the human, "Well, that was fun." She laughed in between pants while her fingers checked the integrity of her wolfs pelt, "Seems you have moths." She teased confirming she had dodged a bullet/arrow or two. Blindly Aarika reached for Trent to offer a pat to his back, "You still alive?" she asked as she rolled on to her stomach and pushed to her feet, "So what do you mean they've never done that before? Have you ever talked to one of these guys?" She asked while she offered him a hand up, if he responded with his metal arm she would be sure to redirect that approach with a -uh uh, other one-. "If they can't be reasoned with and we are are so severely out numbered then we might have to go a bit incognito." She wasn't talking costumes, she was talking about burglering some robes and disposing of witnesses.
Trent had decided to lay there for a few seconds to collect his thoughts, an almost muffled voice coming out from beneath his arms as he was face down on the floor. "Fun? You have an odd taste in what you'd call fun. And yes. Still living." After a moment, he too rolls over and reaches out to her offered hand- Of course with his metal one. The 'uh uh' was met with a bit of a chuckle and he gifted her the right, soon to be up on his feet. "Well. Not exactly talked. They spoke once. if they are the same... things as before. I am certain they are undead. At least, that's what I can recall of their appearance." He shrugs. "The last time I was here with Meri, they confronted us downstairs. Told us to leave. Something about danger, or sorrow. Their speech was broken, sadly." Trent points toward the staircase and leads the way. "That might be an option. We'll have to find a couple of these things roaming, first. From my experience, they tend to stay hidden until they want to be seen."Ascending the staircase to the first floor, Trent doesn't say a whole lot. He leads the way through the strange picture room, taking his time so that Aarika could take an observation if she so wishes- Although, he himself had never really seen anything there. Just strange and unsettling images that tend to come to life the longer you stare upon them. Another set of stairs would take the pair up and into the Cauldron Room, the first of the two destinations that Trent wanted to visit. "I might need your help here. I would think that you are lighter than I am, so you may be faster at climbing." In the center of the room sits a large cauldron that takes up nearly the entire space of the room. It was tall, too tall to see into, and there seemed to be some sort of chain and lever system high above that could not be accessed. There were no ladders or things to climb, but Trent came prepared. He would walk around the cauldron a bit until he happened upon something scratched into the side of the thing. It was a scene of the Tower itself with the caudron in the middle, and a hand sticking up and out of it. Here, he would take off that backpack and sling it to the floor, only to then root through it and pull out some rope and a metal hook. "Think you'd be okay to take a look in that thing if I can get this to latch onto the rim?"
Aarika followed the human once more though she walked up the stairs backwards with her small ax still in hand keeping all their bases covered. Aarika had the rear covered, "Have you thought about a necromancer if they are all undead? There has to be some sort of sleeping spell or whatever..." When they hit the picture room Aarika slowed her pace observing the moving pictures, she didn't like them much, made her skin crawl. Finally on to the cauldron room, Aarika walked the perimeter while Trent rummaged through his bag, when she was satisfied with the occupancy of the room she returned back to the blonde. "Well I hope I am lighter...especially with that metal arm of yours!" As he revealed the hook and rope she gesture for him to hand it over. If she was going to climb it she wouldn't give him much of an option. Aarika took the rope and fed it around the hook leaving two strands instead of a single. She proceeded to tie the ropes into a knot every foot, clearly making loops to ease the climbing process. A few rotations like a softball pitcher had the anchor up and over the lip of the cauldron sounding a clank; with a yank the hook slid into place. She grinned and glanced up to Trent, "Alright, now hold the end taut." Aarika instructed before she climbed the self made ladder with ease. When she finally hit the rim she pulled herself up and swung a leg over claiming a new perch, "What am I looking for?" She asked while her legs dangled above.
Trent hmms to himself. "Necromancers? That... huh. That is a very intelligent idea, Aarika. Perhpas I should consult you before I make these sort of trips." He had offered in response. When the elf insisted that he hand over the rope and hook, there was no hesitation behalf of the male. Truthfully, he hadn't really the slightest idea if it would even work or not, nor had he ever rigged once of these devices before. It was not a very well thought out plan, and if Aarika hadn't been here, this trip could have been a lesson in pointless endeavors. Trent watched her closely, keeping an eye on every step she took to get this grappling device together. The climbing loops were ingenious and something he would definitely never thought of. "You know, I've never thought about the weight of this thing. I'm so used to it that it feels like it is nothing on my body. I am curious if I were to jump into a lake, if I would sink before I ever had a chance to swim." It was lost on the man that she had been poking fun. Way to go, Trent. When the grapple hooked the rim of the cauldron, Trent's brow lifted and he may have even smiled. "Nice shot." he commented, before doing as instructed and taking the end of the rope. "I'm not sure. Anything. From the diagram that the gauntlet etched the last time I was here, it shows a hand coming from inside." If and when Aarika actually looked into the cauldron, she might feel a bit sick to her stomach. There was liquid inside. A ghoulish brownish green liquid that would occasionally bubble. It was thick, viscous, and looked like something an orc would defecate. The worst part is that is stunk. It was putrid and vile; it smelled of death. As if it were the leftover soup of a hundred corpses or more. There didn't seem to be any sort of bones nor chunks of anything visible, just this disgusting brownish green liquid. Unseen from below, connected to the pulleys and chains, a flat bed of steel that looked like it was able to be lowered into the cauldron at any time. For what purpose, it was hard to say.
Aarika was proving she was more then just a pretty face and as he talked about testing the waters, literally she was already thinking of how to trial and error that one. Maybe a hose....or a pipe...some kind of breathing device. It was that point in time she wished she didn't -have- to breathe. What the freck was going on? Her hand slapped over her mouth while her nose and pointer finger pinched her nostrils closed there was even a dry heave. "You're cruel." She whined in a nasally voice as her body instinctively leaned away from the sludge. Aarika noticed the pulleys and the flatbed and she groaned in misery, afraid of what was to come, for once. Carefully she rose back to her feet her left hand clinging to one of the chains that suspended the cauldron while she walked the rim to dislodge the plank while praying the entire time, "please don't fall in...please don't fall in...please don't fall in....please don't fall in...."
Trent was waiting pretty patiently while Aarika was doing her bit of investigating, once and a while to peer around the side of the cauldron just in case anyone were to suddenly walk in. So far the coast was clear. THe elven's woman's whining was met with concern as Trent looked up toward her, "Cruel? What do you mean? What do you see?" He was fully unaware of what sort of hells she was currently having to endure. The pendant around Trent's neck start to pulsate once more, this time causing the human to take notice. As Aarika was walking the rim, the chain that she was holding onto began to move. It seems that the clinging caused her to accidentally tug and release some sort of mechanism. There was a loud clunking sound and a big metallic boom, and suddenly the slack of the chain loosened which would mean that her ability to keep herself upright was about to disappear. If she were quick, she could avoid a sludge bath by falling and hanging onto the rim, or leaping toward the ledge mounted to the wall. The ledge itself plays host to the source of the pulley system, a device in which allows the metal slab suspended over the cauldron to be lowered and lifted. There are two more levers on this mechanical device that are marked by odd runic symbols- but their purpose is unknown. From down below, Trent reacted to the loud bang, "AARIKA! WHat's going on?!"
Aarika lost her footing before she even has a chance to jump, she shrieked as she began to plummet. There wasn't a second to spare as she hung on for dear life. "It's filth..." She managed out in between grunts as she attempted to pull herself back upright, but the movement stirred the contents of the cauldron which released such a putrid gases that the smell was unbearable, "No wonder we haven't had any company." She grumbled while her hands inched her around the rim, she didn't know if she could hang on for much longer with how her stomach churned. She seemed to be running out of ideas as quickly as she was running out of strength. Her feet dangled looking for a loop in her make shift ladder but it was no use. If she stayed up there much longer there would be some chunder thunder. "I could use an idea, Trent!" She called down to below.
"Filth? I don't understand! What do you mean, filth?" Trent asked, a little concerned. He had lost sight of her in that little exploration she took, so he didn't quite know the sort of peril the elven woman faced. The human began to circle the cauldron, looking for where her voice had been coming from when he found her dangling and helpless. "What happened?" he asked, unable to help himself from chuckling. "Are you okay? Hold on, let me get the rope!" Trent ran around to where he had left the makeshift ladder and tried to pull it around to where Aarika was, but it seemed to catch on something around the rim. He tugged and pulled, and but the damn thing wouldn't come free. "Oh no." he said out loud. Quickly, Trent rushed back to where Aarika was in trouble and called up to her, "The rope is stuck! Um, I have an idea, but you might not like it. ...Let go." Trent was certain that she wouldn't particularly care for the idea, but it was the best that he had. "I'll catch you! Or try!" Then he joked, "You said you trusted me, remember?" Smooth Trent. Time and place. Trent outstretched his arms and waited for the woman to release. When Aarika did release, it wouldn't exactly be the most graceful catch. He would manage to get his arms around her in some capacity, but with the height and the velocity- they were both hitting the floor. At least Trent would soften the blow and probably assist the woman in preventing any sort of real injury. That was the hope at least.
Aarika huffed for a moment before she actually chose to free fall into the unknown, "What do you mean you'll try?!" Now he had a sense of humor...?Aarika reluctantly released her grip and plummeted down towards the ground with more eternal prayers, thankfully there was Trent to catch her fall from grace. The collision knocked the air from the bloodied blond which left her writhing upon the human with a groan, her ribs ached and her head throbbed, not to mention her upset stomach... her fingertips moved to prod at her side to investigate her injuries, seemed to only be bruising, she felt lucky to have missed the metal arm. Aarika didn't bother to get up while she caught her breath, she was appreciating the solid floor, "It was filled with sewage. The cauldron, completely rancid. I couldn't see anything in the brown tar."
Trent too hit the ground with the force of the fall. "Oh shi-" he called out, but was silenced as soon as that elven blooded hit him. She didn't weigh THAT much, but it was enough to cause him to feel it in his shoulders and his arse- Which was the first thing he planted on. He half sat, back now against the wall, a soft chuckle let loose as he looked Aarika over from his position behind her, "Are you alright? Hope nothing is injured too badly. I misjudged that catch." The metal digits of his gauntlet scratched the back of his head and he made the motion to rise, letting her remain seated for a moment to collect herself. "Rancid sewage? Why in the God's names would someone keep such a thing in a cauldron? For what purpose could that ever serve?" he asked, going to collect his bag. The gauntlet was still with that soft glow, the thing lifted to be observed as Trent came back around for Aarika. "I don't get it. This thing could not have come from there. Then why did it draw a hand sticking out from a cauldron shape? It's strange." Offering the woman a hand, Trent smiled meekly. "Thank you for looking. I owe you for that. I just... have one more thing I want to see and we can get out of here, if you'd like." He points to the staircase. "It's up one more floor. It's... a little more interesting. I think you might enjoy it."
Aarika lofted a single brow as her body shook against the human's as he chuckled. Was he laughing? The sound he emitted pulled a smile from her as he moved to fetch his belongings. It was her turn to lean against the wall but when he returned with an extended hand she'd accept. Aarika was lifted to her feet with ease, "Thank you." She smiled while dusting off her persons, "Normally I'd say don't worry about it, but after what I had to breathe in up there." She pointed above her head towards the cauldron. She was merely teasing the man and she hoped her expression was legible. As he mentioned one more task she perked right back up she'd melt away after the job was done. So with a click of her heels the disheveled elf followed behind Trent once again, "This time you do the inspecting." She snorted before sticking out her tongue. "Unfortunately those smell will haunt me in my dreams."
Trent was beginning to ease around Aarika a little more, and her humor seemed to meet its mark. He grinned in turn and began to lead the way up the stairs. "I can say that I am glad that it was not me that went up there. Although, you won't have to worry up here. Not that I would think. It's more beautiful than anything." That's how he saw it at any rate. The last time he was here, he saw something he more spectacular than he had ever seen, or could remember seeing. And much like then, it would appear that he would see the same. As the pair finally reached the landing, Trent pointed up toward the ceiling- or what should have been the ceiling. A starry sky full of constellations and strange wonderful lights greets the human and the elf, Trent finding within himself to actually appreciate what he was seeing this time. "I am uncertain how this is possible, but it's beautiful." he says. "Although, the last time I saw this, something strange did happen and I am going to see if I can replicate it." The azure glow of the gauntlet had grown a little brighter as they climbed the stairs, and in contrast with the dim lighting of the room, it was like some sort of metallic firefly. "Okay. I need you to show me what you had the last time we came. I need to see it again." Trent spoke, looking down to the gauntlet. As if responding, the thing began to flex and curl its fingers. Trent aimed the metal appendage up toward the starry heavens and waited. Nothing. Still, he stood there, fist raised, waiting- and nothing happened. "Come on..." he moaned. Perhaps it was his complaining, or perhaps it merely took some time to charge, but finally a brilliant azure beam shot out from the hand and straight up into the stars above. Much like it had prior, the beam spread throughout the heavens, bathing the room in that glow of soft blue. Eventually, once the light died, the digits of the gauntlet curled into a fist and pulled downward. As it did so, the stars in the sky began to move closer to the ground, extinguishing one by one until a select pattern of four remained. Again the gauntlet pulled downward, bringing those four stars to rest just above Trent's head. They were arranged, three in a row, with the fourth at an angle, between the first and second star. One of the fingers on the gauntlet then made a circular motion, spinning the constellation round and round. "This is what I came to see." Trent explained.
Aarika noticed the human acclimating to her by his mannerisms, this pleased her and she counted it as a small victory. The efforts they went through to get to the here and now were all forgotten as the raw beauty of the platform washed over her. "Wow.." She whispered under her breath as she craned her head back to rest on her shoulders while she admired the stars. "You're right." She paused, "It's absolutely breath taking." Aarika was so engulf in her surrounding that when the beam of light finally shot from his hand it startled her. She flinched with wide eyes before she laughed once again, she felt silly. Easily she was pulled back to her surrounding and how the stars moved and swirled around Trent. Silently she looked him over, completely enthralled over this human and his arm. She wasn't sure what answers he searched for, but she was just as interested in the outcome as he seemed to manipulate the stars. "What does it mean?" She questioned keeping her eyes peeled to the metal appendage as her hand shyly moved to touch one of the four stars left. "Seriously though..." She was simply baffled.
Warmth. That is what Aarika would feel as she reached up to touch one of those flicking heavenly bodies. There would be no physical touch, her finger slipping through as if it were some sort of beautiful specter, but she would feel wamrth. Trent's curled finger began to unfurl, the stars shown slowly being pushed out toward the sky above once again. With this, the sky would dot with other celestial bodies, one by one until things seemed back to as they had been upon first entrance. Aside from that one constellation however. It was still highlighted, burning brighter than the others, giving Trent a better idea of its relative neighbours in the star patterns. "I... am not certain what it means. I have looked for this constellation in three separate libraries, but nothing significant has turned up. It is why I hope to help that Brennia woman to regain control of Schezerade. I think the library there, of the Avians- It must be older than any in this land. I think it might shed more light." From the bag he brought, Trent pulled out a piece of charcoal and some parchment. He had sketched the constellation once before, but never with all the other stars around it. He tried his best to replicate the patterns above, until a sizeable chunk had been reproduced. "I hope that with more of the sky mapped, I may have a better chance at finding where in the sky these four appear. I think that they may point to a location in this land."
Aarika sighed contently as her eyes continued to study the celestial glow, she gave the stars the respect they were due before finally bring her attention back to the human. Trent was sketching away at the constellations and Aarika watched over his shoulder, " I haven't the slightest idea what these could mean... Some form of a map, you say..." She thought aloud...Schezerade...Another option to find missing pieces to the puzzle, "Why wait?" She questioned with a rise and fall of her shoulders, if Trent was noticing Aarika was a fan of bartering and everything had a price in her book, "I'm sure there's someone we can speak to." She seemed confident. "I mean even if not, we seemed to get in here with out too much of a fuss." She offered a cheeky grin before sweeping a loose golden strand behind one of her pointed ears.
Trent looks to Aarika with half of a frown. "I've been waiting to speak to those that run the city. From my understanding, from the word of a woman named Celaeno, getting into the Schezerade library is somewhat complicated. For general admission, it is fine. But to gain access to the concealed archives, you must speak with the mayor, or senator, or whomever is in control of the city. Especially if you carry anything of a magical means. They are... strict about enchanted items in that section of the library. I suppose there would be no harm in trying, but I fear that if this Vermillion fellow is whom I have to speak to, and he is controlled by some sort of dark God, then my chances may be slim." There's a brief chuckle as he adds, "I am certain that Schezerade is far more guarded than some forgotten tower." Those words would soon taste regret. From the staircase behind the pair, their only exit out, appeared four robed figures. The stood in a line, two on either side of the doorway. These were the very same figures that Trent had already once run into long ago. Their robes were tattered and black, their frames almost hunched. Their hands, appearing mummified or rotted, held onto archaic and well worn weapons. The two one the the outermost edges each wielded a jagged longsword. One, to the right of the doorframe, had in his possession a crossbow. And the last, to the left of the doorway, stood with a twisted staff. He was the one that would step forward, the hood tipped back to expose a face of rot and bone. He had no jaw to speak with, tongue lazily hanging downward. Upon his forehead a strange arcane symbol that hummed with an eerie glow of chartreuse. A raspy voice would fill the air as the undead creature spoke, "You.... did not heed.... warning... You... did not... stay away... your presence... death..." From the doorway another shadow made itself known, thunderous footsteps revealing a creature of a formidable size. It was hunkered down at first, needing to duck to even enter the room. And when it did enter, it stood tall; Armored in black with a large and terrifying axe. It was much like those in robed, a ghoul, thin and rotted. It must have been at least twelve feet tall, each footstep causing the ground to vibrate. It stood amongst the four, staying close to the doorway for now. The raspy voice of the first spoke again, "...Last chance.... Leave... Forsake the path..."
Aarika spun towards the new sound of arrival leaving the stars in the past. One...two...three...four...oceanic eyes counted the robbed figures before them, she noted each weapon and each one's state of deterioration. The odds were so bad with the right snap crackle pop she could have them all falling like jenga. Though as the room vibrated with each step a more daunting foe came into view, one that offered a more promising fight. Aarika grinned as her right hand yanked her ax free from her belt and choked up on the short staff of it. "You forgot to say please." She scolded to buy them a few seconds, "So..uh...what does that arm of yours want to do?" She mumbled over to Trent while her gaze hopped from being to being. She had had worse odds and certainly didn't show any signs of fear. Besides if they were to let their guard down who was to assure they would even be allowed to let live.
Trent 's heart began to beat harder than it has ever beat in his waking life. There was something unsettling about those that had appeared, especilly the large one. Did they intend to fight? Did they intend to kill the human and the elf? The glow of Trent's pendant began to pulse and beat, but the arm did not seem to react. In fact, since those moment not so long ago where it had activated the stars, it even lost its subtle glow. "I'm not sure." he answered Aarika. "Who are you?" Trent then spoke to the undead creatures, a step forward taken to better assert himself. "Why must I forsake my path? What danger is there? If you will only tell me- I would never come back." Suddenly, the four entities and their giant guardian step to the side, the staff wielding leader extending one hand toward the doorway. "Go... never return..." it rasped, lookig first at Trent, and then Aarika.
Aarika knitted her brows and shook her head defiantly. Sure this was Trent's path but Trent wasn't alone this day, "And just who are you? Who do you think you are to tell us what to do? Under with authority?" She protested as she picked out her first victim. The one with the crossbow...he'd get the ax toss then the rest would be somewhat fair...Well melee to say the least "ANSWER HIM!" She scolded with distaste before her tone softened towards a plea, "I implore you If you know something then tell him. It's only in ones nature to try to learn their secrets when they have no memory." Aarika kept her eyes glued to the movements of the robbed figures, "Tell him anything and we will leave....we will forget this places existence. Of that you have my word and his...Right Trent?"
A gurgle. A sigh? The leader of the robed figures lowered its head, the glowing green symbol on its forehead beginning to slowly pulsate. It would take some time, but the response would finally manifest, "He will.... be... your death..." There would be no answer for Aarika, not in the way that she would have liked. Trent moved forward and placed his unarmored hand upon Aarika's shoulder, "Perhaps we should just go... I do not think they will tell us." Before the human could make any sort of attempt to lead the way out, the lumbering corpse-like giant quickly crossed the distance between them and shoved Trent backward with a loud grunt. The robed figures, aside from the one that spoke, soon followed the giant's advance, and pushed past Aarika, trying to block the human from elf and the elf from human. They had their weapons readied and were intending to attack man who had stumbled backward and fell onto his hind quarters. To Aarika the ringleader spoke as he finally stepped forward, standing next to her and watching the scene unfold "...Go...forget this place.."
Aarika frowned and her gaze dropped to her feet she she looked to Trent with sorrow before she turned back towards the cloaked undead, "I die when my Gods are ready for me to die. Death is something I do not fear." She replied honestly, "Death is a gift to some." There was a crooked smile that followed her words. She danced with the God's just the night before and this was not how she would meet her end, of that she was confident. However she wasn't keen on how the tables were turning, "Sorry, Trent." She voiced as she headed for the stairs, "Best of luck to you." She offered as she passed the ring leader of the undead but Aarika wouldn't make it to the top of the stairs for she had never intended to. One step past of what was left of a man before Aarika had him tight against her with her ax digging deep into the remaining flesh that kept his head connected to his body, "Easy now." She called feeling to be in a position of power, "On your feet then, Trent....If you lot take one more fraking step towards him I will lop his bloody head off...Is that clear?" Man she hoped this would work. If not she'd still amputate the undead's skull and charge for another.
Trent pushed himself back a few feet once he saw the group of undead creature begin their advance, unsure as to how he would be able to get out of this. While the four robed figures were probably easy to pick off, that big guy might be more of a problem. The human scrambled to his feet, another step backward taken. "Aarika!?" he called, unable to see her at first. It wasn't until that fierce elven warrior played the part of the trickster that Trent finally spied the woman between the shoulders of two of the robed figures. She was brave, he would give her that. "You heard her." the human stated. "Let us leave, or she takes your leader's head." The trio of robed figured and the giant halt their advance, staring the man down. Silver twinkled when that armored arm soon lifted, the symbols along the underside lighting up one by one. When the familiar azure flame coated the appendage, a hushed raspy whispering began to circulate around the open area of the room. It was fearful. Concerned. Tinged with dread. "It wakes! The runes! it has been too long!" The staff wielding leader suddenly shouts, "HURRY! TAKE... THE ARM...!" Within Aarika's grasp the undead creature seems to turn to ash, swiftly melting into the shadows of the floor- To where, none could say.
Aarika sucked in her breath to shout more demands as the body she held captive poofed into ashes. She cringed and doubled over with a hacking cough, how disgusting she thought, with a mouthful of stranger soot, before taking one step forward with her left and drawing back with her right. Her tongue ran across her teeth before she spit grey on to the ground and with a violent twist of her torso, that those ribs did feel, she freed her ax. The tool flipped through the air right for the actual threat in the room, the large armored man? The metal head rotated perfectly to bite fiercely into the armor and hopefully deeper into it's flesh. She wouldn't wait to see though, her right arm now crossing her body to unsheathe her blade with it's own metallic 'shing', too bad she didn't have her round shield/Frisbee. Aarika stomped forth with purpose, "Now that would be stealing, boys." She scolded again through gritted teeth, they weren't taking anything. A few more paces and her right foot rose to offer a knee cracking kick that would certainly help lower one of the robed men to impale themselves upon her rising blade. Not that it mattered she was sure they would turn to dust and she was sure to hold her breath.
Trent was starting to get used to the idea that the gauntlet would be his main line of defense for the time being. And with Aarika taking up the rear, there might be a chance for the pair of them to make a quick escape. The head of the elf's axe struck the armor of the giant with a resounding THUNK, easily embedding itself into the ghoulish entity's back. The metal plating cracked from the force, but did not quite shatter away from the giants body. Long gangly arms frantically reached back, searching out for the handle of the axe to try and pry it free from flesh. Aarika's secondary attack too would find its mark, the kick throwing one of the sword wielding robed figures off balance and allowing her to impale him with her own blade. Much like the hostage, it too would explode into ash; But unlike the hostage it would let loose a sharp screeching sound and leave behind its robe. Meanwhile, the azure flame of Trent's gauntlet had formed the shape of a heater shield quite like the one formed in that training yard two days prior. Three arrows were stopped from piercing the man's shoulder, and a quick blue flash would indicate that the swing of the other robed figure's sword had also been deflected. One of the symbols on Trent's gauntlet soon lost its glow, meaning that two were now dark. For now, Trent worked on keeping himself distant, using that flaming shield as a measure of defense until there was a clear path toward the door.
Aarika sprinted towards the ax handle lodged the the giants back she used the wooden post to heave herself off the ground. She mounted the beast and freed her wood ax but his frantic flailing tossed her to the ground where she slid with an umph. Her nearest attacker being the one with the cross-bow, the bolt grazed the skin of her arm was the indicator. Aarika managed to push herself out of the line of fire with her heels while still upon the flat of her back and that pulled laugh of relief. Close one. Again Aarika found herself pushing to her feet and again Aarika found her ax flying this time for the one with the crossbow...She wanted his weapon. Blood slowly started to trickle down her arm with her violent movements that follow to ensure the bow into her possession, for the ax alone didn't drop this one. Ash and a second robe, she was figuring out their escape plan while she drew back the crossbow. There was still the man with the staff and the impish giant that were hell bent to get that arm of Trent's, both closing in, forgetting the blonde elfess who placed the giant in her cross hairs, it would take more then one shot to drop the beast but one had to start somewhere.
Blue flame melted; From shield to ethereal sword was formed, the gauntlet crossing over Trent's chest in a guardian stance. With the crossbow wielding figure trained on Aarika, Trent suddenly made an attempt to charge the one with the sword. Physical blade met flame as the undead struck the flat edge of the gauntlet's trickery, Trent using his advantageous weight to push back against his opponent to throw him off balance. As soon as it toppled backward, Trent stabbed forward and impaled the his foe in its stomach. Much like The one that Aarika had dispatched, this creature too exploded into ash, leaving behind his robe. Aarika was more agile that Trent gave her credit for, just now noticing that she had already taken the crossbow and finished off the other intruder. The giant lumbered toward her, unfazed by the bolts fired in his direction. The gigantic axe that it carried was lifted, held high over its head- butit would never get a chance to swing. Trent had darted forward and swung that phantom arm-blade at the black of the giant's knee. He had thought that at best it would have taken a chunk out of its leg, but lo and behold, it went clean through the giant's entire appendage. Knee separated from thigh and the giant came crashing down with a thunderous boom. Not wasting any time, the human jumped atop the thing's back, ran up to its shoulders and sliced the head clean off the neck. SWOOSH. It too turned to ash. "In... Arrecations name..." a familiar raspy hiss resounded. "Death willl find you... Death will claim you..." A shadowy mass formed then behind Trent, that recognizeable twisted staff formed in the grasp of that now standing ringleader. "You will... BE HUNTED!" it cried, suddenly pointing the staff at the human's back, the strange symbol on its forehead beginning to burn bright. before any sort of spell could be cast, Trent suddenly whips around and to his surprise, the flame on the gauntlet extinguishes. Its fingers open and thrust forth, the razor sharp ends embedding themselves in the creature's skull. The symbol in Trent's palm meets the one on the undead entity's head, and there is a horrible screech. The chartreuse glow began to pull from the symbol, suctioned like smoke in a vacuum toward the palm of the sentient silver hand. The undead began to shrivel and crumble, soon to turn to a fine grey dust. breathing heavily, Trent turns toward Aarika, flabbergasted, unsure as to what to say. Peculiar- The sigils on Trents gauntlet all seem to glow, including the two that had long lost their luster.
Aarika emitted a victorious cry and pumped a fist into the air as Trent decapitated the giant, "Deadly!" She shouted moving the crossbow's butt to rest off her hip as she gave Trent a nod of approval. As the head of the organization reappeared Aarika shifted the base of the bow back into the nook of her arm and took aim, though it was unnecessary, so she swung it up and over her shoulder to displace the weight. Wide eyes watched as Trent's appendage sucked the life from the ringleader and again she cheered, "That's what I'm talking about!" She exclaimed with excitement as she spun around in a circle to check if there were anymore robed beings lurking. If there were she figured the display at hand would deter any further advances. When Trent locked eyes with Aarika she grinned once more while her free hand motioned up towards the re lit runes, "Bonus points?" She teased before moving about the room to collect her ax, which she stuck back into her belt, and the two sets of robes.
Arrecation. The name played over and over in Trent's head. His lips softly mouthed the word. Why was it so familiar? Those steel blues shifted to the glowing runes on the gauntlet when Aarika pointed them out, one brow beginning to lift as he tried to figure out what exactly had happened. It wasn't until he saw the leftover carnage of dust and ash that he snapped out of his fit of shock and quickly ran to gather his bag. "I... think we should go. There might be more of them on their way." the human said with urgency. The runes of the gauntlet faded, leaving the thing in its naturally dormant state. Well, mostly dormant. Trent approached the doorway and peeked down the stairs, listening for any sort of footsteps approaching- Nothing. When he turned back and spied Aarika collecting the robes he listed his head forward in a nod and commented, "Good idea. We might need those." Dusty boots began to descend the stairs then, the human scouting out ahead while he waited for Aarika to follow him out of the tower.
Aarika quickly slipped into the commandeered robe but halfway through dressing didn't seem so excited about it. The fabric reeked like the dead that had worn it. No wonder the tower was abandoned everywhere one would turn it smelled horrible. The room they left were it's only redeeming qualities. Aarika stuck close to Trent, the duo obviously stronger together. "Ready?" She whispered quietly before they pushed out into the open. She hoped the robes would do the trick and they could freely walk away without looking back. Once some distance was made Aarika would shed her costume, "So learn anything?" She inquired as the corners of her lips tugged into a smile..."Useful." She added at the end.
Trent was in too much of a hurry to focus on what he was doing, and so when he slipped his own robe over his head, he came off like some sort of hunchback. Down two flights of stairs and out through the entrance, not a soul was to be seen. Even then, when they finally exited out of the tower, their walk was undisturbed by anything or anyone. It was a wonder if the robes had even been necessary in the first place. - Just their luck, isn't it? Once they had finally made it out of the crack in the mountain, and past the roaring falls guarding its entrance, Trent would also remove his robe, turning to look back at the way they came. "Not exactly. I mean, nothing that I had not seen before. The... strange sewage in the cauldron was different. And.... the attack, that was different." Again that word plagued him, and so he turned toward the elven woman.. "Arrecation... that word. Do you know it? He said... 'in Arrecation's name'. I've not heard that phrase before."
Aarika would have emitted a soft giggle at the hunchback appearance as they pushed forward but as they passed the water fall the matriarch would emit a sigh, "I haven't the slightest idea." She responded as her fingers moved to her arm, it was wet, that's right the bolt. She then yawned before a hand moved to stroke her face, "I'm sorry Trent." She began as the adrenaline was far out of her system, "I fear I'm too exhausted to be of any further assistance." She snorted with a delirious giggle as she heard her own words pass her lips. She had not slept in days and was coming off of hallucinogens when the two crossed paths she was in desperate need of a bath before she could hit the hay. "Home?" Was he one worded question that escaped though the second yawn she produced.