RP:When The Darkness Takes You
This is a Devout's Guild RP.
Summary: Kailani and Zahrani team up to track down two brothers who fell victim to a necromancer, and who have now been cursed to walk the earth as undead husks.
Sanctum of the Divine
Kailani is an individual who is more than happy to spend her time alone within the forests, she did not feel isolation or longing during her prolonged periods away from civilization. Still, Kailani has come to realize that being so out of touch with the happenings of the world is of no benefit to her or even the forests she loves to spend her time alone in. As such, the blue-haired druid has been trying to make more of an effort to connect with the world, to make her presence and her skill set known. Her first step to doing that was to commit herself to joining the Devout's Guild, and actually follow through with the duties that were expected of her. In order to do this, Kailani made a point of periodically venturing into the Sanctum so that she could dedicate her time to the betterment of the headquarters -- I mean the place did not maintain itself and it's not like the had endless funds to hire help for its upkeep. Guild members helped with this, where they could. Kailani has already been in this space for a couple of hours, puttering about and assisting with this or that. By the time Zahrani will make her entrance, the druid is taking a break in her endeavors and is standing before a board full of notes. The druid is of average height and were it not for her vividly blue hair, she would not particularly stand out in the crowd. It is Kailani's belief that one should always be prepared, so the druid is both armed and armored. At present, she has the butt end of her ranseur resting on the floor and is leaning into the weapon that is easily taller than she. Blue eyes scan the notes on the board, reading about the various tasks that guild members might undertake.
Zahrani quietly makes her way up the stairs leading down to the Undercroft, carrying a tray of mugs filled with steaming warm apple cider. The feline wears her more elf-like face, and she herself is clad in a combination of plate armor and robes. Her hood is lowered, revealing carefully maintained dreadlocks tied together with polished stone and wire jewelry. Her cyan eyes almost glow in contrast to her warm brown skin. Black fur tips her pointed ears, and the form beneath the armor is andogynous and well-conditioned for climbing and fighting. She sets the tray down on a table next to one of the cathedral’s support pillars, before handing a couple of mugs to a family sitting in the pew nearby. Her gaze is caught by a head of bright blue hair entering the meeting room and inspecting the bulletin board therein. Concluding that it was likely another guild member, the paladin takes a pair of drinks in one hand, before stepping inside. Her black tails swishing behind her, and her boots making a soft clanking noise against the floor, Rani sets the two drinks on the large table at the center of the room, putting one closer to Kailani before speaking with a mid-tenor, “Good evening.” There is a slight feline accent in her voice, similar to those found in the port-city of Cenril. Taking a sip of warm spiced cider, she assesses the elf with blue hair, and the weapon she carries. Should Kailani turn to face her in response to her greeting or the sound of her footsteps, the feline would say, “I’ve not seen you about. My name is Zahrani, but most here know me as Rani. I am a paladin of Cyris. What is your name?”
It would be most concerning indeed if Kailani was not a guild member, for she is definitely wandering in places that only those in the Devout's Guild should be. Thankfully, she is part of the guild. Normally it would not escape Kailani's attention that others were in the room with her, she would not have gone straight toward reading pinned notes if she had actually the presence of either Zahrani or the family. The blue-haired woman furrows her brows together in disappointment for her lack of observation. The expression of disappointment shifts to one of confusion when Zahrani puts two drinks on the table, one closer to Kailani than the other. Was this beverage meant for her? If yes, then what exactly was it? Because the hermitish woman does not have a clear answer to either of these questions, she does not reach for the beverage. She does however offer up her name. "Kailani." For a fraction of an awkward second, it seems like the woman might respond with the one word response of her name. It's nothing personal to Zahrani, but socializing is an art the druid is not in tune with. Solitude does that to a person, Kailani has much to learn when it comes to social graces. She finally comes to the realization that she should at least attempt to mirror more of Zahrani's own introduction. "Druid. As such I have taken to devoting myself to Selene, Zaytor, and Hind."
The panther scans over the druid, nodding in understanding at Kailani’s introduction. Given the awkwardness of the blue-haired elf, the feline suspects her of being a solitary one. She takes a sip of her hot cider, before placing it down and reaching for the other mug, turning to offer it to her new acquaintance. “Would you like something warm and spiced to drink, Kailani? I just finished mulling some apple cider. It has cardamom and cloves in it.” Whether or not the druid accepts the beverage, the panther would then look to the Guild board and say, “Would you be interested in undertaking one of these tasks with me?”
With explanation offered as to what the drink is, the blue-haired druid finally reaches for the offered cup. It's not pressed straight to her lips, not until the druid catches a whiff of the contents confirming that it is indeed something apple. This confirmed, that first sip is taken but even a delicious and warm beverage is not enough to pull the taciturn woman out of her shell. Or maybe this is just her personality type even once comfortable with a new person, serious and reserved. "I suppose that I would not mind. There are some that seem to entice my curiosity more than others...but I am curious to know if there is a task in particular you would prefer to complete?"
Thinking to herself as she pores over the bulletin board, Zahrani hums to herself for a moment or two, idly sipping on her cider while she assesses what would be the best quest. The occasional hum resonates with her divine aura and the room around them, sending out occasional subtle waves of warmth and calm from her form. It’s not something she controls or directs. Her cyan gaze wanders back to the blue-haired elf, looking up and down her armor and her choice of weapon before asking, “If a situation becomes tense and a person looks like they might confront, what’s usually your first response? There’s no wrong answer here; I’d just like to know you a bit better.”
Plain lips are pressed together as a result of Zahrani scrutinizing her appearance in combination with the question that follows. The blue-haired druid furrows her brows together and is silent for a moment, considering her answer carefully. "I would say that there are too many variables in your situation for me to effectively answer the question with any certainty. All I can say is that as a druid, I value balance." Even the gods that Kailani claims to devote herself to do not seem to have an extreme agenda one way or another. Kailani leaves her half-empty glass on the table so that she can move away from Zahrani and closer toward the posting of notes. Close enough to tap one that is of particular interest to her. "Were I to pick, I would select the one about the two brothers who were slain by a necromancer." The task titled 'When Darkness Takes You.'
The panther offers a reassured smile, “A fair answer.” Zahrani then turns her attention to the board, her aura appearing to fade as she ponders the unfortunate fate of the two followers of Arkhen. “I too am drawn to this task. As a child, I witnessed a similar doom befall someone in our colony. I didn’t know what I know now, about such things.” The feline turns to put her glass of cider on the table as well, adjusting the fit of her armor and her utility belt, a contemplative look on her dark visage. She turns her cyan eyes back to the blue-haired elf, a half-smile forming, “I’m glad to have company on this mission. I am ready to depart for Xalious when you are.” Just like that; she could acquire whatever sustenance she needed on the road and in the wilderness. She had hardly any time to unpack her gear, so it’s all ready to go.
A hint of a smile graces the druid's lips, but it is not an expression that lingers for long, and it only forms when Zahrani concedes that it was a fair answer. In short, it was a smile of relief because Kailani was not sure what other answer she would be able to give if the other found it ill-suited. As a reclusive woman, Kailani has learned to travel light and to be resourceful with her environment. Many might require more tools than the druid does, but the trip to Xalious was not a far one. "Xalious is not a considerable distance away, but it will still take some time if we are both traveling by foot. Unless you have arrived here by other means?" Kailani was not one to presume. Some had horses, Khitti apparently had a Tikifhlee -- which Kailani has yet to encounter. "And then it might take us a little bit of time to figure out exactly where in Xalious the brothers are. Perhaps we should start by asking around in the village to get a better sense, so we are not wandering aimlessly around Xalious."
Rani nods in agreement in regards to how best to locate the cursed brothers. “That is a sound plan. Alas, I do not have a steed with me, so traveling by foot it shall be.” The woman is a poet, and she didn’t know it. The panther makes a final check of the gear in her traveling satchel, swings it over her shoulder, then makes her way out of the meeting room.
Kailani nods in acceptance of this answer, traveling by foot was something that she did often. The druid existed the meeting room at the same time that Zahrani did, and it would soon not be long before the two are outside and making their way to Xalious. The village was not dreadfully far from their current location, but it was not a simple ten minute walk. If Zahrani was not able to tell, Kailani was not a strong conversationalist. She was not very good at asking the usual 'getting to know you' questions that many people might ask during first meetings. The druid does manage to voice some of the thoughts of her mind while they travel though, "It might be challenging to locate them without the help of villagers." For surely the two brother's were not on the radar of the Devout's Guild if their whereabout were not known by someone, be it because they are already causing trouble for the locals...or maybe a report from a concerned family member? Kailani did not know. "More concerning though, do we think it is possible? If they died and were brought back to life...do we think they can be turned back to their original path? I cannot imagine the odds are in their favor..." Otherwise more people would be paying necromancer's to bring their loved ones back to life? "There is always a cost with these things..."
The feline woman is also not one to fill a silence with small talk. Her senses are stretches out, taking in the sights, sounds, and smells of the world around them as they approach Xalious. She does turn her head towards Kailani when the elf does speak, pondering the woman’s words. She agrees that their best place to start looking is asking around with the villagers. Perhaps someone would be eager to point them in the right direction. As for total resurrection, well… “Vakmatharas is reluctant to give up souls once they’re in his possession, but if there’s magic to raise corpses, and magic to heal wounds, then surely there may be magic that could pull a spirit back from the dead. But you’re right...there is most certainly a cost for forcing death to turn backwards.” As they approach the village, things are relatively quiet. But the panther picks up a stench just beyond the periphery of the town; a smell akin to a coffin that had been opened after months of decay. “That’s not a normal smell here...if we’re looking for walking corpses, we may simply need to follow our noses.”
Xalious Village
From such a distance, Kailani could not pick up on the scent of death with the same ease that Zahrani did. She had no objection with trusting that the feline would be right in this matter. Best case scenario, they find the two brother's that they are looking for all the faster. Worst case? They have to go back and ask questions. It soon becomes clear to the blue-haired druid that they are probably on the right path, the closer they get to the area, the stronger the smell. As disgusting as the smell was, Kailani did not react to it. Her expressions remain hardened and her mind remains on the task at hand, though the druid was beginning to be concerned they perhaps had selected a task that was outside of their capabilities. Though Kailani did not know Zahrani well enough to be able to determine this with certainty. "And if we cannot?" It seemed prudent they agree upon their course of action should they fail, ideally before they get too much closer to the two undead they are looking for. "Would you see them exterminated? Or would you prefer to leave and return with help?" Of course, even the best laid plans often go to waste.
The feline pauses for a moment, having a similar realization that the two of them were walking in without any real plan. Her cyan eyes scan the area, detecting no movement, before speaking in a low voice to Kailani, “If they attack us...if they are beyond all reason, we cannot allow them to leave this place to terrorize others…” The paladin reaches into a satchel, producing a length of blessed chains. “If the holy power given to us cannot bring them back, we can at least restrain them long enough to find someone who could help.” Perhaps the mage’s tower or a local priest could bolster their capabilities if needed. “What are you prepared to do, my friend?” Zahrani awaits the elf’s response, while listening for any sound. The smell is getting slightly stronger.
Kailani dips her head in agreement with the plan laid out so far. The smell of death was indeed getting stronger with every step taken. Zahrani was reading herself for the moment but retrieving that length of chain. The druid parts her lips to perhaps verbalize her agreement with the plan, or add some thoughts of her own but she does not have the chance to whatever might be formulating on the tip of her tongue for further up the path one of those brother's can be seen in the distance. Which brother this is, it is hard to say, but the second brother was nowhere within sight. He must be present somewhere, or so that stench would lead Kailani and Zahrani to think. The druid makes a vague motion to the brother that is standing in the path up ahead. Thus far, he does not seem hostile...but that could just be because neither Zahrani nor Kailani have been spotted yet.
Zahrani slowly turns her head towards the undead man as Kailani gestures in his direction, her eyes dilating and her heartrate picking up. The hair on the back of the feline’s neck stands on end. She silently inhales, then exhales, maintaining her focus on their surroundings. A guttural growl emanates off to their left, announcing the presence of the other brother. Hollow, pupil-less eyes turn towards the two women, the husk sniffing the air before shambling in a haphazard beeline towards them, his sword lazily trailing behind. Without thinking, the feline unsheathes her mace, taking a place between the undead and Kailani, her other forearm raising in front of her. With an amber glow, an ethereal shield of Sunfire deploys in front of the cat, protecting her from shoulder to foot from the once-living assailant.
Kailani does not advance toward either of the brother's. The druid takes advantage of the fact that Zahrani has positioned herself between the druid and one of the brother's. This allows the druid just a small fraction of free time to drop down to a knee and place the palm of her hand flat to the earth, asking the earth to offer her support in this endeavor. It was already established that neither Kailani or Zahrani wanted to resort to fighting if they could avoid it, but without restraining the brother's in some fashion, a fight could very well be unavoidable. A spell is woven so that vines begin to grow from the earth at an extremely rapid rate, the growth beginning with the brother that Zahrani is not nearest too. Said vines begin to entangle the brother's feet, climbing upward and attempting to snake their way around the undead's legs, growing higher still with intent of binding his arms to his sides. Only once one brother is restrained will Kailani attempt to cast the same spell on the second brother, attempting to restrain him in an identical fashion. Emphasis on attempt. While Kailani's endeavors are not the slowest, she may not be able to weave the spell fast enough to get them both restrained, not without a considerable amount of luck on her side.
Zahrani waits for the brother to close the final yard between them. The husk raises his sword, the panther finds her opening, and with a swift lunge forward, she drives the sunfire shield into the man’s chest, sending him flying back 3 yards and stunning him long enough to be bound up by Kailani’s creeping vines. The feline sighs, her heartrate coming back down, as she offers a smile of approval at the druid’s abilities and quick thinking. Looking back at the undead that were immobilized. She raises a glowing hand, shining enough light for her to see any damage to the husks or injuries they sustained prior to their demise. With a heavy sigh, the paladin says, “Even with a group of priests, I do not think this one can be saved. It smells like his marrow is beginning to rot, and…” Her eyes narrow as she notices a large hole in the front of his ribcage, partially obscured by his tunic. She shines her divine light inward, inhales sharply, before adding “...his heart and one of his lungs are missing.” She lifts a silent prayer to Cyris for any guidance her god is willing to spare, while she awaits any word from Kailani.
Kailani :: Both brothers were put into this state at the same time, so Zahrani's words do not make Kailani feel like there is much hope for the second brother. Despite this assumption, Kailani still approaches the bound brother in order to see what state he is in. "It is not impossible for someone to be brought back from the dead," Kailani speaks to Zahrani, projecting her voice enough that it can be heard from a distance. "Healers, necromancers, and sometimes priests have been known to perform such feats. It was clear that Kailani was trying to puzzle through this, she was not willing to admit defeat and execute either of the brothers quite yet. "I am not sure what the limitations are though..." The druid mulls out loud, considering what Zahrani said about the extent of the first brother's injuries. "Surely people have been resurrected who have suffered further rot?" This question was made in earnest, in all of Kailani's years she has not given this issue much thought until this very moment. "The worst result that could happen from any of our efforts is...they die. Which means they would be no worse off than they already are...." As this statement is made, Kailani is falling into a crouch next to the brother she is nearest to. This time her hand does not find the earth, this time her palm is pressed directly to the brother's forehead. The druid closes her eyes, focuses her concentration, and proceeds to pray for guidance and assistance. Kailani has very little idea of what she is actually doing, she is hoping for the best right now.
Rani mulls over what she knows about the cases of resurrection that she had read up on in her training and studies. She comes up to a standing position before joining Kailani next to the other undead man. The husks do not seem to struggle, as if the vines and roots holding them down did not register as obstructions or enemies. “We need someone who can call back their spirits from the land of the dead. And for this one…” she gestures to the man she had been examining, “He needs, at the very least, a heart…If they wish to return to their bodies and try to re-ignite their sparks of life, we can start the healing process. My power can heal living flesh, but not the dead.” The panther reaches up to run her fingers through her dreadlocks, her cyan eyes leveling with Kailani’s, “They will be facing an untold amount of pain in such an attempt. Pain that could break them or drive them to madness, even if we succeed in healing them fully.”
Kailani heard Zahrani, but it might not seem as though the druid did for she was entirely non-responsive at first. This is probably did not come as a shock, the expression on the blue-haired woman's face revealed exactly why she was not responding: she was thinking damn hard right now. Blue eyes open and raise to lock with Zahrani's, a frown starting to weight upon her lips. See? The hermit was capable of emotion sometimes! "His spirit is not located anywhere that I would have the ability to call it back," declares the druidic woman. She does not yet remove her hand from the shell of the individual, it is kept firmly in place. "Perhaps it is me and my skill, but the magic that I am sensing from these two feels very...familiar to me. The guild has been working on undoing the troubles caused by an unknown necromancer. We're working on locating said necromancer...but I believe that these two perhaps had an encounter with that very same necromancer. I believe this one's soul has either been consumed or perhaps trapped within an object. I do not believe his spirit traveled to where it needed to go..." Her eyes drift toward the missing his heart and lung. "I would imagine he has suffered the same fate as his brother...And as you said, without their souls....So we are faced with a choice." Kailani still does not rise, her hand still remains planted upon the brother's forehead. "We can secure these two somewhere safe with the hope that we might be able to find this necromancer and recover their souls. Or..." She trails off there, for she assumes that Zahrani is clever enough to realize that the other option requires them to end the existence of said brothers. Which was more humane? It did not seem like they stood much of a chance in recovering their old life...
Zahrani had heard reports of this necromancer, frowning as well as she surveys the two undead men. If one of their souls had not moved on, then they were obligated to either free it or return it to his body. With a nod, the panther says, “Alright. I think we should keep them restrained, and regroup with the guild and see if we can’t track down this necromancer.” The smell of the decaying flesh saddens the panther; every passing hour would reduce the chances of success at restoring the brothers. “Shall we keep them bound here, or secure them in the Guild vault?” The latter would likely be more secure, and they would have access to magic that could put the men in stasis.
Kailani answers all of Zahrani's questions with gestures an action. The first gesture that Zahrani receives is a headshake, this is to make it clear that Kailani does not think that they should just leave either of them here. The second question earns a nod of approval and causes the druid to rise to her feet. As she does this, her hand is removed from the brother's forehead and instead takes hold of the vines that currently entangle the brother. The brother is then hoisted up to his own feet. It might be hard to force the two undead into walking, especially given that they were wrapped up in vines currently, but the two would manage. They would have to manage, as this is the course of action that they decided. Thankfully, the druid has the ability to control the plant-restraints. The vines loosen enough that the two brother's would be able to move their legs, and thus make the walk back to their new home in the guild vault. Khitti's going to love this!