Setting
- 34 posts here • Page 1 of 2 • 1, 2
"Enjoy the view"
Here you all arrive at The Baron's garden. The entrance of this...Humble...Manor. Such a sight to behold. The smell of blood was already smelled, the nature around them seemed to move and breathe ever so slightly. And against the backdrop of this corrupt nature sat a table. A few figure sat around dazed...Perhaps confused or maybe more irritated at anything. Or perhaps they were still sleeping.
On the Table, was such a spread of food. Compared to the corrupt nature and atmosphere, this food appeared normal. All paired together with a few bottles of wine with a small little card.
"For my Guests, From yours truly,
The Baron"
Those awake to see such a...sight knew something was off. However the gate behind them would slam shut and what was left of the disturbance was a padlock. But not all was bad, There were...voices up ahead coming from the manor, light escaped its windows and very faint music was heard. Very elegant music, violins and harps were heard rather faintly...Along with the sound of buzzing...
This was a time to rejoice though, this was a night of merriment and fun. And the guests have arrived...
"What is this!?" The barbarian shouted as he franticly now began to look around realizing that he stood in a gazebo inside a garden belonging to some impetuous fop. Quickly the barbarian simply took up his hammer which sat next to his seat only to then look upon the other guests present. All of which seemed rather young but could possibly hold their own if need be.
Until today. How it had happened, she wasn't sure. It wasn't that she was involved in some clandestine activities which had brought her to notice... no, for a change her employment, such as it was, was legitimate. It had been a series of serendipitous meetings, and one awkward mistake on the part of a recruiter, which had left her climbing chimneys with a bunch of streetrats half her age... so when she'd found the expensive letter left with her pack after climbing her way free, she'd assumed it was a mistake, a prank, of some magpie's joke.
There was certainly no way it was legitimate. Why would anyone titled want to speak with her. So she'd ignored it, and gone about her life...
And then there were hands in the dark, reaching, grabbing, snatching...
Aeron awoke with a start and a sharp breath, her eyes widening even as a roar make her jerk her head around to stare at the seemingly battle-mad man sat two seats down from her. In a moment her heart skitters from an unconscious lull into a panicked staccato, her hands shifting to find the two knives pressed flat against her back. She wouldn't strike first... but then it looks like she might not have to, and she regards the barbarian with barely concealed fear, wrapped around a steely core of determination. Whatever his problem was- she surely wasn't willing to die for it.
Bastion was awoken -quite rudely he might add- by some sort of screaming ruffian who apparently thought fur was "in" this season. Bastion didn't even bother to move his head from the large book it was resting on. He was vaguely aware that he had been sleeping propped up in a chair at a table with a tome he had grabbed resting as a sort of pillow on his cheek. He was glad to have the book with him, after all he had disregarded the Baron's letter immediately when it had found it's way to his front door. He hadn't realised that attendance wasn't optional until the moment whatever it was that had come for him did. Bastion had in that moment thought of panicking, then deciding it was far to much trouble picked up the most recent hardback he had acquired and clung to it as he was dragged off in what he supposed was a troublesome manner. Deciding it was then time to panic, Bastion fainted almost immediately and now found himself groggily staring at some gigantor.
Having panicked far too much in the last 24 hours the young man sat up, opened his book and grabbed a piece of sweet looking bread that was withing his reach. Barely looking up he asked briefly "Could someone pass me the butter?" before looking back down at the pages in front of him. Sure it wasn't home, but a garden of corruption was just as good a place to read as any.
Out of the dark, the gates banged shut behind him. Causing the knight to turn around with almost inhuman speed. He ran to the gates, and set aflame to them. Nothing happened. He kicked it, cut it with his blade. Nothing happened in the slightest. He tuned his flames down and left, letting them naturally extinguish themselves. Betan bit his lip till it bled. he took a breath and listened. The sound of a sharp orchestra and a buzzing. "Tch, there's no way around this is there. I should have never listened to those god awful squires!" He groaned in annoyance. He began to walk, noting anything noticeable. Rose thorns... Nettles... No ordinary foliage. It was all malarkey. He took a breath as the grand doors opened for the annoyed, and currently venomous, knight. He strolled in, his hands on his waist. No one was behind the doors when they slammed behind him. He smirked and placed his left hand on the hilt of his sword. He scanned the people sitting at the table. "I thought he would have better standards. A barbarian, pauper, and a.. philosopher? I don't know.. Now, does anyone here know why in the seven hells we are here?" He spoke, his normal venom laced in his misleading voice.
He took a seat, closest to the 'philosopher', the metal clanging on the table. "I asked you all a question." He grabbed the book from the persons hands and held it behind him, teasing him out of boredom.
"Ancestors above! Keep your damned witches faith to yourself you sop. Your Hells matter not here as this is some kind of bewitchment!" The Barbarian noted the knights words and simply hefted his massive hammer up onto his left shoulder. "I was asleep and awoke here in this Garden. I find a table of strangers and none are my house or blood. Yet you walk up to this table of pleasantries and deem yourself ignorant of the goings on?!" Skolr placed his free hand upon the hilt of a dagger which dangled from his belt whilst he glared at the knight. "Girl do you have any wits about you? Don't let the damned robe touch any of this food. Damned if this fop here poisoned us."
She does not add that any reaction to the food would at least let them know if it was poisoned- something that was far from guaranteed. Aeron had met many aristocrats in her life... at least, she had observed many of their kind closely, whether they were aware of her or not was another matter... and she had noted the strange preoccupation with holding to some unwritten code of behaviour amongst them. They would torture, and murder, and pillage, and rape... but to invite guests formally only to poison them? That, she suspected, just wasn't 'done' if you were one of these fancy types... After all, they'd barely acknowledge someone who failed to provide appropriate silverware- what would they do to a murderer? Her stomach growled as though in primal agreement, and she casts her eyes over the plethora of meats and pastries and other delights before her. Gods and demons, she hoped that it wasn't poisoned. She was so hungry.
Nevertheless, she realises that the barbarian had rattled on after her attention had waned, and reviewing what she'd heard back she blinks in surprise and glances to the late-comer. "He seems to believe you're our host. But," and she glances back to the barbarian then "I don't think someone who sets up something like this, writes fancy cards and all, then sends his shadow... things... to steal us away, is just going to walk in and not announce himself. Seems like someone who wants to make an entrance. Wants an audience." Thin shoulders rise and fall within the layers of clothing then, her lips twisting into some bitter semblance of a smile. "Whole bunches of the post folk are like that. All about the show."
Something was wrong with his place....
"Pauper,or what ever your name is, I believe you are right. "
"You have a knack for these things? Men and women hiding behind finery is not something I can claim to have experience with...." He began to trail off slightly as he adjusted his hammer upon his shoulder.
His eyes then moved to his sweet bread that was still butterless. Though upon hearing it might be poison Bastion simply wondered if it would change the flavor of the bread. Well, eating it without butter would be more of crime. Shame, maybe he'd just have to eat something else. Thoroughly ignoring the conversation taking place around him Bastion spied a rather curious looking pastries that he made a small gesture to grab it however he was too late as the rowdy man who had taken his book grabbed the pastry first. Bastion could only look in shock, not only had the man taken his delicious treat but he hadn't even the decency to eat it. He just burned it in front of them. Pouting, Bastion grumpily crossed his arms.
"It had no residue. This food is not poisoned. Eat as you like. If it was poisoned, I would have smelt it, or it would have come out in the residue"
Bastion rolled his eyes as he lent over towards the singular female and in an almost whisper, "Wrong, not all poison's have a smell or a residue, in fact, I can name 4 off them top of my head which would actually make a cake much tastier before killing you" he explained, not that the girl had asked, but she seemed the only slightly rational person here and Bastion was now bored. "I agree with you though, it seems silly to drag us all here uncomfortably to then only kill us with food. Every rich person I've ever seen has demanded to be listened to and obeyed. Can't really do that if we go permanently deaf due to deadness on a jammy tart".
Bastion lazily scratched his head as he picked up a fluffy looking biscuit and put it in his mouth. "Bastion Trent" he said with a full mouth to no one in particular as he grabbed a jug that seemed to be filled with a flavored tea to wash down the biscuit.
Betan turned around with inhuman speed. The sound of an orchestra could be heard from the other room. His sapphire eyes sharpened, to an extent that his pupils seemed to form slits. "What in the seen hells is going on in this place." He muttered from under his breath. He put his arms behind his back and began to walk to the door, it stopped as he took two steps. The sixteen year old bit his lip and rejoined the table. He took a breath and sat down, pulling out a scroll from his scabbard, He groaned, "I guess the rumor was true after all." The scroll was a simple one, addressed to him by the lord of the north, who was the only one to warn him about this place. "We'd better get moving, according to the rumor, twenty or so years ago, a group of civilians, nobles, knights and even some royalty went missing after recieving a letter fro ma man calling himself 'the baron'. Of course, up until now, it was thought to be a whole piece of malarkey. However, whoever this man is, has some power of his own." He took a breath and placed the scroll back in his scabbard.
She, however, was not. It was listening that allowed her to find some common agreement between Bastion and Betan, and her quick hands begin the process of selecting small handfuls of less perishable food into the medium-sized pouch at her belt. Cheese, salted meat, apples, bread rolls- each of these found a place, a few finding her mouth instead of the pouch along the way... and only when the pouch is full does she begin to load her plate- choosing now those foods that would not carry well... after all, if the three of them were in agreement, then she might as well assume that this food, at least, was safe to consume.
Even as Aeron's hands are busy loading food onto her plate and into her possession, her eyes are scanning- not just the men who have arrived in her company, but the room they had so suddenly found themselves in. If this was a game of some kind, then why stage them here? What was to be gained by it?
Her thoughts are interrupted somewhat by Betan's announcement that had 'better get moving' and she frowns openly then. "Moving? You have no idea where we are, who we are, why we might be here- and you've just said the gate is locked and the walls will bleed us faster than we can climb them. Where do you think we've to go?" She glances at the others then, her mismatched green-blue eyes taking in each of them. "We're mice. We're toys. Even the weird nobility don't steal people 'cause they're lonely... So this is bad. Real bad. And running blind'll make us dead." Thin shoulders rise and fall then, as she ends her statement by filling her mouth with delicious meats. These titled and entitled folks- didn't they know that the only way for the mice to survive when the cat was on them was to work together? They were as little people in this. They needed to work together or...
She shivered, the unknown filling her with dread even as she remembers those nightmare creatures reaching out to snatch her away. Or something terrible would happen. She was sure of it.
The barbarian took up a large loaf of bread only to rip it apart and devour half of it with a bottle of what appeared to be mead. It was only when he wiped his mouth off with his arm did he begin to take in a deep breath. "I'm Skolr Iron-Heart."
He walked outside, paying more attention to his surroundings. He walked amongst the left side of the building till he spotted an open window. Jumping up, he looked inside. A room full of books, but no door. He bit his lip firmly, climbing through. A small desk. It was like a minature study. He smirked, not suprised by the room, his estate had a similar one. He picked up three hard cover novels and lodged the window open with them. He looked around, nothing but books. He picked one up, reading the title out loud. " Black Beauty. All of these are children's books.... But they all come from the East... Strange...." He picked up a few books, cradling them in his chest. He climbed out of the window and fixed the positioning of the three novels in the window. He continued to walk forward till he came face to face with a Hedge maze. A stagnant smell coming from it. He jotted this fact down mentally and turned around, going back into the building. He came to the table and put the books down. "Whoever we're dealing with is quite fond in children books."
Aaron then started back towards the inn he was staying at. Aaron wasn't too far away, and other than the letter it was a normal night. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. As Aaron got back to his room he felt rather different. Maybe this letter was a blessing. The sliver lining to his rather difficult upbringing. Suddenly Aaron felt a small sharp prick on his arm. What the hell!? He thought as he was faced with a dart on his skin. He turned to look around his room and shot up straight to see if anyone was in the room with him. Big mistake. His vision went blurry, and his head began to spin. Sitting back down on his bed, he saw what he could make a shadow in the corner by the door. As if it was waiting for him to get back. It wasn't long until he was out. Not knowing what was going to happen.
*****
Head throbbing. Body aching. Stiff everything. Aaron opened his eyes. Carefully analyzing his surroundings. His gaze met with what seemed like a wood plank. Naturally Aaron's first thought was that he was being buried alive. It didn't take long though to debunk that idea as he shifted a bit to look at his sides, he could see wooded feet from chairs. Lining all the way down. He'd come to the conclusion that he was under a table. Aaron prompted himself up into a sitting position. Being careful not to make too much noise as he noticed there where other people in the room. In the background he could tell there was feint music. A rather odd detail seeing as it was calming. Too eerie considering his current situation. Where am ? He though as he tried to listen to the people on the other side of the room. He could make out four voices. Two where definitely male and One was female. The fourth voice could go either way. Are they the ones responsible for this? he continued as he could barely make out what was being said. They spoke of food, and the probability of it being poisoned. Not really helping the situation. I think I better have a look to see if I can find a way out of here. Aaron made attempts to crawl to the other side of the table. He had managed to make it there until he heard a brazen noise coming from behind him. Shit Aaron thought as he turned around thinking he may have got caught. To his surprise, the noise wasn't about him. From what he could tell, the noise came from a different part of the room. Perhaps a different one at that. With his body still aching from his capture, he knew agility wasn't his friend right now. The other four figures didn't seem to notice him though. As if they themselves where preoccupied with the noise. Perhaps they weren't responsible for this. Perhaps they were in the same situation as him. So many questions. None of them being answered. I better find a way out of here. Staying here for much longer isn't helping me any. Aaron took a deep breath and prompted himself upwards onto the last chair at the end of the table. Slowly pulling himself up, he noticed three people in the room. None of them seem to notice Aaron at first. It wasn't until the fourth person came in the room. "Whoever we're dealing with is quite fond in children books." A strong looking man said as he came in. Naturally the man noticed Aaron right away.
Aaron noticed a big window with some greenery on the other side. It appears Aaron may have a way out of this. Looking back at the boy, meeting his hard look Aaron answered. "You know kid, it's quite rude to attack someone without having a motive." After his words left his lips, Aaron channeled his ability. Having been in similar situations in the past, he wasn't a stranger to his current position. He used the plant life outside of the window bringing it forth, shattering the window into pieces. Aaron released a flurry of sharp, fast moving branches towards him and the boy. Avoiding both of them of course, as he only needs to free himself. Seeing an opportunity, Aaron was able to free himself from the boys grasp and get away. Aaron stood underneath a doorway now looking at the mess he'd been provoked to make. Taking a moment, Aaron didn't notice his surroundings fully. He was standing in a beautifully decorated dining area. The wood panels complemented the decor perfectly. Going back to the commotion, Aaron stared back at the strange group of people. "Now, as for who I am. All you need to know is I'm not here to harm any of you. In fact I was captured and brought here" He spoke eloquently. He saw some of the looks on a few of them and could tell that they shared a similar fate. Aaron shifted his focus to the boy that had threatened him moments ago. "I will say, my intentions weren't to hurt you. I hope you understand. I was simply defending myself. Aaron could tell this wasn't going to be easy. The current group standing in this room all shared something. Otherwise why would they be here. Having everyone cooperate will probably prove to be a challenge.
He put his folded arms on the table and put his head into them. The annoyin smell of blood became more apparent as he lowered his head. He might as well have been alone, it didn't matter to him. He closed his eyes and tuned his hearing out, relying on his sense of smell. There was a lot of fresh blood in this room. From every corner it seemed. Something wasn't right.
"Whoever our would-be host is, it seems they play party to being fashionable late" he said to no-one in particular as he closed the hardback.
Her foul mood is not improved by being dismissed as a 'nameless pauper', either, and it is only the seemingly offhand comment by Sklor that makes her expression anything but murderous, her eyes tracking the knight errant as he stormed off into the garden with nary a word. A deep, dark, bitter part of her wishes blood upon him in that moment. Not enough to maim, or even to seriously hurt- after all, given what might be to come, having a strong sword arm on their side would doubtless very useful- but enough to knock some of the unbearable arrogance out of him...
It's not more than a handful for moments later, it seems, that her prayers are answered. A movement in the corner of her eye pulls her attention round to the seat that had been empty, and the man who now sat there, her body tensing as her instincts readied her to flee...
And then the boy returned- all rage and flame and bravado- only, to be attacked, it seemed, by the plantlife itself.
In another world, Aeron might have been brave and nonplussed as the greenery crashed through the panes of glass as easily as they might through air.... but it was not to be. Not in this world. No, in this world, she had held her ground as the newcomer was grabbed and lifted, but the first sign of offensive magic sees her burst into motion as though she'd been spring-loaded. It takes only a heartbeat, a glance behind at the falling glass and reaching vines, and she pushes herself to her feet, standing on the chair rather than the floor beneath, and with light, dexterous footsteps makes it across the great table in a few bounds, putting the large, heavy furniture between herself, and whatever might happen next.
Which was, apparently, diplomacy. Aeron listens through the wild thunder of her own heartbeat as the newcomer attempts to dismiss his actions- watches as the knight stalks to the other end of the table...
And sees blood.
Something within Aeron tenses then, and though she moves to take an empty seat on this side of the table without a word to indicate what she'd seen, she nevertheless shuffles the information into her mental index. If the wizard (for what else could he be) had indeed meant no harm- then where had the blood come from? From the time he was outside, or...? The thief frowns, one hand reaching out to snag a small tart as she does so. Nothing about this felt right. Nothing at all.
The boy had a heart that was not his from birh, and heard the obnoxious ticking of the replacement mechanical parts if it. His heart was almost- in fact it was- a clockwork. Tick tock... Tick tock... Tick tock... It was quite for most to ignore it, but if you listened carefully, almost anyone could hear it. He groaned, he hadn't had any sleep for the past, two days or something. He tried closing his eyes but it didn't work... "Bastoin,It normal behaviour for someone of his 'class', especially when the majority of his guests are poirer than him."
Aaron's attention shifted to the only girl in the room. She looked pale. Almost as if she was the one affected by the little tiff earlier. She was shaken as if she'd seen something so out of this world. Perhaps this was the first time she's seen magic being used. Following her gaze, Aaron say that she was looking at the blonde boy in horror. Aaron say that he actually drew some blood from their interaction earlier. It noticeably looked as if it didn't settle with her well. Further adding to her shaken behavior. Aaron felt for her. It may seems as if the person responsible for this brought in innocent people in this game. Of course it's too soon to get an accurate reading from this. After all, this was their first impression of Aaron and looking around it didn't seem like it started off well. Aaron felt uncomfortable. There was still a dark presence looming around the area. Much to his surprise, it wasn't coming from the robed fellow with a rather odd affinity towards children's books. Action needed to be made, and just sitting here staring at each other like idiots wasn't going to help our current situation.
With a deep breath in, Aaron spoke out. "I will repeat myself and say I do apologize for my recent behavior. It appears as if I over reacted," he began eyeing everyone in the room. "It's becoming clear that most of you aren't any threat to me. After all, judging by your behavior it seems like we are all in very similar circumstances." He walked over to the table again, clearing some of the debris and plopped down on the chair. Aaron reached for his back pack. He rummaged through a few things and grabbed out a small vile holding a cream. Facing the blonde hair boy he began to say "Look, I our first impression of each other didn't go very well, but I did mean it when I said I wasn't here to hurt you. He tossed the vile within reach of the blond boy. "The cream in that vile will fix the wounds I have done to you. I would understand if you choose to not trust the substance in the vial." Aaron spoke as he shifted his attention to the female across from him. Judging from her body language she seemed slightly less tense than before. Aaron could still tell a slight hesitant nature. He smiled at her reassuring her that Aaron wasn't there to harm anyone. At least, without reason.
Aaron shifted his attention to the robed man and burly man in the room. The robed man still looked indifferent to his environment. Making Aaron very uncomfortable by his nature. He's never quite encountered someone like him. It almost intrigued Aaron a bit. Perhaps learning more from him wouldn't be such a bad idea. Aaron still didn't have the slightest of idea of what was going on. He spoke up saying "We should get moving. We should explore this place for more information as to why we are here in the first place," He began as he got up from the table. "I'd like to start moving forward if everyone is okay with it. It's probably best we don't stay here for too long. I'm sure I'm not the only one that can smell the lingering smell of blood." Aaron reached the doorway he had been standing under before.
Setting
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post is empty, should likely be deleted
by Myfootlesscow9 -
post is empty, should likely be deleted
by oldtimereminiscence
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Setting
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contains OOC content, needs edit
by Myfootlesscow9 -
post is empty, should likely be deleted
by Myfootlesscow9 -
post is empty, should likely be deleted
by oldtimereminiscence
0.00 INK
- 34 posts here • Page 1 of 2 • 1, 2