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Gods, Gold, Trouble and Adventure! (Ezralora and Guardian Angel)

Ezralora

Supernova
Joined
Mar 5, 2018
Location
Somewhere in Limbo at the moment.
The world is a strange place, the place is wrought with dangers of the land. Magics to be discovered, myths and legends that are routed in the history of the world, even with the Gods and Goddesses of the land themselves. Adventurers work to find the gold, the items of myths and have their names carved in history for all of time! For what better way to be remembered then to be woven in stories with that of heroes of the ages! Myths and Legends change throughout the land, with various connections to the Pantheon, a few even claiming that they at times walk amongst the world themselves in mortal forms to create heroes of destiny that the likes of the world will never see again! Of course none of this has been proven, but one thing is for certain.

There is GOLD to be made! Which brings us to the Lilandis Empire.

The Lilandis Empire currently resides over the largest continent on the planet. It is a land that has been through many rulers before falling under the current ruler, King Dogma Lilandis, and in his life time has managed to get the entire continent of Wildheim under the control of his glorious empire. With that came a few new rules, such as deities being outlawed, whether they are good aligned or evil. Only a few are allowed to be worshipped in public, and those that are caught can be punished by the guards that wonder through towns and cities trying to keep the peace. It has been near fifteen years since Lilandis was able to bring the continent under his rule, and whatever tides of rebellion fell onto the land had either been quelled or crushed under the sheer force of the empire. Yet, our story starts much smaller, without the large democracy of Empires, Kings, Queens and Deities.

Our story starts in a local brewery town of Barnabuck, a town surrounded by fields of barley and other plants for producing drink. It had the feel of an old rustic village. It was here, where on this rather rainy night many a traveller, adventurer and others have taken shelter in the local inn. The Cow Bell. Cheers and merry making can be heard all around it, as the inn keep continues to pour out drinks and keeps the merriness at an all time high, and keeping his pockets lined with the highest in take of coin he has seen in a long time! Tankards are clunked together, drinks are spilled on the floor. The smell of wines, ales and food breath a welcoming air to those that seek to rest at the hearth. It was certainly a lively time, as no one wanted to be out in the weather like this!

The members of the Adventurers Guild were clearly marked out by their clothing, attire and just general care free attitude. A lot of people tended to started as Adventurers whilst young, in order to make a name for themselves before moving on to other professions. Heck it is even rumoured that the Arch Mage of the Empire started as an Adventurer and had worked up to his position. It was things like this that made it all worth, that and the promise of a sizeable reward for a job well done.

It was amongst this chaos that the first member of the future band of misfits could be found. Thors sat in one of the larger chairs closer to the hearth, smiling to himself as he drank from his mug. He was a half-orc from his appearance of two toned green skin, with shaved sides of his head and a head of black hair with a grey flecked amongst it. His face, despite having scarring across it still resembled that of a handsomeness that refused to go away. His armour was absent as he had been sitting for a while, warming up by the fire. The half-orc sat with dark trousers and brown leather boots that seemed well used, as well as a cotton white shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his shoulders exposing his scarred forearms. He drummed one of his black nails against the wood of the chair to the theme of the bards playing in the background, humming along quietly as he peered over, observing the patrons and taking note how they were acting. It was, certainly interesting to observe, but even that was beginning to get a little dull. With a grumble he wiped his hand through his hair, feeling the still dampness of it. "Still not dry..." He closed his eyes before standing up to get another drink quickly, not wanting anyone to take his seat. He was probably shorter than one would expect, just about hitting the six foot mark.

With a tankard plonked in front of him Thors widened his eyes as he lowered down, watching the ale be poured into it as a smile moved over his face, his tusks as was common with orc, not visible in the slightest. "Come on... keep pouring..." he said as he waved his hand, a leather band on his left wrist as he continued to rotate it before bring it to a halt. "Stop! That'll do my man... that will do~" He took the tankard in his hand, and began with an almighty drink.

He had just come back from a job with a few others that had been in the town, he had gotten along with some of them.... but he was sure that most of them would just want to get going once the rain cleared. He did not mind that in the slightest, it was rather rare for a party to stay together unless they were close friends already.
 
Thors gave her a nod as he scratched his chin. "Yeah definitely, i guess we'll see how far we can get into the forest with the wagon before going on, on foot. But if they are in there, it could take a while to find them." he pointed out with a heavy sigh before he as he cracked the reigns of the horses to get them moving once more. "Much obliged." he said to the guards as he continued on his way. At the mention of the fae he did seem a little worried about that whole fact. "Have you ever seen a fae before?" He asked Aerilaya with concern, he had heard stories before but had never exactly met one.
 
Aerilaya was following after the group just looking around for a moment in time before she was looking towards Thors when he was asking if she had ever seen a fae before. This had her shaking her head before she spoke, "I never have but, from everything that I've heard, they are pretty harmless. Unless you destroy their forest."
 
Thors frowned a little before nodding as he cleared his throat, looking into the edge of the forest he could make out a tall tree. Taller and thicker than any other. If anyone had studied plants they would know that this was a Devil Tree, wood as hard as any metal and the dominant presence in the forest. "In all honesty though something i know is real is what bothers me... Though i think if anybody wanted a place for shelter in the forest, they'd rest under that thing." He told her as he clicked his tongue, glaring up at the dark tree slightly. It was well known that it would take generations of people to fell even one of these behemoths of nature, which was often what needed to be done, as it took the lions share of the nutrients from the soil.
 
Aerilaya was gazing off into the distance before she was giving a nod at the mention of the Devil Tree, and that probably being where people would probably be camping out. Yeah that was true. Gave enough covering from the rain, and considering how large it was... if you were actually able to climb up at all, it gave for a pretty safe place for the night. If needed. She was just speaking, "Well I suppose the sooner we can get that artifact back.... the sooner we don't have to worry about the fairies."
 
Thors glanced at her before shuddering a little. "I can't help but think you're not taking the whole fairy thing seriously. You know someone i sailed with claimed he got abducted by fairies. Claimed he was taken to a glade where they did all sorts of things to him, things he had never seen nor wished to mention again. Then they gave him a cloak of stars and sent him on his way as if there was nothing strange about the way they used him at all." He told her before grunting as he pulled the wagon to a halt.
 
Aerilaya was just looking towards him for a moment in time before she spoke, "No I suppose I'm really not taking it seriously, but rumors are just that. Rumors. One doesn't truly know, until they experience it themselves." With that she was glancing towards the others that were in their little group before she was coming to a pause when Thors pulled the wagon to a halt. She did however turn her attention briefly towards the mental message from Nemoth, who was more or less daring the fairies to try something. There were a few of their companions that were muttering that there was no way they were entering the woods. Aerilaya was currently checking to make sure that she was good on her usual stash of herbs, and potions.
 
Thors stepped off the wagon before he placed his hands on his hips and blew some air into his green cheeks. He brushed a hand through his black hair and glanced at her. "Well it seems like we just going to have to press on in and see if we encounter anything then." He told her and gave a smile, though there was worry in his eyes. Part of the reason he'd been so accepting on what she could do with a goddess was, A it had happened to him, and B he was a very superstitious man. "But needless to say, it's foot from here." He turned his head to the others. "If you're too scared to make your way deep into the forest, then keep an eye on the horses and get a fire and shelter sorted. We don't know how long we're going to be here!" he called before he began to walk, clearing his throat a little as he began to walk.
 
Aerilaya was just looking towards him for a moment before she spoke, "We are all good on potions and herbs." There was a faint smile on her lips before she was looking towards the others. Oh it seemed like they were going to venture with them, versus staying out there. The warrior of course was going to come with them, stating that he needed to protect his companions. Out of Thors and Aerilaya, she was probably the only one who actually needed protection more often than not, just because of the fact that she was no warrior at all. Yet some how, that didn't seem to hinder the two that she was traveling with at all, they seemed to easily adapt to that. A lot better than the previous group she had been with, prior to running into these two, well and the fourth member, who had just left recently.
 
Thors took in a deep breath as he began to walk deeper into the forest. He was remaining quiet, when hunting bandits there was a time where quiet was the best method forward. If sound was made they would run the risk of sending them scarpering or alerting them to being there. He took in a deep breath as he glanced around to see who was there. Nodding at the two of them as he made his way forward, staying lower to the ground as he walked, being sure to leave their tracks hidden and hard to find.
 
Aerilaya was following after him, gliding through the forest and just gazing around as she continued along. So far it was very quiet, not even any animals could be heard. Yet again they could have been scared into hiding by the mercenaries that had come through. Actually now that she was truly listening, one could hear the laughter from some of the mercenaries from somewhere in the distance. Man weren't they noisy.
 
Thors tilted his head as he glanced over at Aerilaya as if questioning if he was hearing this right. He shook his head and moved his empty hand as he walked. Whether it was a trick of the light or not, there was a sword resting neatly in his grip as he walked forward, the blade catching a small bit of light as he walked and stopped short, managing to get a look at the camp. Six of them all seemingly drunk around a fire, enjoying themselves.... After a job well done?
 
Aerilaya was just following after Thors for a moment in time although as they got closer to where the camp was at, she was falling back slightly towards the back of the others. Leave the actual fighters to move forward towards the camp at that point in time. Although she was however whispering a soft spell under her breath and using it to detect if there was any other life around them. Animals, not that she was worried about them. Were there any other mercenaries around was the question? You would think that at least one of them would try to stay sober, just in case people actually managed to track them down. She was drifting away from the group quietly just glancing around, looking to see if she could spot anything. So far nothing on the ground. Anything up in the trees?
 
There were a few birds but it seemed like a majority of the animals had decided to run away from the loud bandits. Thors saw her beginning to run off and took in a deep breath. "Where the heck are you going.." he grumbled as he began to move towards her and followed after her. "What are you doing?" He whispered to her before glancing over at the bandits. Still nothing yet, none of them had noticed anything strange.
 
Aerilaya was just looking towards him for a moment in time before she was putting her fingers to her lips before she was pointing up towards the large tree. She had spotted what she was looking for. There was another mercenary, hanging out up in the tree. Although from where she had been standing before, she hadn't been able to see them. A good thing that she had actually decided to look for an other mercenaries.
 
Thors frowned at her, looking confused before she glanced up and saw what she had found. He took in a deep breath as she pointed him out and he looked like he was going to freaking grumble before he placed his sword in its sheath. With a grunted he lifted himself carefully onto the first branch and began to climb, as quietly as he possibly could. Moving slower than he thought he could. Each hand movement slow and calculated as he raised his hand up and grabbed a solid branch.
 
Aerilaya was just looking towards him and was then watching as he took to climbing up to the tree. She was mumbling for him to be careful, but at that point in time she couldn't really help with anything. Other than keep an eye out for anything that could be around at the time. The others were just talking quietly at that point in time, obviously trying to figure something out. She was however going over to them to stop them from charging out recklessly.
 
A bird fluttered down next to Aerilaya and rested on her shoulder, and tweeted a little. Whether it was a warning of something to come, or trying to let her know something was up to her interpretation. But it seemed like this was the only bird that had decided to stay in the area, or the only one that approached her.

Thors continued to climb, feeling the bark digging into his hands as he got higher and higher, whilst having to go slower and slower. As to try and avoid being heard. That was until he was a fair distance up, and tugged on a branch, which a weaker part of it gave way with a snap.
 
Aerilaya was looking towards the bird as it came and tweeted at her. This had her touching the top of the bird's head gently. No there was no way this bird just came here for the sake of saying hello. Something was up but the question was what. This had her looking around for a moment in time. It was very quiet once again, even the drunks were super quiet. "What is it?" She questioned the bird in a soft voice. She just stood behind a tree, being sure to keep out of sight of the person in the tree. Out of their sight, out of the sight of the rest of the mercenaries.

The person that had been in the tree had heard the branch snap, but for the time being didn't seem to mind it much. No they had spotted something in the distance. An outline of a person, one of the members of Thors' group who had gotten a bit to close. This had the person drawing his bow and an arrow, notching it.
 
Thors closed his eyes as he heard the snap before glancing up, the guy hadn't looked down but he was beginning to bring his bow up. Thors glanced to the side, and down before shaking his head. There was no way that he would be able to climb up in the amount of time. He took in a deep breath as he held his hand out as a sea green energy began to gather in his hand before he hurled it up at the guy in the tree. If it hit it would burn like fire and hit like a brick.

The bird tweeted a little more as it glanced around the forest, from the edge of the forest to the mercenaries and the tree. It seemed on edge, as the call came out of the bird... Except it wasn't a bird call, not from the bird at least. It seemed to be coming from deeper in the forest, away from them all. It was faint and anyone would be able to mistake it for an animal, if there were any animals that wished to be around here that is.
 
Aerilaya was looking towards the bird for a moment in time before she was turning her attention off deeper into the woods. No there was something out there. Something dangerous, at least that is what her gut was telling her at that point in time. This had her wishing something else under her breath, as she was tapping into her sensing magic once again and casting it out farther. See if she could spot whatever it was that was in the woods. She was however finding her attention turning towards something else, a noise that could be hurt. Oh seemed like the person in the tree was all of a sudden falling out of it with a shriek of pain. This had the other mercenaries jumping a bit, although they were probably just taking it as he had fallen out of the tree, not so much that something had happened. Benefits of being very drunk she figured.
 
Thors grunted as he took in a deep breath and began to drop down from the tree as quietly as he could before he landed on the ground with a feint thud as he began to move closer to Aerilaya. He was unable to see what she was seeing, as she spread her magic out she would begin to be able to make out what was lurking up in the devil tree. It didn't seem to be anything huge, but the shape was gradually changing, and morphing, as if it was breaking out of a much smaller appearance and altering into something bigger, muscular.
 
Aerilaya didn't seem to notice Thors come up beside her, in fact that she just watching the shape beginning to change. Well that definitely wasn't good at all, and it was getting closer to them. "You guys.... We should probably get away from here. There is something headed towards us and I'm not quite sure what it is." she was commenting in a low voice. This had a few one of the others just stating that she was scared, and before anybody could really stop them, they were actually darting out towards the mercenaries. Well she figured that now that the archer was out of the tree, the others could be taken care of a whole lot easier. They were drunk as hell. "Reckless idiots." Aerilaya was mumbling but she was moving closer so that she could keep an eye on the fight, and be prepared to toss out potions. Already though she was speaking something softly under her breath, a prayer to her goddess more or less. The others wouldn't be able to feel the magic that was wrapping around the area, that would alert her to whatever it was getting any closer. It wouldn't stop it at all, but it would give her far warning when it got within the bubble that was wrapped around them.
 
There was a few moments of quiet, well quiet apart from the fighting taking place not more than a few hundred feet from where they were. Thors stayed back for now to be with Aerilaya as she seemed to be busy casting a spell of some sorts. Another bit and nothing would trigger the spell, until there was a blip alerting her that what ever she had sensed was getting closer. It was moving down from the devil tree, dropping branches at a time with no regard of how far they were falling. Then there was crash and rumble as it had landed on the ground, a cloud of dust surrounded it, still making it difficult to see what exactly it was. It definitely was giving off something resembling magic, but it wasn't the same as what Aerilaya was using.
 
Aerilaya was turning to fully face that direction when she felt the magic alert her. "We should get going...." she spoke in a soft voice to Thors, although it was far to late it seemed. Already the creature was there, strange dust seeming to surround it. What was it even? She couldn't even place the magic itself, it was very strange. Although she was wondering if it was hostile or not at that point in time. It hadn't attacked them or anything, but who knew if that would change. Especially if one of the others decided to attack it. Aerilaya was drawing away from Thors a bit so that she could peer around the tree and examine the strange creature that was standing there a bit more.
 
Thors let out a grumble that was something, but he didn't feel like saying it again or loudly. Probably something along the lines of, what now? He followed after her before coming to a crouch as she seemed to stop behind a bush which gave her a rather clear view of all the things going on in the clearing. It seemed like the beast was working it's way through the bandits that had settled near the tree. It was large, and bright red furred, it seemed akin to a cross between a wolf and a bear and something much larger and more terrifying.

It hulked over and went to pick up one of the bandits before flinging it up the Devil Tree, making the poor guy vanish into the pines and branches far above it. It snorted as it peered around with sea blue eyes, that looked as deep as the ocean that surrounded the land around them, before they flickered to a bright green. "Drunken men..." The beast boomed as it took another step forward, the muscles in its legs flexing as it did so.
 
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