[Open SRP] Darkness Within The Monastery.

[Khaowdruid]

When he could even think clearly enough, Kuno'jii shakily reached into his belt and procured a small healing potion. He popped the top and downed the bitter concoction in one gulp. The pain in his shoulder subsided some, a temporary fix, but enough to get him back into the battle.

He heaved himself to his feet and started at Doan, slowly building up speed. His jaw set, he rocketed at the Arcanist, his feet pounding the earth beneath him.

As the second bolt of flame flew towards him, the troll barked out a simple spell. A small, bright-green shell of energy popped up around him, crackling with runic power. This time, it proved enough to ward off the worst of the blow, the blast of flame dissipating in a brilliant clash of orange and green light as it impacted on Kuno'jii's shield.
Emboldened, he sped forward, a juggernaut on his path, daring anyone to stop him. He finally reached the kneeling Doan and swung his axe. His shoulder screamed at him in protest as he put all his strength into the blow, aiming directly at the Arcanist's head.

[Elyaan]

The ball of emerald flame collided with Doan's chest, throwing him backwards. Even though the flames just dissipated as they touched him, he still struggled to stand back up. Once he regained his footing and still resting upon his staff, he threw one hand forward in the direction of Kevin. His palm cackled in orange and purple energy, with sparks dancing all over, but nothing emerged from them. Roaring in unmasked rage, he ripped his staff out of the ground and placed his hand around the orange crystal head, evidently siphoning what energy remained within it. Seconds later, the vibrant stone turned dull, till it eventually resembled ordinary black rock. Grinning, he dropped the drained staff, threw his hand forward in Kevin's direction, and repeated the same actions as before.

A bolt of orange flame shot from his palm in the direction of the human.

"Succumb to my power! Be cleansed! The master has blessed me well!", he shrieked, trying to mask his growing tiredness.

It was then than Sora's hammer struck him, propelling him backwards a few feet. It was just too much effort to regain his footing now, as he continued to kneel. Slowly, looking up, he could see the death knight looking over him. He quickly threw up one of his arms to cast a retalliation spell, but he was just too drained. The troll's axe swept downwards, and decapitated the aged and risen arcanist. Doan had fallen.

Cayra walked towards the corpse of the Scarlet, sifting through the bones of his fallen followers. Looking down upon the body, she shook her head. Raising it again, she looked around to her battered allies, and counted how many remained. There were enough.

"You have fifteen minutes to rest and heal, and we must move on. Time is not to be wasted.", she spoke lazily, as she approached her remaining deathstalkers for inspection.

[Nonfictionless]

Kevin slid a wand from the depths of his robes and twisted and wrote in the air, a watery substance forming from the tip. It's finished form looked like a turtle, the rune of great shielding. Doan's bolt of fire colided with it and the rune absorbed the entire thing. As it ended the water broke and splashed to the ground. "Heh, apparently not enough librarian," Kevin sniped. He watched as the troll severed Doan's head and then as Cayra gave them time to rest. Not even a compliment? Or any word of praise, even in general? I guess next time I'll just to have do something a bit grander. Kevin waved his hands and with a murmur of summoning opened a black portal and out flew a chair, set it self up and the portal closed. With another wave two bottles flew from the saddle bags of his horse, and as if a command the horse followed the bottles to its master. He sat down and drank the smaller bottle in one dreadful gulp. A restorative elixir, very bitter. The second was quite obviously a wine bottle, Pinot Noir from the Maclure Vineyards. Kevin uncorked it and began to drink it from the bottle. He didn't have the refined qualities typical of others of his profession, but it didn't mean he couldn't enjoy the same things they did. And wine was the best victory drink as far as he was concerned.

"I doubt we should be in such a hurry. Considering how this master taught that poor excuse for a spellcaster we could simply send images of ourselves and wait for any other enemies to expend themselves in a similar fashion." This thought greatly amused Kevin as he laughed and continued to sip his wine. Regardless of the dead or wounded around him Kevin obviously thought this was a very easy victory.

[Kazat]

Carl seemed to have been the only one who had walked to the high ground, from there he had viewed the battle with excitement, The sound of cracking bones, the smell of sweat and blood, the screams of wounded and dieing! This is truly the highest form of life... War.. how I have missed your beautiful face, your gentle touch, your divine smell. He let out a sigh Such a shame... over so soon... Carl had started to walk down from the hill towards his companions which now seemed to take a rest.

He walked up to one of the fallen scarlet soldiers and carefully inspected every little part of it's face. Abomination... you who have finally been gifted with the great blessing of peace, only to be brought back to this wretched world He let out a low laughter and mumbled to himself Pain grasps after us even after we have died once... so lovely His smile grew larger as his right hand stroke the undeads face.

[Khaowdruid]

Kuno'jii slumped to the ground, panting, finally exhausted. He grit his teeth, grunting as he removed the armor on his shoulder to inspect the wound. The dead flesh was seared, and a narrow chunk had been almost surgically cleaved from his shoulder. Luckily, the burns had effectively cauterized the wound, so there was no great loss of fluids.

He eyed Carl as he made his way through the group. "An' jus' wheah yoo been, huh?"

Without waiting for a reply, he lit up another cigar and waved his hand dismissively. "Nevahmin', just get ovah heah and make yaself useful. Yoo did say ya be a healah, no?"

[pateuvasiliu]

Arcturus was caught offguard by the volley of shadow bolts, managing to avoid most by hiding behind trees and bushes only to be hit by the last. He was thrown backwards a dozen yards, managing to raise and oversee Doan's second death.

He took notes regarding each and every one of his comrades, including Kevin, whom he saw casting green fire, which he was sure it was Fel. Now, Fel users were tricky: Fel was Arcane's big, corrupting twin. Those that used Fel for long would slowly become corrupted, eventually exchanging their souls for power. A good thing to keep in mind when you're amidst strangers.

He cleared his gun and inspected his equipment, making sure everything was in its place. After a few minutes, he headed back to Cayra, nodding, as if telling her he was ready.

[Kazat]

Carl was annoyed to have his little moment interrupted. He forced his eyes away from the corpse and looked at the troll. tsk tsk, silly little brute, no one taught you to dodge things that can hurt you? Without waiting for an answer he got up and walked over to the troll and inspected his shoulder. His fingers traveled across the wound and just out of spite he pushed down quite hard at one time. Well considering that your an undead I don't think my holy magic would be much of a use, so guess a bandage and some potions would make you good as new Carl scratched his beard. I am actually quite interested how this all adds up for you... as an undead do you still posses your races natural regeneration?

Carl didn't bother waiting for an answer this time either but threw his brown bag down on the ground and opened it. Within lay two dozen cloth wrapped items. He picked up one of these and unwrapped it revealing three vials of a green mixture. He handed one to the troll as he went back to looking through his bag. As he was pulling out the bandages his hand came in contact with a pouch and a low clinging metal sound was heard. Ohh my babies... we can't play now, maybe later I will let you dig into this creatures flesh.... Carl looked at the troll. Lift your arm so I can wrap it. He gave the troll a fake smile, he didn't want to help this creature, he wanted to hear it's screams of agony.

[Khaowdruid]

Kuno'jii tensed and bit his lower lip as the cleric was somewhat less than gentle.

"Augh, easy deah!" He glared for a moment at Carl as he tended to the troll's shoulder, then turned his head to the rest of the group.

Looked like besides the casualties, grisly ones at that, Kuno'jii himself had sustained the worst damage. "Tckh-" he clicked his tongue. "Luck, skill... or cowahdice..." he wondered to himself silently. "Guess we'll be findin' out soon enough."

He took another long drag on his cigar as the doc finished up, ignoring his inquiry. He honestly had no idea, he remembered exceedingly little from his first life-time, and the Darkspear, being the superstitious creatures that they were, had made it very clear that, troll or not, Kuno'jii was undead, and therefore not welcome.

[Elyaan]

"Enough loitering!", shrieked the female deathstalker, screaming in an attempt to gain everyone's attention. "We move on now. If you do not venture with us, you shall be left behind.", she continued, sternly.

After checking her equipment, she marched onwards, traversing down the twisting path aside Halford. Her allies followed in tow, as well as her remaining six deathstalkers, and Halford's remaining twelve paladins. The path up to the monastery that sat upon the onlooking hill was an awkward one. The odd Scarlet patrol was encountered, and executed silently in return. It was not until they passed the side of the steep cliff that she was puzzled by what she saw.

As the group turned the corner, the looked upon a site littered with numerous Scarlet corpses. There were five.. no, six dead Scarlets, each scattered disrespectfully on the blighted earth. Such was what they deserved, but it was the cloaked individual that stood at the center that interested Cayra.

Behind the deathstalker, Halfor drew his claymore, worried that this individual might be hostile. Waving her arm towards the human, she halted the paladin's armed assault. Walking slowly up to the hooded male, she smiled.

"You're late, Talramnus. I had almost begun to think that you weren't coming.", she cackled in the shadow of the monastery that now loomed ahead of them. But the following noise was something that startled her. Something that she didn't like.

She heard.. barking?

Unsheathing her claymore, the party darted towards the dark ranger, as they looked around to the surrounding darkness amongst the hallowed trees. Numerous glowing yellow orbs made themselves visible in the darkness. Assuming battle positions, the deathstalkers and paladins alike readied themselves. A bellowing voice then shot across the surrounding area.

"You've tread too far, vermin. My hounds will feast upon your flesh, until only bones remain!", cackled a voice, as the amber eyes revealed themselves from the shadows.

Twenty Scarlet dogs surrounded them. Yet, they looked unwell. They looked.. undead. Missing areas of flesh where their bones were visible covered them. Their maws hung open, as if they hungered for their flesh.

"Charge, my pets!", roared the unknown voice.

With that, the twenty hounds darted towards them.


((Bolded the important parts. Beware the undead dogs. The source of the voice is unknown, for now. We're surrounded, so fight for your lives!))

[Vadoor]

"My apologies, Cayra," Talmranus said with a bow, while a horrific smile crossed his face. "I had.... distractions....But lets not worry about that anymore. I've cleared they way. These Scarlet wont be bothering you anymore."

Talramnus stood amongst the corpses of the fallen crusaders, his void black cloak swaying in the night wind. From each of the Scarlets came six arrows, one in each limb as well as one in the face and stomach. It appeared as if the slayer had taken great care in making sure that each part of the body was hit, even though it wasnt necessary for the kill. At his side hung a beautifully crafted longbow with intricate carvings of a elk hunt upon it, the weapons beauty greatly contrasted the wielder horrific appearance. His ivory white, dead hair protruded from his hood and hung freely about the vampires shoulders and chest. Nothing could be seen of his face...except for his eyes. Talramnus's eyes pulsed in a dead red glow, as if they were terribly infected, as if they were always hungry.. The vampire laughed at his last little quip, giving off the impression that he could very well be quite mad.

When the hounds arrived, Talramnus did what always did best. He killed. As the undead dogs charged, the Dark Ranger moved with mechanical precision, placing two arrows on his bow and then pulling the string till it was taught. The dead elf waited till the last moment, when the two hounds were almost upon him before he released his arrows. The two missiles literally screamed from his bow and dove into the two dogs, sending them back several yards..

[Sora Dawnblade]

Sora grimaced as the Forsaken started giving orders, yet fell into line with the Argents nonetheless. He would approach Halford later, but thought he'd keep a respectful silence for the Argent dead for now.

As they continued, he lost himself in the monotonous dirge of combat, a song to which he had danced for over a century. It came as an unpleasant surprise when yet another walking corpse joined their ranks.

As the dogs charged in, he didn't hesitate. He leapt high into the air with a battle cry, coming crashing down atop one of the hounds. The force of the landing stunned the advance of some of the surrounding dogs. Sora began twisting and turning, his twinblade a glittering hurricane of razor sharp steel cleaving into any hound within reach.

[pateuvasiliu]

As Arcturus advanced, he saw the dead Scarlets, wondering what could've killed them so quickly, without them hearing. Surely, it was a skilled assassin.

As he saw the silhouette of the Dark Ranger, a voice boomed throughout the woods and twenty scarlet hounds charged at them, surrounding them in a circle of death. Drawing his gun, he stood slightly behind the shield wall being formed by the paladins, holding steady until the dogs were in range. Once they came closer than a few dozens yards, he let fly, instantly killing one of the rabid undead hounds with a well-placed shot right between the eyes. The beast fell down and let out an unholy cry before biting the dust.

As the hounds were closing in, he put the blunderbuss back in it's sheathe on his back and pulled his pistols, begining to shoot lead into the crowd of dogs, as the battle began.

[Khaowdruid]

"Welp, heah we go..." Kuno'jii rolled his left shoulder a few times to loosen it up. He tilted his head from side to side, each way eliciting loud pops and crunches. He then hefted his rune-axe and charged into the fray, launching himself full-force at the rotten hounds.

[Nonfictionless]

"Finally, I was afraid I might actually finish the bottle." Barely past the neck, Kevin corked the bottle and jumped to his feet as the chair vanished in a white flash. He shoved the bottle into the saddlebag of his horse and saddled up. He enjoyed a leisurely trot as the company proceed to the Monastery. He looked over the new comer but had no interest in another paladin. Followers of the Light, bunch of self-satisfying people wrapped in a pathetic religion. He wasn't a follower of the Shadow but all the same. Kevin did not enjoy anyone associated with the Light.

Kevin was a little startled as they came upon the ranger waiting ahead for them. No signs of magic and he didn't seem injured at all, but something was off. He had never encountered this particular type of magic before but knew something was at play inside of this Talramnus. He dismounted and began to introduce himself as the voice echo'd around them. "Well then introductions for later," Kevin commented as he summoned fire to his hands and feet. His leg muscles flex and seared as they were pushed far past their normal limits by a steady stream of magic. He crouched and bounded into the air. Soaring several feet into the air he hung there, bound by a few different spells. Damn dogs, he thought. Kevin had never liked dogs since a very early age, let alone undead plagued dogs. He picked off a few of the ones further behind in the pack with bolts of exploding fire balls. Choosing not to over exert himself this time until he saw the thing that voice belonged too.

[Kazat]

Carl focused his energy into an orb of beaming light, it took form in his right palm, large as a fist. He threw it straight at a one of the undead hounds that was attacking, the blast made it stagger and it fell down to the ground. Within a second Carl had drawn forth a short sword from within his robes, the blade was as long as his underarm. With quick steps he moved towards the hound and drove his blade through it's body. He repeatedly stabbed the creature, he repeated this for a dozen times. As he stood up and gazed on the undead hound he was feeling unsettled. Why... why does this not feel good? It usually does... why not now? Is it because this thing was already dead? He was thinking outloud and bothered little for if someone heard him in the midst of battle. Finally he shook the feeling off and another orb of light appeared in his hand as he turned around looking for more of the hounds

[Elyaan]

Twirling around their weapons, the deathstalkers and paladins alike cut down the assaulting hounds. It was then that a volley of arrows darted towards the group from an unknown location. Thrusting themselves to the forefront of the group, the paladins raised their shields to block the oncoming assault. Many of the arrows rebounded off of the shields, as equal amounts were sorely implanted into the barricade. Although, it was not entirely secure. One arrow shot through, and struck a male dwarven crusader in the neck. Clutching at it, he stumbled forwards, and dropped to the floor, dead. As he dropped the shield that he was holding up, another arrow slipped through, striking Crusader Halford in the shoulder. As he dropped downwards, Cayra revealed herself from behind their blockade and thrust her claymore forward, pointing it towards the nearby trees.

"Find whoever or whatever is attacking us, and bring back their corpses!", she shrieked, as her deathstalkers sprinted into the trees.

It all went silent for a minute or so. Three, exactly half of the initial group, reappeared. They ran towards the original group, the one at the forefront limping along unsteadily.

"Monstrosities. The Scarlets have stitched together beasts from the flesh of their hounds! They have slain three of the deathstalkers. The beasts approach!", she screamed, dropping to the floor as the other two deathstalkers clutched onto her arms and dragged her to safety.

"Behold, my favored hounds! They have been improved with your own techniques, my forsaken adversaries!", bellowed the unknown voice.

A thundering roar was heard. It was then that the trees gave way and revealed three large abomination-like dogs. Each set their crimson eyes upon a different individual. The first laid its eyes on Kevin, the second setting its eyes on Bartholomew, and the third on Carl. They then charged forwards, with their maws open, blood infused drool dripping down. Meanwhile, the remaining Argents and Forsaken combatants prepared themselves.


((Beware, you three!))

[pateuvasiliu]

(( Bartholomew is an IC false name taken by Arcturus. Please refer to him as the latter to avoid confusion. ))

Arcturus was filling the hounds with lead, just as the bellowing roar was heard. He looked to the trees, his eyes widening into a -RARELY- seen terror-filled gaze. The hound was charging, yet he, for some reason, would not act. The idea of stitching living beings into each other, especially dogs, which reminded him of his youth as a gilnean hunter apalled him.

He came back into his senses right at the last and raised his gun, shooting a bullet directly into the beast's metallic plating on its head, which was shrugged off as if he had thrown a pebble. He put the slow blunderbuss back in its sheathe and drew his pistols, opening a barrage of lead directed towards the hound. Several bullets hit its rotting skin, but the beast's advance wasn't slowed at all.

Apparently, he thought, the beast had fixed its gaze upon him. Deciding on a strategy quickly, he ran off from the group as to not make the beast charge through their defensive line and began sprinting towards the forest, sometimes turning around just to shoot a few bullets. The hound chased after him into the dark, as the sound of metal clashing against flesh and metal was heard. The combatands would see nothing, but hear roars of fury and pain as Arcturus began thrusting his axes into the hound's flesh, being clawed at in the process.

Then, a howl... The sounds of battle would convince anyone that it was the undead hound who was howling... and soon enough, it did. But to someone who would have been close, far enough from the main fight, it would have sounded like... a wolf.


(( Will be back with a detail of the fight, need to BRB real quick ))

[Nonfictionless]

Kevin turned sharply in the air as the howling of the large abomination dogs burst forth from their masters. One unfortunately spotted Kevin right away. He was after all a glowing, very attractive treat for them. A slew of curses entered his mind as he quickly dropped to the ground. The beast was on top of him as Kevin ducked underneath the gaping maw, and unleashed a fury of fire from directly underneath. The abomination was thrown over and flipped, it's flaming underside searing loudly as it eat the dead flesh. Kevin straightened up and whipped blue-ish fire into his hands.

The beast got up slowly but seemed wholly undiminished. Any lesser beast would of fallen... I wonder if this leader actually made them. Clearly out-matched in strength but Kevin was not scared in the slightest. They were, after all, only brutes. "Feel free to chime in warriors but I wouldn't expect you too." Obviously said as a taunt, Kevin did not wait for assistance. Kevin threw several fire balls of the blue flame. Once free of his hands they darted and swirled of their own accord while flying to their intended target. The best stumbled to avoid them but their patterns were far to chaotic. Clearly the first attack did hurt it enough that it did not want that pain again. Two missed the beast and splashed into the ground behind it and snuffed out of existence. While four collided with the beast. The fires flared and bored into the beast working on it from the inside.


(( If anyone wishes to attack it too they may. I''ll wait for a few posts and then finish it off it no one attacks it.))