Zemelian Odyssey

[PureQuestion]

As Moltoven worked his way out of the town, still carrying the third demon, he saw several bodies laying on the ground from the demon attack. He considered taking a few back for experimentation, but that wouldn't likely endear him to the citizens. He came upon the demons. One was mostly incinerated, and certainly all the valuable organs were gone. The other might have some usable ingredients, though. As he bent to pick it up, Steven began shouting in the back of his mind. Something in the town? Something huge, and red? Hrm. He responded simply by saying to wait.

He set the demon down, walking towards where Steven directed him. It didn't take long. The Sentinel's heavy steps echoed through the streets, and Moltoven knew that whatever it was would have ample time to escape or prepare. He hoped that whatever it was wasn't too dangerous for the Sentinel.

As he rounded the corner, he saw a tall figure enter his view. Not as big as the Sentinel, but certainly bigger than any living thing he'd ever seen. He noticed a huge axe. Worrying. He ordered the Sentinel to live up to its name before switching to Steven.

The ghost was floating high above the town. There was no one around, at least that wasn't dead or hiding. The Sentinel and the huge red being were all alone.

Steven quickly flew in between the giants, facing the stranger. Moltoven spoke through his follower.

"What an interesting encounter. I've never seen your kind. What do you call yourself?"

[AlexMdle]

Chebraghol has never seen a ghost in his entire life. He heard of some, sure, but holy shit, there is one. Hovering right in front of him and behind it, a mass of bones, wreathed in flames. A giant that reeks of death.

Startled, the demon eyed the floating figure from top to bottom.

"I am Chebraghol, the bonegnasher. These spoils art' mine."

He clutched the corpses tighter to his shoulders, lest the ghost swish them away with it's, uh, ghost powers or something.

[PureQuestion]

"Aha. You are free to take as many bodies as you wish, though I should recommend against maligning the townsfolk."

In the back of his mind, in the fortress, bones frantically rattled in the distance. Notable, but so is this.

"So, Chebraghol. I suppose I should introduce myself, though certain intricacies make this confusing. I, the one speaking to you at the moment, am a Necromancer named Moltoven. The body I have borrowed - the ghost - is Steven. The massive flaming bone monstrosity doesn't have a name."

He paused for a moment. The frantic skeletons were rushing down the hall towards him.

"So what brings you to the town?"

[AlexMdle]

Chebraghol narrowed his eyes. On one side, this entity seemed to not be affiliated with the town, but it was still probably a filthy, cowardly human hiding behind the marrow and smoke. He could not trust him, humans are a traitorous lot. ...then again, if this was a waker of the dead attacking this town, perchance a temporary alliance could bring forth mutual benefit.

"My business 'ere is private, but I see it is a good thing I happened upon the siege of this town."

[PureQuestion]

Moltoven paused. This person thought he was responsible for the slaughter.

"Yes, it would appear you have. Though this slaughter is not my own. In fact, I stopped it."

He pointed towards the Shadow Demon in the Sentinel's hands.

"They are the ones responsible for this slaughter. Despicable beasts. I take personal satisfaction in their death, with the added bonus that saving towns from them forces the citizens to put up with my stealing the dead. My work is hard enough without the world beating down my doors, pitchforks and torches in hand."

The skeletons reached Moltoven. Bones rattling far too shakily and quickly for Moltoven to make out. Thankfully, another ghost arrived to deliver the news more comprehensibly.

"Master Eurynome, it would seem the Demons have not taken well to your interruption. A pack of ten is racing towards the town."

He shifted his attention back to Chebraghol.

"On the beasts... they're quite dangerous. Strong for their size, reasonably fast, and with claws like Scimitars. I could say more, but you'll be quite familiar with them soon enough."

[Spriterkid]

"Ophelia, do you happen to know where we are heading by perchance? And do you have a map of this world?"

"Where we're heading? No clue. However, I do have a map."

Ophelia took her map from the backpack. It was in disuse, and it's age began to take a toll on it. However, it was still readable, and, despite simple, she quickly pinpointed her thought location.
"I think we might be here." Ophelia put her finger a bit south of Csiphe's tower.
Then, she checked the direction.
"I believe the path will take us west, to the main path of Barroni."

She put the map back in the backpack, and pointed in the direction of the path.
"We'll go this way. It's only reasonable that we try to find a path that leads us straight to Hona- I mean... nevermind."

She then put her backpack on the ground and opened it.
She checked and doublechecked for the things in it: A knife, a map, some food, some cooking materials and some books.
"Yep, seems everything is in here. Great."
Ophelia closed the backpack and put it on her back. She then turned to Csiphe.
"Ok, let's hurry. The faster we get moving, the better."
She hurried along, hoping that they could get to Honann fast.

[Dabir]

Csiphe and Ophelia set off down the road from Csiphe's home of the past six years, beginning their exploration of the world with the shortest of paths: A three mile journey from the wizards' tower to Road Surnurfel. As they walked, the scrubland turned to grassland, and the grassland turned to gently-rolling hills, the occasional tree dotting the landscape. Road Surnurfel cut straight through these hills - and at the point where road met Road, there were a group of gentlemen who looked as if they'd have no problem cutting straight through the occasional traveller. It was unusual for bandits to be standing out in the open like this; but then again they weren't alone. A couple of ruffians were keeping lookout down the roads, but most of the group was focused on three middle-aged men dressed in the brightly-coloured garb of minstrels, who were kneeled on the ground with a knife at their throats. A lyre and a pair of drums had been thrown aside, and the bandits were rifling through their victims' bags. As Csiphe and Ophelia took the scene in, one of the lookouts pointed and shouted.

[PureQuestion]

The Sentinel stepped forward, scanning the distance. The ten demons were moving quickly, black blurs on the horizon, growing every closer. Steven floated back, allowing the Sentinel to step forward as Moltoven took control, passing Chebraghol. The demons, moving at breakneck speed, were nearly upon them when they suddenly came to stop, mere metres away. In the back of Moltoven's mind, he knew this wasn't like them, but he had to attack.

By the time he took a step, the sky had gone dark.

By the time he had taken another, the demons had started, quickly rushing out of the way of something approaching behind.

By the time he had taken a third step, a massive black shape was blasting across the ground towards him.

He never got a fourth step.

The shadow in the ground burst, a massive figure launching into the Sentinel, the pair crashing to a halt on the other side of the street. The Sentinel knocked it away, and it slid to a halt in between the Sentinel and Chebraghol. Standing five metres tall, with claws half the length of a human being, this demon glanced intently between its two opponents.

Steven glanced back at where the beast had come from. The other ten had vanished, presumably laying in ambush.

The Sentinel stood up, glancing at Chebraghol, then back at the shadow. It readied itself for battle.

[AlexMdle]

Chebraghol dropped the corpses the instant the massive beast arrived. He has seen wretches as big as this one, he has seen bigger, meaner sort of hellspawn. But this one basically radiated fierce rage, rabid, he could almost taste it in the air.

"I say we kill the big one, then sort the rest." He lifted the massive double-axe, gripping the solid iron handle with satisfaction. It has been a long time.

A swift leap was meant to catch the massive figure off guard, the sharp surface burrowing itself deep into the belly of the beast.

[PureQuestion]

The massive beast roared, turning from the Sentinel to Chebraghol, lashing out with massive claws. It seemed unphased by the wound, but its rage barely masked its desperation.

The Sentinel rushed towards it, driving its fist into the beasts skull. It barely flinched before dissolving into shadow. It knew better than to stay in between two dangerous opponents.

It resurfaced several metres away, and roared again. One by one the smaller shadows appeared from behind buildings, surrounding the Sentinel and Chabraghol.