The Color of Shadestone

Admin Posts : 125 Join date : 2013-05-31

Not all stories start at the beginning, laying out the sequence that contains the actions and the choices of the protagonist like a neat bundle of twigs. Sometimes the story announces itself into your life while already gaining momentum, continuing inexorably towards its end, all the while not giving a damn about whether it is climatic or not.

The term protagonist is often time most appropriate when discussing the center of this storm-like progression, as a story is not always about men and women who aspire to be the highest pinnacles of goodliness. No, some stories are written about the cruel, calculating, pragmatic bastards who have left enough of a wake in their path that they have touched (or scarred) the world around them in a way that won't be forgotten as soon as they or those they left behind would prefer. And sometimes the story is about the villain, the monster or the cad, documenting for posterity a cautionary example that the world is both very large and very unforgiving for the plight of the "innocent" or the "average".

But this is a story that does, in fact, start at the beginning (as it was). Time will also wait, with a smug grin on its knowing face, to divulge whether the players on this stage are to be cast in the azure light of heroism, the gray dimness of pragmatism or the crimson shower of unholy blight.

The Sun reached its apex (as it did every day prior and as it would every day till Tenomeda went the way of all things and was left naught but a barren rock), showering all the lay beneath its unyielding regard with life giving cordiality. Though Shadestone was found as far north as one could expect to find a hub of activity and still be in Alliance territory, the Sun’s caress still brought a punishing oppressive atmosphere of heat and thirst. The Fore Mountains may have towered off in the distance, reminding a traveler struggling under the yoke of exposure of how close the biting chill of the World’s Roof was, but that seemed to mean nothing to the almost searing temperatures that were a hallmark of the height of the summer season. The only respite from the pounding emissions of the burning eye that watched over the world came from the breathy zephyrs that tumbled across the stretching landscape or the artificial shade casted by the edifices that jutted from the earth like broken teeth, letting the world know that people lived this close to Saphyrean Forest.

Shadestone was both a community that represented the unending strength of dreams and ambition, as well as the callous indifference of men of authority and influence concerning the welfare of those they deigned beneath them. As such, it is not an insult as much as a statement of fact to call Shadestone a hive of scum and villainy that could match the most bawdy of districts in any city-state in the whole of the Balam Alliance. Its cancerous heart, the Shade Stone mine itself, was built upon the broken aspirations of the downtrodden and desperate, with a skin of corporate interest and bravado sewn onto that frame with the stories of those who came there with nowhere else to go. But in the veins of that ramshackle body, coursing through the labored beats of its diseased core, ran the blood of those who had not yet succumbed to the darker truths of the town and fought hard to see Shadestone itself change for the better. The rolled with the punches of the harsh life that was living on this frontier and still smiled up towards the open cerulean heavens with grit in their teeth, knowing that out here they were free and that no one could ever take the sky from them.

For the people of the rustic township, this day was about the same as any other. The Sun may be beating down from above, wrapping everything in a sweltering heat, but it was just a fact of life and you couldn’t expect for things to slow down to oblige your discomfort. The few inns and saloons that filled their coffers on the residents and flow of travels into Shadestone were already packed to the gills at this time of the day, doubly so because of angry curtain that the sky was coating the ground in. It had been two weeks since any kind of rain had relieved most of Torval’s Claim (a fact that worried the folks of Threegrains), so the cracking ground was all the excuse that many of the current patrons of those establishments needed to cool themselves off with cheap alcohol and even cheaper entertainment. With temperatures running hot and tempers soon to follow (loosened by a few too many bad hands at the cards or the dice, a few too many rejections from the bar maids or the dancing girl or a few too many glances or words taken in the wrong way), it was only a matter of time till something exploded out into those sun baked streets.

It was as such that living in an atmosphere like this long enough breeds (or in some cases hammers) into a person the innate sense to keep themselves occupied and out of the streets when a powder keg has a spark quick approaching. The school wouldn’t let out for several more hours even against the complaints of the school marms and the rambunctious of the anxious children, the principal having enough yellow in him to scent something amiss on the wind. The housewives tittered on their front stoops or skittered across the covered sidewalks, keeping to their circles or to their husbands as they moved like spooked deer. It looked like it was just going to be one of those days and that the law dogs were going to head busting and long hours of paper work ahead of them before the creeping fingers of the night finally gave some minor release from another summer’s day.

The apprehensive atmosphere that held the streets entranced was punctuated by the terse, high pitched whine of the shift whistle from the mine, letting the whole town (whether it liked it or not) that the mid-day exchanging of the miners was at hand. Bodies of both sexes would mix into a large flow out on the beaten dirt roads as they either came home from a hard morning’s work or were tugging on their boots for what would be a hellish day of labor. The mine was never at a want for workers, the pay too good to turn up even though most who worked there were selling their life to earn what they could to support themselves and those that they loved. The sawbones of the town never knew a quiet day in their lives, always flitting from bedside to bedside to treat those who were suffering from the “Blight” or just any other victims of the rowdy and dangerous lifestyle that the people lived up here. As the saying goes in Shadestone, “No man grins more than the Undertaker.”

Just as the shift whistle began to reach the end of its shriek, the sound began to stretch out, lengthened and dropping in both pitch and volume until it simply stopped. It was not alone, all other sounds going through the same eerie descent into silence. Movement of any kind followed hand in hand, a burst of violence in one tavern ending before it even really started. Cards hung in the air like the mobile over a child’s nursey, a bullet fired from a six-shooter under the table paused just barely before the fabric covering the gut of a man sitting across the table, his face screwed up in rage and his arm extending across in accusation at the cold blooded murderer he had the mistake of calling a cheater. Shadestone was frozen in time, looking for all the world just like a great glob of amber had fallen onto a swarm of ants across a rat’s corpse, entombing the bustle of activity for eternity. Where sound and motion had been lost, color too was inexorably leeched from the entire community. Bit by bit, nothing was left but muted grays, lifeless whites and soft blacks, creating a life sized rendition of one those fancy photographs that were becoming all the rage back in the city-states.

But not just Shadestone had this fate befall them, as the very sky above seemed to give way to swirling masses of charcoal which drifted across a slate hued sea. The Sun still shone in this strange roiling mass, but the yellow strokes of its face had been replaced with a pulsating onyx display, casting the world below in a peculiar twilight. A haunting wind began to blow through the town, gently rattling the windows and filling the air with the sounds of its passage, bringing with it a damp chill that completely replaced the oppressive summer heat that had ruled the day to this point.

Through happenstance, fate or just terrible luck, there were witnesses to this baleful occurrence. Spared from its clutches and forced to watch in moments as the realm around them was stricken of any semblance of life, these chosen few now found themselves alone (at least to their reckoning, not knowing others were here to witness this ghostly landscape), trapped between moments that had already gone by as the wind began to howl louder. But above the wind, above any other sounds that dominated this new monotone world, was the skin crawling creaking of rusted metal. It seeped in through every crack and cranny, ignoring walls and obstacles in its path, sounding as both just on the nape of one’s neck as if it was off in the distance.

Before the entrance to the town that lead onto the road to Threegrains, a metal sign swung in the wind, supported by seemingly nothing at all. Etched into its stained and corroding surface, almost as if it was done by a damned soul trying to leave one final message with broken tooth and torn out nail, were the words, “Watch your step”. For ten feet below this eldritch signage laid not the normal dust trail of the main street, but the cold and squat form of a mortar staircase that lead down into the ground. A green witchlight could barely be seen coming from somewhere at the bottom, darkly inviting those brave enough to take a step into a world not meant for the faint of heart.

Posts : 48 Join date : 2013-06-06

Dusk had been getting ready for a long day ahead of her. She was to leave shadestone on her cart again to transport some of the more rudimentary supplies from the mines towards Threegrains. Thankfully she didn't have to touch any of the deadly stuff. She always made sure that the works loaded them up on the cart and not her, same when she got to the destination.

Another day, another piece...least it's safe

Dusk ruffles the ears of her horses, Snowy and Beauty before she takes the reigns and leaps onto the front of the cart. Dusk makes a clicking sound with her mouth ushering the horses forward. The cart is pulled along the main road of town before she hears a gunshot, then the sound of the whistle being drawn out.

What.. wait what's going on..

Dusk stares wide eyed as the world groans to a stop around her, the lights pulsating their light across the now grey world.

No no no, can't be a hunter.. they were never this strong.

Dusk reaches behind her seat where a tarp was concealing a sheathed Falcata. Dusk steps down from the cart frozen in time along with her horses. She straps the scabbard to her back. It is a very simple leather scabbard save for one feature, it has a well of blood halfway down the length of the sheath. Dusk draws the Falcata as fast as she has ever done before and calls out:

"Dear brother, my protector. Be drawn free!"

A circle of magic takes hold on the floor near her feet, it draws itself slowly and illuminates. Formed in the centre is a blue globule forms. The globule steadily grows in size and forms the shape of an odd creature. The creature has 2 pairs of arms and 2 pairs of legs, with a serpentine body to it. Around it's head there is the hood of a cobra. When the creature has finally formed light shines out from its edges and the finer details of the creature are made apparent. Light blue scales across its lizard-like body, a large tail and a hood like a cobra from the crown of its head down past his arms. Across the side of his body there lies a single blade as tall as Dusk is.

The creature speaks to Dusk: How are yo...Dusk what is going on? Shadestone isn't usually this still.

Dusk shakes her head tears in her eyes. I don't know! I don't know, they might have found us again. They always find us. Dusk shouts audibly enough for anyone in the near vicinity to hear. She slams her fist against her brother's chest.

The blue creature, named Lionel, takes a sniff of the air then looks about the place. He spots the staircase and points at it. How bout that over there, I doubt that was caused by them. More importantly, who did?

Dusk wipes tears off her face, now somewhat calmer by the prospect that is something else other than the past that still haunts her. Curious she takes one of Lionel's hands and walks him over to the staircase peering over the edge.

I wonder where this leads... I am not sure if I should go in.. at least not alone. I do have Lionel but what if there is something down there that is very dangerous.

Dusk bites her lip. "Let's ... let's go looking for anyone else that can join us. If anyone else is er... not .. frozen? I don't know. This is too strange." She then hollers at the top of her lungs. ANYONE OUT THERE?! ANSWER ME!!

Lionel facepalms at Dusks brazen attitude. He is thinking if there was something out there that was dangerous it now knew where they were. Lionel draws his Fauchard ready for imminent danger.

Posts : 15 Join date : 2013-06-16

When it happened, Yoshihiro was sitting at a small table in a dark corner of the tavern. His swords were leaning against the wall beside him in their scabbards. A man stood up suddenly, yelling in a rage at the man across from him. A gunshot rang out, and with it rang the death knell of the world. Or so it seemed to Yoshihiro as time slowed to a stop, the bullet just centimeters away from its victim's stomach, and color drained from everything.

What is happening? Yoshihiro thinks, starting at the suddenness of the stop. All around, men and women stand frozen in their tracks. The screaming man, spit flying from his mouth; the bartender, eyes wide, ducking below the bar; several men rushing for the door. Yoshihiro, unsure of what to expect, straps his swords to his belt and moves to the door.

As he opens the door, a shout reaches Yoshihiro's ears. "ANYONE OUT THERE?! ANSWER ME!!"

Yoshihiro looks around the twilit street, his sharp eyes catching sight of a woman standing by a cart and a blue-scaled thing standing beside her holding a fauchard. Nearby a sign hangs suspended in midair by some unseen force, and a dark marble staircase descends into the hard ground. Yoshihiro calls out to the woman and her companion, "(In Ereso) Who are you? What has happened?"

Posts : 70 Join date : 2013-06-02 Location : Comox, B.C.

   When time stopped Dances at Night was leaning against a wall in the town square watching people go about their business, considering his next move.

   It is time for this one to leave this place. There are no answers to be found here, only misery and desperation.

   Then, just as the decision was made, the world went mad. With hackles raised Dances at Night draws a pair of knives and spins in place trying to find the cause.

   What is this? Did this one cause it to happen? How?

   When no apparent threats arise he slowly relaxed and looked around fascinated by the world in stop motion. At the sound of distant shouting he faded back into an alley and moved silently towards the source of the noise. Apparently he is not the only one unaffected by whatever was happening. Perhaps they would know what was happening. On the other hand perhaps they were the cause. He paused to closely examine a fly hanging seemingly frozen in the air over a pile of refuse.

   "This one will see who is calling then decide if it will reveal itself. If they seem to be responsible... well this situation does present some interesting possibilities. All sorts of secrets can be revealed when there is none to prevent one from looking."

Posts : 38 Join date : 2013-06-03

Viviana was hiding from the sun in the stable, attending to her horse and making sure this cheap inn didn't underfeed the only companion she had. She sighed and wondered if it was a good idea to come here when suddenly sounds stopped and the world turned grey. She stared in disbelieve at her horse and then turned her head to look outside. It boggling her mind and hurt to think about when a sudden stench woke her up. "Witchcraft!" she shouted in anger and suddenly this all made sense. Although if this is caused by witchcraft it might be far stronger then her. She gathered her courage and stepped outside towards the direction of the source.

Outside she sees a couple of people and a thing... Something scaly and snake-like, but with more arms and legs then humanly possible, and it also had a sword. in reaction Viviana draws her own swords and slowly walks towards to creature, stopping at a decent pace to observe it.
"Citizens! Step away from the demon! I got this under control!" She shouts full courage, but deep within she is panicking... She never fought against a real demon before.
She waits for the civilians to get out of the way before making a move.

Posts : 59 Join date : 2013-05-31 Age : 30

Aesop had been occupying himself with helping a young couple load crates into the back of a wagon on the main road. The two, neither of whom could have been more than 25, were preparing to leave Shadestone. No surprise really, the woman was beginning to show the signs of pregnancy and the mining town was no place to raise a child.

The thought had been nicely cemented by the sound of a gunshot that rang out across the afternoon sky. Aesop stopped his work and perked up immediately, quickly searching for the source of the disturbance. He was struck as he saw the couple froze, mid surprise, with all signs of life seemingly sucked out of the two. Nervously he looked around the the rest of the town and found the same results. All of the citizens were seemingly struck by the same affliction, all color and sound having been sucked out of them leaving only a grey husk. Even the box he had been remained suspended in mid air by some mysterious force.

He moved to the couple and began checking them over for the cause of their new ailment, and when that failed he resorted to simply trying to shake them from their stupor. He stopped when he was struck by a sound coming from farther down the main road. A woman, shouting in Ereso "ANYONE OUT THERE!? ANSWER ME!!". He moved towards the sound, into the center of the main road and in plain sight and only a short distance from the entrance to the town.

He saw the source of the shout, a woman standing on top of the cart standing next to some manner of creature. To his right he saw a man stepping out of the doors of the tavern, calling out inquisitively to the woman on the cart. Suddenly another woman stepped out onto the street from the inn stable. She had a blade drawn along with a mask of bravery on her face, a toxic combination. She stepped towards the cart and her intent was abundantly clear. "Citizens!" she shouted with an unwavering voice "Step away from the demon! I got this under control!"

Sensing the coming violence, Aesop pushed himself to step forward as well. "Sister, stay your blades." he says in Ereso, addressing the valiant woman wielding the two weapons. Turning to the cart he says "I beseech you, do so as well." His voice is calm and steady, and he hopes that his words will prevent from the scenario escalating any further. He calmly continues, now addressing all within ear shot: "Panic is the enemy in vis situation, and choices made with haste vill inevitably lead to regret. Ve ask that everyone simply... restrain themselves until ve know what has happened." He holds his hands out for everyone, showing that he has no weapon drawn. The tension in the air is palpable, and a single bead of sweat rolls down his neck.

Posts : 63 Join date : 2013-06-18

Catrina's eyes widen as she bared witness to such horror that befell on the town she was charged to protect by the corporation that owned the mine. She was on foot patrol when she heard the shot go off and then utter silence without a continuous echo through out the town. She proceeded down to the entrance, Watching folks that stood still was very peculier and wondered.

what in devil is going on? : She wondered to herself.

A black panther came right across from her knowing that something was amiss and that her master/ friend could possible be in trouble. The cat was looking about and tail remained swaying ever so slightly with a few twitches every now and then. Keeping a close eye out.

Both ears twitched as they heard folks shouting in the distance. That told her some one just happened to arrive at town or is still about. However, her protocol is simple. The Corporate instructed her regardless of what may have happened. She was to inspect and secure the mining site at all costs.

"Stay here my friend i shall not be long. Make sure no one enters unless they mean you harm. Then run." she said in Syrae.

The Panther nodded and took place some where safe and so she could keep an eye of those that tried to come down the mine.

Removing her rifle and checking the chamber making sure it was good and ready with a nice bullet. She then shouldered her arms, then she pulled out her pistol and flicked open the chamber and checked the fully loaded pistol. Nodding in approval, she holstered her fire arm. Swinging the cloak around herself to cover everything, she pulled her scar to cover the muzzle of her face to only show her eyes. She began to proceed deep into the vastness into the mines walking as far as her sight can take her before she needs to mount her hooded lantern to see.

"I'll see you soon" she called out in a low tone to prevent anyone from hearing her.

(EDIT)

Posts : 42 Join date : 2013-06-18

Draos had been in a tavern not to long before the event occurred. He came to Shadestone after hearing its reputation for lawlessness and hoped to be able to hand out some uninterrupted justice to those needing it. While in the tavern he kept to himself near the back of the room hidden in his cloak with his back to the wall eying the patrons. He noticed a few men mistreating the bar maiden and made a note to himself to deal with them when they left. In the mean time he enjoyed his drink and allowed himself to relax after his travels.

Not long after the men (3) decided to leave, Draos followed them out and around to the alley. The men took notice of him as he approached with no desire to hide as he pulled a dagger out from under his cloak and announced to them that their crimes will be punished. As they prepared to defend themselves they were startled by the sound of a gunshot from inside the tavern. Draos looked at the side of the tavern beside them, turning his head on instinct, when he looked back to the criminals he noticed that they were frozen with the look of surprise imprinted in their faces. Not sure whether this was out of fear or something else he moved towards them and proceeded to poke them like a child. He pulled their cheeks and lifted their arms until it was apparent these criminals were not doing this on purpose. As he came to his conclusion an old feeling zapped through his head like lightning.

Draos knew there was someone else unfrozen in this world of grey, and they were on the main street outside of the alley. He put away his dagger and raised his hood over his head. He crept along the side of the tavern until he arrived at the street opening. Standing in the road was a woman and a creature that appeared to be talking with her. Moments later she screamed out "ANYONE OUT THERE?! ANSWER ME!!". Draos had no intent of being the one to approach her, for all he knew she could be looking for survivors to finish off with the help of her creature friend. Just then a man appeared out of the tavern, taking notice of the girl he inquired about the turn of events. They were speaking in his Ereso luckily enough, but it was to soon to approach. Unsure of what was to come he placed a hand on his blade's hilt. As he did another woman appeared down the road and announced that she would slay the creature, as she does this a man appears on the opposite side of the street and Draos ducks into the alley praying he had not been seen.

The new man offers a resolve to this conflict, saying we need not make brash decisions while panicked. He seems good, trying to resolve a possible conflict without bloodshed, but it is to early to assume him an ally. For now Draos will stay in the alley and keep a watch on the situation, it is then that he notices a sign hanging above the road with stairs into the ground beneath it. "that wasn't there this morning" he thinks to himself. But his love of adventure over takes his judgment and before he knows it he has stepped out into the street. knowing there is no turning back now he addresses the group on the street making sure to keep an eye on everyone as often as he can.
He decides to speak in Ereso since the others seemed to share the language.

"My fellow none frozen people and creature, it appears that whatever is happening has affected all but us and perhaps a few others. Unless someone here wishes to announce that they are behind it, may i purpose we listen to this fellow *motions toward Aesop* (not knowing his name of course) no need to take arms against each other when we don't know who, or what our real enemy is. Perhaps it is the same person who made those stairs *points to stairs*. Anyone else interested in finding out what's going on or would you rather we sit here and stare at each other?"

Posts : 10 Join date : 2013-06-18

Ranshock was in the back of the tavern, where he worked for the owner doing odd jobs. If the owner needed a waiter, he was it; if the owner needed a bartender, he was it; and today the owner needed a potato peeler for the dinner rush, and Ranshock was it. Ranshock sat on a small wooden stool that creaked and groaned under his large frame, as he peeled as dutifully as possible. Suddenly, a gunshot rang out above the din that normally permeated the air. "That time again I see..." Ranshock thought cynically. It was one of the jobs that Ranshock hated only slightly more than the rest of them; to be the biggest, meanest, toughest man in the tavern. He dropped his potato and peeler and stood up, and then stopped. The world was silent, the echo of the gunshot acting as the final ringing of a bell in the dead of night. He looked around him and his eyes widened in horror. Grey. Lifeless. The world, which at a time no less than a minute ago had been vibrant and colorful, seemed to have been drained of all color. His dropped potato and peeler hung dead in the air, no sign of falling as was the natural order.

Ranshock's breath caught in his throat and his vision hazed for a second. He closed his eyes and gulped in deep breaths, felling his arms to face to make sure he was still there. He then opened his eyes slowly and was less than relieved to see the world was in the same muted tones and unwaveringly silent. Ranshock took a few more breaths to steel himself for whatever was going on in the front room and pushed through the heavy swinging door.

The first thing Ranshock noticed was that everyone in the room was as still and dead as the potato and peeler he had dropped. The next thing was that the door did not announce it's presence with it's custom authoritative SLAM as it was opened. He cast a wary eye behind him and saw that the door looked as though it were still in the process of being thrown wide open, but refused to budge from it's location. Ranshock took the door and swung it a little, back and forth, and as long as he moved it, it worked and moved with him, the second he stopped it refused to budge another inch. He tried slamming the door closed in frustration, but the second his hand left from it's worn wooded edge all it's movement suddenly stopped as though by an invisible wall. Ranshock, frustrated by the doors mockery of him, turned around.

Ranshock spied the pair that were causing the ruckus. The first had a frozen look of pure utter rage. His pupils had shrunken to black pinpoints in the center of his eyes and his mouth was locked into a position of a feral roar escaping his gaping mouth. His left fist was cocked back, ready to dart out with a nasty punch in case the right, which was traveling in a graceful arc towards the second trouble maker's jaw, missed. The second was a much smaller man, but his eyes seemed to glitter mischievously and a small smiled had yet to be wiped from his mouth by the former's balled fist. One of his hands was still holding a number of cards, his other was hidden carefully out of sight, directly below the table. Chips flung from the table in the beginning of the fight were nailed into place in midair, and beer that had been sloshed right out of a falling mug stuck dead on it's travel towards the floor. "When this is over, I'm going to have such a mess to clean up..." Ranshock thought, vehemently. He then looked at the first man, and sighed as he picked him up, through him over his shoulder, and then set to grabbing the other man to drag him out with him.

At the moment Ranshock was exiting the tavern he heard a voice cut through the silence, "ANYONE OUT THERE?! ANSWER ME!!" He recognized the language and took a moment to think about it. "Ahh, Ereso that's right...hmm...I'm not as well versed as I'd like to be, but I have some knowledge of it..." Ranshock took a moment to check his blades were strapped tight to and then, remembering his things in the other room, dashed back, grabbed his gear, and then grabbed the rowdy patrons that hung eerily in the air where he left them. "I believe I could get used to this still world, these people aren't hitting me and yelling 'Put me down, do you know who I am?' Ahh, patrons, love them or hate them, they are always alive." Ranshock mused, smiling to himself as he used his boot to open the door.

As soon as he was outside, Ranshock threw a patron harshly to each side of him, before remembering that his strength seemed to mean nothing here. He looked side to side where the roughhousers hung in the air, un-moving and lifeless. He looked about him and spied a woman, brandishing some sort of sword, who was the one calling out for help. Next to her was some sort of man-serpent which was skillfully wielding a sort of pole-arm. Ranshock was still trying to decide whether to talk or fight when another woman came out from around a building pointing her own two weapons at the serpent-man, or man-serpent. "Citizens!! Stay away from the demon! I got this under control!" She called out authoritatively. Ranshock was just ready to draw his own weapons, thinking "Well, I have never hunted a Demon before, but I believe my skills to be appropriate." When yet another person stepped forward from down the road. This one was a young man who had no weapon drawn. As the man keeps walking forward he calls for the woman to stay her blades and for the people gathering to simply keep calm and assess the situation. Ranshock decides to leave his weapons sheathed, even if this was a Demon, there were to many unknowns to fret about for this Hunt to end successfully. As Ranshock was about to step forward, yet another person comes out of the shadows. The newcomer is a man covered by a cloak and hood and cloak, as he travels forth he speaks of his general agreement with the other man, and points off to something in the distance. Ranshock follows the path of the mans finger and sees a sign hanging in the sky with no noticeable signs of support, as well as a staircase leading down into the deep bowels of the earth. "Well well well, this is quite odd, and it seems as though my hunt may have only just begun..."

With that final thought, Ranshock steps down off of the door sill of the tavern and proceeds to the main road. He holds out his hands, his palms facing towards the sky as his brain searches for the correct words in Ereso. "Hallo, I am Ranshock. I find I am agreeing with those men." He gestures towards both Aesop and Draos (not knowing either's name of course) before continuing his line of thought, "Perhaps, we shall sit in that tavern and speak of our names and plans for this..." Ranshock thinks back, reaching into his memory for the correct words, "misfortunate event." He smiles wide as he gestures towards the tavern. Although he can see how tense the situation is, he feels uneffected, only rationalizing this with the thought "Jafn."

Note: Jafn translates to Equal, or in this usage would loosely translate into Ereso as "It is as it is"

Posts : 12 Join date : 2013-06-20 Age : 30

Hodge had been riding for weeks to reach Shadestone and had just reached the main throughfare when he felt a odd feeling come overhim. It was the cold shiver of fear, nor the nervous feeling of being watched, just ... a dullness. Shaking his head he looked up and gasped. The world about him seemed to be frozen, people mind stride were poised like statues. One fellow had tripped and was frozen half way down as he fell, his face full of shock, one hand outstreched and his other reaching back to grab a post in the vain hope of stopping his fall.

As hodge past a thrown out mirror he lookedat himself, looking for any sign that he had been afected by whatever had happened here. He noted himself a tall gentleman of a thick build and noticed how worn his cloak was and that the soilders outfit he had "borrowed" rather dusty. Mumbling to him self he adjusted his leather cap and checked his eyes, both were still blue eyes and nothing seemed to be wrong with them. Grimicing he raised his head to look at the right side of his face; covered in black runes and strange glyphs he pulled up his collar. Stepping closer he reached for his sword with ink stained and scarred hands.

Turning around he looked furhter ahead yet the more he looked about the more it seemed as it the air itself had had the life sucked out of it. "Why am I unaffected he thought?" and began to head further into town till he heard someone a few blocks over yell "ANYONE OUT THERE?! ANSWER ME!!" . His horse Lily startled by the sound reared up knocking Hodge off her. "Blast it, settle down" he yelled at her. The horse stopped and seem to look afronted "Your not the only one nervous so follow." he told her and continued up the road till he saw the back of a man saying "Perhaps, we shall sit in that tavern and speak of our names and plans for this...misfortunate event"

Coughing into his hand to catch the mans attention "That seems like a wonderful idea, you wouldn't happen to have some... clean water would you. For me" he then gestured toward his horse "and Lily here.".

Posts : 48 Join date : 2013-06-06

Dusk looks around seeing that her shout has attracted more attention than she bargained for. She thought there might be only one or two but there is quite a few. Some friendly, some not.

(I'm using names for convenience, she of course knows none of them.)

Dusk Pyreheart is wearing a cloak on her back with the hood down due to dust from travelling from place to place. It is relatively well made, probably bought from decent wages for a relatively dangerous job. She is wearing some leather underneath the cloak as well. This she carried around in case of trouble, who knows what you would see on a journey. Dusk has relatively long brown hair but you can't really tell that at the minute as her hair is tied up in a bun. She doesn't have the most feminine features but she is strangely attractive. She has muscles to rival any man likely due to heavy lifting or sword fighting by the looks of her weapon.

First Yoshihiro comes up and she greets him "I don't know sir. I was hoping you might know. Everyone just froze I wanted to make sure I wasn't the only one out here. Glad I ain't the only one, my name is Dusk. What's yours?"

Viviana steps out and shouts, Lionel stares at her confused. The "Demon" replies to her. "I am not demon young lady, if you are not the cause of this atrocity we find ourselves in I mean you no harm. My sister and I are only trying to find out what is wrong here." The Demon motions with his arm to the girl talking to Yoshihiro.

Dusk glares at Viviana. "If you attack him I swear I won't make it pretty for anyone..." She says grouchily.

Lionel flicks Dusk's head and she winces. "Oy, play nice." Dusk growls at Lionel before pouting. Aesop comes out telling them to stay their weapons. Dusk's weapon was out though she wasn't brandishing it and anyone. Lionel nods at Aesop and lower his, planting the head of the weapon in the dirt.

As the others talk about a plan to sit down and talk Dusk perks up a little "Yea we can do that! I mean I wanted to wander down here, however doing so on our own would have been foolish. Who knows what crazy magic is a foot here and I myself wouldn't want another.. erm." She pauses before finishing. "Anything bad to happen, you know?"

Dusk instinctively leaves her sword drawn, keeping the facade up that its her weapon that keeps Lionel manifested. She walks past Ranshock and smiles at him. "I'm Dusk, that there is my brother Lionel" She points at the blue creature. "Come let us talk of the plan to get us out of this predicament!" Dusk wanders over to the nearest tavern, picking up chairs and situating them around an empty table. The owners wouldn't mind, they'd be out of there before they starting moving again anyway.

With whomever decided to sit around the table with her she asks, "So, let's see, there is a big scary staircase over there that we want to go down. I am a lowly cart driver, but I know how to fight as does my brother. We can beat heads in a little. Some of you seem to be of the same disposition as us. Tell me, are any of inclined to know more things about magic in this area? I only know a bit and it'd be good not to fly in blind." Dusk is talking rather calmly about this situation might kill her, she's been here before but at least this time she assumes it isn't specifically to target her. So she is a lot more tranquil about the whole affair.

At least there are some friendly folk around here... If that woman threatens him again I swear... Lionel shoots Dusk a look, knowing what she's thinking and he just rolls his eyes.

Posts : 15 Join date : 2013-06-16

"I am Yoshihiro," the young samurai replies. He then turns to Ranshock, saying, "That does sound like a good plan," and then following him and Dusk into the tavern. He sits down and looks at the others who are at the table, wondering if he can trust all of them. Some of them had seemed somewhat aggressive...

Dusk's voice breaks into his thoughts, asking, "So, let's see, there is a big scary staircase over there that we want to go down. I am a lowly cart driver, but I know how to fight as does my brother. We can beat heads in a little. Some of you seem to be of the same disposition as us. Tell me, are any of inclined to know more things about magic in this area? I only know a bit and it'd be good not to fly in blind."

Yoshihiro thinks, then says, "I know little of magic, but I can fight." He sincerely hopes that there is someone at the table who can help all of them understand what is going on.

Posts : 70 Join date : 2013-06-02 Location : Comox, B.C.

It was apparent that none of these people knew any more about what was happening than he did. There was no point in lurking in the shadows any longer. With a shrug he puts his knives away before strolling casually into the tavern. Moving to the bar he takes a few moments to select a bottle of whiskey to his liking. He drops some money on the bar and attempts to fill a glass but the alcohol refuses to leave the bottle. Glancing nonplused at the bottle in his hand he considers the stubborn contents for a moment then turns the bottle upside down gives it a strong shake causing it to eject a globule of amber liquid that hung in the air undulating slowly. With a grin he stoops and sucks in the shot then walks over to where the others are sitting and sets the bottle on the table.

"The glasses are not as clean as one would like anyway." Gesturing diffidently towards himself he continues, "This one is known as Dances at Night and knows no more about what is happening than you. Let us talk and please... help yourselves to a drink."

Posts : 38 Join date : 2013-06-03

"Are you people insane?! Mad? There is a..." Viviana felt silent as the strong smell of magic overwhelmed her senses. This situation seems wrong, all those people and not a single one acknowledging there is monster standing there. The magic in the air is heavy and damp, making it hard to concentrate, but one thing seemed sure. She was the only one that sees the demon. Either it was a real demon and others are controlled by it, or this magic makes her see a normal person as a demon. Whatever the case, attacking was a bad option. These people seemed strong enough to fight back and there is no way she could fight so many innocent people for good reason.
She sheaths one of her swords and lowers the other till the tip lies on the ground. "Pardon me..." She says slowly. "This is unnerving... the air is full of it. Terrible way of introducing but the name is Viviana."
She watches as the others enter the tavern and enters as last, not really wanting to but having nothing better to do. It still feels like a trap, and she refuses any drinks or sit on any chairs.

Posts : 59 Join date : 2013-05-31 Age : 30

As the tension broke like a wave upon the beach, Aesop let out a slow sigh of relief. He quickly recovered and put on a pleasant face, best to seem as hospitable as possible. He steps up to the tavern and holds the door, ushering others inside at their own behest. The tables inside were small, made for only small groups of four or five to sit at comfortably. Rather than try and awkwardly force more chairs into the mix, he opts to stand as well. He introduces himself by his first name as the conversation picks up. However, other than that he hangs back. Truth be told he hadn't the slightest idea what was happening or how to go about solving the problem. He preferred to remain silent for now, speaking only when spoken too, in the hopes that someone else would come forward with a solution.

Posts : 63 Join date : 2013-06-18

Upon walking close to a hundred feet down the mine. She stopped to look down to notice that the elevator was a considerable distance away from her. Her eyes scanned to meet the ladder that builders made to construct the elevator frame works. She gave a sigh and whipped her forehead before deciding to cut her loss.

"There doesnt seem to be any wrong with the elevator. But what in devil did this?" she asked.

Turning back around, she walked out of the mines. Giving a sharp whistle to summon her panther, she came out from hiding and looked up to scarlet with a puzzling expression. Catrina looked down to pet her friend. Letting Lana know everything will be alright as long as they were together. Catrina remembered Lana when she was just a cub, rescued her from a hunters trap during her stay at this old town that she was charged to protect by the company.

They made their way out of the mines and over to their cart that they left by the old tannery that was not to far from the quarry entrance. She hopped onto the wagon and opened the chest that was sitting neatly at the back. No one from this town would get near this chest because of the engraving she etched on last year to let them know that this was hers. The last person who tried to steal from her cart wound up in prison with a broken jaw and a paralyzed left hand that touched the chest first. She lives up to her name as the Powdered Scarlet. Because when she goes off blood will be involved. Upon opening her chest, she pulled out a coil of rope and slung it across her shoulder and her gunslinger kit (back pack). She closed the chest and hopped off knowing that she could not carry everything on her own without help from her ox. Unfortunately, they were also plagued by this curse like everything else around her. She looked back at the direction of where the last shot was heard before everything else when south. Catrina knew this town well enough to know that it was back at the tavern. She was not to far from it either since the town was never large in the first place.

Catrina and her panther made their way to the tavern to see the doors wide open and at a stand still. So she approached the side of the entrance, just beside the door, to have a look or to listen of who was in there. Not knowing if anyone would be in their. Being hopeful that she was not the only one here alone.

Upon getting to the exterior wall with her back against it. To hear folks inside talking amongst themselves. So she stood their to listen not letting others know about her presence.

Posts : 42 Join date : 2013-06-18

Draos waits for everyone to be in front of him before moving towards the tavern. Although violence has been put on pause with the rest of the world and these people seem calm enough that does not make them friends, and if they aren't friends then that makes them enemies, at least for now. Entering the tavern second to last (since viviana is last in) Draos walks to the table he sat at before leaving, his chair was still pulled out, he placed its back against the wall and talked from there, making sure to keep his cloak tight and hood up.

"I've encountered magic before on several occasions, nasty stuff really, but i've never seen anything of this scale before, at least not that i remember. However, it is safe to say that whatever caused this world to stop and give us dog eyes is probably the same thing that made those stairs appear outside. If you consider their cheeky sign above the stairs then it's probably safe to say that whoever or whatever did this considers them self or selves to be above us. Most magic users feel that way in my experience. But it looks like the only options we have are waiting here for the troublemaker to show up or going down there to find him and turn things back to normal. Either way we're probably going to have to work together."

he removes his hood

"So it's best to get an idea of who 'we' are. I am Draos, feel free to call me by name. I am capable in combat and won't stand for violent criminal acts, if there are any such people here right now i suggest you leave or explain yourself fully. That is my view on this, you all are free to speak your views as well."

Posts : 10 Join date : 2013-06-18

Once Ranshock sees the various people begin to settle down and head towards the bar he graciously enters and begins setting up chairs for those that don't have any and pushing tables together in order to create enough space for everyone who wishes to sit. For those that don't he doesn't force the issue,

After everyone is situated he walks off to the back room. Once there he piles various fruits, cheeses, breads, dried meats, and sweets onto various plates and platters and then brings them out for everyone. Ranshock eyes everyone and then the food. Although he is quite hungry he is much to gracious a host to eat before the guests.

As people settle into their respective positions Ranshocks hunger wears out and he grabs a good sized loaf of bread, half a wheel of cheese, and a large hunk of meat for himself. He throws it all on a small platter and sits on a barrel of ale behind the bar. He moves the barman to the back so that everyone can see him just fine so as to show he isn't doing anything untrustworthy.

"Hallo. I am Ranshock. I know not much of magic nor of this event. I find myself in agreement, the only way to go is down." He laughs and pats his blades. He looks like he is about to speak then he smacks his lips and lets out a dry cough. He looks around, sighs, and then looks at the barrel he's perched on. He gets up, unplugs it and starts to tip it into his mouth. He sighs as no liquid comes out, then plugs it back up and sits down with another dry cough. "As I was saying I know not of magic, but I am confident in my fighting ability." He gives a glowing smile before taking a dry swallow and eating some more.

Posts : 48 Join date : 2013-06-06

Dusk while in the bar is still eyeing Viviana. Saying coldly "Pleasure... to meet you."

Lionel smacks her on the head, "Be polite" Dusk begins to pout and turns away from the group.

"Forgive my sister, she can get grumpy sometimes." Lionel the 'demon', shakes his head. "Truly it is a pleasure to meet all of you." Lionel clears his throat. "Yes the way forward seems only by that staircase, I believe whomever set this up is drawing us there. There has to be good reason and great power to specifically have all of us still moving after such a spell. There are very few Dusk and I have encountered that have anywhere near that power. We do know they exist though, all of you seem to know your way around a fight so I shouldn't have to say that we need to excise caution when descending."

Lionel Ponders "I doubt anything in the material world functions as it should except for the things we possess, unfortunately that means we only have the equipment we do now. So I guess we should figure out how best we will work with what we have. What I mean be that is.." Lionel glares at Dusk while saying. "Setting aside our differences, find out how we can work as a team and work to our strengths."

Dusk throws her hands in the air. "Yes I'll work with the rest of them fine, and the harpy..." Lionel flicks Dusk in the back of the head. She grimaces and rubs the sore spot remaining from the flick.

Lionel sighs "Both Dusk and I are melee combatants, we have worked as a pair for quite a while now. Dusk is also an accomplished spellcaster..." Dusk is about to protest. ... though she does not want to admit it, let alone use her magic that often but I'm sure she'll make an exception today. After all it is a matter of life and death." Lionel folds his arms looking at the rest of the group.

"What are all your specialties? I know I am being forefront about this but we have no idea what is down there and I am sure we will be assaulted by beasts or people of some kind shortly in such an unwelcoming state." Lionel rests his hand on the table waiting a response, despite his strange appearance he seems to be quite a happy creature that is looking out for the safety of the group. Dusk on the other hand might only really be caring about the safety of herself and Lionel.

Posts : 12 Join date : 2013-06-20 Age : 30

Seeing how everyone so far had some knowledge of magic he decided to reveal his full talents. "I'm Hodge Lorwell," he said as he glanced about "Magicain and knight extroidinaire. I have some skill with a blade both mounted and not and am fairly adept with magic wether in battle or at home so be forwarned. Those of you who are too close sighted need speak now." Sighing he continued "I'm also fairly well read in the arcane arts and nothging I have ever read has come close to whatever this is ... it is either something for an age centruies past or something entirely new."

"Now as to the horse, her name is lily and is not one for strangers some please don't go try and feed her, I will not be the one who rebandges your hand." he said with a chuckle. With that he sat down with his back to the wall and a drink in his hand waiting for the others to react to his claims of wizardy.

Posts : 70 Join date : 2013-06-02 Location : Comox, B.C.

"Specialty? This one is... curious. It can fight if it must but prefers to be clever. As for what we face..." Speaker shrugs, "A god of course, or near enough to a god as to make no difference. For good or ill remains to be seen. I hope lilly is good on stairs for it appears we are to go down."

Posts : 38 Join date : 2013-06-03

Viviana still feeling unease by the heavy magical auras all around her and can't find it to be settle down. She still stands with one of her swords grasped in her hands and ready to pull the other at the first sign of trouble. She mostly focused her attention of Lionel, which still looked like some kind of unearthly creature and it was not helping the paranoid feeling she had. It also talked a lot, seemed to spin some plan and want to know what everyone could. It all sounded very suspicious, but then again, it might be the presence of magic clouding her mind. Whatever the case, these people might be innocents and have nothing do with any of this. First proof, then action, else you end up as the mentors she despised. She still did feel like she needed to test them someway, see if she could provoke them in revealing harmful intends or prove their are just as trapped as she is.

"The name is Viviana... Viviana Ayton. As for my specialty, from a young age I have been trained in finding and killing magic users." She pauses to judge reactions from people like Dusk, Lionel and Hodge. All of them seemed to be magical one way or another. "So whoever caused this is going to feel the end of my blades." It sounded a bit harsher then she intended. "Regardless, part of my training also says I should use my weapons to protect and help the community. So I won't attack you, unless you attack innocent people." She adds as a warning, but also a sign she wouldn't randomly stab them, even though one of them looks like a... whatever it is. "And seeing how this amount of magic is heavy... Heavy enough to cloud my mind... I am amazed you guys not notice it... But I mean we need to work together, you guys are right in that. If we are done with these pleasantries we should go. The sooner the better." She still is a bit hesitant to admit she was wrong and she also doesn't like standing here doing nothing while whatever out there is doing unknown damages on a unimaginable scale.

Posts : 59 Join date : 2013-05-31 Age : 30

Aesop casually turns the conversation away from himself, saying only: "Ve were a simple soldier at one time, but nothing as proficient as the rest of you. Hopefully ve vill not prove a hindrance to helping the people of this town."

Posts : 63 Join date : 2013-06-18

Scarlet pulled her bandana to cover her face to hide her smirk. Listening onto these newcomers talents and like them, she had no idea what has happened to her good town she loved. This did anger her somewhat, but what can she do? Everything she worked so hard for so long was crumbling around her. Or in this case, frozen. Magic, she loathed such things. Her belief is no magician is faster than hot lead and the whole deal is just a slight trick of the eye and some good ale. Looking down at her panther, she gave them a nod to go ahead and introduce herself to the public while scarlet remained outside out of the scope of the strangers. Her gloved hand rested on the handle of her side arm with the thumb to the side of the hammer. A true marksman would never place their hands on either the hammer or the trigger unless they have a good shot and they are ready to take the life. Her eyes closed with a sigh. Pulling the weight of the hammer always reminded her how much it weighs to take a life. She had her fair share to earn her the name 'The Powdered Scarlet'. She watched as the panther stalked into the room.

Lana snuck right into the room and started duck around the tables watching the crones talk amongst themselves in something that she wont understand. This was going to help as a distraction to advert ones eyes from where ever. The panther Lana sat down on her bottom and watched them. Purring with the tail slowly swaying. Not showing any aggression nor it showed any signs of wanting to be attacked either. Her eyes fierce yellow like amber staring at the party, her black fur glistened and well maintained and from the body structure still looked like it can go a round or two with a few people. Lana wore nothing to show that she was owned by anyone. The bond that both Lana and Catrina was good enough to show ownership, but like her master, Catrina and Lana were friends rather than master and pet. From the looks, there weren't many folks in the room. None of them looked like her master from the looks of it so Catrina may not really care for much interaction with them. Not even worth speaking to no less. Lana happened to notice a woman (Viviana) holding something that look to be like a weapon. And only a deeper purr came from her throat of displeasure.

Posts : 42 Join date : 2013-06-18

"As far as my specialties are concerned i am capable with a blade and i'm sure i'm much faster than any of you. Dusk and Lionel i suggest you two announce your official relationship instead of this brother sister one. Hodge being a spell caster if you so wish to accompany us down the stairs i'm sure you would be of much use, same to you Dusk if you embrace your magic."

suddenly a panther walks into the room and sits down

"well, that's odd. regardless Aesop i'm sure you won't be of hindrance. So are we all agreed to venture down the stairs and see if we can find who is behind this frozen world? also, whose panther is that and why is it here?"