Staunton Bluffs V: New Blood

[Le Noir Faineant]

Blood drops from the hangman's nose...

[steveflam]

Brethana waits for the others , keeping her distance from the noose, wary of the blood dropping...

[Le Noir Faineant]

The blood drops into a small puddle between the black tree's roots...

And those who dare to look into this pool of shimmering blood see...

A castle engulfed by flames...

A woman, crying and yelling trying to protect a small girl and a boy - you cannot see their faces - with her body...

And then, suddenly, there's Henry Arlington...

And his scythe strikes down and cuts her throat...

And the scene changes again...

A young man, tears running from his eyes, the head in a rope noose, looking towards the burning castle...

And then he gasps, and his eyes become dull...

An ashen leaf falls from the tree and into the pool, and the vision vanishes...




Shrieking cries from above in the sky warn you: Two red demons, winged devils with skulls as their faces, have changed their course and no stride from Willisford through the crimson sky and towards the caravan...

You can see them carrying black swords in their hands...

They'll catch you soon, if you don't hurry...

[Either you try your luck fighting against the creatures, or you flee into a direction of your choice - the several possibilites of what you may encounter there are explained above.]

[Nathan of the FoS]

Shrieking cries from above in the sky warn you: Two red demons, winged devils with skulls as their faces, have changed their course and no stride from Willisford through the crimson sky and towards the caravan...

You can see them carrying black swords in their hands...

They'll catch you soon, if you don't hurry...

[Either you try your luck fighting against the creatures, or you flee into a direction of your choice - the several possibilites of what you may encounter there are explained above.]

Fallenleaf is about to speak when a raven appears out of the mist overhead and settles on his shoulder, cawing hoarsely. "Oreb," Fallenleaf says. "You're here. Good. Take note of these people; we'll have to find them again."

Turning back to the two winged figures, he continues, "You had better go," his eyes glowing like two embers as he stares at the approaching fiends. "I'll deal with these things and catch up later. Look for the castle and Bleysmith."

[ewancummins]

Jamethon picks up the boy, holding him close to his chest. ''We must protect him!''He moves into the trees to the east, turning northward after making it a short distance into the bleak woods.

[VAN]

Inovidil looks one more time the flying demons. She has to do something in case they chase them, she waves her hands and pronounces the arcane words, then follows the cleric.


OOC> Inovidil casts mage ermor.

[steveflam]

Brethana follows Jamethon and Inovidil wanting nothing to do with the flying demons..

[LouisVendredi]

George thinks Brethana has the right idea and does the same.

[BigBadQDaddy]

Alain see's the feinds coming towards the party. Openining his mouth in an attempt to scream, though the only sound heard is a barley audible whistle from his throat. He stumbles back a few steps and is knocked down by a fleeing party member. He looks and see's the party running and gets up and runs after them.

[kintire]

Shana gapes momentarily at the fiends, standing a little stunned, and is one of the last to turn and leave, pausing to help Alain to his feet, and then following the others into the woods

[Le Noir Faineant]

You run over the open fields, and see how the lich and the grgoyle-like creatures engage in a fierce battle - the fight, however, is very short, since Fallenleaf dodges the acid attacks of the flying devils and then responjds with a cracking bolt of pure electricity...

And while the monsters are burned to ash, the rest of the party arrives at the border to a thick forest of blackened trees. Behind the trees begins a phalanx of rocky hills that ascend into an even darker mountain range.
A broken woodenwaysign lies somewhere in the dirt. Under a red arrow pointing northwards, the words "Castle Stonecrest" have been carved into it. Next to the waysign lies a rusted blade - a scimitar.

[Those who have met Lodissio will immediately recognize it as his.]

In contrast to the apocalyptic scenery that you just witnessed. the forest around you is quiet, and appears considerably common and normal in this weird landscape.

Moorkroft will suddenly find that - whatever took them away - the critters that have plagued him since he awoke at Arlington Farm have gone.

[VAN]

As long as Inovidil catches her breath from running, she looks around the forest. Everything seems normal.

"That's weird. What does a normal forest do in a place like this? I don't like it. I think we should proceed cautiously."

Looking at casle's direction this time she continues:

"I think this is the castle Fallenleaf meant before. Do any of you know anything about it?"

[Don Fernando]

For a moment, Jarryd freezes in place when he sees the dark demons flying towards him. Memories of the demon of Pharazia come to his mind. That demon, the encarnation of Diambel's wrath that has killed so many people of his caravan.

Seconds pass and his hatred towards the tyrant grows stronger, and suddenly it all becomes clear. In order to rid his people of Diambel's tyranny he must complete his mission. This gives Jarryd new strength to continue his journey in this crazy place.

Just as fast as the demons appeared, they are obliterated by a bolt of lightning, and Jarryd finds himself once again in company of his friends. Now it's time to finish this journey finding what we all are loking for, he thinks.

[steveflam]

Brethana looks at the others, "Well its the castle or that" she points back at the gargoyles and the lich. She walks onwards towards the castle alert to any sound, Great Sword leading , eyes probing, roaming.

[ewancummins]

Jamethon pauses beside the signpost and looks upwards. ''Thank you, Blessed Lady.'' The ghost of a smile plays across his lips, before his face returns to its more usual somber expression.

He asks young Arlington, ''Master , won't you eat something, or at least have some water? ''