(Seasonal Quest)Signs in the Mist: Ancient Cries Pt. I

[Shai]

Shai moved toward the male voice and stopped abruptly when she realized he’d moved towards her as well. “What I know is limited; the best I can tell you is that there are a great number of them out there. I have not even gotten a glimpse of one though.” She eyed over necessity’s companion. But after only a glimpse to see he wasn’t armed she realized it didn’t matter, all that matter was now she wasn’t alone. “I have been here since before the mist settled on the city. I was waiting for someone but . . . “. She trailed off, some small part of her still hoped Zandelia was on her way but Shai’s inner voice let her know how stupid such trust was. “She is a good friend to have tight situations though; her presence would be a blessing. I think this fog has more tricks in mind than just obscuring vision.” Shai had began her previous statement as an attempt to drown out the sound of the footsteps in mind, because she wasn’t alone anymore they had to be blocked out. But she recognized the truth in what she’d said; did this fog have a will? She’d never encountered a weather pattern that had caused her such fear before, the idea was terrifying. No weapon she possessed could hurt mist.

Shai sighed and turned her back towards the wall, letting herself fall back against it at a lean. “Do you have any information about the situation? Because now you know all I do.” On a normal day Shai would never have played her hand like that, but the reality was if this young man needed her company as much as she needed his he’d spill his information too. If he didn’t her response was easy, she’d already decided to wait it out and if he wasn’t going to play nice she’d just crawl up the roof and weather the storm alone.

Zandelia. . . Are you still out here? She mentally shrugged if she was they could only hope to locate each other, if not there was nothing she could do about it. At least, nothing that could be done without alerting those foots steps in the square.

For brief moment between speaking, Shai froze like a marionette whose puppeteer had dropped her strings. Then she came back to life, twice as alive and active as she had been previously in her interactions with her misty companion. “Did you hear that? It was a voice. Come this way, follow me. Quietly if it is within your skill.” The voice was far beyond comprehension, she had no idea of who or even what gender she was walking towards, only that it had spoke and the muffle had reached their little alley.

Shai ducked around the side of the building, keeping her right hand running along the wall so she didn’t lose her place. She walked quietly, her bare feet dampening the normal sound of walking, and she kept her breathing low against her cloak softening that as well. She had to make a blind walk straight to the next building that set the small hairs on her neck ramrod straight. But as soon as her palms touched the next building she heard a voice again, this time she could identify it was a woman. Maintaining her agonizingly slow but safe pace Shai continued onward one more building and she had a blissful respite when she heard a voice she knew, Tikon. She heard him say her name, did he sound worried? She hoped he was alright still. “Tikon, Tikon it is me.” She rounded the corner and finally felt some of her tension melt, she’d found Tikon there weren't many men of his build running around and if she judged right the female silhouette beside him would be Zandelia, Shai would definitely bet Bob’s money on it. “There is someone with me, do not be alarmed.”

[Bob Barton]

...ARRGH!" Right behind him was a ghost. A feeling that he never liked experiencing as the cold tried to overtake him again. Bob absolutely hated ghosts. They were in the list along with Darik and ziths too. When he was a child a ghost nearly killed him and a friend after a little trespassing. Yes, ghosts were actually boring old souls that did not know what fun meant. That could actually be the reason that the doorway had a barrier? Not again "no, we are not trespassing and I really don't want to know what is about to happen to me!" he quickly replied like a rehearsed excuse in case he ever got on a ghost's bad side again.

After being terrified a little, Bob looked to the right where the waspish sound came from. She was exactly the kind of woman Bob would try and make advances on if not for the fact that she only had half a body, no pulse, no life, no...anger? Ghosts were not normally this nice were they? She even stopped the mob with her unholy power which only made Bob stammer out "T-Thanks. If you don't want us here, I can take my leave" before she used her powers on him.

But it looked like she wanted Bob to stick around if he was still out here when she returned. How long would that be and how long before the mob attacked again? Bob actually had a lot of questions like what the ghost meant by the trouble he has been causing, whats about to happen and what was she watching but he was only able to say "Talking is good if..." talking is all she had planned before she vanished. Bob would have taken this opportunity to run now but his curiosity got the better of his fear.

Darik on the other hand was probably jealous all over not that Bob would blame the ghost. If he had the choice he won't be associating himself with this trash either. Trash which might get them killed is he didn't "shut up! You don't want her to let the mob attack us after hearing that do you?" he hissed at the boy softly but that only made the boy braver since he was reminded of the opportunities provided by the frozen mob outside.

Bob looked at the frozen figures that Darik pointed to and he had "no idea" still talking in a soft voice so that he won't interrupt the people inside. But as long as he was not near them there was going to be less of a chance of them getting him. "You can try Darik..." then at least there will be one less trouble in his life and added with a grin that "...I don't think the bond of safety extends to you." Finally the boy knew that Bob was a lot more awesome than he was.

The jesting was cut short when Darik suggested that Bob did something for the bond which made him impure. It brought back his scary childhood memories of a ghost trying to cut him up. It could have been some weird ritual which made him impure for all he knew. Darik should not have brought that up and he would know it when Bob's face darkened and his tone got a lot more aggressive. Hard to take seriously since he was still whispering "just shut up Darik, or I will shut you up!" if not for the act of raising the whip for Darik since his other targets do not look like they are going to attack. Darik by now should know that the whip can hurt and Bob was not afraid to use it on a boy.

[Eridanus]

Eridanus acknowledged Zenai's reply and nodded, about to reply when he heard the scuffling of a typical mob. Either a celebrity was in the area, or a bunch of people really wanted someone dead. He raised his hand to show that he had not drawn his blade as well, and then put a finger to his lips as he inched forward towards the direction of the noise, straining to see through the darned fog. An interesting thing about mist, is that it's a pretty awesome thing to hide in, but not too great when you're actually trying to see. Now that he was still in the building it was only partially blur for the mist have yet to fully creep in, but outside it was like, well, frolicking in the clouds. He wondered if that was how it was like when one is in a bar with a couple of other heavy smokers. As he glanced out, he noticed two figures a couple of blocks away running, then stopping at a spot. It looked like they want to proceed but somehow they stopped. One of them was gesturing and it seemed that they were having a discussion or argument. Suddenly, the fog shifted and partially covered the two men. However that meant that the fog behind them thinned a little and he saw a mob of unruly citizenry, probably out of a piece of two of the figures. Either that or they were having a group job in the damned mist. At a time when they should probably asleep. Eridanus shrugged, and began to motion for his fellow adventurer to check out the scene, for his friend might be amidst the crowd. Or he could even be one of the two figures. He stopped halfway though, when he realized after a while that while he had been assuming that the crowd were chasing someone, they actually weren't moving. It was like some pantomime act, they were all in various frames of movement, but all were frozen and they looked like they were unaware. It was as if time stopped... for them. Now this was most definitely mysterious.

[Archelon]

Story Interlude @ Shai, Tikon, etc (whomever they were with) At the symenestra's call out for Tikon her voice was oddly mirrored in the air as a drivulte of mist swirled in front of her eyes, forming the vague semblance of a face with all black eyes, it was joined by several hazy incorporeal figures swirling in the midst as first one, then two, then three and more different voices begant to echo her words ins soft mocking tones. Speaking in a set of whispers that would rise to become something similar to the dull hum of a hornet's nest. "Don't be alarmed." "Don't be alarmed." "Don't be alarmed." "Don't be alarmed." "Don't be alarmed." "Don't be alarmed." "Don't be alarmed." "Don't be alarmed- Be afraid." Suddenly the voices died to nothing but chittering voices, leaving the ones around the symenestra as quickly as the came. Were the part to look up into the mist above them, they would see a large shifting form of shadows flitting above their heads, a shadow made from the many masses of souls that walked this night. A harrowing thunder-like sound emanated from the formless cloud, before the darkened figures separated to all directions. Shrill Banshee like screams of their passage would force the people on the streets to cover their ears at their passage... as they vanished towards the four corners of the city. oocStart marking off your groups in your posts people, they will be important ^-^.

[Lyth]

Lyth felt a frown touch his lips as the woman told him all that she knew of the mob that walked the mists. She knew just as little, if not less, than he did himself. While the lack of information about their situation was worrisome, the halfling was equally as glad to know that the woman didn't want to face this mist alone either. She wouldn't just abandon him in the endless white. And she spoke of a friend, and although that meant more females around (why did he always end up stuck with the women?) it also meant he was less likely to be attacked from behind. Lyth ran a hand through his hair, fixing amethyst eyes on his companion. "I know little more than you do, though I have seen the mob." His gaze dropped, remembering the people he had seen moments before. "They weren't themselves. All walking with a singular purpose, in sync with each other. It was....very strange." That was putting it mildly. It was completely wrong for a group of people to be so focused on one goal. There should have been some chattering among them at least, but he had heard no voices. Their silence was what worried him most. He paused, and his companion brought his attention to a distant sound. Falling silent, Lyth tried to hear what she had, a voice in the distance. Someone who they could go to. Being motioned to move, the halfling kept his eyes fixed on the black silhouette of the woman in front of him, afraid that if he took his eyes off of her, the mist would swallow her figure, and he'd be left blind. His footsteps fell silent in time with hers as they made their way through what he assumed to be open field. Itcouldn't have taken longer than a minute or two, but to Lyth, being out in the open and exposed, it seemed eternity before they reached the next building. The half-blood let the woman round the corner first, calling out to her friend. They'd be more welcoming to him if her familiar presence eased them first. Stepping around the corner, Lyth could make out three people, the nearest being his guid. It gave him slight relief that she announced his arrival to her companions, but the way her voice began to echo soon dashed that away. It wasn't her voice, but her words, spoken by many different voices that seemed to swirl around them. "Don't be alarmed. Don't be alarmed." Repeated over and over and over, until the words began to conjoin and hum in their repetition. "Be afraid." Lyth jumped, flattening himself against the wall. That last voice had seemed so close... The words had died down to mindless chatter that seemed to be coming from above the small group, drawing his attention up. He felt that cold grip of fear squeeze around his heart, watching that writhing, shadowy mass squirm above their heads, like a strange cloud. And with a sound like thunder, it broke apart, dark figures screaming into the mist as they dispersed. There was silence once again as the screams were swallowed by the mist, leaving the group alone again. "...What in the hell was that..?"

[Zenai]

Now, he definitely heard Bob. He was somewhere nearby but still, not sure where exactly. However, it seems that the Ethaefal has found the source of the sounds and call for Zenai to hush. Zenai didn't argue as he knows well enough that are people in this city that would do harm to both of them and Zenai intends to avoid that by keeping quiet. Zenai was glad that Eridanus drew back his hands away from his swords. New friend. A new friend. A new ally. This just gets better and better. He was about to doubt his time in Sunberth but his situation is improving with each day and Zenai has taken every opportunity to better his position.

Both of them got out of the abandoned building. It was getting creepy and dangerous in there. They peer out at Stumble Alley. This place was a bit notorious. Maybe “a bit” was not the right word for it and too conservative. It was very notorious, very dangerous and very mysterious. Probably the worst place to be unless you tick off any of the Big Three and you were in any of their territory. Still, it’s pretty dangerous and both had to be careful on where they tread less they attract something unwholesome and would want to eat them; body and/or soul.

There. He heard it again. Bob. He better get to him as soon as possible. Not telling what you happen to Bob while in such a dangerous place. He followed the source of the sound but he then remembered his new friend who’s still at the abandoned building. Zenai smiled. “Come on. Too dangerous to be about here. Better seek safety in numbers. Like I said, I have friends around here and I want to meet up with them.” The Ethaefal thought for a while as if pondering whether or not Zenai was leading him to a trap. Zenai sighed. “Either you die to an unknown danger or survive to a known danger. I have no intention of harming you and I’m inviting you out of courtesy and goodness.” The Ethaefal pondered again and nodded. “Fine but do know the consequences of deceiving me.” Zenai responded with a shrug. “As if I don’t know. Now, come on; the longer we’re out in the open and this petching fog, the more likely we’re going to be into trouble.” Eridanus simply nodded and followed Zenai’s lead. The thing is where is Zenai leading Eridanus to?

Zenai just followed his gut instinct which is half-right or half-wrong half of the time. However, it seems his gut came through and they came to a very peculiar building. He found Bob and some sort of boy. “Bob, you petch. So you were really here!” Bob turned and there was some relief on his facial expression. Then he turned to Eridanus with an accusing look in his eye. Zenai caught this and immediately introduced the pair. “Bob, this is my new friend, Eridanus. Eridanus, this is my old friend, Bob. Bob, Eridanus. Eridanus, Bob. Friends? Excellent. Let’s get out of here.”

oocGo, Go Team Bob-Darik-Zen-Eridanus!

[Tikon]

Team Survivors: Tikon, Shai, Zandelia and Lyth

He swore he was being watched, he knew it. Just like he had voiced to Zandelia he felt as if he was being watched from beyond the fog. Like anther realm entirely, the feeling was eerie to say the least and made him very uncomfortable. He had never felt this uneasy before. It was like…the fog was watching him. No…that wasn’t possible was it? No….that wasn’t possible. Fog wasn’t alive, it couldn’t be. He had never heard of fog speaking, eating, or breathing so as far as he knew fog wasn’t alive. It couldn’t be…but this fog felt different he did acknowledge that fact. It was like…he couldn’t place a finger on it but it felt odd…Like it was here but not here. But he could see it! Almost like it didn’t belong here at all. Maybe his head was running in circles again…Yes that had to be it his mind was playing tricks on him making him hear and think things that weren’t real at all.

He shook his head fighting off the cold that seemed to surround them. He had never felt a cold like this. I was something different reinforcing his ideas that something about this fog was wrong. Maybe it wasn’t just a fog? That was possible but unlikely. When could fog be more than just fog? That didn’t make sense. No, this was fog…just a thick fog. And the night just happened to be cold…but when did fog settle into a city like this? So thick…and what about all the odd people around…Maybe they were just acting odd for no reason. Maybe it was some cult thing based around this fog? Man he was really stretching for reasoning here. He needed to make some kind of sense out of this…why he felt like he was being watched for some reason.

It was about then that time that voices, actual voices started to seemingly echo in the fog. He didn’t pay attention to the fact that one sounded familiar when he was berated with several all at once. His reaction was that of a cornered animal ready for a fight. He drew his bastard sword and held it in both hands as he waited for something to leap out of the shadows at him. Figures were formed and it was clear that this entire time there was indeed a reason he felt watched. He wasn’t just insane something had been watching him. He was all alarmed…completely weapon drawn and his footing sturdy, ready for anything to come out of the shadows at him. He would slay it, or die standing like an Isur should. But fear? Did he feel fear?

Maybe he just had a presence of mind for a fight, but he felt no real fear. No instead he was waiting for something to come out and show itself so he could slay it and stop this madness. A thunder sounded and shrill screams were issued. He cringed his ears now ringing because he wouldn’t drop his weapon and be caught without a defense if the beast was to kill him here. If it was to kill him here it would have to try harder than that. Yes he wouldn’t go down easy at all. That was when he saw Shai…he was still uneasy about this entire thing and she could tell he was ready for a fight.

He took several deep breaths and then released one hand from the weapon and looked about one last time to make sure nothing was there. No it was just him, Zandelia, Shai, and someone else who he assumed Shai brought with her…if not well….

He didn’t know what to say to Shai as he breathed a little more composing himself from the previous event. “Whatever that was…I don’t know what to say but we need to get off the street.” He said keeping his sword in his hands in case anything else happened.

[Shai]

Team Survivors: Tikon, Shai, Zandelia and Lyth

Be afraid may be the most redundant phrase Shai had ever heard. As the face began to appear in front of her the Symenestra froze, why did it have to be ghosts? Her eyes widened and her pupils dilated, making her eyes seem even less human than they naturally did. As soon as the voices began Shai stood dumbstruck eyes locked on the black gaze before her. It wasn’t until the final phrase ‘Be Afraid’ was uttered that Shai broke from her fear induced trance. The delay was actually beneficial in this case because it kept her from screaming and alerting gods know what else to their location. Slowly sliding back against the wall and into a wide legged crouch, she scanned the area trying to figure out what came next. Her eyes reached for the sky just in time for the deafening crack followed by the tormented wails of the black specters as they speed off into the mist.

Shai heard her companions speak but her mind simply didn’t process whatever message they’d been meaning to relay. It was a bad day for the little spider. With precise careful movements she returned to a more relaxed standing position, her body language said this was nothing to worry about. It was a nice facade except that her eyes still wild like a spooked animal. When she finally spoke again it was breathy and low “I can carry Zandelia to the roof but not you Tikon. That is better than down here if you can climb?” She’d forgone any semblance of niceties for pure necessity and right now necessity dictated that survival be her only concern. Such niceties in thsi case included facial expression and even looking at who she addressed.

The only other place she could consider ‘safe’ right now was inside a building, but then they’d be blind to the events outside. But if worse came to worse Shai had her tools with her, she could break into a building and they could take up temporary residence.

[Bob Barton]

Team [B]ob, [E]ridanus, [D]arik, [Z]enai

Bob was already pretty jumpy from the pretty ghost earlier and having to put up with Darik's stupidity did not help things at all. He just wanted to hit Darik with the whip already. The boy really needed a good lesson right now. He was not afraid of pissing any-body off, whether or not they had a body to begin with. That made him really stupid because if someone can survive without a body, they would have some powers on them and those powers can and will hurt if they decide to use it. Like on people who dared to call them a bitch or those associated with them. Antar should have just punished Darik more instead of letting him off easily from the last time. That man might be scary but he really knew how to handle people in his own special violent way.

Until today he still did not understand the extent of the powers of ghosts. They can get into bodies so they might even be able to get into the mind. So when Bob heard his name being mentioned from behind him, he thought that the ghost or her servants had already acted indiscriminately even if Darik was the insulting one. The voice came from the general direction of the door so it must have been the people from the mob so the whip should be effective. Bob flicked his arm towards the door like he was preparing for earlier, extending the whip over to whoever was at the other end of it. Even if it did not hit it will provide a good distraction for what should come next.

Once he felt the whip connecting with something solid, Bob dropped the whip and held on to his cane as he spun to face his opponent. Halfway drawing the sword he saw the face of "Zen, you petch! What are you doing here?" replying to the statement with a question of his own. There was no trace of curiosity in it, only relief that a trusted childhood friend who could kick ass had arrived. Bob looked at Zen's companion who was pretty out of place for Sunberth as all those beautifulish ethaefal are. "Very nice Zen, do you always bring any weak defenseless victim you see? You are not in Syliras anymore!" and Bob did not need another person for Zenai to protect. Darik was already more than enough as an extra deadweight. Zenai he knew would try to protect everyone despite any protests and attempts to dissuade him.

Or actually...Zenai's friend could be a lot more useful. Looking past his long hair and lithe frame, Bob eye's spied on the hilt of his sword and boyyyyyy it was long. No one would be able to handle a sword like that without much skill. "I mean...it was good that you brought along reinforcement's Zen. Nice to meet you Eridanus" he said with a smile and outstretched hand trying to salvage this situation. Bob had to introduce someone too... "friends," or at least that was what Zenai admitted, "this fool here is Darik" showing his arm at the boy adding "not your friend if you know what is good for you. He is as worse a troublemaker than back when I was in Syliras. You remember that don't you Zen?" The less efforts they had to waste on Darik the more protection Bob might get so he hoped that Zenai would be able to pick up the hint and convince his friend as well.

Unfortunately they "can't leave just yet because I got a date Zen, which is why Darik is practically steaming right now." It was probably not the best reason to tell them to stay which was why after a few moments of being able to look like an awesome chick magnet to get a date in this chaos and seeing Eridanus and Zenai's possibly amusing reactions, he would continue on to explain that "she might actually tell us what is going on because she was responsible for...that..." gesturing over at the still frozen mob outside.

[Zenai]

OOCTeam BEDZ: Bob, Eridanus, Darik and Zenai.

“Well, petch you too, Bob! Shyke, you’re a mighty jumpy one.” Zenai recoiled from Bob’s whipping and drawing of his cane-sword. Zenai leaned against the wall while he rubbed his bruise on his legs where Bob “accidentally” whipped him. Could he blame Bob? Probably. He was spooked for some reason. In Zenai’s view, there’s little that would scare Bob. You would need something otherworldly to frightened or threaten him. Zenai had his own way to deal with Bob which is pretty much tagging along and made sure he doesn’t die. Whatever he did “wrong”, Zenai would just act sarcastically. If he can’t reform Bob, he may as well be satirical about it.

“As to what I’m doing here, I’m pretty sure you came knocking at my door. You made a racket so loud out here that I had to come out and shut your lips.” Zenai had replied with a scorn look on his face. Once again, Bob dragged him out to one of his ventures again. You can be sure Bob was and is always the source of all trouble. Zenai wouldn’t be surprised if Bob lit the entire city on fire. “Also, what date? You finally got found another midget as your soul-mate? If not, I may get you a stool as your wedding present.” Again, one of Bob’s ventures that could go wrong so fast.

Other than that, was he doing with that young boy? Wait, don’t tell me that Bob actually got a slave. Wonderful… Zenai had a thing against slavery but this was Sunberth. If there’s one thing this city hates, it is a vigilante and there’s already a few of those. And what does Bob have against Eridanus? Yes, Zenai may pick up one or two strangers along the way. Yes, he likes to help them. Yes, he may as well petched himself. Zenai has to learn to be a lot more selfish and pragmatic. Anyway, Eridanus looks like the can look after himself especially with those long swords of his. The more blades, the more likely they would survive this and strangle Bob.

“Wait…” Zenai paused at Bob’s last statement and looked at where Bob was pointing which was what it seem to be statues. How could he miss those on the way in? Zenai squinted, trying to look through the fog. They look very odd for a reason and after looking at them for a while, Zenai’s face had gone pale. Those weren’t statues but people! This is way more than what Zenai had expected from Bob. He knew Bob has some special abilities and “friends” but that’s more than what Zenai could handle. “Bob, what have you done this time and who are you associating with?”