Closed The Bone Warband

[Vypec]

57th of Spring, 516 A.V. Streets of Riverfall The night was warm. The rain had made everything damp, and now it was drying and becoming humid In the air around him. Vypec walked his lot with his hand resting gently on the pommel of his gladius. He was alone, having opted for the night shift here since his squad leader had requested it of the squad and he was the most junior member. They seemed a deadly bunch, his new team members. Vypec hoped to someday soon be able to contend with their silent efficiency. There was little movement on the streets of Riverfall tonight. the rains that day had kept move indoors and their homebody moods had apparently carried over into he night. Vypec had no trouble seeing in the shadows as he walked the alleyways and streets, the moon hidden behind grey clouds. The shadows whispered to him occasionally, promises of enticing secrets. If all the shadows were believed, the darkness of Riverfall held the answer to every question in the world, for the cheap price of all one's own secrets. Convenient, Vypec thought ruefully. The Akalak no longer always patrolled with a partner. Tonight was one of his solo nights. Well, almost solo. I'm glad I mean that much to you brother. Vypal said. He was oddly happy tonight. Perhaps it was the complete lack of other people, or the generally macabre weather, but Vypal was almost pleasant. Vypec grinned into the darkness. Oh I'm always glad to have you, beloved brother! The dark brother surged to the surface then. His emotional strength enough to displace Vypec into the submission of his mind. Well, well. What to do now that we have the whole night to ourselves eh? Vypal said, a sly grin spreading across his face. He sighed deeply, enjoying the fresh air. It always felt clean after a rain, as though the city had been purified. Vypal strolled along with the light and assured step that only a Night Stalker could walk with on such a night. He pulled the hood up over their purple head and contemplated his options. Of course he must continue the patrol, they were about to walk past the front gate and something would be seen as amiss if they didn't make at least that appearance. But after that he would find a more interesting route to patrol, instead of the one his light brother had laid out. At the gate the two Kuvay'Nas were as attentive as could be expected. They were glad to see him. Company was a welcome distraction for a night time sentinel, doubly so for one that did not move. Vypal knew this, and though he disdained talking to most, he could not find an espace from the conversation. Eventuslly the guards at the gate knew he had to be on his way and Vypal was able to make his escape. The Akalak was nearly a minute away when he heard a muffled cry. It had clearly come from back the way he had come. It had come from the gates. Vypal, though not as zealous about good and righteousness as his insufferable brother, did take his oaths seriously. He turned on the spot and let the gladius slide from its sheath. Vypec would have said this move might be a bit rash, by Vypal prides himself on his difference in every way from Vypec. He broke into a jog heading back the way he had come. Before he reached the gate, however, he came across a dark contingent of riders. They rode in a loose group of about a dozen or so. And they rode mounts of blackened bone. Their bodies too, were foul corpses. Vypal saw that these riders were backing the two Akalak from the gate against a wall. Vypal charged in with gladius raised. His blade San as he swung it through the air at the side of the nearest rider. The skeletal enemy slid it's spear in the way of his blade and he felt it grind against the old wood. The Akalak looked up into the sunken, sightless gaze of a blackened skull. He caught sight of a pattern of subtle, blackened markings scrolled across the skeletal warrior's bone my face. Magic of some kind. Vypal was not versed in the subject, but he knew it had to be. He had no time to ponder the glyphs that ran across the enemy's bodies because the spear was heading for his throat. Vypal snarled and batted it aside, lunged forward. He ran his blade across the forearm of the skeleton, grinding the edge against his radius. The edge did nothing to the skeleton. Vypal stated as the skeleton reached down and grabbed him by the collar and raised him up. Choking and sputtering Vypal swung his gladius at the thing's head. He made contact and the skull was sent spinning on the spinal cord. The undead horse reared and Vypal was thrown back. He landed hard in the road, but did not relinquish his grip on the gladius.

[Vai]

The clopping of a horse's hooves and snorts sounded dully through the night air as Kuvi walked, no real direction coming from him or his rider this particular night, just like most days. Vai re Ahnatep's low-hands were at his hips, both of his mid-hands holding lightly yet firmly to the reins while his high-hands were crossed over his chest. He was of course bare-chested this night, the humid air feeling quite good to him. He wore the light blue trousers that he'd recently bought, which were quite baggy and loose and not clingy like many of the non-Eypharians tended to wear.

He adjusted the weapon harness strapped to his torso, making sure it was not digging into Kuvi's hip or otherwise. The six-armed being started to hum into the night, glancing around once more before finally deciding to retreat back home for the night. He was guiding Kuvi into a wide turn until he heard a muffled cry pierce the otherwise quiet night, his eyebrow arching slightly. It seemed to come from the direction of the Gates, where there should be guards posted all month. His lower-right hand reached back and gripped the shaft of his spear, pushing it up as his high-left pulled it out. He swung the ten-foot shaft around so that both of his high-hands were holding onto the weapon.

He urged Kuvi into a light trot towards the direction, a frown slightly apparent on his handsome face as they went. As they neared, Vai suddenly heard a snarl and the sound of a weapon hitting another, and the Eypharian immediately knew it was a real battle. He swiftly dismounted Kuvi, pulling him into the shadows before jogging to the scene, all of his higher and mid-hands holding onto the longspear.

Vai re Ahnatep came into the battle right as the Akalak fell to the ground under the rearing horse, though something seemed amiss about the creature. Vai peered at it, and panic flashed through his mind as he realized it was only a skeleton, with an equally skeletal rider astride it.

Acting quickly and forgoing a cry of help - which was the smart thing to do - Vai ran up the rearing horse, until he was in range. His mid-hands gripped the longspear tightly before he swung it powerfully with a grunt, slamming into the skeletal creature's hind legs, pulling a scream from the horse as it's legs gave out under the blow and it fell incredibly hard.

The rider got up, seemingly unhurt from the fall and holding a spear as well. Vai backed away, his face expressionless as the rider advanced. Well, maybe he should have called for help?

[Kiva]

*
*
*
57th of Spring, 516 A.V
Streets of Riverfall, Gates

The wind was cool, but tolerable. Much more forgiving than the winter had been, but the Myrian still bundled herself in her coat and loose pants. Her sandalled feet pattered softly as she ran through the deep shadows of the city, the flickering of torches and illuminated windows lighting her way. Everything was quiet, with the heavy rush of her own breathing pushing through her lungs. Her long legs stretched outward and pushed her forward, the muscles warm and straining as they ran down the street. A midnight jog, to keep her fit and alert. But Kiva was no fool. Not once since the season past did she enter the streets without her weapon, not trusting of the Akalaks or their lingering eyes. Too many unsettling things happened in the white city washed in blue men. People fell in love against their will, unexplained knocks on doors, and the uneasiness of the residents. Something was happening, and as she ran, she sought out something she couldn't explain. A longing.. An pestering at the back of her mind.

Kiva needed something.

As she turned a corner and began jogging up a long street, she slowed to catch her breath and refocus her thoughts. The need clawed at the back of her mind, like an insatiable itch. "Stop it," she breathed, wiping sweat from her brow. " Focus on the run."

Her mind cleared, and tried to meditate, keeping her legs moving as she jogged in place, her feet heavy until they finally stopped. She paced, dissatisfied, and her dark eyes continued to search the alleys, looking for someone... Something.

Misery.

She needed to feel it. She wanted it. The need washed over her like a crashing wave bringing her under. The Myrian tried to resist it, but the word was whispered in her mind, and the memory of her parents followed after. Spring was the season they had died, and she remembered hearing the news. She recalled the feeling, reveled in it until her memories hampered her mood, her breathing caught in her own throat. But... it wasn't enough.

"Your goddess is not here," she lied to herself, "Myri wants you to suffer. You do not deserve a clan. You are weak. You are a disgrace. You will never find love. You will never bear children. You will die dishonorably. Myri will not take you in death, and the gods will abandon you. You are a savage."

She stood alone, chanting to herself, her mind whirling with the temptation to go to admit her crimes, beg for Nakivak status so that she will suffer. Let a blue man mount her so that she may feel the shame of carrying a tainted child.

The image of a baby sparked the thought of it dying in labor, her own death only briefly flickering in her mind. Yes... That would satisfy this need. The addiction of misery. Smirking to herself, she looked around. Where was she? The buildings looked familiar, and in the distance she noticed the gates. She knew this place. Turning to leave and find what she was looking for, her training was forgotten. Her footsteps now moved briskly, the excitement, the thrill of satisfying this craving pushing her forward. The regret, the fear, her conscious begging for her to stop this self sabotage was muffled. She needed to feel the sorrows of all, herself included. Nearly out of eyeshot of the gates, the timing of events was nigh perfect. The clashing of weapons and the scraping of bones caught her attention. She turned slowly, reluctantly, blinking at what she saw.

A flash of a Riverfall warrior, and the obvious enemy. Undead and made of bones, it fought ferociously, and Kiva began sprinting towards the scene. Not so much interested in the Akalak, the Myrian watched with wide eyed fascination. Fear gripped her stomach, but where there was death, there was usually sadness.

This creature was undead, with no flesh. No... soul. But yet it moved, and fought, and functioned. A terrifying enemy, indeed. Numerous undead horses and their riders were arriving.

'Magic' she instantly thought, unsheathing her kris. 'Is this the work of a maledictor?' Markings on bone... It made sense, but she was so ill versed in other arcane subjects, she could not be sure. The akalak who had been fighting was knocked back, clutching the gladius in his hand. Kiva gave a long, soulful whistle that pierced the air, pointing her blade at the one of the creatures as the battle progressed.

"What are you?" she commanded in Myrian, ignoring the fear that stirred in her chest. She expected no answer, "I will drink your marrow, and your ribs shall make a nice headdress. Let us dance."

And then she charged, fully aware that there were good reasons Myrians tended to pass before reaching old age. One rider in particular was dismounted, an easier target, she realized, and it advanced on a humanoid figure. Swinging her blade while the skeleton was distracted, she sliced through its torso hastily, the jarring of bone against blade causing her to grit her teeth before she let go and sent a kick towards the creature.

Blades were foolish when there was no flesh. She needed something to shatter the beings.

★★★

[Kavala]

The Konti was exhausted. There was no other way to describe her condition. It was foaling season at The Sanctuary and that meant everything from horses to cows to goats were foaling, calving and kidding. Then there were the calls to town. Kavala was called to town repeatedly for this emergency and that emergency and they never seemed to stop.

Today it was two births, one a sort of dog she'd never seen before, and another for a rather large bird that was eggbound. Kavala had dealt with both emergencies and was finally on her way home after no sleep for two nights running. The Healer had two more horses she thought were going to foal out tonight, but Cadra was on watch and would send her twin brother Larik to fetch the Konti if either mare looked to be going into labor and especially having trouble. Kavala hoped none of that was on the docket for tonight. She instead wanted a good hot meal, a long bath, and some much needed rest.

Everything else could wait. Or so she thought.

When the Konti crossed a street and headed in the direction of the stables where she'd left her transportation to and from The Sanctuary, the sounds of a battle were already underway. Kavala, dressed in leathers as usual, and sporting not only her medial kit but her double bladed longsword advanced. She came alive at the noises of swords on bone and sword on sword and when she came within sight of the main gate near where the bridge was, Kavala froze.

Skeletons? Was she seeing this correctly? They were mounted on equally skeletal horses and three figures she recognized were already engaged. The Konti pulled the double bladed longsword from her back and unsheathed both ends, looping the protective cover through her belt before she got a firm grip on her weapon and advanced.

Kavala arrived in time to see Vypec go down, but seemingly not hurt, and Vai to take one of the skeletal warriors off his mount. Kiva charged in and the Konti shook her head, clearing the cobwebs and the exhaustion away. She needed clear thinking to fight. And with the weapon she had in hand and the incredible reach it gave her, she thought her best course of action was to begin disabling mounts and taking out their riders if possible.

The Konti headed with a light jog to the nearest group still mounted and tried to change that, swinging the double bladed longsword in a double arc, trying to hamstring the nearest mount to her. The warrior backed the horse, who reared, which gave Kavala the perfect opportunity to bring the blade forward and slice its razor sharp edges through the pawing forelegs severing off the bones. The horse came down having no legs to return to and dumped its rider as it fell forwards and over expecting to land on leg bones that were no longer there.

As its rider went tumbling, Kavala advanced and sliced her blade through the axis and atlas vertebrae severing the creatures head. Her weapon made a huge serious of sparks on the cobble as it slammed down causing the Konti to curse at the abuse she was giving her weapon. She pulled it back, reversed the course of her weapon and took a defensive stance as the warrior she had just unhorsed turned to face her.

The Skeletal horse stopped fighting and lay as if it actually were dead.

Its rider had risen, turned, and had reclaimed its weapon. He or she advanced menacingly towards the Konti and Kavala raised her weapon to defend.

[Vypec]

Vypal felt a rush of relief. He had stumbled backwards in an attempt to avoid the bony, deadly hooves of the undead warsteed. Almost as he fell, an Eypharian came roaring into the fray, felling the skeletal horse and sending the rider tumbling. The Eypharian wielded a huge, cumbersome spear with a quickness only a warrior with six arms could achieve. Vypal looked on appreciatively as he struggled to his feet, keeping the sword between the rider and himself. As he raised his weapon for a strike someone else appeared, a human woman, and engaged the rider. She was fighting furiously, with a savagery that surprised Vypal. It was not often that one saw a woman in Riverfall who so embraced their warrior side. But Vypal could not contemplate the luck with which fate sent him rescuers. The mass of skeletal riders were closing in on the two Kuvay'Nas from the gate. They were being pushed back against a stone wall of a nearby house. Vypal lunged forward, swinging low with his gladius, severing the rear leg of the closest beast. He ran on, the thing toppling behind him and the rider being sent slamming onto the cobbles. He had to get to the two guards and they would be able to form some sort of defense. It was then that he noticed Kavala. The Konti was in the fray, having dismounted. She swung her exotic weapon with practiced efficiency, sparks flying on impact. Vypal was glad to see her. She was a good fighter and gods knew they needed a few extra hands here. The shadows of the street partially enshrouded the combat as Kuvay'Nas, citizens, and the dreaded undead tried to kill each other. Vypal slashed his way to the two guards eventually. He didn't think he had killed any of the skeletons yet, but he had pulled a few from their mounts. They were pressing in and Vypal attacked with a savagery his brother rarely showed. He fought with more raw instinct to survive than Vypec, who relied on practiced style. Vypal squared up against the nearest skeletal warrior, who had lost his horse. It was an eerie sensation, facing such an apathetic enemy. The blackened skull showed no intent, no emotion, no weakness. It was utterly silent, save for the subtle sounds of bones grinding against bones. No wonder the black riders had caught the gate sentinels off guard. The gaunt, half shadowed face stared darkly at Vypal as it hefted the longsword in it's hands. Vypal saw the gleaming of black ink, subtle against the ashy blackness of the skull. Designs scribed across the prominent forehead closed in on a spiraling center. Akalak and gladius met skeleton and longsword in an overhead clash of strikes. Vypal was brought in close to the skeleton as he tried to force his blade down onto the thing. The bone warrior was surprisingly strong, holding back the Akalak's force with his own. Vypal hissed as reached up and wrapped his fingers around the thing's face. This would have been a decent move if he had been facing a living opponent, but this skeleton seemed to need his face less than he needed the missing heart or eyes. The thing just kept pressing on him. The Akalak kicked at the thing's legs, sending it tumbling down. He spun around the skeleton, his hand still clutching its face, and let the longsword swipe down to the ground where he had been standing a moment earlier. Vypal snarled in victory as he slid his blade between the vertebrae in the skeleton's neck, freeing the skull from the body. As he turned to face the next enemy, his hand still clutched the skull in a vice grip. He rushed in to help the Kuvay'Nas. The two had almost been surrounded, fighting more and more desperately as riders grew closer. They had managed to partiall dismember two of the riders. Their victims now crawled towards the Eypharian on stumped legs, clutching their weapons above them. As Vypal moved to intercept the nearest of those accosting the Kuvay'Nas he watched the tip of it's longsword embed itself in the shin of the nearest guardsman. The Akalak let out a deep moan of pain and fell to one knee, swatting at the skeleton with his blade. "To me! Form a line here!" Vypal shouted desperately into the night. They needed to regroup as one or they would all fall. He fell in beside the wounded Kuvay'Nas and tried to discern the situation with the others. But as the Akalak looked around his eyes fell on the street beyond the fighting briefly. With his blessed vision he could see through the shadows of the street, and what he saw sent a shiver down his spine. There, silhouetted against the dark shadow of the Gideon Arena, a figure watched them. Even Vypal, with his unnaturally good vision, could not make out the details of the figure, but he felt an uneasiness he could not explain. But he was pulled back to the situation at hand by an incoming blade. "To me!" He shouted again as he parried.

[Kiva]

*
*
*

With all her might, Kiva swung her blade. The terrible sound of metal scraping along hardened bone reverberated through the air, and the skeleton figure flung sideways. Caught off balance, the enemy wobbled and caught itself on the hard street, rising from its knees to turn empty sockets in her direction. While the monster had no eyes, Kiva could feel it watching her, and with a steady pace it began to rise to its feet and advance.

"Evil thing," Kiva muttered, taking a shaky step back. The battle continued around her, and she was faintly aware of the familiar woman charging into battle herself, or the Akalak, or even the man the skeleton had been engaging before. Kiva hastily readjusted her grip on her kris and tried to locate a weak spot in the skeleton's form. Her blade had scrapped and scarred bone, but nothing broke.

She swung again, to keep it from moving forward and watched as it jumped back in response. This thing wasn't living... there was no way, at least to the Myrian -- but it didn't appear stupid either. It chattered it's jaw in a way she had never heard before and lunged again. It's hand scrapped against her arm, scratching at flesh in a desperate attempt. Kiva swung her blade again, wildly, frustrated and fearful. Swinging her blade once more, when it flinched, Kiva threw her shoulder into the bony silhouette and knocked it backwards.

There was less resistance than she thought, and she stumbled forward, grabbing on to the being's arm. It attempted to pull away, Kiva falling with a firm grip on its humerus. The arm heaved, but gave a pop, no muscle, no tendon holding it still. The Myrian tumbled to the ground with the monster's detached arm clutched in her hand. Kiva threw it from her, shocked and tried to scramble to her feet and retrieve the blade that she had dropped in the fall.

Somewhere around her, Kavala destroyed an enemy. The Akalak shouted an order. The skeleton figure turned to the blue man, and Kiva shot a leg out, launching her foot towards the skeleton's knee. The force broke the leg at the joint and it fell, giving Kiva just the advantage she needed... to get the hell away.

Kiva was no fool. She was no coward either, but she didn't know what she was up against and while the others seemed more content to rush into things and fight, she knew there was something more. Bones did not rise and ride mounts. Magic was a dangerous thing, and not something she wanted to play with. She was ill prepared, and under skilled.

She followed the Akalak's instructions. There was no reluctance. Not here, not now. They had a common enemy on this day. And division would only lead to downfall. Who knew how many more there were? Kiva ran to the Akalak shouting orders, swinging her sword as she went to prevent herself from being overcome. When she reached him, she was winded, eyes darting on a number of events.

"Watch yourself!" she yelled to some of the Kuvay'nas. Making her way to where the man stood, she saw him looking at something. Kiva turned her head, just as a skeleton lunged at her with a spear. The Myrian cursed and thew her weapon up.

It was a madhouse.

★★★

[Kavala]

Kavala rolled her shoulders and gritted her teeth. She'd never seen anything like this and it frankly scared her. Skeletons should be still, and while it was true they felt more brittle than normal healthy bone, the empty sockets and ink scrawled bone caused her to shiver. She had to force her mind away from the horror that came upon them. Riverfall had seen a lot of attacks in the past. The adversaries had been horrific and unusual and mostly bestial. But this was different. These things were hurting people. And they were things that shouldn't exist. Dead was dead, and yet these things broke all Dira's laws.

The Konti was glad for her double bladed longsword. It gave her reach and the ability to come back for a second attack fast. She advanced on the warrior whose horse she'd downed lunged and attacked. Swinging overhand, Kavala brought the blade across its middle and reversed it to bring it back across dislodging its head. Bone fragments exploded, from not only her kill but from the battle raging around her. Riverfall was not without its defenders, both Akalak and other. Kiva was holding her own, seemingly unafraid which Kavala admired in the woman. Vypec was also fighting well among his squad, though he was basically swarmed with the unholy creatures. Kavala fought to clear a path between her and Kiva, and then followed when Kiva began to fight her way to Vypec’s side. He was calling something…. And it took her a while to figure out what.

He was trying to organize them, to form a line, and she nodded immediately at the intelligence of the tactic. Kavala tried to move with Kiva’s grace, but she kept tripping over bones that littered the ground from Vypec, Vypec’s squad, and Kiva’s fighting. There were men down, and Kavala stopped once to heal a wretched elbow from an ill-timed swing. It was easy, ever so easy, she thought, to tell friend from foe in this battle. When the enemy was hit and a limb lost or a head taken, there was no flash of healing compulsion from her Gnosis. But there was when one of their own went down.

A guardsman took one in the shin and his pain fueled Kavala’s compulsion. She was almost to the line that Kiva had already joined when the compulsion hit. Fighting her way closer, the Konti brought her sword around and cleared a swath to the guardsman. It took tactics and every ounce of skill she had with the double-bladed longsword. Another skeletal horse was forced backwards and his forelegs severed off, though without a rider the warhorse was more than willing to go down flailing and kicking. The hind legs of the creature lashed out, much like a wounded horses would, and kicked another guardsman and a skeletal warrior all at the same time. Kavala advanced, severed the creatures head once more by slicing violently between the axis and atlas vertebrae, and then turned back to the wounded guardsman. She set her sword carefully on the ground and reached out carefully placing her hand over the puncture in his shin. Warmth infused the man as Kavala’s dual healing gnosis hit him and sealed the wound. She had to act quick, eyes darting around as she acted as combat medic mid battle.

Even before the guardsman was healed, the Konti was pulling her hand away and taking up her double bladed longsword. The press of bodies was getting too close and the line wasn’t going to hold that Vypec was forming up because there were too many skeletons and not enough fighters. More were joining in by the moment mainly due to the fact that Riverfall was full of warriors. Kavala just didn’t know if it was going to be enough fast enough to rescue the already struggling fighters.

The Konti rose to her full height side by side with the now all but healed guardsman and they turned back to back and began fighting their way to the line Vypec was forming. Kavala desperately wanted to make it. She swung her sword, mindful of the man at her back, and cut down more skeletons in front of her, not killing them exactly. She wasn’t sure if they could technically be killed. But she dismembering them easily with the reach of her weapon. Double arcs up, reverse, back and swing again. It reminded her of a farmer with a scythe mowing down a wheat field.

Turning, she located Vypec, and the angle of the pair adjusted their course so they could intersect the line.