forest of the dread

Dalton briefly turned to Jakku as he made his way out.
"Alright, you go ahead and take care of that. We'll be here. It's not like we have much choice after what happened."
He then looked to Nephilim. He could tell right away that this one was going to be a handful, not just because of his bad habit of killing as many people as he possibly, but because he seemed to have an ego to go along with it. It's even worse when they can actually back up their boasting.
"Let's get one thing out of the way right now; I don't do free. I do loans, trades and all kinds of deals but free has never really been my style. I can get you whatever you need and however much you need of it but at some point, one way or another, you will be paying me back for it."
He took out a cigarette and lit it, letting out a content sigh as he took his first smoke in quite a while.
"Been trying to quit these things but every once in a while...yeah, today's definitely been a smoke kind of day."
He then looked back at Nephilim.
"Second order of business. That little...bloodbath you started in that town, that was pretty impressive. But it can't happen again. I don't care if the people in the next town are walking moneybags that bleed gold and piss silver, you've gotta control yourself or we'll both end up getting executed. As long as you remember those two things, we'll get along just fine."
He offered Nephilim a cigarette and his lighter.
"Consider it a down payment for your services."

 

Jakku looked at the summons scroll * why does the master want to meet me at zangu I bet Aearul is already on my trail she has been looking for an opportunity to get me back after I took that quest to get the silver oak pendant

 

Neph grabbed the cigarette and lighter with gratitude, before saying anything he lit it up and took a drag from it. upon releasing the smoke he looked up at Dalton. Giving a wry smile, as if he was up to no good, He took another drag and then ashed his first quarter. "I'd suppose you're right. However, I my mercenary work wouldn't that qualify as payment; I mean, I am doing what you tell me to, So the price of my own freedom doesn't seem all that bad, In fact my odds of getting out of here quickly aren't that bad. Just roll with you and that other guy for a little while till my debt is paid, then I'm on my way."

Neph bunched up some dirt in his fist, and was ready to make a run for it if need be, hell might even engage in a fight with Dalton if he wanted to have some fun. "When it comes down to it, I didn't really need you and the ice guy to escape that town, I think we both know that; It was easily displayed. Even if it seems I would have never gotten out of the bindings, trust me, Looks are deceiving. I would have found a way out. I suppose you're into being fair, and giving me what I need to roll with you two clowns for a little bit. besides, Having another dumbass ride along isn't all that bad. I could use the company riding the road alone is getting pretty boring."

Nephilim took another drag, and another, until he finally killed it. He stood up and kept the debris in his hand "No matter which way you look at it, Buddy. Ain't nobody here trusting me, and I know I ain't trusting you."

 

Laura perched atop a nearby roofstop when she saw the fugitives stopped running.

Did they see me?

No, it looked liked they stopped to talk. Seemed as though they felt they got away from the guards.
She thought on her options. She could get the jump on them but that would actually require fighting with the High Priest's magic staff. It was still embued with the strange half finished spell he was charging it with.

What are these strange glyphs anyway?

She decided it would be unwise to fight with such an unknown. Instead she carefully crept forward to listen in on their conversation.

 

jakku had sensed a unfamiliar magic presence nearby *hhmm someone is charging a strange spell * jakku looked up to where the strange magic was coming from *

 

Farid's staff started to grow warm and a strange purple light emitted from the black stone at the tip.

Startled by the strange magic Luara "dropped" the staff only to discover it levitated off the rooftop.
Whatever the staff was doing it was reacting on it's own to the fugitives packed below

One of them was looking right at Laura

Not really thinking and acting out of fear of the strange power she yelled out to the people below

"Look out it's out of control!"

As soon as she did a purple ball of lightning formed above the levitating staff, loose strands of it's power zapped the surronding rooftops knocking Luara off.

The last thing she saw was the approaching cobblestone floor

 

thanks to Laura's warning jakku quickly used his wind magic to shield his employer and his acquaintance and barely had enough time to stop her from falling * someone shoot the black stone off the staff

 

Dalton, looking rather unfazed by the rather dangerous situation happening around him, waved his hand dismissively.
"Sounds like your cue, new guy. Let's see some of this power I've heard so much about."
He could have taken care of it himself, but he wanted a small glimpse of what Nephilim was really capable of. Did he rely solely on the vast amount of weapons he carries around or were the rumors about his otherworldly power true? This seemed like as good a time as any to find out for sure.

 

OOT: Sorry it has taken so long to reply, Work has been insanely exhausting, if you don't know where I work I stock shelves at Walmart and that sometimes means I am unloading the truck.

Nephilim smirked over at Dalton. The way he handled the situation was correct, but it seemed though he just dismissed him. So instead of him listening to Dalton flat out he grabbed a hold of him and dragged him by his shirt, It was only obvious that he would break free from his grip but he wanted to make it clear they're equals or he will constantly annoy Dalton.

Walking out of the wind barrier he selected a carefully thought out path towards the staff as the bolts of lightning seemed sporadic there was a pattern to them and he could see where each one would throw before they would escape. Anytime one came close to him he dodged it whether narrowly or way ahead of time. Finally upon reaching the staff. Instead of destroying the black jewel he grabbed a hold of it and removed it from its catalyst. The magic inside of it instantly died the second he touched it, neutralizing its power.

His right hand appeared to be burned, but Neph paid no mind to it, in fact he didn't even feel it. Turning around he walked towards Jakku and Dalton once he got closer to Dalton he threw the jewel in the air and towards Dalton, he didn't say a word instead he expected him to catch.

"that should pay for my gear, Now can we get on with our little venture, Or are you gonna bore me to death before we can even start."

 

Laura was floating

When she opened her eyes the man with the ice enchanted arrows broke her fall. She got to her feet, still shaken that the staff got out of her control

Wait the staff!

Laura turned around and saw just in time that someone took the black stone jewel off the staff rendering the spell impotent. He then casually walked towards the rest of the group.

"That should pay for my gear, Now can we get on with our little venture, Or are you gonna bore me to death before we can even start."

"Wait that stone belongs to me!"
It was a stupid thing to say considering the circumstances. Laura blushed and looked away from their faces.
"I m-mean that the stone belongs to a member of the the high priesthood. There's no telling how much magic it really carries. It would be a waste to treat it like any other jewel..."

----------------------------------------------
Actually she had no idea what the jewel was worth. That stone exhibited powers that no high priest should have been wielding, it seemed far too dangerous then the usual assortment of magic stones that Laura was accustomed to.

What am I doing here? These people are criminals!

Laura slumped into the corner, her street instincts yelling at her to run away. That stone was wrong though, so very wrong. Something like that was not human. The glyphs on the stone were not made by human hands.

It was dark arcane magic.
It was a secret treasure from the forest.

God help me, even now my curiosity get's the best of me.
-----------------------------------------------

"S-so can I have the stone back? I won't attack you, you can even take me prisoner."

 

Jakku laughed * its true that this stone contains power but it isn't worth much * Jakku turn his head towards Dolton* this is what they call a demon eye the name pretty much describes what it is they say the eye is what demons use to focus their magic if you kill a demon you can use the eye for destruction spells like the one we just witness as for the staff well it contain enough magic to cast a minor spell so I wouldn't go handing over to her the source of the staffs power comes from the barer them self it was the priest was the only concern but theirs no need to worry about that now is there* Jakku looked at Laura* as for you I do not speak on the behalf of these men even though you tried to kill us you gave enough warning so that we could live you have my thanks

 

After catching the stone, Dalton inspected it carefully while listening to the others talk.
"Yeah...this might pay for a few pieces of gear, but seeing as how he wants an entire armory with him..."
His thoughts drifted off when he heard the young priestess speak up.

He listened to Jakku's take on the situation before speaking up.
"I hate to break it to you but unlike your church, I'm not in the charity business. Although...I like to think of myself as a fairly reasonable man. I'm sure we can come to some kind of agreement."
He put the jewel away in a leather pouch for safekeeping.
"I'm not interested in taking prisoners but I've always got my eyes out for new recruits. I'm sure you've been trained in the healing arts, right? So here's the deal. You can either buy the stone right here and now-- though I doubt there's a lot of money in your profession-- or you can travel with us and work for it. Think it over, but do it quickly. We have places to be."

He then walked up to Nephilim, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly.
"You're right about one thing. You don't trust me and I don't trust you. That's fine. I don't trust a lot of the people I do business with, I only "trust" that they'll deliver on their end of the bargain. That's all I need from you-- and I'm pretty sure you'll do it, too. Not because you strike me as the trustworthy type, I just think your pride won't let you just walk away when you know you still owe me. Speaking of..."
He raised his eyebrow slightly.
"...Would you happen to know anything about the latest demon attacks? I'll knock a little bit off your tab if you can give me some good info."

 

"I understand I won't cause you any problems"
Maybe I'll take the stone when their guard is down. Well at least it doesn't look like they think much of me, that's a relief.

The demon of the forest... maybe it was the demon that killed my sisters. Then again what kind of demon uses bow and arrows?

"I'm curious about those demon attacks as well. Is it true that it uses it's claws in battle?"

 

jakku studied the priestess *hmm that one looks like the demon priestess's that I took care of * jakku walk towards the girl * you are part of the church of Dianna right ? I mean that's the only church that allows magic am I wrong

 

"Sort of. I'm only a novice from a rather small sect outside the city. I couldn't really tell you how they do things here in the city to be honest. Oh! That reminds me, have any of you heard about what happened in Yutra Priory? I think it fell victim to it's attacks"

Minus the arrow bolts it looked like a beast attack. She carefully gauged the reaction of the man with the ice bow but his face looked like he was contemplating something else.

I get the feeling he doesn't trust me very much.

 

*as I thought a demon sister I will keep an eye on this one I will inform the boss later I guess I ill stick around here * yes it seem as for the attacks on Yutra Priory I haven't heard much about it in my travels

 

OOC- Okay... guess I'll steer this in a direction then

-------------------------------------

"Well apparently it's been attacked, by what I don't know. Could be something from the forest, or maybe not..."
She let the idle speculation hang in the air
"I think we should go there. The town's people don't go there much and no one will bother you. Even if whatever attacked that place comes back then at least you'll get a chance to see the monster yourself right?"

She looked at the man with the stone
"How about it? You did say you were interested in any details about the monster attacks."

She dusted off and gave the criminals a curtsy
"I am Laura Grimes, a shrine priestess. I am on a quest for treasure...."

And vengeance

 

it might be worth looking into to it may even help with our little quest its no to far away from our destination what do you think bosss

 

OOT: I will reply when I have a better idea of where I'm headed.

Name: Arttikka Kross
Age: looks as though she is a seventeen year old girl but actual age is unknown
Appearance: Pale skin, Pure white hair. Elf ears. She has heterochromia, Left ice blue with a scar and right green. Always hidden under black cloak
Occupation: Demon Deity
Magic type: Elemental power is ice and has retractable wings.
Weapons: Scythe and Katana

 

OOT: Looks like Jenova's not coming back. TIME PARADOX! Anyhow, might as well keep things rolling.


Dalton shrugged and gave an unenthusiastic "hmm."
"Never really thought of myself as an investigator, I have people to do that kind of thing for me. But you make a good point. It's close and it couldn't hurt to see it with our own eyes. Maybe we'll get lucky and stumble onto something useful."
He turned toward the girl who was apparently going to be their new traveling companion.
"Laura, was it? Laura the Treasure Hunting Priestess. Heh. Gotta admit, that's a new one in my book. I could probably find my way to the Priory but it'd be easier if a local could get us there on the quickest path. Care to lead the way?"