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Post by Ector Symir on Jul 18, 2008 7:07:10 GMT
Ector politely excuses himself from the Great Hall and proceeds to his quarters, pausing only to instruct a guardsman to accompany him to assist with donning his full plate armour. Despite Kevoan's assurances, he has resolved to attend the execution fully armed and ready for anything. He reflects for a moment that he should have a squire to help with such things, and indeed he did until recently. Sadly, the lad fell during the expedition to Phoena. Once Ector rejoined his fellows he would be assigned a knight-in-training to serve as a replacement.
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Post by Karstan on Jul 18, 2008 8:04:42 GMT
Karstan continued to look out the window of the palace as he did he briefly let his mind wander to thoughts of his parents in Soren where they still alright his mother had been not been well when he left to come to Garthen, just a cold the healer had said but that did not comfort him to much. Soon he though this would be over after all the warlord dies tonight, he would have to stay in the city a couple of weeks just to make sure that everything there was back to normal. After that he could return home and see his mother, hopefully he could stay a few weeks before he was needed to go to another far off country.
Karstan allowed his thoughts to return to the present situation perhaps a walk down the docks with the brisk sea air would take his mind off his troubles so he moved towards to where Keovan and the others stood talking. As he approached the group he spoke "It be a good few hours before sundown, what plans have ye for the afternoon? I am going to change out of these clothes and take a walk down the docks should anyone wish to join me, then I shall return in time for the business of this evening."
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Ageal
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Posts: 268
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Post by Ageal on Jul 18, 2008 21:36:26 GMT
Ageal looked over at Karstan and shook his head, "Thank you for the offer but i think i have other plans in mind. Attending the ceremony at sunset will not be in that plan". Looking at his companions he felt as if he needed to give them an explanation for his rude absence. "I do not wish to offend anyone, but i would like to look out for the safety of the town" breathing deep Ageal paused then went on. "I have had my fill of justice, seeing this man killed will not let me breath easier" looking at the sky for the time Ageal wished his companions a safe sunset.
Ageal Went and dressed in his armor and prepared Kalos, his Faersteed mount, to ride for that evening. Checking his sword was tight to him and armor was battle ready Ageal prepared for his nights ride. He planned to ride out of the city and watch for any trouble that may occure. After talking to the captain Ageal went to the stables to describe the days events to Kalos.
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Post by Jynx on Jul 19, 2008 2:21:41 GMT
As the evening wore on, Jynx conversed with as many nobles and locals as she could, trying to gather as much gossip and news (anything that would perk her interest) before heading to the execution.
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Post by Maerin on Jul 19, 2008 2:46:04 GMT
The rest of the afternoon passes fairly quietly, though the city remains in a celebratory mood. The news that Zegron will die at sundown travels like wildfire through the city. On every street, in every tavern, on every dock, that is among the most common topics. Searching about for a couple hours, Ageal finally locates a guard captain in the city proper to speak to regarding his desire to ride the city and help watch for trouble. The man proves polite and respectful, but he nonetheless refuses. “I recognize you are from Dessi, my lord, and cannot accept your service officially right now. Maybe if we were shorthanded or the war was still going on, I might have been able to work something out. But since the war is over, and everything is calm and peaceful…if a bit too fun-loving for good sense, it would only cause trouble to conscript you. Besides, it would not be proper for someone like you, even if you knew the city well enough.” Consequently, Ageal rides through the streets without any specific intent or goals, but still to keep his eyes open for trouble. It seems, as the day wears on towards evening, and the sun begins to set, that the guard captain was correct. Though a single afternoon proved not nearly enough to explore more than a small portion of the city of Garthen, the Vakeros selected one of the public market districts that also seemed to have a large number of inns and taverns where foreign travelers were apparently spending the evening. Karsten wanders the docks. Though much, much larger (and visibly wealthier) than the docks on the River Storn in Soren, the Lyrisian encounters many sights, smells and speech that remind him of home. Though it takes his mind off his concerns at noon for a time, it definitely returns his thoughts over and over again to home. Was home even there? What destruction did the Darklords wreck upon his homeland, especially as they retreated back across the Storn? A practical portion of Karsten’s mind, however, takes note of the actual activities on the docks. Trade is pouring into and through Garthen, seemingly undisturbed by the recent war that had seemed set to doom the city. He sees ships from Lencia tied up next to riverboats manned by dwarves, and people of a dozen nations and languages hurry to conclude a day’s business. Jynx, having recovered from the embarrassment of earlier, found that memories in the Citadel proved equally transitory. Though many of the Palmyrion couriers departed for their various destinations and the Bor dwarves retired to their apartments for the afternoon, there were still a handful of Talestrian courtiers that retired to one of the sitting rooms for a relaxing summer afternoon. Jynx’s presence is welcomed among them without question, though the conversation topic remains centered around the impending defeat of all evil by the swords and guns of Talestria and her allies. For Jynx in particular, however, the afternoon brings a surprising piece of good news. A merchant from Lourdon brought word that the Vassagonians had finally relinquished entirely all the territory they had recently seized as allies of the Darklords. That meant that her home city of Casiorn was again a free city! After leaving the hall, Zohar sets out first around the Citadel, and then into the streets of Garthen, asking people about the earthquake felt at noon. After a couple hours of doing so, he learns that it was widely felt throughout Garthen, but seemed to have been a fairly mild tremor everywhere. He finds no descriptions of either damage or harm. Most people, their moods happy and their affairs distracting them, seemed to Zohar to consider it a curiosity, at worst. As sunset approaches, however, and the Vassagonian can converse more freely with shop owners closing their shops for the evening and not distracted by customers, Zohar does learn that his suspicions that this was no ordinary event were confirmed. The older and more long-time residents of Garthen, in their living memory anyway, do not remember ever feeling even minor earth tremors. It is only as sunset approaches and Jynx begins to excuse herself from her hosts in order to be present for the execution that she realizes she has seen none of her companions, including Lord Kevoan, for the entire afternoon. Though that is not unusual for most of her companions, she knew that Lord Kevoan had generally kept to the Citadel in the past week, and past his time at small gatherings such as this one. The afternoon moves towards evening. The shadows begin to stretch east as the sun sinks towards the horizon. The clouds of the morning have largely left the summer sky and, it seems to onlookers that this sunset will be a brilliantly colorful. Though the sun has not yet reached the horizon, the blue and gold of the day already begins to take on oranges, reds, even some hints of purples towards the northwest. As the people of Garthen conclude the day’s work, and begin gravitating towards either home or one of the many taverns in the city, those that plan to attend the execution realize that they should return shortly to the Citadel. OOC: Update is up. Sorry it is so short on story advancement, but my Internet availability this week has been severely limited and people wanted to do enough during the afternoon that I am postponing the post I had prepared. Next post Monday. Zegron dies?
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Zohar
Hardened Gamer
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Posts: 453
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Post by Zohar on Jul 19, 2008 17:28:57 GMT
Zohar has come up with more questions than answers, but he hopes that he can learn more about this strange quake when he compares notes with Kevoan and his companions. Just knowing that this was no ordinary tremor is something, at any rate. He makes his way back to the Citadel to attend the execution of Zegron. If something does happen there, he wants to be ready for it, and he wants to be certain that the Ogian warchief does indeed go to his doom. Zegron is the last of the Darklords' major allies to face justice for his many crimes, and Zohar looks forward to seeing his reign of terror put to a formal end. Tonight one era shall end, he thinks, and a new one shall begin.
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Post by Ector Symir on Jul 20, 2008 19:08:39 GMT
As sunset approaches, Ector, now clad in full battle gear, makes his way to the courtyard where the execution will be carried out. He chooses to view the grisly spectacle from the battlements on the west wall, finding a spot which will overlook these proceedings while also hopefully providing advance warning of any hostile intervention.
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Post by Karstan on Jul 20, 2008 20:38:25 GMT
Karstan enjoyed his stroll a long the docks of Gurthan he even stopped by the hanging drakkarim, the inn he had been staying at in town. He had chosen that inn as it reminded him of the crooked billet, the inn his mother worked at in Soren. With it round tap-house in the centre of two wings that were stables and paying guest rooms respectively.
As Karstan took in a quite drink in one end of the bar he got talking to the captain of a Lourden clipper who was cursing his bad luck. Having just brought in a load of iron ore from Gleesh he had hope to sell it at a massive profit to the Talestria army to make weapons with, but it seemed there was no demand for it, with the belief that the war is over and he would barely get what he had paid for the load. As Karstan realized that it would soon be sundown he thanked the captain for the conversation and brought the captain a drink so that his visit to Gurthan would not be of total loss to him and made his way back to the palace. When he got back to the palace he made point to check if formal wear be needed for the evening before making his way to where the execution was to happen and take up a place to watch the events of the evening.
OOC: Maerin, can I ask how much should I deduct for 3 drinks had at the inn.
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Post by Jynx on Jul 21, 2008 8:07:23 GMT
Jynx made her way towards suitable spot for viewing (a spot preferably surrounding people worth listening in on), giving the proper smile and greetings to any other noble or local that seemed to have recognized her or she them. While she moved threw the crowd, Jynx (out of curiosity) prepared a detection spell to search out the location of Lord Kevoan and maybe the reason of his absence.
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Ageal
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Post by Ageal on Jul 22, 2008 0:40:33 GMT
Ageal leaves his companion by the other steeds and walks into the tavern. Looking around he finds people to talk with that are not going to be present at the death of Zegron. Buying a drink for himself Ageal tries to keep an eye out for any groups of men that might be up to suspicious activities. Keeping himself vigilant Ageal keeps him self ready to intercept anyone with malicious activities.
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Post by Maerin on Jul 22, 2008 2:19:46 GMT
The shadows length as a small crowd gathers in the West Square of the Citadel. It seems that Zegron’s execution is not for just any spectator, as each of you arrive look around you. Perhaps two dozen guards of the Royal Household are stationed throughout. Perhaps another dozen courtiers can be seen watching from various windows, but none stand in the square itself and their manner is somber. They seem more witnesses than spectators. No one particularly questions your presence, however.
No scaffold is present. Only a railed enclosure shows where the execution will take place.
Jynx immediately notices that non-guards did not actually come down into the courtyard. Noting onlookers from at least one window a few dozen feet up, she considered walking back up to that level to join them. However, a glance at the position of the sun told her she would miss everything if she tried doing so at this point. She then turned her thoughts to Lord Kevoan, considering a detection spell as she did so. However, a second glance about the courtyard showed her that would be a waste. If Kevoan is present in the square at all, he will be clearly visible. As the ceremony begins, the Elder Magus does not appear.
The sunset turns the wall of the Citadel red as drums begin to been a slow marching cadence. A solid wood-and-iron door at the base of the Citadel slams open with a crash, and the same eight guards march forward with swords drawn and held upright. Zegron is again in the middle of them. The Ogian is as expressionless as he was when he was marched into the State Hall earlier that day. Following the condemned prisoner marches Lord Nathor, who carries a large, straight, golden-hilted sword and scabbard resting on one shoulder.
The group escorts Zegron into the railed enclosure, where he is firmly, but not violently, pushed into a kneeling position in the center. The eight guards step back to the rail, taking up eight equidistant places around the edge of the enclosure. Lord Nathor steps forward, and carefully unsheathes the sword he carries. The sword has a complete double-sided blade, but only a rounded point; it is an executioner’s sword, not a weapon of war.
With pronounced solemnity, Nathor salutes towards the Citadel. As he speaks, the drums fall silent.
“As proclaimed in the light of Noon, this man dies with the setting sun. Does Her Majesty oppose this fate?”
There is only silence. Though she may be listening out of sight from some high window, there is no evidence that Queen Evaine even watches the execution.
Lord Nathor waits a full five minutes. The creaking of armour, the calls of distant birds in the sky, and some of the distant sounds of the city are all that breaks the silence. Then turning back to Zegron, the Talestrian noble lifts the sword in a two-handed grip, and watches the setting sun carefully. The terminus of the shadow cast by the Citadel wall creeps over the guards on the west side of the enclosure and approaches Zegron.
Five yards. Then two yards. Then one. Lord Nathor gathers himself for the single swing that will behead the Ogian. Zegron smiles and bows his head.
BOOM!!!!
Just before the shadow touches the Ogian, the massive explosion flashes out of a south portion of the Citadel with ear-shattering force! Near-instantly, you are all blasted by a mighty shockwave of air and white powder that knocks everyone flat. Ector is blasted back against the outer edge of the wall and his sword goes spinning out of his hand, but the knight manages to just catch himself before being actually thrown over the outside of the wall. Sounds seem suddenly indistinct and muffled. You all feel, rather than hear, the pattering of gravel shower the square and those within. There is another, deeper series of thumps and bumps, and you all feel the ground shake with each thump under you.
Karsten rolls deftly to his feet, his reflexes a match for the surprise and his hurt from the fall relatively light. He immediately studies the enclosure where the execution was to have taken place, in hopes of spotting trouble or an escape before it was too late. Dust obscures much, even if it were not already cast into shadow by the west wall. However, Karsten dimly makes out that most of the railings were damaged by the explosion, and only one man stands within.
Approaching the edge of the enclosure quickly but cautiously, Karsten saw the standing man was Lord Nathor. Though the blast knocked the guards off their feet, and most appear unconscious or worse, the noble appeared to have kept his feet using large sword he had been ready to swing, which was now embedded in the ground. Looking at the Talestrian’s feet, the Lyrisian was astonished to see that Zegron was dead. Neatly beheaded, in fact, the head laying face up and covered in a film of bloody white dust not far from the rest of the corpse. Managing a truly impressive feat of concentration and control, the Talestrian nobleman had managed to carry out the execution.
You all find yourselves enshrouded in a cloud of white, choking powder. You can see and hear very little.
***
The tavern suddenly shakes as if struck a blow. Dust and soot sift off the rafters, and drinks go flying off tables. Thumps in the room indicate that at least one patron falls off a chair or bench in surprise.
The whole room seems frozen for an instant, and Ageal immediately runs out the door before the doorway is jammed by a host of other patrons trying to do likewise. The Vakeros is suddenly enshrouded in thick, white, powdery dust blown down the street by a great wind. All sight is lost, and the street is quickly filled with the sounds of panicking horses, bangs, crashes, and screams and yells. It is obvious that people are pouring blindly into the street through doorways, such as the one behind him leading back into the tavern, and Ageal realizes quickly that without some immediate shelter he was going to get overwhelmed by the blind, panicked mob.
The city of Garthen is lost to chaos. OOC: Update is up. Remember to deduct damage if appropriate. What are you doing (post short-term/immediate reactions for now)? Also note that you all (with the exception of Ageal) are going to be deafened by the explosion for some period of time. That said, Ageal is probably in the worst immediate danger as panic launches throughout the city (and, before you ask Ageal, no you cannot immediately get to where you left your companion; even if you could navigate blindly back to towards point there are too many people now immediately blocking your path). See you tomorrow.
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Zohar
Hardened Gamer
Is Mr. Handy
Posts: 453
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Post by Zohar on Jul 22, 2008 3:26:07 GMT
Zohar's sharply honed reflexes spare him from too much harm, leaving him only with a mild bruising. His suspicions that something was planned for this hour confirmed, he quickly recovers his feet and springs into action. Unconcerned about his own minor injury, he makes his way through the white cloud toward the nearest entrance to the Citadel that he remembers seeing. "Quickly, inside!" he shouts. "We must protect the Queen!" It is only then that he realizes that he cannot hear the sound of his own voice.
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Ageal
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Post by Ageal on Jul 22, 2008 7:03:29 GMT
Ageal looked through the white dust and knew his senses would be of no use. He also felt Kalos could fend for himself amongst the chaos, after all he was not a normal steed. Trying to reach the safety of a building was his first priority amongst the insanity. Ageal had a guess that the chaos currently ensuing had to be the dirty trickery of Zegron, and because of this his next plan of action was to make his way to the roof top of his refuge. Hopefully the dust would settle down to the streets so a higher vantage point would give him the advantage.
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Post by Ector Symir on Jul 22, 2008 7:29:20 GMT
What Ector says immediately after the deafening explosion is lost to posterity; it was almost certainly obscene. Though worried that even he cannot hear his own cursing, he is relieved not to have been blasted clean over the wall. Snatching up his sword, the confused and angry knight descends from the wall to the courtyard, hoping to find ways he can be of use to the innocents nearby. While he intends to investigate the source of the explosion, saving lives must be the priority. Besides, if the explosion was intentional, he has no idea where to look for the culprits.
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Post by Karstan on Jul 22, 2008 21:58:50 GMT
Greatful that his training had enabled him to simply roll will the force of the explosion Karstan got up and Moved closer to the square keeping his eyes open for anyone of the guards that may need help to move away from the area, the silence that seemed to have now desended worried him it was like the calm between to storm fronts the one pasted behind and the one up ahead yet to hit. Approaching the square from what he considered to be the safest point he access what damage he could as the dust bit at his eyes and attempted to help the nearest guard to his feet.
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