A Life Disturbed: IC

[Feirgon]

As the creature staggers he brings both hands together and slams down on the skeletons back.

The creature, having no tenable actions, succumbs to the strike and shatters into many pieces. The creature's sword, shield, and helm lay upon the ground and the room is slowly catching on fire. More importantly, the rest of the inn seems to already be on fire.

[Scholar23]

Grabbing the sword and shield he began to run down the hall, looking out the windows pass. As he headed down to the next level he took a quick look at the sword.

[Space Lawyer]

Jerrod

Jerrod realizes that he is virtually powerless against something like dragon-riding mages. He takes a moment to take his equipment out of his pack and properly equip himself, then repack. He sends Tiro scouting ahead, and heads toward the Dantons' farm. Maybe there would be survivors there.

[Feirgon]

Grabbing the sword and shield he began to run down the hall, looking out the windows pass. As he headed down to the next level he took a quick look at the sword.

Gully doesn't note anything special about the sword. It seems to be as expendable as the creature that held it. However, as gets onto the second floor, the heat becomes much more noticeable. As he approaches the stairs that lead down to the first floor, he notices that the stairs are surrounded by flames.

Gully will be exposed to a great amount of heat if he heads down, but the only alternative is to find an exit through one of the second story windows.

[Scholar23]

Groning he turned around and began to look through each rooms window in the hopes of finding something to climb down on or land on.

[Feirgon]

Groning he turned around and began to look through each rooms window in the hopes of finding something to climb down on or land on.

Knowing that the the buildings on one side of the inn are already on fire, Gully first looks in the closest room on the opposite side of the inn. It looks clear, but there are no soft landing spots.

The fire doesn't show any signs of slowing and Gully remembers that there is an awning over the entrance to the inn. But that would put him in the main street and there is no knowing if the awning is still standing. However, he could try to climb out of the window in this room to reduce the distance he would fall to the ground.

[Scholar23]

Figuring it would be better not to be on main street he decides to climb over the edge of the window and let his body hang. Getting his feet as close to the ground as possible, he took a breath .... and let go.

[Feirgon]

Figuring it would be better not to be on main street he decides to climb over the edge of the window and let his body hang. Getting his feet as close to the ground as possible, he took a breath .... and let go.

Climbing out of the window proved do be difficult with a shield and a sword. When he finally managed to let go of the ledge, Gully fell awkwardly and sprained his ankle as he landed. To make matters worse, the sword hit the ground point first and snapped in half. Luckily, it didn't cut him, but now Gully was on his back with a shield and a broken sword in an alley between two buildings. One of which was on fire.

Getting up off the ground proved to be both difficult and painful, but he would have to move fast before the fire reached him.

[Scholar23]

Cursing in pain he began to limp down the alley towards main street, using the sword as a cane as he approched.

[My Life Lags]

Tomanny Miller

Tom was thrown from the bed, his head was a mess one minute he had been dreaming a glorious dream and suddenly he awoke in chaos. He staggered to his feet thinking himself still dreaming but everything was too real. his ears rang front he explosion and smoke choked his lungs.

"Father!" he shouted trying to stagger into the hallway, an impending dread ran through him as he tried to get a better look into his fathers room.

[Feirgon]

Tomanny Miller

Tom was thrown from the bed, his head was a mess one minute he had been dreaming a glorious dream and suddenly he awoke in chaos. He staggered to his feet thinking himself still dreaming but everything was too real. his ears rang front he explosion and smoke choked his lungs.

"Father!" he shouted trying to stagger into the hallway, an impending dread ran through him as he tried to get a better look into his fathers room.

There was no bedroom on the other side of the doorway. An inferno was all that could be seen and it now threatened to do the same to the rest of the house. The roof to the left of Tommany collapsed, blocking his way to the rest of the house and the front door. He would most likely have to look to the windows as a means of escape; either the from the office or his bedroom.

[My Life Lags]

Tomanny Miller

His gaze lingered a few seconds into the inferno, an empty pit opened up inside him and his heart ached in sorrow. He wanted to break down right there, fresh tears of sorrow stung his eyes, for a few seconds he just stood there in the chaos his whole life a now gone.

The roof collapsed near him but even that didn't shake him from his loss. Pulling himself together he turned and ran from the blazing house , back through his room he opened the window and half climbed hall fell into an even greater hell.

He stood up still in just his small clothes and looked around tears dripped down his face but he had no time to weep. He looked around trying to get an handle of the situation, what in hell was happening.

[Feirgon]

Tomanny Miller

His gaze lingered a few seconds into the inferno, an empty pit opened up inside him and his heart ached in sorrow. He wanted to break down right there, fresh tears of sorrow stung his eyes, for a few seconds he just stood there in the chaos his whole life a now gone.

The roof collapsed near him but even that didn't shake him from his loss. Pulling himself together he turned and ran from the blazing house , back through his room he opened the window and half climbed hall fell into an even greater hell.

He stood up still in just his small clothes and looked around tears dripped down his face but he had no time to weep. He looked around trying to get an handle of the situation, what in hell was happening.

The fire blocked the sound of most things, but Tommany could hear the animals in the barn. They were making distressing sounds, Tommany couldn't see it from this side of the house but perhaps the explosion had also hit the barn. Behind him was the town, he might be able to get some help there but they also most likely heard the sound. To his right and left were the fields and on the opposite side of the house was the nearby forest.

[My Life Lags]

Tomanny Miller

Everything was mad, his ears rung from the not too distant explosions. He looked around frantically still unsure to the chaos happening in the town. Tom made a run for the barn, the sound of the animals was a current concern and he hoped he might be so lucky to find the place intact. He ran as fast has his skinny legs would carry him, he hoped his horse was ok, a strange thought with everything happening but for him it was a possible chance of escape. Tom was no great rider but the horse was placid, he also hoped to grab a pitchfork, scythe or sickle as he felt very vulnerable in his current situation and attire. He felt a weapon was needed as the dreaded thought that they were under attack filled his very soul.

[Feirgon]

Tomanny Miller

Everything was mad, his ears rung from the not too distant explosions. He looked around frantically still unsure to the chaos happening in the town. Tom made a run for the barn, the sound of the animals was a current concern and he hoped he might be so lucky to find the place intact. He ran as fast has his skinny legs would carry him, he hoped his horse was ok, a strange thought with everything happening but for him it was a possible chance of escape. Tom was no great rider but the horse was placid, he also hoped to grab a pitchfork, scythe or sickle as he felt very vulnerable in his current situation and attire. He felt a weapon was needed as the dreaded thought that they were under attack filled his very soul.

Spoiler

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There haven't been any other explosions yet in your narrative. In fact your house was the first one to get hit by the dragons/mages. I'll respond to your post as if you had known that.

As Tommany approached the barn he heard another explosion. It was another farm on the outskirts, nearly on the opposite side of town.

The animals seemed greatly disturbed. More than would be expected for even the sudden abruptness of the explosion at the house. He sees a pair of sickles on a nearby bench. A scythe and a couple pitchforks are further away and on the opposite side of the barn from his horse. Suddenly, the other animals start to stir to an even greater pitch. A sinking feeling comes over Tommany as he looks over his shoulder, out into the field behind him.

He ducks just in time as two flaming arrows fly into the barn and ignite a nearby bail of hay. It quickly ignites and a large fire is soon burning inside the barn. At the sight of this, Tommany's horse starts neighing wildly. The horse will need to be calmed before he can attempt to ride it, but the fire is growing by the second. The horse is wearing a halter, but the reins and the saddle are on the wall of the stall.

[My Life Lags]

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Oops sorry about the confusion

Tomanny Miller


Reaching the barn Tom looked around, everything was ok for a second until a strange feeling of dread crept over him, it was like something was watching him, he turned his head and saw two flaming streaks, he fell flat to the ground narrowly evading two flaming arrows. He screamed in panic his heart racing fast now. The bar soon started to burn he didn’t have time, his horse blackjack as he’d affectionately named him was in full panic also.

Tom wanted to ride him away but he could barely keep his own hands form shaking. Quickly he grabbed one of the sickles and kicked open the horse’s pen. In two quick cuts he cut through thin rope holding the horse. The black stallion reared in panic and almost kicked Tom in the face. Tom narrowly jumped out of the way as the horse ran out of the burning barn; hope blossomed in his beating heart if he could get away he might meet up with his horse later.

Grabbing his lucky hat from the side along with the second sickle almost as an afterthought Tom exits the barn looking quickly over at the field at where the arrows had come from. The farm was under attack, he couldn't imagine what from everything was mad. He turned leaving the barns and quickly ran towards the town in a panic hoping to find some help. He carried both bladed tools as he had many times growing up pretending to cut through monsters as he worked in the field, however if it came to a real fight he realised he would probably last as long as his bladder.

[Feirgon]

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Oops sorry about the confusion

Tomanny Miller


Reaching the barn Tom looked around, everything was ok for a second until a strange feeling of dread crept over him, it was like something was watching him, he turned his head and saw two flaming streaks, he fell flat to the ground narrowly evading two flaming arrows. He screamed in panic his heart racing fast now. The bar soon started to burn he didn’t have time, his horse blackjack as he’d affectionately named him was in full panic also.

Tom wanted to ride him away but he could barely keep his own hands form shaking. Quickly he grabbed one of the sickles and kicked open the horse’s pen. In two quick cuts he cut through thin rope holding the horse. The black stallion reared in panic and almost kicked Tom in the face. Tom narrowly jumped out of the way as the horse ran out of the burning barn; hope blossomed in his beating heart if he could get away he might meet up with his horse later.

Grabbing his lucky hat from the side along with the second sickle almost as an afterthought Tom exits the barn looking quickly over at the field at where the arrows had come from. The farm was under attack, he couldn't imagine what from everything was mad. He turned leaving the barns and quickly ran towards the town in a panic hoping to find some help. He carried both bladed tools as he had many times growing up pretending to cut through monsters as he worked in the field, however if it came to a real fight he realised he would probably last as long as his bladder.

As Tom left the barn, another explosion occurred, another farm on the outskirts. When he looked back, he saw two figures holding bows. They seemed to be looking in another direction, distracted by something else and unaware of Tom's proximity. And in the light of the fires, Tom could see that they were nothing but skeletons. No skin, no muscle, nothing but bones.

Following their gaze, it is obvious they are watching Blackjack run off into the distance. If they were the ones to fire the arrows into the barn, they had moved. Tom could go around them, go past where they would most likely have had to stand to fire arrows into the barn, but if they notice him, they will have the advantage with their bows. He could also try to hide, either head away from town and into the woods or find some cover in the growth in the fields. There was also the option of attacking with his two sickles.

[My Life Lags]

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(yay forums back up)

A real sense of fear gripped him as he started at the two ivory figures little more than bone. Both of the strange monsters were watching the horse run away and so for the moment that had a chance to do something while they were distracted. He looked down the blades in hand but his lack of courage gripped him deep and he quickly turned and tried to make his way as stealthy as possible around the barn and into the woods.

[Feirgon]

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(yay forums back up)

A real sense of fear gripped him as he started at the two ivory figures little more than bone. Both of the strange monsters were watching the horse run away and so for the moment that had a chance to do something while they were distracted. He looked down the blades in hand but his lack of courage gripped him deep and he quickly turned and tried to make his way as stealthy as possible around the barn and into the woods.

The sound of the fire and the animals is almost deafening. It takes everything in him to not try and free the animals crying out in fear and pain. But Tom's desire to live is too high to risk dying in a fire.

As Tom rounds the corner of the barn and looks back toward the woods, a sight unlike anything he had seen before causes him to stop mid-step. A line of skeleton soldiers is marching out of the woods toward the town. They don't seem to notice him, but from the way they are marching, they might not care even if they did.

To his right is a barn on fire. To his left is his house on fire. In front of him is the forest but it is blocked by a line of skeleton soldiers. Behind him are two skeleton archers who may or may not have noticed him.

If ever in Tom's life he thought he felt trapped, this situation replaces that benchmark.

[Feirgon]

The chaos was overwhelming. The last vestiges of hope remained, but, with each passing moment, it slipped deeper and deeper into darkness.

Hope.

To survive they would need a miracle. The offenders were too powerful and too many. The defenders were ill-prepared.

And in a single moment, it all seemed to stop. Everything around them stopped, everything except their consciousnesses. They were aware that time had stopped. They couldn't move and yet they could each see their own immediate situations. What they saw left no doubt to their own fate. But fate had other plans for these few.

Slowly, a blue mist emanated from the ground and off themselves, seemingly ignoring that time had come to a standstill. And then everything began to move again, only very slowly. They could even feel their own bodies moving slowly. But their minds where free from this limitation. Their senses where heightened and they could see opportunities that would've been lost in the chaos.

Hope once again filled their hearts.

Ambrose Smith
The mist surrounded his left arm and the hammer in his hand. Softly glowing blue sigils began to appear on his arm. The mist rose up to touch the wound in his right shoulder and the pain subsided.

Behind him the skeleton that had killed Marlin was mid-air. Both scimitars aimed at Ambrose's center. But it, like everything else, was moving very slowly. The skeleton carrying a shield had just picked up a sword and was also charging behind the other skeleton.

Looking down at his left arm, he could both see and feel the power within.

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Your left arm is super powered and is ready for you to attack. You can describe exactly how destroys both skeletons, but do not go past killing these two skeletons.

Rickard Dalton
As the offending skeleton raises it's weapons to strike at Rickard, the mist begins to encircle the small sword he wields. It then moves to surround his left arm. Glowing blue sigils begin to dance in front of Rickard's left arm and they form the shape of a shield. He can feel the strength of the shield on his arm, but it is weightless at the same time. The mist around the small blade looks to increase it's effective length.

The attacking skeleton does not seem to be aware of Rickard's new equipment.

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You are now wielding a bigger sword and a shield. You may describe the form factor of both of these weapons. The skeleton in front of you is about to do a downward strike with both swords, leaving it quite defenseless. You may destroy this one skeleton in any fashion you wish. Do not go past killing this current skeleton.

Jarrod Talloak
Having caught up with Tiro, Jarrod notices three armored skeletons approaching in front of him. Looking behind, he sees two archers reading their bows. He readies his bow, but he is too late as the archers loose their arrows. Then time stops.

The mist rises up and touches his eyes. His mind is suddenly filled with tactical information of his current situation. It's as if he has a bird's eye view of the surrounding area. The mist then surrounds Tiro and Hieronymus and glowing blue runes begin to appear on their skin. Jarrod can sense that their abilities have been increased greatly. He also realizes he can give them orders directly from his mind.

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You get to kill all five of the attacking skeletons. You can use Tiro and Hieronymus as weapons as well, and they also each have one new powerful attack that you can describe. You can assume that you don't miss with the shots from your bow. Do not go past killing these five skeletons.

Gully Letterman
The wall of then inn begins to collapse next to Gully. Time stops just as flaming boards of lumber began to fall toward him.

The mist slowly circles around his body until it reaches his forehead. It then starts to form a band above his brow. Although he can not see it, Gully can feel the sigils forming on his skin. To much of his surprise, he can even understand them. His mind focuses in on one sigil; Heal, and the pain in his leg disappears.

Gully looks up to the falling debris above him.

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You can cast one spell to protect you from the deadly collapse. It can be any word or sentence and you can describe the effects as you wish. You can also describe the spell effects of the "Heal" spell. The area of any effect cannot go past the alley or the inn. Do not continue past surviving the collapse.

Tommany Miller
The mist began to illuminate the world in way that Tommany had never seen before. The darkest shadows seemed, somehow, clear. Despite the proximity of the two fires, the marching army, and the possibility that the two archers could be following him, Tommany began to focus in on these shadows. Glowing blue sigils began to appear and they formed what looked like an archway in the shadows.

Looking through the archway, he could see the church in the distance. The church was not on fire, but he could see two skeletons with spears walking away from the archway toward the church.

And as Tom neared the archway, the mist began to swirl around his scythes.

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You may decimate these two skeletons in any way you wish. You can also describe what it is like to travel through the archway. Do not go past killing the two skeletons.

[Space Lawyer]

Jarrod

Jarrod thinks to Hieronymus. Take them down. The bird screeches. Ghostly feathers come streaking off, a few at first but growing to thousands. They swirl around the skeletons, trailing energy. They dart inwards and blanket the skeletons, becoming and undulating mass. They dissipate, and two of the skeletons have been ground to nothingness.

Your turn, Tiro. The enormous dog howls and leaps forward, preternaturally fast. It bites down on one the sword-wielding skeletons. The undead creature bursts apart in an explosion of power, crumpling under the force of the bite. Tiro seems to gain power, his eyes fiercer, his coat even thicker than before.

"And last, you." He levels is bow and fires. The arrow blasts into the skeleton, its skull coming apart under the force. The remaining bones fall to the ground.

[mr1135]

Rickard looks at the soldier monstrosity in front of him in brief puzzlement, then to his forearm and longsword. This...this is not possible he thought. Rickard closed his eyes for a moment and opened them again just to see that the skeleton's sword had seemed to descend only centimeters from what seems to be seconds ago.

Rickard was not a religious man. He had always believed in the power of his own two hands. Though he had said the odd prayer during the Holi-days and respected the customs of those around him, he never saw any reason in asking for deliverance from an entity which he could not see with his own two eyes. This moment however went against all of that belief. He could feel the power coursing through his being and the slight vibration of its manifestation through the hilt of his sword. His eyes were not deceiving him then. Though the weight was non-existent, he found that he had no doubts when it came to the potency of these arcane manifestations. Now is not the time to question. Move Rickard! Move!

Without another thought, Rickard commanded his body into action. With all his might, he takes a full turn with his whole body and decapitates the skeleton with the glowing eldritch extension of his sword. With the neck separated, the skeletal grin of the death head remained in place as the body continued slowly moving towards him by its inertia. Rickard steadies himself and reaches back before slamming the magical buckler strapped to his arm into its abdomen, shattering the body of the monster into countless pieces.

With his foe vanquished, Rickard realizes that he had forgotten about Ambrose. Turning and about to yell out his name, he sees the identical blue shimmer surrounding the boy. His breath left his mouth without words as he was awestruck by the power it imbued the boy, and the destruction it wrought unto their enemies.

[My Life Lags]

Tommany Miller

Tom’s fear suddenly melted away as strange haze enveloped the makeshift weapons. The shadows around him suddenly seemed clear, it was strange but the darkness no longer hid the world around him he was one with the shadows. In the deepest one appeared an arch barely visible until Tom focused on it giving the shadow gate form, he could see a church at the other side. He hesitated for only a moment before jumping through, fear started to surface again as two of the bone warriors where walking away from him but it was better than the full army at where he game from.

He shadow stepped out of the portal seemingly appearing from the shadows, he noticed the hideous creatures movements where slowed and in a rare fit of courage spurred on by the strange events and almost forced by the impulse he jumped forwards the mist swirling around his weapons. He Span cutting through the nearest skeleton from neck to shoulder joint, the creature half took a step before it’s head and arm fell away from its body. The second he quickly span towards as the creature seemed to turn with inhuman movement towards him. However he was still faster and using both sickles sliced the thing in two across the backbone.

He was shaking as it fell the floor in a pile of bones no longer organised.

He looked around trying to take in the chaos.

[Archpaladin Zousha]

Ambrose Smith

Ambrose's eyes widen as he raises the hammer in one hand and his sword in the other, crossing them to catch the two scimitars .

"BY MY LORD THE SUN!!"

The two weapons burst into blue-white flames. His anger rises as blue cracks form in the scimitars and they explode, taking the skeleton with it. The sight fills him with wonder and a new sense of confidence. He smiles a harsh smile as he turns to the one with the shield. He rushes at it with sword and hammer, smashing the shield to pieces with his left hand and hacking at the bones of the skeleton with his right. It too begins to blaze with blue fire as it falls apart under the relentless strikes and slashes.

"The Sun is Lord over all.

[Feirgon]

Each one found themselves in relative safety. It gave each of them a chance to breath and think. But their thoughts were interrupted by a bright light.

High above the church, near the center of town an orb of energy appeared between the five flying skeleton dragons. The mages where casting a spell. And though the mages and the dragons moved just as slow as everything else, the spell did not look to be affected by the distortion in time. In fact, they could see the mist retreating away from the orb of energy.

Then the orb began to fall. As it did, the mist below was pushed away. When the spell made contact with the church, it exploded. The mist immediately was pushed away and the oddest sight any of them had seen was before them.

Everything touched by the mist was still moving in slow motion, but everything touched by the spell's effects was moving in real time. They where nearly helpless as they watched the forward edge of the spell raced toward each of them. And as the wave of energy hit, everything went black.

---

Chapter 1: A Journey Begins

A thick fog is enveloping everything. Or, perhaps, it is soot and ash. Regardless, the ground is hard and uncomfortable. Nothing can be seen through the fog, except for a single blue light in the distance. The light is reminiscent of the mist and the sigils. Neither of which seem to have remained.

All

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Ambrose and Rickard, you can see each other.

Jerrod, Hieronymus and Tiro wake up next to you.

Ambrose and Tommany, you guys are both basically still only wearing what you normally wear to bed and are shoeless. Jerrod, you have some basic clothing and shoes on. Rickard is the only one who is dressed.

Ambrose, your right shoulder hurts. Rickard, your head hurts.

[mr1135]

"Rickard"

Slowly coming to his senses, Rickard pushes himself off of the floor to a sitting position. His head still slightly spinning and throbbing like after a night out with his friend Roland back while they were young. He took a deep breath and looked around his surroundings, nearly completely enveloped in mist. It took a moment for him to take it all in and remember the carnage that took place.

Frantically he looked around him, first getting a hold of his sword, then around for the monstrosities from the previous night.

Nothing. Not a sound...Not a whisper...Not a sou...Ambrose!

He makes his way across to the boy lying on his back, steadying himself all the while with nearby debris.

"Ambrose! Boy! Wake up!" Rickard whispers urgently to the lad while gently checking the injuries he had seen on him during the attack.

[Space Lawyer]

Jerrod

Jerrod rises to a kneeling position. <Hieronymus, Tiro, wake up.> The animals arise, Tiro stalking in a circle and Hieronymus flapping over to Jerrod's shoulder. Bow in hand, Jerrod walks softly towards the blue light.

[Archpaladin Zousha]

Ambrose

Ambrose blinks awake and grunts in pain as he instinctively drops his hammer and clutches his shoulder.

"Rickard! What happened?!"

[Feirgon]

Jerrod

Jerrod rises to a kneeling position. <Hieronymus, Tiro, wake up.> The animals arise, Tiro stalking in a circle and Hieronymus flapping over to Jerrod's shoulder. Bow in hand, Jerrod walks softly towards the blue light.

As Jerrod gets closer to the church, he hears some voices nearby. They sound familiar.

[Space Lawyer]

Jerrod

Jerrod makes his way over through the mist to the voices. He whistles to Tiro to come around from the other side of the voices. He nocks an arrow, but does not draw. The voices might be familiar, but it could just be a trick. He bursts into the clearing in the mists, then recognizes the two. "Rickard! Ambrose!"