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Post by The Storyteller on Jan 21, 2015 22:20:42 GMT
The town of Nightleaf was originally named after its ancient founder, Miles Nightleaf, a frontiersman and rogue who helped map out the kingdom and stood by His Majesty's distant ancestors when the Greater Empire made it's first, failed attempt at annexing the region. Today, it is assumed by the uninformed to be named in reference to the great black trees that dot the landscape, each one the size of a house. Whether the trees had always stood here or were mutated in some unknown incident before or after the war is a question for the hearth.
The residing clan, known simply as the Nightleaf Clan, was one of the larger ones in the area, being almost 100. Their current Clanfather was named Fenmir, an ancient Aerherian who could claim to be sired by a First Generation father, those who were first birthed from the painful union of human mother and Aether spirit. Fermir had never truly accepted the reign of the Undying, but then, the Undying had never demanded more than the occasional tribute thus far. Thus the Nightleaf Clan had only ever had a 'hypothetical' fealty with the King and his minions.
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Post by Shifter on Jan 21, 2015 22:44:48 GMT
Shifter, followed by an entourage formed by twenty of the King's Men, five mounted and the rest on foot, some carrying banners and weapons, most only weapons. The Aetherian rode on his undead horse at the center of the party, he wore his usual elven face, clad in an ugly dark iron armor.
He entered the village without uttering a word and waited for the Clanfather to welcome him.
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Post by The Storyteller on Jan 21, 2015 22:57:28 GMT
A pair of children cease their game as Shifter arrives and are ushered within by an older woman with curiously long fingers. Several of the adults instead gather on what passed for porches, and watched the Shifter with visible discomfort. It was always difficult for an Aetherian's gift to be determined by appearance alone, but there was at least one hulking, hairless figure who looked as though he could lift any of the great trees without having to take a deep breath. He was giving Shifter a look he had seen a hundred times when demanding tribute. Eventually, a hairy figure with horns and a goatish face approached. "I had not realized it was that time again," said Fenmir in a deep voice that still sounded like singing.
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Post by Shifter on Jan 21, 2015 23:05:05 GMT
"Indeed, Clanfather..." With a wave of his hand, Shifter ushered foward two undead servants carrying a large sack. "The same amount as the last time. His Majesty wants to know not of begging or complaining, let's save us both some trouble"
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Post by The Storyteller on Jan 21, 2015 23:17:26 GMT
"I'm curious... what exactly do you expect in tribute this time? The shiny man coins are no longer being made, and we have already handed you all we have found. The books are no longer written, and we have already handed you all we have found. We have vegetables and fine hunting here, but I suspect your... warriors have no such need. The dead king has not possessed a stomach since I was a young thing on my mother's lap. So, Royal Emissary... how may we please His Grace this evening?"
There was a definite sarcasm and disdain in the old one's voice, but Fenmir was correct. 'Tribute' was a curious affair that grew more abstract every year.
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Post by Shifter on Jan 21, 2015 23:24:08 GMT
Shifter sneered at the old man for a couple of seconds, but finally unleashed a malicious grin.
"Search the village. I want everything that looks valuable or magical in front of me." He commanded his men. "If nothing interesting is to be found, bring foward the younglings... I'll have a look at them."
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Post by The Storyteller on Jan 21, 2015 23:35:58 GMT
"Younglings...? You filthy kinslayer!" Fenmir's face contorts in rage. "Roj! Kuum!" At his beckoning, the large, pale Aetheroam, in only three steps has reached the entourage and is already tearing them apart like ragdolls. It would be remiss to describe a mindless zombie as having 'bravery', but they respond with the training they displayed in life. It is all a futile effort though... Shifter does not see Kuum, but he knows there is at least a second threat to consider. The rest of the clan leaves to defend their children.
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Post by Shifter on Jan 21, 2015 23:53:04 GMT
"Of course..." The aetherian that was once named L'shak sighed and rolled his eyes. He whistled and one of the undead servants came running with his bone spear. As he got of his horse he took another form, something that would give him more agility and speed. Pain flowed through his body as his bones broke, his skin was teared off and his muscles tightened around his joints... But it was nothing, just another of his daily shiftings. It took only a couple seconds and he was ready to charge, Roj was his first target... he'd be easier than the unseen Kuum.
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Post by The Storyteller on Jan 22, 2015 0:02:28 GMT
Roj, no fool, utilizes the brief time it takes Shifter to change. He collects the skull and spinal cord of one of the former guardsman, making a haphazard enchanted flail, while picking up a fallen spear. He grunts and slowly approaches his opponent. "When I am finished with you, kinslayer, I will return that spear to its appropriate cairn, and then I will make a fresh one of yours..."
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Post by Shifter on Jan 22, 2015 0:15:06 GMT
Shifter chuckled, that couldn't even be considered a threat compared to the attocities he had been told by his own tutor... He stayed silent, tauting was for inferior beings.
Fast as lighting L'shak approached the brute, when he came into range he flexed his lean muscular goat legs and jumped over Roj, aiming to drive the spear through the Aetherian's nape.
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Post by The Storyteller on Jan 22, 2015 1:58:41 GMT
Shifter STR: 43 Roj the Loj STR: 25
Shifter may have been overconfident, but his form served him well as, in a feat that will be remembered for years, he managed to pierce the giant's neck from behind. Roj was a true warrior though, and is unphased by the spear through his throat. Whether a calculated risk or a blind frenzy, Roj tropped his own spear and took hold of the spear to begin pulling it through his own neck, releasing a gargling roar in the effort. Shifter found himself participating in a bizarre tug of war for his own weapon, as he found himself being drawn towards the giant swinging his flail madly behind him, in an effort to strike L'shak.
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Post by Shifter on Jan 22, 2015 2:38:54 GMT
Shifter would not let go of his precious spear, he summoned his gift again, now not for a full transformation but only to bring more muscles to his arms and legs, which quickly became thick as a trunk. His hands and hooves started to grow root like appandages, which started to coil around the spear and dig into the soil, respectively.
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Post by The Storyteller on Jan 22, 2015 2:52:23 GMT
Shifter STR: 25 Roj the Massov STR: 31
Unfortunately for L'shak's artifical tree trunks, Roj was used to pulling up real ones. The shapeshifter found himself dragged closer to Roj's flail. He found his new transformation only made it harder to just barely dodge a blow.
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Post by Shifter on Jan 22, 2015 2:58:44 GMT
Unwillingly, Shifter had to let go of the spear... He dodged sideways trying to get enough distance from Roj to make a full transformation. He focused and drew all the mass he could muster to turn into a bulking mass of muscles, he'd fight the other Aetherian hand to hand. His hands grew large, his skin tightened and thickened, so did his arms and legs. As the transformation ended, he let out a deafening roar.
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Post by The Storyteller on Jan 22, 2015 3:22:02 GMT
Shifter STR: 25 Roj the Boss STR: 35
Shifter's skill was undeniable, but he was trying to outmuscle an enemy who knew nothing else. What's more, Roj had used the transformation time to drag the spear through his throat and was now wielding it against it's owner. Roj was clearly dying, and his strength waned with each blow, but each blow was like thunder, tearing apart his larger foe's body with each blow. Shifter was mildly surprised to learn even this form could know pain like this. Strength was a common attribute among Aetherians, but Roj was clearly at the peak of his class. Still, his time would come to an end soon, and so would Shifter's, if he did not act wisely.
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