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Post by Shifter on Feb 12, 2015 18:36:01 GMT
"Calm down there, big boy..." Shifter took a step back when he say Jacob unstrapping his mouthguard. "I can't detail the markings, but they were wuite particular."
The Aetherian had no idea what was happening, but something told him it would end up in a hit or run scenario. He prepared a transformation, something quick... A humming bird perheps.
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Post by The Storyteller on Feb 12, 2015 18:53:28 GMT
Amine calmed and sheathed. "I apologize, brother. I... They're not tattoos, they're runes. The Collector marks each of his thralls with one. No Aetherian will willingly abandon their family, so everytime they look at eachother, they are reindoctrinated to the Collector's will. It's how he keeps them from fleeing, or disobeying an order without his personal presence. My sisters and I fled before we could be marked as children." Even this dialogue makes him uncomfortable.
Jacob restraps his mouthguard. "As I thought. The Collector is making his move."
Shifter INT: 34
Shifter realizes Jacob knew what he was sending him into, and did so without warning.
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Post by Shifter on Feb 12, 2015 19:00:53 GMT
Shifter relaxed his stance, but Jacob's gamble made the fire inside him burn even hotter; but he wouldn't let it be obvious.
"Bastard thinks he can enter his Majesty's lands..." He muttered. "This Collector of yours has no idea what he's messing with."
He looked at Rebbeca.
"Send word to the capital, raven girl."
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Post by The Storyteller on Feb 13, 2015 0:26:32 GMT
Rebecca obeys without consulting Jacob, either out of fear or reflex.
She sits and closes her eyes. After a moment, she opens her eyes. "She's entering the throneroom."
Another moment.
"His Majesty isn't there. Guards are saying he's in the library."
Two minutes later, she gives Shifter and Jacob a perplexed look. "He isn't there either. What should she do?"
Amine speaks up before Shifter or Jacob can formulate a response. "They're moving... no... more are coming." He starts climbing a tree to get a better look.
Jacob orders Shifter, "Check it out."
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Post by Shifter on Feb 13, 2015 10:50:47 GMT
Shifter thought of barking some complaints at Jacob's gall. But in the ended someone would have had to scot anyway, so he took flight in his crow form and went to investigates.
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Post by The Storyteller on Feb 15, 2015 4:42:44 GMT
It's true. He doesn't have to fly high or far to learn that Amine was right. It hasn't been five minutes, and suddenly 18 strangers had become 36. To arrive so quickly without having been seen would be almost impossible unless they knew Shifter was watching. However, his fears are soon replaced with panic soon enough.
The air near the fire seems to... bend and break until another of the marked Aetherians steps through. And then another. And then another.
Shifter INT: 30
Shifter recognizes a portal when he sees one after living under the Iron King for three centuries, but can only guess where they are coming from. He also notes that the new arrivals keep coming. The scouts are done.
The invasion has begun.
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Post by Shifter on Feb 15, 2015 12:45:50 GMT
"By the King's arse..." Shifter cursed, turning the way back to the camp.
"We need to get out of here. Rebbeca, try to contact your sister again... They are using a portal to get here." He paused, taking back his human form. "It's a fucking invasion."
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Post by The Storyteller on Feb 15, 2015 22:46:03 GMT
"I-I don;t know what to do! His Majesty has vanished! My sister has asked all the captains, and they swear he was in the library, but he's just not there!"
Jacob observed, "The Third Legion should be here in two hours at forced march. Their cavalry should be here before then." He rubbed his forehead as he thought. "There are five of us. I can wipe out several with one blast, but it won't be enough before they swarm us." He closed his eyes in thought.
Amine spoke up. "Someone's creating the portal. If we can kill them, we can slow them down, buy time for the legion to get here and make their unlives easier."
"How do we know it's not an Undying? I won't waste resources on a doomed mission."
"Noone's ever seen the Collector in person. That's why-Look, it's going to be some guy, probably on this side. And if we don't do this now, it's only going to get more impossible."
Jacob turned to Shifter for his response.
Shifter INT: 38
Shifter recognizes that it would be a fool's errand to get so close that they might look directly upon the runes, but Amine is probably right about the teleporter being on this side. He also recognizes Jacob is silently pushing the decision on him.
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Post by Shifter on Feb 16, 2015 12:05:10 GMT
Finally his exprecience was weighing back on his shoulders, they knew who should they answer to.
"Jacob is right... It's a fool's errand." Shifter took a deep breath, it was hard to admit that. "We can undermine their movement, though. Any suggestions of where they'd march through?"
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Post by The Storyteller on Feb 19, 2015 1:56:52 GMT
Amine paused to think, before answering. "They'll take the road. They know they have the numbers, and they know anyone who gets close enough to see them is already at risk of indoctrination. They're also not very bright without direct orders."
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Post by Shifter on Feb 19, 2015 11:20:38 GMT
"Right... We need to get there before them." Shifter said hastily.
"Jacob, I'll need you to use your voice against the ground. Would it have the results I'm expecting?"
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Post by The Storyteller on Feb 20, 2015 16:40:20 GMT
Jacob INT: 28 Martin INT: 26 Amine INT: 21 Rebecca INT: 29
"If what you want is a large hole in the ground, then yes."
Martin finally spoke up, "I can put up a barrier. I don't know how long it'll last, I've never done anything like this before."
Rebecca added in a meek voice, "I told my sister to find other Clanmembers who can get here fast."
Amine is silently sharpening his blade on a rock.
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Post by Shifter on Feb 20, 2015 16:50:53 GMT
"Perfect..." Shifter exclaimed.
A bit of concentration and the Aetherian started to grow feathers, his feet turned to claws and his mouth into a beak; And in some seconds, before them stood an enormous eagle.
"Rebbeca, you send message to the men to meet us on the road. Martin, I'll fly first you'll follow me carrying Amine and her." He paused for a second, swallowing his pride.
"Jacob, mount up."
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Post by The Storyteller on Feb 26, 2015 3:19:10 GMT
Jacob's expression was unseen, minus a slight arch of the brow. He mounted his rival with a minimum of awkwardness.
Shifter TAC: 34
The flight goes without a hitch. They land unseen by enemy forces. Martin and Jacob step into position smoothly, only awaiting Shifter's order to begin setting up obstacles.
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Post by Shifter on Feb 27, 2015 0:46:07 GMT
"Jacob, 230° on that direction." Shifter said poiting towards where the enemy army would be coming from. "Then I wanto to expand it's lenght to the sides, into the tree lines. The width is fine, and we can use the inclination against them." "You, Martin. Make your barrier 32 feet from the hole's mouth. Amine, I need you to scout them, can you do it?..." He paused and turned to the female. "Rebecca, any news?" The shapeshifter took a deep breath and changed into a enormou (respecting his limitations), four armed creature. He started removing trees from the ground, throwing them on the space between the hole and where should be Martin's Barrier.
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